The popular children's program Sesame Street on Friday put to rest rumors that odd couple roommates Bert and Ernie are gay, saying the puppets are just "best friends" and would not marry.

"Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves," the public television program said in a statement.

Daniel Baldwin's wife says the couple is attempting to reconcile and is dropping divorce filings.

Joanne Baldwin told The Oregonian (http://bit.ly/r33bfx) on Friday that "we have a lot of work to do in our marriage." The actor filed for divorce last month and was granted a restraining order against his 41-year-old wife.

Cuban revolutionary icon Fidel Castro turns 85 on Saturday amid celebrations in his honor that he so far failed to attend.

Cuba has been partying since Tuesday, with concerts, ballet performances and art exhibitions organized on behalf of the man who led the island nation for nearly 50 years before ill health led him to cede power to his brother Raul in 2006.

Despite a lack of recognition abroad and a drug war that has made tourists flee, Mexico's winemakers see cause to celebrate as drinking habits evolve in the land of tequila.

Production increased almost 40 percent in the past five years, causing cheer at the annual Vendimia harvest festival in Baja California, where 90 percent of Mexico's wine is produced.

U.S. President Barack Obama shrugged off his political woes and swept into New York City on Thursday for a star-studded fundraising blitz which could net his 2012 reelection bid $2.3 million.

The president, trying to bounce back from the worst week of his crisis-hit White House term so far, rubbed shoulders with Gwyneth Paltrow, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and R&B diva Alicia Keys at a top dollar fundraiser.

Bruno Ganz, considered as one of Switzerland's greatest actors, was to be honored by the Locarno festival Thursday before the screening of his latest film.

In French director Patricia Mazuy's "Of Women and Horses", Marina Hands is a young rider on a quest for a horse and Bruno Ganz is a legendary trainer.

Melanie Moore flew away with the grand prize on "So You Think You Can Dance."

Viewer votes awarded the pixie-haired 19-year-old college student the title of "America's Favorite Dancer" and the $250,000 prize.

Christina Aguilera is lending her voice to a Michael Jackson tribute concert planned for October in Wales.

Organizers of "Michael Forever — The Tribute Concert" announced Thursday that Aguilera would be joined by members of the Jackson family, Cee Lo Green, Leona Lewis and the band Alien Ant Farm, which is known for its cover of Jackson's song "Smooth Criminal."

Kate Moss felt inspired to get married by watching the British reality show "Big Fat Gypsy Weddings" which follows real-life gypsy women planning to get married.

The September issue of Vogue magazine goes inside the supermodel's July wedding to musician Jamie Hince. Moss says she was charmed by the extravagance of gypsy weddings with wedding gowns that are like "blinging butterflies times ten."

About 400 couples are competing in this year's World Tango Championships beginning next week in Argentina's capital, organizers said Wednesday.

More than 500 artists also will participate in the festival that starts Tuesday and runs through Aug. 30.