The 1969 murder spree by followers of Charles Manson spawned decades of fascination -- and revulsion -- with the apocalyptic cult leader and the grisly crimes committed at the height of the counter-culture movement.

For many at the time, Manson, with his crazed eyes, beard and long, unkempt hair, was the dark face of a drug-fueled hippie movement that was consuming America's youth.

Charles Manson, the psychopathic guru who masterminded a savage killing spree in the United States in the late 1960s that shocked the world, has died aged 83, California prison officials said.

Manson "died of natural causes at 8:13 pm (0213 GMT Monday) on Sunday" at a hospital in Kern County, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a brief statement.

German police on Monday arrested a 58-year-old man in Berlin on suspicion of handling stolen items from John Lennon's estate, including the late Beatle's diaries.

A proposal to ban smoking in French films has been met with splutters of indignation in a land raised on images of puffing, pouting silver-screen stars.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell and Tunisia's president led mourners in a final tribute Monday to French-Tunisian fashion designer Azzedine Alaia, who died this month aged 77 after winning a worldwide following.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrate 70 years of marriage on Monday, becoming Britain's first reigning couple to mark a platinum wedding anniversary.

Bruno Mars took the top prize at the American Music Awards on Sunday at a show that paid glowing tribute to legendary divas Diana Ross and the late Whitney Houston.

A jury has found that a businesswoman must pay $5 million to singer Katy Perry and the archdiocese of Los Angeles, finding that the woman intentionally interfered with the sale to Perry of a hilltop property that was once a convent.

The jury found Friday that entrepreneur Dana Hollister should pay the archdiocese $3.47 million and Perry $1.57 million for interference with contractual relations and other misdeeds.

The game is love for tennis star Serena Williams and her new husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

Hip-hop superstar Jay-Z on Friday urged an overhaul of the U.S. concept of probation, saying the prison term handed to rapper Meek Mill showed an unjust system that ensnares black men.

Jay-Z, who earlier took to social media and stopped a concert to press Mill's case, penned an op-ed for The New York Times to call for a concerted campaign to reform probation.