Two Afghan policemen stand paralyzed by fear in front of a plastic cup. But this is not some farcical scene from the battle against the Taliban -- it is a sketch from a new clown show in Kabul.

The performance, put on by nine members of the Azdar troupe, seems improbable in a country locked in a nine-year battle between U.S.-led NATO troops and the Islamist militants.

The white two-piece suit John Lennon wore on the cover of the Beatles' "Abbey Road" album has been sold at auction in Connecticut for $46,000.

The suit and other Beatles memorabilia were sold Saturday at the Braswell Galleries' annual New Year's Day auction to an online bidder who wished to remain anonymous.

The long-delayed Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" has suffered another blow with the departure of a lead actress, one of a number of performers injured in the costly production even before its official opening.

Natalie Mendoza, who recently had returned to the stunt-heavy show after suffering a concussion during its first preview performance last month, pulled out for good following several days of negotiations between lawyers for both sides. Producers Thursday evening broke the news to the cast before the 8 p.m. performance.

Japan's Nintendo has issued a health warning over the 3D function on its upcoming gaming console, recommending children aged six and under do not play with it to prevent damage to their eyes.

At a promotional event near Tokyo in January, "we will offer 2Ds alone to children aged six and younger as continuing to watch 3D images for a long time could negatively affect the development of their eyes," Nintendo said.

Britain's Royal Mint has released a commemorative coin featuring supposedly lifelike portraits of Prince William and his bride-to-be — but critics say Kate Middleton has a right to be horrified.

Images of the couple on the memento bear little resemblance to either the prince or his 28-year-old betrothed. Middleton appears plump in the face and lips and has bags under her eyes. Some critics claim William looks like Al Gore.

A low-key British historical drama about King George VI's stammer led with seven nominations for the Golden Globe awards Tuesday, while blockbuster Facebook film "The Social Network" scored six nods.

"The King's Speech," starring Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter, was nominated for best picture, director, actor, screenplay, score and supporting actor and actress.

Michael Jackson fans will this week finally get their hands on the pop icon's first record since he died, with huge sales expected despite lukewarm reviews and questions over its authenticity.

"Michael," due out Tuesday in the United States, comprises 10 songs the King of Pop was at various stages of completing when he died last year, and includes contributions from rapper 50 Cent, Lenny Kravitz and U.S. singer Akon.

Soul legend Aretha Franklin has cancer and underwent surgery last week, media reported Wednesday, after she canceled engagements for the near future.

Fox 2 News in Detroit cited a relative as saying the 68-year-old "Queen of Soul" is doing "OK," but that the family is very concerned, and is asking for supporters to send their thoughts and prayers.

A new Michael Jackson music video is hitting the Internet preceding the launch of a posthumous Jackson album.

The video, previewed by The Associated Press, debuts at midnight Thursday Eastern time on worldwide websites, including MichaelJackson.com, said Jackson estate co-administrator John Branca.

Mimix, a technology that translates spoken and written words into sign language backed by a Lebanese team, is now in a standoff against Brazil's Mindle to win the Global Title.

Mimix won the regional award during YallaStartup weekend in Beirut. It then competed against 13 global cities and won the Global Startup Battle 2010.