Sydney first major city to mark Earth Hour 2009 SYDNEY - The floodlit cream shells of the famed Opera House dimmed Saturday as Sydney became the world's first major city to plunge itself into darkness for the second worldwide Earth Hour, a global campaign to highlight the threat of climate change. Empty seats show glitches in China-Taiwan flights TAIPEI - Planes are flying with many empty seats a month after daily direct flights began between political rivals Taiwan and China, and travel officials are urging that some of the restrictions in the landmark deal be loosened. U.S., China urged on energy efficiency Los Angeles and Pittsburgh provide examples of what to do -- and not to do -- about China's severe air pollution in the face of surging energy use from rapid economic growth, U.S. and Chinese scientists say.