Fists came first for hand evolution, scientists suggest Biologists say the human hand is a wonder of evolution, providing dexterity that lets our species perform activities as diverse as bricklaying, writing, ice hockey and brain surgery.
21 December 2012
US shooting fuels bullet-proof backpack sales On the heels of the deadly shooting tragedy in Connecticut, parents' anxiety is driving a surge in sales of bullet-proof backpacks, in the hope the armored bags can give their kids a safety edge.
Apple "pinch-to-zoom" patent deemed invalid A filing Wednesday in a high-stakes legal battle between Samsung and Apple revealed that a "pinch-to-zoom" patent central to the case has been deemed invalid.
20 December 2012
US shooting revives debate over mental health care The deadly US shooting rampage last week has revived debate about access to mental health care -- a tough issue as state funds dry up and laws make it difficult to treat people against their will.
20 December 2012
Obama, Boehner spar on fiscal cliff, deal may go to wire US President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner dueled over the fiscal cliff Wednesday, and despite narrowing differences remained stubbornly at odds over how to avoid looming tax hikes and spending cuts.
20 December 2012
Obama wants concrete gun proposals within a month President Barack Obama put ending an "epidemic" of gun violence at the top of his second term agenda Wednesday, denying he was "on vacation" on the issue before last week's school massacre.
20 December 2012
US to seek death penalty in Afghan massacre case Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for an American soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers in one of the most appalling atrocities of the war.
20 December 2012
US woman crowned Miss Universe 2012 American Olivia Culpo was crowned Miss Universe 2012 late Wednesday, beating out beauties from around the world to claim the coveted title.
20 December 2012
US inquiry slams 'grossly inadequate' Benghazi security A long-awaited inquiry into a deadly militant attack on the US mission in the Libyan city of Benghazi late Tuesday slammed State Department security arrangements there as "grossly inadequate."
20 December 2012
Group defiant over US ban on tackling Japan whalers US conservation group Sea Shepherd vowed Tuesday to fight a US court order to stay at least 500 yards away from Japanese whaling ships, and to keep protecting whales "with our ships and our lives."
19 December 2012
AU Optronics executive guilty in LCD price-fixing case A US jury on Tuesday found a former senior manager at Taiwan-based AU Optronics Corp. guilty of taking part in a global scheme to rig prices of liquid crystal display screens.
19 December 2012
US boy, 11, brings gun to class after massacre An 11-year-old boy has been charged with possessing a deadly weapon after bringing a gun to school, claiming he was worried about a massacre like Connecticut's.
19 December 2012
Obama tells Rwanda to end DRC rebel support US President Barack Obama on Tuesday called on Rwandan President Paul Kagame to end all support for rebels in the conflict-wracked Democratic Republic of Congo.
19 December 2012
Apple losses bid for US ban on Samsung smartphones A judge late Monday denied Apple's request to ban a set of Samsung smartphones from the US market after a jury found the South Korean electronics titan guilty of patent infringement.
18 December 2012
Pros dominate YouTube greatest hits in 2012 "Gangnam Style" topped YouTube's list of the most attention-grabbing videos this year, as other professionally produced works outshined the amateur clips that had originally made the website famous.
18 December 2012
Christians most populous of world's religions: report Christians are the world's biggest religious group, numbering some 2.2 billion people, according to a study released Tuesday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
18 December 2012
Signs of evolving US gun debate after school tragedy New signs emerged Monday of an evolving US gun law debate, with several top lawmakers appearing more open to stiffening controls on firearms after the Connecticut school massacre.
18 December 2012
China resists moves to sanction N. Korea: diplomatsChina is resisting US-led efforts to order new sanctions against North Korea over its rocket launch and the UN Security Council could take weeks to decide a formal move, diplomats said.
18 December 2012
World leaders express shock over latest US shooting World leaders expressed shock and horror after a gunman massacred 20 small children and six teachers Friday in the US state of Connecticut, in one of the worst school shootings in history.