Sotheby's is auctioning a rare copy of John James Audubon's "Birds of America," billed as the world's most expensive book — a treasure that could sell for 6 million pounds ($9.5 million).

One of only 100 or so remaining copies of "Birds of America," the tome will be on the block Tuesday in London alongside a first edition of Shakespeare's plays expected to fetch at least 1 million pounds ($1.6 million).

The books come from the estate of the 2nd Baron Hesketh, an aristocratic…

LimeWire -- one of the world's biggest outlets for people to share music, movies and TV shows free of charge over the Internet -- said it would be shutting down by the end of the year and closing its sole office in New York.

In October, a U.S. federal judge granted the music industry's request to shut down the popular LimeWire file-sharing service, which had been found liable for copyright infringement.

"As a result of our current legal situation, we have no choice but to wind…

Aretha Franklin says her surgery was "highly successful" and thanks well-wishers for their prayers. In a statement released Thursday to The Associated Press, the Queen of Soul says: "God is still in control. I had superb doctors and nurses whom were blessed by all the prayers of the city and the country."

Franklin did not say what she was being treated for Thursday.

Last month, the 68-year-old singer announced she was canceling all concert dates and personal appearances through…

Leonardo DiCaprio braved scary skies to get to a summit devoted to saving the worlds' tigers, donating $1 million to the cause and earning high praise from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

The Hollywood star arrived in St. Petersburg on Tuesday after two flight dramas, Putin said, just managing to make the meeting where officials from the 13 countries where tigers still live in the wild agreed to a program to save the iconic big cats from extinction.

DiCaprio was one of…

More change is afoot for "American Idol," which will air on a different night for its upcoming 10th season.

The Fox TV network said its hit singing contest will move from its longtime Tuesday and Wednesday night broadcasts to Wednesday and Thursday when it returns. Its season debut is Jan. 19.

The switch means more big change for "American Idol," which is bringing in new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez after the departures of Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres and Kara…

Westminster Abbey looks like the most likely venue for Britain's royal wedding, after Kate Middleton was photographed emerging from the central London landmark.

The Daily Mail newspaper ran a front-page photo Thursday of Middleton leaving the abbey after an evening visit with courtiers. Kate and Prince William have met royal staff to begin planning their wedding, which will take place in London next spring or summer.

Some have speculated the couple may choose St. Paul's…

Randy Quaid and his wife are due back in a Santa Barbara courthouse Tuesday for two hearings that could result in arrest warrants and restraining orders if they don't show up.

The criminal hearing will be the fourth time a judge and prosecutors have tried to arraign Randy and Evi Quaid on charges they vandalized the guesthouse of a home they used to own. Authorities have accused them of causing more than $5,000 in damage to the hillside home.

The house's current owners are also…

Juggling to "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"? Modern dance, to "Free as a Bird"? Perhaps not the usual stuff of a John Lennon tribute concert.

But looking at the wry, quirky smiles on Lennon's face as classic photos of the Beatle great alternated all evening long on a screen at the Beacon Theater, one couldn't help but think he would have thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Lennon, it's still startling to think, would have turned 70 last month — and so even though Friday's tribute was…

Lenny Kravitz, Akon and 50 Cent will be featured on the upcoming posthumous album from Michael Jackson.

Epic Records and Jackson's estate released more details about the record simply called "MICHAEL" on Friday. The song "Hold My Hand" with Akon will be the first single and debut on Jackson's website on Monday.

Akon says the song was leaked two years ago before Jackson's death but it wasn't complete. Akon says now it's finished and he's proud to have worked with one of his…