'Planet of the Apes' climbs to top of U.S. box office charts

(Reuters) - "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," a sequel about highly intelligent apes that battle with humans for dominance, has knocked the giant "Transformers" robots out of the top spot on U.S. and Canadian movie charts.

The 3D "Apes" movie collected $73 million in ticket sales from Friday through Sunday, according to estimates from Rentrak. "Transformers: Age of Extinction," a sequel that ruled the box office the two previous weekends, dropped to second place with takings of $16.5 million.

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Meet Venus, the unmissable cat who's an internet star because of her two-toned face

 

No need to adjust your screen - this really is a 'two-faced' cat.

Venus the amazing Chimera cat was born with two completely different shades of fur on her face, with ginger fuzz on one half and black on the other.

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Ramones punk band co-founder Tommy dies at 65

 

(Reuters) - Tommy Ramone, the drummer and last surviving original member of the American punk band the Ramones, whose aggressive and fast-driving songs spearheaded the punk-rock movement, has died at the age of 65, an associate said on Saturday.

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Jessica Simpson, Eric Johnson wed in Santa Barbara: People

 

(Reuters) - Jessica Simpson married former NFL player Eric Johnson in southern California on Saturday, People magazine reported.

Simpson, 33, and Johnson, 34, tied the knot at the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, according to the magazine which received confirmation from the couple.

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Reporter from Philippines wins AFP's Kate Webb Prize

 

Multimedia journalist Patricia Evangelista has won the Agence France-Presse Kate Webb Prize for her compelling reporting on conflict and disaster in her native Philippines, AFP announced Friday.

The award recognises exceptional journalism in dangerous or difficult conditions, and Evangelista, 28, produced an impressive body of work on two of the Southeast Asian nation's most brutal events of 2013.

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Who won the Mo Twister vs Estradas Twitter debate?

It was a Twitter battle no one saw coming.

On one side is the always controversial, outspoken disc jockey and TV host now waxing passionate as anti-corruption advocate. On the other side are alleged beneficiaries of the supposed clandestine activities of their already arraigned and jailed senator-father over his involvement in the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) scam.

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'X-Men' director Bryan Singer asks court to toss sex abuse lawsuit

"X-Men" director Bryan Singer on Thursday asked a judge in Los Angeles to dismiss a lawsuit brought by an anonymous British man accusing the filmmaker and an entertainment executive of sexually abusing him as a minor.

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Belgium World Cup match draws more U.S. viewers than World Series

More people in the United States tuned in to the U.S.-Belgium World Cup soccer match on Tuesday than they did for the World Series of baseball - the top championship game for the sport also known as the national pastime.

Disney-owned ESPN said it was the second highest rated men's soccer game, with about 16.5 million viewers, and that it bested its record for its streaming video app WatchESPN, with 1.1 million viewers.
Spanish-language broadcast network Univision said 5.1 million watched the U.S. play Belgium in the knockout match.


Belgium beat the U.S. 2-1 during extra time in the hard-fought contest, setting up the European team to go up against Argentina in the quarter-finals.

The number of people watching the U.S. and Belgium was likely much higher, given that scores of thousands jammed bars, restaurants and sports stadiums to view the contest. Nielsen, which provides TV ratings, measures only U.S. households.

The more than 22 million watching on Tuesday beat the number of viewers - some 19 million - who tuned in to see the Boston Red Sox win the World Series last year.

Still, soccer has a long way to go before it catches up in popularity with football. The National Football League's annual Super Bowl drew in more than 111 million U.S. viewers this year. - REUTERS

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Lindsay Lohan sues makers of 'Grand Theft Auto V' video game

Actress Lindsay Lohan is suing the makers of the popular "Grand Theft Auto V" video game, saying it used her likeness without permission, according to a lawsuit filed on Wednesday.

Lohan accused New York-based Take-Two Interactive Software Inc and its label Rockstar Games of creating a look-alike character named Lacey Jonas to boost sales, according to the complaint in state Supreme Court in New York.

For months ahead of the game's release, the complaint said, the companies promoted the Lacey Jonas character and a side plot in which players must rescue her from swarms of paparazzi.

Lohan was once one of Hollywood's most sought-after young actresses with starring roles in movies such as 1998's "The Parent Trap" and 2004's "Mean Girls," but of late has become better known for her legal woes that include theft and reckless driving. She has been to rehab six times.

The in-game Jonas shares similarities with the real-life Lohan, including her voice, image and outfits from her clothing line, the complaint said. The game also features the Hotel Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California, where the actress once lived.

Claiming that the game violates her privacy rights under New York law, Lohan is seeking undetermined damages.

A spokesman for Take Two declined to comment.

The 16-year-old Grand Theft Auto franchise has won numerous awards and become embedded in popular culture over the years.

But the criminal drama and action-adventure series has also stirred controversy over the violent and adult nature of its content.

Grand Theft Auto V was released in September 2013 and exceeded $800 million in global first day sales.-REUTERS

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