WASHINGTON – A top U.S. commander has told lawmakers that China’s military power is growing at a rate much faster than China (search) would seem to need for national defense alone. Admiral William Fallon (search) — who commands U.S. forces in the Pacific — told the Senate Armed Services Committee …

WASHINGTON – A Senate committee dealt President Bush a setback Wednesday, rejecting his top environmental priority — a bill that would give power plants, factories and refineries more time to reduce their air pollution. Opponents wanted a plan that also helped reduce global warming. The 9-9 vote on Bush’s “Clear …

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Microsoft (MSFT) announced Monday an agreement with European Union antitrust regulators on the name “Windows XP Home Edition (search) N,” with “N” standing for “not with media player,” for a reduced version of its Windows media software sold in Europe. Microsoft’s “XP Professional Edition” will also include …

NEW YORK – A large investor in OfficeMax Inc. (OMX) Friday said the No. 3 U.S. office products chain should consider breaking itself up and sell one or more business lines to better reflect underlying value in the stock. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (search), K …

BEIJING – A truck loaded with chlorine (search) overturned on a highway in eastern China after a tire burst, spewing fumes that killed 27 people and left another 285 hospitalized, the government said Wednesday. More than 10,000 people were evacuated after the late Tuesday accident on the main highway linking …

FORT HOOD, Texas – A military judge Monday refused to dismiss any of the charges against Spc. Sabrina Harman (search), an Army prison guard accused of humiliating Iraqis held at Abu Ghraib. Harman — who appears giving a thumbs-up next to an Iraqi corpse in one of the most notorious …

Declines in death rates (search) from most major causes — including heart disease and cancer — have pushed Americans’ life expectancy (search) to a record 77.6 years. Women are still living longer than men, but the gap is narrowing. Women now have a life expectancy of 80.1 years, 5.3 more …

BEIRUT, Lebanon – The Lebanese opposition stepped up its campaign against the pro-Syrian government Friday, calling for a peaceful uprising to force the resignation of Prime Minister Omar Karami (search) and the withdrawal of Syrian troops. Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh, however, warned the government would not tolerate public disturbances. “The …

LUMBERTON, Texas – A former high school teacher accused of having sexual relations with a 17-year-old student has been indicted on two charges of an improper relationship with a student. Kathy Denise White (search), 39, was indicted by a Hardin County grand jury Tuesday. White is accused of having at …

We come to you LIVE from the heartland Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET! Former Ohio congressman and host John Kasich covers the stories that touch our entire nation! Saturday, Feb. 19: Sightings of Jesus Christ, visions of the Virgin Mary and other unexplained religious mysteries. How does the Catholic church …