LOS ANGELES - ACTOR George Clooney apparently had a good reason for skipping out on Oscar night: He had a meeting with President Barack Obama.

The Oscar-winning actor appeared on Monday on CNN's 'Larry King Live' and spoke of his visit earlier that morning with Obama to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

LONDON - THE English holiday home where Agatha Christie spent her summers and entertained guests with readings from her thrillers is opening to the public for the first time.

LONDON - MELANIE Chisholm, otherwise known as 'Sporty Spice' from her days as a member of the Spice Girls, has given birth to a baby girl, the 35-year-old said on her website on Monday evening.

Scarlet Starr was born on Sunday afternoon and weighed 8 lb 3 oz.