A star-studded all-female cast beefs up the new heist film “Ocean’s 8,” by filmmaker Gary Ross. The new release marks a departure from the all-male gang of tuxedo-clad cons both in the original 1960s flick “Ocean’s 11,” with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and in the 2001 remake with George …

President Trump hosted a dinner at the White House this week marking the end of the daily fast during Ramadan, the first since he took office in 2017. The guest list included the diplomatic corps but not American Muslim organizations, who held their own “Counter-Iftar” outside the White House. Patsy …

Warner Bros. Records has announced a new Prince album on what would have been the musician’s 60th birthday.   The company said Thursday that “Piano & A Microphone 1983” from Prince’s storied vault will be released on Sept. 21 on CD, vinyl and digital formats.   Warner Bros. says the …

In Zimbabwe, a play once banned by former president Robert Mugabe has now been performed by a local theater group for the first time. In 2012, the government stopped the performance of the play, called 1983: The Dark Years. The story focuses on the horror of a government crackdown against …

For some, the female heist caper Ocean’s 8 is a strike at the heart of male-dominated Hollywood. For others, it’s pure summer escapism. And for a (mostly male) minority, it’s the worst idea ever. The Ocean’s 8 cast of Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Helena Bonham …

Egypt says it has repatriated nine illegally smuggled artifacts, including statuary and coffins, from France. Thursday’s statement by the Foreign Ministry says French authorities had seized the artifacts at a train station in Paris in 2012.   The Egyptian Antiquities Ministry says the artifacts include parts of five coffins, two …

The Lahore Literary Festival (LLF), an annual three-day gathering in Pakistan’s second largest city, is considered one of the premiere literary festivals of South Asia. Since 2016, New York’s Asia Society has been hosting an edition of this famous festival in the Big Apple, to showcase Pakistan’s contemporary art and …

Prayer is an especially important part of Ramadan observances this month, and for Muslims in Aurora, Colorado, that happens at the Daral Tawheed mosque. The mosque is not just a focus for the religious community, it is part of a center for the entire community … with a swimming pool, …

The last Munchkin has died. Actor Jerry Maren was the last survivor of the group of little people known as Munchkins who greeted Judy Garland’s Dorothy when she landed in Munchkinland in the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. He died May 24 at age 98 in a San Diego nursing home, …

In the nine months that Cara Mund has been Miss America, not once has she ever had to don a swimsuit as part of her duties. The reigning Miss America told The Associated Press on Tuesday night she supports the decision of the Miss America Organization to drop the swimsuit …

Former teen idol David Cassidy did not have dementia, as he claimed before he died, and lied about giving up drinking, the singer told the makers of a documentary about him in the months before his death. Cassidy, 67, who shot to fame in the 1970s TV show “The Partridge …

U.S. senators on Tuesday questioned the former president of Michigan State University and several former USA Gymnastics officials to determine what could be done in the future to prevent sexual abuse of athletes. A Senate panel is conducting a series of hearings investigating how much officials knew about years of …

A security breach at family networking and genealogy website MyHeritage leaked the data of over 92 million users, the company said in a blog posted on Monday. The breach took place on Oct. 26 last year, and consisted of the email addresses and hashed passwords of users who signed up …

As the vast Indian plains sizzle during the summer months, the picturesque hill resort of Shimla turns into a tourist haven. But after the Himalayan town’s water supplies virtually ran out, panicked residents sent out “Stop Visiting Shimla” social media posts, schools were temporarily shut, and authorities faced angry protests …

Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty Tuesday to rape and criminal sex act charges in New York. Weinstein quietly answered a series of yes and no questions from the judge asking if he understood his rights at the hearing in Manhattan after a grand jury indicted the former movie mogul last …

U.S. President Donald Trump has withdrawn an invitation for this year’s Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, to visit the White House. Trump called off the June 5 visit late Monday.   “The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to celebrate tomorrow,” …

Demi Lovato’s best-known songs include “Sorry Not Sorry.” But when it comes to sharing details of a sexual joke on her bodyguard, she is sorry — mostly. The pop singer triggered a flurry of negative reactions over the weekend when, in a largely innocuous exchange with fans on Twitter, she …

Serena Williams announced her shock withdrawal from the French Open with injury on Monday just minutes before her scheduled fourth-round clash against long-time bitter rival and fellow Grand Slam icon Maria Sharapova. The 36-year-old said she had suffered a pectoral muscle injury in her third-round win over Julia Goerges and …

The U.S. attracts the best and the brightest talents from around the world. For many, the path to success is easy and quick, for others – long and challenging. For two ballerinas who moved to the U.S. from Ukraine and Armenia, dancing on the American stage had been a dream, …

A new occupation has emerged in the United States: professional cuddler. While to some the idea might sound strange, scientists from the Miami Touch Research Institute say they are not surprised at the demand for such services. The institute says that’s because the American culture is one of the most …

Trucks can be used for so much more than transporting goods from one place to another. They can be transformed into restaurants, mobile health clinics … even a concert hall. That’s what two young pianists have done with their truck as they work to make classical music more accessible to …

Classical music is often thought of as an elite art, usually performed in concert halls to a dedicated, dressed up audience. But two young pianists are working hard to make this style of music more accessible to wider audiences. As Faiza Elmasry tells us, to do that, they’re offering free …

For Muslims, the month of Ramadan is a time for self-reflection and prayer — and fasting from sunrise to sunset. After sunset, families and friends enjoy a meal called Iftar. At a mosque in Virginia, outside Washington, people of various faiths came to Iftar one evening and to join Muslims …

Harvey Weinstein was facing a new rape allegation on Friday, including claims that a woman captured video of Weinstein assaulting her, as part of a lawsuit alleging that he had help covering up his misconduct with women. The lawsuit was filed in New York by three women, including one who …

We’re on the job with the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles chart, for the week ending June 2, 2018. The Top Five takes a breather this week, with no entries changing positions. Number 5: Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line “Meant to Be” Bebe …