WASHINGTON – The leader of the nation’s largest animal breeding registry joined animal welfare groups Tuesday in urging Congress to expand federal regulation of so-called “puppy mills.” The American Kennel Club, which has opposed changes to the Animal Welfare Act in the past, decided “the time has come to bring …

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are likely to see active trading on Tuesday are Home Depot Inc., J.C. Penney Inc. and Analog Devices Inc. Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) is expected to report earnings of 80 cents a share for the third quarter, according to analysts surveyed by …

Join host Brit Hume and FOX’s Team Washington weekdays at 6 p.m. ET for “Special Report” — Find out what’s happening inside the Beltway and on the world stage. • Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff Lewis “Scooter” Libby (search) pleaded not guilty today in the CIA leak …

WASHINGTON – Vice President Dick Cheney made an unusual personal appeal to Republican senators this week to allow CIA exemptions to a proposed ban on the torture of terror suspects in U.S. custody, according to participants in a closed-door session. Cheney told his audience the United States doesn’t engage in …

BUSAN, South Korea – In a show of unity, President Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun declared on Thursday that a nuclear-armed North Korea “will not be tolerated” and agreed that the problem should be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means. The two leaders spoke at a news conference …

TUNIS, Tunisia – A crucial summit on expanding Internet access around the world ended Friday with a firm promise to narrow the digital divide — but little in government funding to make it happen. The World Summit on the Information Society originally was conceived to raise consciousness about the divide …

DALLAS – A newlywed police officer was killed early Sunday by a suspect he was chasing on foot, authorities said. Officer Brian Jackson and another officer went to investigate a disturbance complaint and chased a male suspect through alleys and between houses, Police Chief David Kunkle said. During the chase, …

BAGHDAD, Iraq – American and Iraqi forces launched a major offensive Saturday near the porous Syrian border aimed at destroying Al Qaeda (search) in Iraq’s ability to smuggle foreign fighters, money and equipment through the region. The U.S. military also announced that two soldiers were killed by insurgents in other …

CHICAGO – Ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co. (HNZ) posted sharply lower third-quarter profits Monday, as the ketchup-maker said strong business in North America couldn’t make up for rising fuel costs, soaring commodity prices and a large write-down. Earns for the quarter ending Jan. 26 was $152.4 million, or 43 cents …

Skin treatments containing retinoic acid could help prevent skin ulcers in people with diabetes, research shows. Ulcers are far more than a cosmetic problem. They signal diabetes-related problems with wound healing. Complications from diabetes, like nerve and blood vessel damage, increase the risk of ulcers. And if the nerves that …