What's next in the looming budget crisis?

(CBS News) WASHINGTON -- We are nine days from the next national self-inflicted budget crisis: big, across-the-board cuts in the federal budget will hit automatically on March 1. The cuts are designed to be so deep and damaging that they would force the president and Congress to compromise on a better way. "These cuts are not smart, they are not fair, they will hurt our economy, they will add hundreds...

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Former Navy SEAL on Coming Out of Shadows

It used to be that Navy SEALs didn't just operate in the shadows. They trained in them too. Their whole story stayed shrouded in mystery. Their secret missions stayed secret to the rest of us.But when they got Osama Bin Laden, snatched back an American cargo ship taken by pirates and rescued two air workers held hostage in Somalia, then suddenly, it seemed that SEALs were headline-makers.Add...

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We need to rethink how we name exoplanets

Fed up with dull names for exoplanets, Alan Stern and his company Uwingu have asked the public for help. Will it be so long 2M 0746+20b, hello Obama? How did you come up with the idea for a list of potential names for exoplanets?The...

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Students invited to submit short videos on climate change

SINGAPORE: The National Climate Change Secretariat is inviting students to submit short videos to inspire Singaporeans to take action against climate change.This follows last year's short film competition that had students submitting videos on Singapore becoming a climate change resilient city.The theme this year is "Be the Change. It Starts with You.".The winning entries will be uploaded...

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Pistorius cries in court as slain girlfriend is laid to rest

Oscar Pistorius is pictured with Reeva Steenkamp in Johannesburg, South Africa, in January.STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Pistorius' defense says he shot his girlfriend thinking she was a burglarA prosecutor asks why a burglar would lock up in a bathroom The funeral for Steenkamp will take place Tuesday Pistorius, known as the "Blade Runner," is in court for a bail hearingPretoria, South Africa (CNN) -- Oscar...

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WH: Leaked immigration plan is only partial draft

(CBS News) WASHINGTON -- Over the weekend, a partial White House plan for immigration reform leaked to the press and caused an uproar. White House officials tell CBS News that what was leaked is real -- it's a partial draft of half a bill. What we know is the administration's current thinking about what to do about the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States right now....

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Russian Meteor: Close Encounter, Preventing Impacts

Feb 18, 2013 7:03pm MOSCOW — As if Friday’s massive meteor explosion over central Russia weren’t enough, just hours later a large asteroid buzzed dangerously close to Earth.And that evening, the California sky was lit up by a fireball, apparently entering Earth’s atmosphere.It’s a barrage from space that has people asking: Are we ready for the big one?Nearly 100...

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Nuclear waste: too hot to handle?

Cumbria's decision to veto an underground repository for the UK shows how hard it is to find a long-term solution THERE are 437 nuclear power reactors in 31 countries around the world. The number of repositories for high-level radioactive waste? Zero. The typical lifespan of a nuclear power plant is 60 years....

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Hong Kong Disneyland turns a profit for first time

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's struggling Disneyland in 2012 made a profit for the first time since opening eight years ago, thanks to a surge in revenue as it welcomed a record number of visitors.The park made HK$109 million ($14.06 million) in the fiscal year ending September 29, 2012, compared with a net loss of HK$237 million the year before.The result was fuelled by a 13 per cent jump in...

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Pope delivers one of his final messages

By Hada Messia and Josh Levs, CNNupdated 7:21 PM EST, Sun February 17, 2013Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to lead the Angelus prayer at the Vatican on Sunday.STORY HIGHLIGHTSIt's the pope's second-to-last Angelus prayer as pontiffPope Benedict XVI thanks his flock for prayers and supportHe discusses "decisive moments of our lives"Cardinals may meet before March 15(CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI...

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