Designer Jason Wu, who shot to stardom after dressing Michelle Obama for two inaugural balls, unveiled a light, fluid spring collection with the occasional sparkle at New York fashion week on Thursday.

The 30-year-old Taiwanese-born designer drew singer Alicia Keys, British actress Emily Mortimer and tennis player Maria Sharapova to his runway on the second day of the fashion fiesta in the Big Apple.

Movies from Britain, Japan and the United States are tipped by critics as favourites to win Venice's Golden Lion prize this year, due to be announced at the world's oldest film festival on Saturday.

British director Stephen Frears provoked a hugely enthusiastic response with his charming tragi-comedy "Philomena", the true tale of a mother's search for her son after he is given up for adoption by Catholic nuns in Ireland.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's top critic Alexei Navalny prepared Friday to rouse supporters at the final rally of his fierce campaign for Moscow mayor before facing a Kremlin-backed incumbent in polls this weekend.

In a warning shot to the authorities, the charismatic leader of the Russian protest movement threatened protests if officials rigged Sunday's vote.

And the honorary Academy Awards go to... Angelina Jolie, Steve Martin, Angela Lansbury and Italian costume designer Piero Tosi.

The film academy announced Thursday that Jolie will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, while Martin, Lansbury and Tosi will get Oscars recognizing their career achievements.

Critics have savaged "Diana", a biopic of the late princess of Wales who died in a Paris car crash 16 years ago, just hours after its world premiere on Thursday.

Lead actress Naomi Watts has already defended her involvement in the controversial film, which follows Diana's romance with London-based Pakistani surgeon Hasnat Khan.

Recording their 12th and last studio album was nothing short of "torture" for The Beatles, said John Lennon in a tape-recorded interview coming up for auction this month.

The Fab Four had just completed "Let It Be" in 1969, but had yet to break up, when Lennon and wife Yoko Ono sat down in Toronto with radio DJ and Village Voice critic Howard Smith for an hour-long interview.

Karaoke parties, fancy dress and spaghetti at dawn: Hollywood's prima-donna stars have brought light relief to a Venice film festival plagued by dark tales of incest, necrophilia, cannibalism and suicide.

By night, the terraces and beaches of the floating city are flooded with free champagne as socialites and paparazzi ooze around the latest arrivals, from George Clooney to Nicolas Cage, Sandra Bullock and Scarlett Johansson.

Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will honor Carol Burnett as she receives the top U.S. humor prize in Washington.

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is awarding Burnett the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Oct. 20.

Michelle Williams will make her Broadway debut next year in a role best known by Liza Minnelli — fishnet-and-bowler hat wearing chanteuse Sally Bowles in "Cabaret."

The Roundabout Theatre Company confirmed Wednesday that the former "Dawson's Creek" and "Brokeback Mountain" star will join Alan Cumming in the revival. Williams takes over after Emma Stone withdrew due to scheduling conflicts.

The fashion world takes over New York from Thursday, as industry heavyweights and several newcomers unveil their lines for next spring, and one designer stages the first show for plus-sized women.

As the days begin to shorten in the Big Apple, the city can bask a little longer in the warmth as designers look ahead to spring-summer 2014 during Fashion Week.