LONDON – Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne (search) had to flee their English mansion when a fire broke out in the living room, a British newspaper reported Thursday. The Sun tabloid said the couple were alerted by a fire alarm and ran into their backyard when the blaze broke out late …

BEIJING – A proposed Chinese anti-secession law would authorize Beijing (search) to take military action to stop rival Taiwan from pursuing formal independence if peaceful persuasion fails, a leader of China’s parliament said Tuesday. Wang Zhaoguo (search), reading out the proposed law for the first time before a meeting of …

LONDON – Prime Minister Tony Blair (search), who is struggling to pass a sweeping new anti-terrorism law, insisted Wednesday he was acting on the advice of Britain’s security services and would not water down his proposals. Defending his Prevention of Terrorism Bill (search), Blair said authorities needed the power to …

Two Houston cops seem to have gone gaga over an attractive drunk-driving suspect. Patrolman Christopher Green stands accused of downloading nude photos of the woman and showing them off in the county courthouse. His partner, Patrolman George Miller, allegedly called the woman to ask her out on a date, reports …

MUQDADIYA, Iraq – When an unmanned U.S. spy plane (search) crashed in a farmer’s onion field in central Iraq (search), his first instinct was to bury it. He was afraid that if he helped the U.S. military recover the aircraft, terrorists in the area might see him as a collaborator …

HONG KONG – Donald Tsang (search), a popular bow tie-wearing career civil servant, took over as Hong Kong’s leader Saturday, facing the tough task of pleasing a public that wants more democracy while obeying Communist Chinese rulers who have opposed calls for greater freedom. Tsang would only be Hong Kong’s …

WASHINGTON – With Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz (search) now the president’s nominee to head the World Bank (search), Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is looking for a replacement. Today, during a briefing on the status of detainees at Guantanamo Naval Base, Navy Secretary Gordon England (search) revealed he’s spoken with …

BEIRUT, Lebanon – Buoyed by their success in forcing Syria to withdraw some troops, elements of the Lebanese opposition have called for the return of two Christian leaders who played a major role in the country’s bloody civil war. Nematallah Abi Nasr, a Christian legislator, said Monday that he and …

NEW YORK – Ossie Davis (search), the actor distinguished for roles dealing with racial injustice on stage, screen and in real life, has died, an aide said Friday. He was 87. Davis, the husband and partner of actress Ruby Dee (search), was found dead Friday in his hotel room in …

SALT LAKE CITY – The drifter and self-proclaimed prophet accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart (search) was removed from his competency hearing twice Wednesday for singing a religious song — the third time he has done that in court in recent months. Brian David Mitchell (search), 51, and his wife, Wanda …