what does * (asterisk) mean in [Python]?

Background

When I was, again, doing some tutorials from Zetcode, I ran into something I don't quite understand.

grid.addWidget(button, *position)

why "&" in addMenu("&File")? [PyQt4] [Python]

Background

Recently I've been trying to learn python and its GUI PyQt4. Codecademy helped me much on how classes work as classes are used very often in PyQt4 (and that Python is an object-oriented language.)

I use this really helpful tutorial on PyQt4 to help me get started:
First programs in PyQt4

As I was learning how to use a menu bar, I came to this weird situation.