UNITED STATES

Three of the world's most influential newspapers have finally come to terms with the notion that charging readers online is the only way to survive.

U.S. and South Korean negotiators reported progress on their pursuit of a free trade deal on Friday, including an agreement regarding autos.

CVS Caremark Corp named a recent Wal-Mart Stores Inc executive as the new president of its retail pharmacy business, prompting Wal-Mart to sue over an alleged breach of a noncompete agreement.

While the Great Recession has raised the unemployment rates for virtually all Americans, it has served to heighten what has already existed as a long-term trend: the declining employment levels of American men, particularly those who are less educated.

A downbeat jobs report boosted shorter-dated U.S. government debt prices on Friday, paring back traders' expectations of faster U.S. economic growth in reaction to a recent string of upbeat data.

Amgen Inc could pay more than $10 billion for Swiss biotech firm Actelion Ltd without hurting its 2011 earnings, but the deal is unlikely to happen given the lack of business overlap that would allow for cost savings, according to an analyst.

U.S. regulators unveiled plans on Friday that will determine which companies and funds will be forced to hold more cash to trade in the lucrative over-the-counter derivatives market.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Friday he and colleagues were taking steps to protect themselves after death threats following the publication of leaked U.S. diplomatic cables on their website.

The presidentially appointed commission on the national debt failed today to approve its own plan for tackling the nation’s long-term fiscal problems, but several members called it a victory nonetheless.

The poor jobs data will push Congress to extend both the unemployment insurance benefits and all of the Bush tax cuts, according to Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial.

U.S. stocks rose on Friday to close out their best week in a month, shrugging off tepid jobs growth in a sign that the rally may have further to run.

U.S. employment barely grew in November and the jobless rate unexpectedly hit a seven-month high, hardening views the Federal Reserve would stick to its $600 billion plan to shore up the anemic recovery.

A bold plan to slash the U.S. budget deficit fell short on Friday of winning support needed from a presidential commission to trigger congressional action, but it was expected to help shape future budget debates.

Controlling a small ball with a smartphone is just the tip of the iceberg for entrepreneur Ian Bernstein.

Manufacturing orders in the U.S. posted a drop in October following a rise for three consecutive months, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported on Friday.

Singapore Airlines Cargo (SIA Cargo) has agreed to plead guilty in a price-fixing case and pay a $48 million criminal fine, the U.S. Justice Department has announced.

Whistle-blower-turned fugitive Julian Assange stayed off the hot trails of the Interpol on Friday to do a live chat on The Guardian; and he was reportedly flooded with messages brimming over with admiration, fulsome praise and offers of donations and other help.

November's jobs data was shockingly bad and casts doubt on the optimism generated by upbeat economic reports from recent weeks.

German strength propelled the recovery of the euro zone's dominant services economy in November, surveys showed on Friday, after China declared a new prudent monetary stance to help regulate its fervent growth.

New orders received by U.S. factories dropped 0.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted $420 billion in October, a setback for the manufacturing sector as demand declined across a broad array of goods, a government report on Friday showed.

Stocks were headed for their best week in a month on Friday after a brighter assessment of the economy and a more optimistic view of Europe's debt crisis drove a rally earlier this week.