U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly ruled out the naturalization of Syrian refugees, denying international pressure to keep the displaced in Lebanon.

In remarks to As Safir daily published on Thursday, Plumbly said: “The issue of the naturalization of the Syrian refugees is out of the question.”

British pop star Phil Collins on Tuesday handed over his vast collection of artifacts related to the Battle of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution to the state of Texas.

Collins was in San Antonio to donate what's considered the world's largest private collection of Alamo artifacts. It includes a fringed leather pouch and a gun used by Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie's legendary knife and letters from garrison commander William B. Travis.

Elton John called Pope Francis "my hero" for his compassion and push to accept gays by the Roman Catholic Church, at his annual AIDS benefit.

John hosted the event, "An Enduring Vision: A Benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation," Tuesday night in New York City. He said Francis is pushing boundaries in the church and told the crowd: "Make this man a saint now, OK?"

A Tennessee man being arrested on charges of illegal marijuana possession told police he was Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington.

Officers told 21-year-old Justin Lee Seay of Memphis he wasn't fooling anyone — and quickly found that he had violated his probation on a separate case.

Houston-area authorities say they believe a school district police officer who pulled over a motorist and then asked to smell her feet may have made similar demands of others.

Twenty-six-year-old Patrick Quinn is charged with two counts of "official oppression." He's free on $2,000 bond.

The source of a sick tortoise's discomfort became clear after a south Florida veterinarian took an X-ray: The animal had swallowed a turtle pendant.

Dr. Don Harris said the 15-pound male African spurred tortoise named Lola hadn't pooped for a month and began acting sick over the weekend. Lola's owner brought him to the Avian & Exotic Animal Medical Center in Miami, which Harris co-owns.

Real Madrid has joined forces with an Abu Dhabi state investment fund to promote the club internationally and transform its Santiago Bernabeu stadium into the "greatest sporting venue in the world," the European champions said Tuesday.

Club president Florentino Perez signed a long-term "strategic alliance" with International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), represented by Khadem al-Qubaisi.

A resurgent Andy Murray will play for a sixth straight week when he competes at the Paris Masters in a bid to finish the season in the top four and gain a better draw at the 2015 majors.

The two-time Grand Slam champion, who plays Julien Benneteau in the second round of the Paris event on Wednesday, is also seeking to qualify for next month's ATP World Tour Finals at London's O2 Arena.

The French Football Federation says it disagrees with a three-month coaching ban imposed on Zinedine Zidane, saying UEFA rules allow him to coach while studying for his coaching badge.

A Spanish judge on Monday banned Zidane from coaching Real Madrid's reserves following a complaint by Miguel Galan, the president of Spain's national training center for football coaches.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has revealed the logo for the 2018 World Cup in Russia — with the help of a crew of cosmonauts.

The logo depicts the World Cup trophy in red and blue, colors from the Russian flag, with gold trim.