Despite the growing number of people who are allergic to sesame seed products, a new study suggests awareness of this type of food allergy still lags far behind other common food allergies. Researchers reviewed recent studies on sesame allergy and found reports of sesame allergy have risen dramatically worldwide since …

LONDON – Playwright Christopher Fry (search), a Christian humanist who helped T.S. Eliot revive verse drama in the 1940s and wrote a number of epic films including “Ben Hur (search),” has died at the age of 97, his son said. Fry died on June 30 in the hospital in Chichester, …

Watch “Hannity & Colmes” weeknights at 9 p.m. ET! Here’s just some of what we’ve got planned for you: Monday, July 5 Strong opinions and sharp political insight — the fair and balanced debate is only on “Hannity and Colmes.” • After two suspects are released in the the Natalee …

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea – A Russian-made plane believed to have been carrying 55 passengers and crew has crashed deep in a forest in Equatorial Guinea (search), killing all aboard and leaving bodies scattered about the crash site, government officials said Sunday. Government spokesman Alfonso Nsue Mokuy (search) said no one …

Sandra Day O’Connor, who served on the Supreme Court for 24 terms, announced her retirement from the bench on July 1, 2005. She was the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and has made a permanent mark on the history of American politics. Here is a timeline …

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday deplored the attacks in the Egyptian Red Sea (search) resort of Sharm el-Sheik, calling them “senseless acts” as he appealed to terrorists to renounce violence. In a telegram sent to religious and political leaders in Egypt, the pontiff said he was “deeply …

ORLANDO, Fla. – A 16-year-old British girl was in critical condition Tuesday after her heart stopped following a Disney World (search) thrill ride, one month after a young boy died after going on another attraction. Leanne Deacon had said she felt strange but was OK after leaving Disney World-MGM Studios’ …

The mayor of Vancouver, Wash., went on a violent rampage Tuesday. Lest anyone be alarmed, Mayor Royce E. Pollard’s (search) anger was directed at two Starbucks coffee mugs that had the audacity to have — horrors! — “Portland” printed on them. Pollard’s made an issue of promoting his fair city, …

LONDON – A man who got off a packed London bus just before it exploded said Tuesday that he had noticed one of his fellow passengers — possibly the bomber — fiddling anxiously with a bag. He said he heard an “excruciating” scream just before the bus blew up. “This …

WASHINGTON – The legal right to abortion is settled for lower courts, but the Supreme Court “is not obliged to follow” the Roe v. Wade (search) precedent, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales (search) said Tuesday as the Senate prepared to consider John Roberts’ (search) appointment that would put a new vote …