Economic growth affects population growth, and vice versa

A new trade pact with South Korea and a state dinner for President Lee Myung-bak highlights the growth of the US-South Korea alliance, which some say has never been stronger.

On the 20th anniversary of the Soviet Union's collapse, former President Mikhail Gorbachev says the US should have backed his promotion of perestroika, or political and economic reforms. He says that Vladimir Putin is dragging Russia backward.

AP - A former billionaire described by the government as "the modern face of illegal insider trading" was sentenced Thursday to 11 years in prison, the longest insider trading sentence ever but far short of the two decades sought by prosecutors.

AP - The owner of the private park where Wall Street protesters are camped out gave them notice Thursday that it will begin enforcing regulations, which prohibit everything from lying down on benches to storing personal property on the ground.

AP - Defense leaders and members of Congress drew a line in the sand Thursday, saying the Pentagon must be spared from any budget cuts beyond an initial plan to slash at least $450 billion over the next 10 years.