A federal judge ruled Friday that the Billboard Music Awards can use a hologram of deceased pop icon Michael Jackson at this weekend's show, rejecting efforts from tech companies seeking to block the digital performance.

Judge Kent Dawson said there wasn't enough evidence to show the planned 3-D image would violate patents held by Hologram USA Inc. and Musion Das Hologram Ltd.

Hollywood star Cate Blanchett on Friday hit out at multi-million-dollar planned cuts to Australia's television and film funding body, slamming the move as "short-sighted."

The Australian government unveiled a tough budget this week that saw huge cuts to health and education spending, as well as slashed spending for arts and cultural activities, including Screen Australia.

A Los Angeles court has vacated Mel Gibson's misdemeanor domestic violence battery conviction in a case filed after a highly publicized fight with his ex-girlfriend.

The dismissal was finalized Monday by Superior Court Judge Deborah Brazil, and her order was released Friday.

A Syrian woman whose horrifying footage of the siege of Homs was turned into a film by an exiled director was on Friday given a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, a few hours after the pair met for the first time.

Documentary maker Wiam Simav Bedirxan, dressed in a long black dress and red shawl, bent forward, put her head in her hands and had to be comforted by director Ossama Mohammed as the Cannes audience applauded her arrival at the start of the film they made together, "Silvered Water, Syria Self-Portrait".

Oprah Winfrey and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton surprised Barbara Walters on Thursday as the legendary newswoman taped her final edition of "The View" to end a five-decade career on television.

Actor Michael Douglas, a longtime friend and frequent subject for Walters' interviews, also dropped by for the tribute, which airs Friday on ABC at 11 a.m. EDT.

Authorities said ailing radio host Casey Kasem was on vacation — and not in danger — when they found him in Washington state this week.

A Los Angeles judge on Monday expressed concerns about his whereabouts and safety amid a dispute between his wife and children from another marriage.

"Downton Abbey" star Michelle Dockery is selling the eye-catching gown she wore to last year's Emmy Awards to help victims of the Syria civil war.

Christie's auction house says the Prada dress, featuring a red halter-style top and burgundy skirt, will go under the hammer in London on June 20. Proceeds will go to humanitarian organization Oxfam.

Jay Z, Beyonce and Solange say "families have problems and we're no different" after a video leaked of Beyonce's sister attacking the rap mogul in a hotel elevator.

In an exclusive statement to The Associated Press on Thursday, the trio said they have worked through their differences and moved on since the video emerged this week showing Solange kicking Jay Z as Beyonce looked on.

Leonardo DiCaprio gave a $1 million donation to help save elephants at the Sundown Gala in Malibu on Saturday.

The event benefited the Elephant Crisis Fund and was co-hosted by the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation with Mark Wahlberg and the Wildlife Conservation Network.

The former royal editor of the News of the World said Wednesday that he repeatedly hacked the voicemails of Prince William, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton in the months before he was arrested for illegal eavesdropping in 2006.

Under cross examination at Britain's phone hacking trial, Clive Goodman acknowledged he had listened to Middleton's voicemails 155 times, Prince William's 35 times and Prince Harry's nine times.