UNITED STATES

The World Health Organization issued a stern warning on Friday to scientists who have engineered a highly pathogenic form of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, saying their work carries significant risks and must be tightly controlled.

As America begins to put its military pieces back together again after the end to a nine-year campaign in Iraq amid threats from Iran that it may close the Strait of Hormuz, the most vital corridor for oil-tanker traffic in the world, the reality is that another conflict may be looming in the Middle East.

ASUS' Eee Pad Transformer Prime is expected to hit the U.S. market in 2012 but a rumor suggests the 32GB Amethyst Gray version could be made available to certain pre-ordered customers after Christmas.

Verizon Wireless, which this month angered customers with three separate data service problems, said on Thursday it will add a $2 fee for one-time telephone and online bill payments.

Mobile phones, long seen as safe amid rising threats to computer security, have become a key target for hackers and an increasing worry for corporate IT departments.

Long before the latest global breast implant scare, American health officials were toying with the idea of building a registry that would track patients with implants.

The World Health Organization issued a stern warning on Friday to scientists who have engineered a highly pathogenic form of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, saying their work carries significant risks and must be tightly controlled.

Stock index futures were little changed on Friday, the last trading day of 2011, as investors waited until the next year to begin making large bets.

World Peace. It just wouldn't be right to start without saying that, like any good Miss America contestant, thanks so much for that trope to Sandra Bullock and her star turn in Miss Congeniality.

Yukon-Nevada Gold Corp. expects increased production from its Jerritt Canyon project next year, the Vancouver-based company said Friday.

European shares were poised to register their biggest annual drop since 2008 on Friday after a year marred by the Eurozone debt crisis that has threatened to drag down the global economy.

Ford Motor said its U.S. vehicle sales topped 2 million this year for the first time since 2007, implying a 15 percent share in the second biggest auto market in the world.

Japan's leading share average ended higher on Friday but marked a 17 percent loss for 2011, a tumultuous year in which massive natural disasters triggered a nuclear crisis and Europe's debt turmoil drained volumes, leaving investors uncertain of a turnaround next year.

Mobile phones, long seen as safe amid rising threats to computer security, have become a key target for hackers and an increasing worry for corporate IT departments.

February gold hit a fresh six-month low of $1,523.90 per ounce overnight. Gold has been under intense pressure since it closed at $1,741.80 per ounce Dec. 7.

For arguably the first time, the new dynamic of online advocacy has stepped into the political realm, targeting Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and his 2012 re-election bid. And an emboldened online community seems deadset on using the blunt force of an Election Day loss to change the Congressman's mind on key legislation.

Despite their objections to the current political system, a Pew survey found that more Americans -- even self-professed Occupy Wall Street supporters -- have a favorable view of capitalism compared to socialism.

China's factory activity shrank again December as demand at home and abroad slackened, a purchasing managers' survey showed on Friday, reinforcing the case for pro-growth policies to underpin the world's second-largest economy.

Gold prices began the final trading day of 2011 higher as bargain hunters took advantage of a recent downdraft that has left the metal with its first fourth-quarter loss in more than three years.

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime hopefuls may be sitting at home waiting for their pre-ordered tablets to arrive, but some Best Buy Stores have started stocking the gadgets on their shelves, according to Planet Insane's tech Blog.

U.S. basketball legend Michael Jordan is engaged to his long-time girlfriend Yvette Prieto, his spokeswoman said on Thursday.