Criss Angel's rescue of an escape artist trapped in a water-filled box was no illusion.

Angel and Spencer Horsman were rehearsing for opening night of the illusionist's show at a Connecticut casino when Horsman became trapped in the box dangling above the stage and Angel came to his aid.

A 10-year-old mutt named Quasi Modo, whose spinal birth defects left him a bit hunchbacked, is the winner of this year's World's Ugliest Dog contest.

The pit bull-Dutch shepherd mix and his owner took the $1,500 prize Friday night, besting 25 other dogs competing in the contest that applauds imperfection, organizers said.

A pair of Argentine pilots were fired after taking pictures with a voluptuous star in the cabin of their passenger plane while in the air.

Curvaceous dancer and actress Vicky Xipolitakis posted photos on Twitter of her taking pictures with both pilots, one of which was taken clearly while the plane was in mid-flight.

Already stung by accusations that his presidential palace in Ankara is a megalomaniac folly, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing new claims of wasteful extravagance.

But this time the controversy does not surround a grand new building but a humble table set for the traditional fast-breaking iftar meal for the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

A giant gorilla with brooding good looks and rippling muscles is causing a stir at a Japanese zoo, with women flocking to check out the hunky pin-up. 

Shabani, an 18-year-old silverback who tips the scales at around 180 kilograms (400 pounds), has become the star attraction at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Nagoya, striking smouldering poses the movie model in  "Zoolander" would be proud of.

A large tractor stolen from a Utah construction site was found abandoned at a Mormon church, apparently after the thieves took it on a ride through Salt Lake City's suburbs, officials said Wednesday.

The Komatsu PT250-5 front-end loader valued at $130,000 disappeared from West Haven early in the week.

A scratch-off lottery ticket bought as a last-minute Father's Day gift has turned a truck driver into an instant millionaire.

Joseph Morrah, 61, was given the winning $1 Million Payout ticket on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

The word "twerk" dates back to as early as 1820, the Oxford English Dictionary said Thursday as it announced twerking as one of 500 new entries this year.

The word rocketed into popular use following U.S. singer Miley Cyrus's controversial gyrating at a music awards performance in 2013.

Queen Elizabeth II may have to move out of Buckingham Palace to allow for much-needed repairs including taking out asbestos, replacing ageing boilers and rewiring, royal officials said on Wednesday.

"One option is for the palace to be vacated," a royal source said, giving one estimate for the refurbishment of the 18th-century building at £150 million (211 million euros, $237 million).

A trio of triplets have been born this month alone at a California hospital and the streak is expected to continue.

The Fresno Bee newspaper reported Monday that one set of triplets was born the week of June 7, followed by another set June 18 and the third set three days later.