TOKYO – Two strong earthquakes hit between Japan’s southernmost islands and the coast of Taiwan on Monday, both briefly prompting tsunami warnings, the Japanese Meteorological Agency said. The first quake — a magnitude-6.8 — struck at 9:06 a.m. (8:06 p.m. EST Sunday; 0006 GMT Monday). It was followed about 10 …

LAS VEGAS – Authorities say a toddler has died after being shot by her 4-year-old brother at their Las Vegas home last week. The Clark County Coroner’s office says 2-year-old Elizabeth Zeferina Serrano died Sunday at University Medical Center. No cause was immediately released. The case remains under investigation. Las …

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Dutch marines board a fishing boat and free two dozen Yemenis from Somali pirates. They seize and destroy AK-47s and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher but then put the nine bandits back in their skiff and set them free. The Dutch government says its navy made a …

A circus has saddened a clown after telling him he could no longer wear giant, floppy shoes due to health and safety concerns. The circus’ safety adviser, Larry Dewitt made the ruling after clown Valerik Kashkin fell 9-feet and broke his foot during a tight-rope act at a show in …

Challenging a scientific law of inheritance that has stood for 150 years, scientists say plants sometimes select better bits of DNA in order to develop normally even when their predecessors carried genetic flaws. The conclusion by Purdue University (search) molecular biologists contradicts at least some basic rules of plant evolution …

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld (search) and his Argentine counterpart on Tuesday discussed the expansion of scientific cooperation and joint military exercises, with the Pentagon chief praising stronger ties between the two nations. Rumsfeld and Defense Minister Jose Pampuro also focused on Argentina’s role in U.N. …

DUBLIN, Ireland – One of Sinn Fein’s leading supporters in the U.S. Congress called Sunday for the Irish Republican Army to disband because it was standing in the way of peace in Northern Ireland. In a major departure, Rep. Peter King (search), R-N.Y., who for more than two decades has …

This is a partial transcript of “Special Report With Brit Hume,” March 2, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. Watch “Special Report With Brit Hume” weeknights at 6 p.m. ET BRIT HUME, HOST: Yesterday the Supreme Court (search), overturning a decision that made just 15 years ago, found by …

Connecticut is America’s top state for raising healthy kids, while Alaska ranks lowest on a list compiled by Child Magazine. Of course, it’s possible to raise a fit child anywhere. No state has a monopoly on health, but some may make it a bit easier to achieve, the survey shows. …

The following is a transcribed excerpt of ‘FOX News Sunday,’ March 6, 2005. CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS: From the front page to the business page, Martha Stewart’s release from prison Friday is big news. So what are her chances of coming all the way back? We decided to ask Donald …