International auction house Christie's will appraise some pieces in the Detroit Institute of Arts collection as a federal judge considers a state-appointed emergency manager's request to push the city into the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.
Christie's also will assist and advise on valuing the artwork while leaving the pieces in the city's ownership, the New York-based firm said Monday on its website.

Denzel Washington will narrate a PBS documentary about the 1963 March on Washington for civil rights.
The network told the Television Critics Association on Monday that the actor had just completed taping his narration for the film "The March" airing Aug. 27, a day after the 50th anniversary of the march that featured Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.

Joss Whedon says he's been enjoying trust as much as freedom from his partners on the much-awaited ABC sci-fi drama, "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
The prolific Whedon said Sunday that both ABC and Marvel have been involved in getting what they want as the series takes shape, but he added he has been allowed to fulfill his vision.

Rapper and actor 50-Cent faces arraignment on charges that he attacked his ex-girlfriend and trashed her condo.
The hearing for the singer, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, was scheduled for Monday.

A rare portfolio of photographs from Marilyn Monroe's last sitting is up for grabs to the highest bidder.
Freeman's auction house in Philadelphia estimates the limited-edition portfolio of 10 photos, made from fashion photographer Bert Stern's original negatives from his June 1962 assignment for Vogue, could fetch $10,000 to $15,000 when it goes on the block Sept. 10.

Companies vying for a stake in the fast-growing electronic cigarette business are reviving the decades-old marketing tactics the tobacco industry used to hook generations of Americans on regular smokes.
They're using cab-top and bus stop displays, sponsoring race cars and events, and encouraging smokers to "rise from the ashes" and take back their freedom in slick TV commercials featuring celebrities like TV personality Jenny McCarthy.

Jonathan Viera scored twice as Valencia beat Inter Milan 4-0 Sunday in the International Champions Cup.
Ever Banega and Jonas also scored to help Valencia advance to the fifth-place match against Everton on Tuesday at Miami. Inter Milan will face Juventus for seventh place in the preceding match that night.

Malia Manuel of Wailua, Hawaii, beat Paige Hareb of New Zealand to claim the Supergirl Pro, the world's largest all-women's surf contest, at California's Oceanside Pier on Sunday.
Manuel, a three-time runner-up, won $8,000 from the $40,000 purse. She had the top scores in each round while progressing to the final.

Sam Stosur won the Southern California Open on Sunday for her first title in nearly two years, beating top-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-3.
The fifth-seeded Stosur of Australia had lost all of her previous eight matches against Azarenka, winning only two sets.

Sun Yang perched his imposing physique astride the lane rope and flexed one last time Sunday after winning his third gold medal at the world championships, confirming his status as the preeminent long-distance swimmer.
Sun unleashed a strong finish to power to victory in the 1,500-meter freestyle, adding to wins earlier this week in the 400 and 800 at the Palau Sant Jordi indoor pool.
