Income for the top 1 percent soars, and more

Income for the top 1 percent soars

The income of the middle class rose 40 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars between 1979 and 2007, according to a new Congressional Budget Office report. For the poor, the income increase was 18 percent during the same period. For the top 1 percent, incomes soared 275 percent.

The Washington Post

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Foreign nationals opt for electrical engineering

Indian, Chinese, and other foreign nationals earn 70 percent of U.S. doctorates in electrical engineering and half the master’s degrees in that specialty, which usually leads to a career in information technology. Noncitizens now launch half of all Silicon Valley startup companies.

The Wall Street Journal

The environmental cost of China's chopstick industry

Every year, China cuts down an estimated 3.8 million trees to produce 57 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks, contributing to the country’s rapid deforestation. Half of these chopsticks are exported to Japan, South Korea, and the U.S.

The New York Times

Congress goes on the campaign trail

The House of Representatives will be in session for 109 weekdays in 2012, and will be in recess for 151 weekdays so members can campaign back in their districts. There are just six scheduled congressional workdays in January, three in August, and five in October.

CBSNews.com

Let's go to Cuba

The Obama administration has approved direct flights to Cuba from 15 U.S. cities. Under relaxed rules, more than 400,000 American students, journalists, and religious groups will make the trip this year—a 160 percent jump from 2010.

Time