David Bowie Makes Triumphant Comeback with New Album: PEOPLE's Critic

By Chuck Arnold

03/01/2013 at 08:40 PM EST

Ten years after his last album, David Bowie is back – and so is his swagger.

Forget the moody musings of "Where Are We Now?" – the reflective comeback single that he dropped, seemingly out of nowhere, on his birthday last month (Jan. 8). The Next Day – which, though not released until March 12, began streaming in its entirety on iTunes on Friday – represents much more of an emphatic, energetic return from the 66-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

"We'll never be rid of these stars/ But I hope they live forever," sings Bowie, sounding like the immortal rock god he is over the glittering guitar-pop bounce of "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)."

It's one of many driving, guitar-charged tracks on The Next Day: You can just imagine Ziggy Stardust getting his groove on to the bouncy beat of "Dancing Out in Space," while "(You Will) Set the World on Fire" is a rocking, fist-pumping anthem for today's young Americans.

Elsewhere, "Dirty Boys" is a sleazy grinder that, with its saxed-up funkiness, harks back to his soulful periods like 1975's Young Americans. In another nod to Bowie's past, The Next Day was produced by Tony Visconti, who also worked on the star's Berlin Trilogy albums from 1977 to 1979.

On one of the standouts, the melodic, midtempo "I'd Rather Be High," the album takes a political turn with Bowie's anti-war message: "I'd rather be dead or out of my head/ Then training these guns on those men in the sand."

It's moments like these that make The Next Day a triumphant comeback from a much-missed icon.

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Paris Jackson Rocks a New Punk Look

By Andrea Billups

03/01/2013 at 08:30 AM EST

Punk rock Paris!

Michael Jackson's daughter Paris, now 14, debuted a more edgy and downtown look this week when she Tweeted photos of herself wearing a knotted Pink Floyd T-shirt with a short, spiked jet black coif and exposed back tattoo.

Titling her Wednesday Tweet "late night creativity," Paris sported a new look that included black liner rimming her striking light-blue eyes, and dagger-style earrings.

Her transformation from long-haired and girlie draws comparisons to the latest cropped, rock-inspired look of Miley Cyrus.

Paris, an aspiring actress, Tweeted in August that she got her back tattoo to honor her late father. She had previously posted photos of herself on Valentine's Day in a short black wig, perhaps a tryout for her future makeover.

Paris is Michael Jackson's only daughter with former wife Debbie Rowe. She has said in the past that she loves her famous family but hopes to be taken seriously in her own right.

To that end, she shot her first movie role last year, for Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys, a mixed live-action and animation film. She plays a girl who survives being brainwashed by a jellyfish queen in the ocean.

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Debbie Reynolds: Carrie Fisher Will Be 'Just Fine' After Hospitalization

By Elaine Aradillas

02/28/2013 at 08:40 AM EST

Carrie Fisher (left) and Debbie Reynolds

Ethan Miller/Getty

Carrie Fisher was briefly hospitalized last week for her bipolar disorder after a bizarre performance aboard a cruise ship, but her mother Debbie Reynolds says she'll be fine.

"She's had manic depression bipolar since she was 13. It's an illness, and she's doing much better," Reynolds told PEOPLE exclusively Wednesday night. "I'm very proud of her, and she's doing exceptionally well. She'll be just fine, just great, and continue her writing as she always does."

Fisher, 56, who has spoken openly about her mental illness, performed on the Holland American cruise liner Eurodam in the Caribbean. The actress and author gave a rambling performance, leaving many in the audience wondering what was wrong.

"She clearly had trouble remembering things," says Chris Smith, a guest on the cruise. "She tried to tell some stories about her parents and Hollywood, but was having a hard time."

After a video of the performance went viral, her publicist released the following statement: "There was a medical incident related to Carrie Fisher's bipolar disorder. She went to the hospital briefly to adjust her medication and is feeling much better now."

Reynolds, 80, who spoke Wednesday to a sold-out audience attending the Rancho Mirage Lecture Series at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., talked about the effects of mental illness.

"[It's] really dreadful, and you are so alone because you're criticized, and people think you're doing it on purpose, and that you're misbehaving or having a spell because you want attention," she says. "It's not true. It's extremely difficult for everyone to deal with."

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Prince Harry Dances, Cooks with Kids In South Africa

By Simon Perry

02/27/2013 at 08:30 AM EST

Prince Harry, at Lesotho's St. Bernadette's Centre for the Blind

Chris Jackson/Getty

From the slopes of the Alps to the southern African mountain kingdom of Lesotho, Prince Harry is now giving back.

Just returned from his skiing holiday with girlfriend Cressida Bonas, Harry is spending a couple of days in Africa, to work with the Sentebale charity he set up with Lesotho's Prince Seeiso.

Early Wednesday, the Prince, 28, visited the Kananelo Center for the Deaf just outside the capital Maseru, where he was welcomed with a huge "Hi Harry" sign on the chalkboard.

As he attempted to learn some sign language from the children, he quipped to his friend Seeiso, "I'm never going to get this right."

The two princes, who set up the charity (Sentebale means "Forget Me Not") in honor of their late mothers, were then taken to the school's kitchen, where Harry slipped on a purple apron decorated with teddy bears before they tried their hand at making Sotho sweet bread cooked in boiling oil – also known as "fat cakes."

They also got down on their knees to join the kids in a dance.

Following that visit, the pair headed to St. Bernadette's School for the Blind in the capital, Maseru. There, Harry was welcomed with a song sung in the Sesotho language.

The charity supports tens of thousands of children who are either suffering from HIV/Aids, have been orphaned, or have disabilities.

Later, he is to be guest of honor at a fundraising dinner in Johannesburg.

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Charlize Theron & Channing Tatum's Oscars Dance - No Practice Makes Perfect!

By Oliver Jones and Tim Nudd

02/26/2013 at 08:35 AM EST

Channing Tatum and Charlize Theron

Getty

Who knew Charlize Theron could dance? Or that Channing Tatum could do so with his clothes on?

Together they wowed the Academy Awards on Sunday, performing a challenging ballroom dance in front of 40 million viewers – each counting on their background in dance to make up for a frightening lack of rehearsal time.

"They were going to cram and rehearse constantly over two days [right before the Oscars]. But then they both simultaneously got the flu," producer Neil Meron tells PEOPLE.

"We were going, 'Oh my God.' Literally at the last minute they got to rehearse and miraculously got up there and they killed."

It helped that both know a little something about dance.

Theron, 37, studied at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York before embarking on her Oscar-winning acting career. "We reached out to Charlize first, and there was no hesitation. She absolutely jumped on board," says Meron.

Tatum, 32, was less sure of himself, despite loads of dance experience in movies like Step Up and Magic Mike, the latter loosely based on his own experiences as a male stripper.

"Chan said to us, 'Look, I have danced in all these movies, but I have never really done honest-to-God choreography. I don't know that I can do that,' " Meron says. "We told him, 'We believe you are a great dancer, and that you will be able to do it.' He said he would give it a try."

In the end, they dazzled with a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers style number choreographed by Rob Ashford.

And Chan even kept his tux on.

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Anne Hathaway's Oscar Dress Had You Talking

By Maggie Coughlan

02/25/2013 at 08:30 AM EST

The Oscars may honor the best in film, but they'd be nothing without the fashion.

When Anne Hathaway stepped on to the red carpet in a light pink backless Prada gown at Sunday's 85th Annual Academy Awards, she made quite the fashion statement.

While the gown seemed simple from the front, at second glance, an open back and thigh-high slit gave it a sexy edge. Hathaway, 30, told Kristin Chenoweth on ABC's red carpet that her mom called the dress "business in front, party in the back."

Viewers had their own opinions on the dress – which seemed to emphasize Hathaway's bust – which later inspired its own parody Twitter account.

But the dress may have served as a lucky charm for Hathaway, who took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Les Misérables.

"It came true. Thank you so much to the Academy for this and for nominating me with Helen Hunt, Jacki Weaver, Amy Adams and Sally Field. I look up to you all so much and it's just been such an honor. Thank you," Hathaway said upon receiving her Oscar.

She continued, "There are so many people whose generosity and support is the reason I'm standing here right now. I must thank Hugh Jackman. Hugh, you're the best. The cast, the crew, especially Simon Hayes and the sound wizards. Congratulations on tonight, you guys."

Hathaway continued thanking the cast and the crew before giving a romantic shout out to her husband, Adam Shulman.

"By far and away, the greatest moment of my life is the one when you walked into it. I love you so much. And thank you for this. Here's hoping that someday in the not too distant future the misfortunes of Fantine will only be found in stories and never in real life. Thank you."

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You're Invited to PEOPLE.com's Oscars Party!

02/24/2013 at 08:40 AM EST

From left: Bradley Cooper, Oscar, Jessica Chastain

AFP/Getty; Wireimage; Splash News Online

Oscars host Seth MacFarlane isn't the only one gearing up for Hollywood's biggest night – we are too!

Be a part of the glamour and excitement Sunday at 6 p.m. ET when we roll out the red carpet for our PEOPLE.com VIPs.

Here's what you can expect:
• Tune in to our red carpet preshow for exclusive A-list interviews
• Be the first to see the gorgeous gowns – and make your own best-dressed list
• Download your own Oscars ballot – and make your own Academy Awards picks
• Tweet with our editors at #PeopleOscars
• Take our up-to-the-minute Oscars polls

And come back the next day for so much more ...
• See the night's best dresses from all angles with our 360º slideshow
• Come inside the most exclusive Oscars after-parties
• Relive the most memorable quotes of the show
• Get the scoop on the night's biggest shockers and funniest moments everyone is talking about

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Biggest Loser's Francelina Morillo: Jeff Nichols and I 'Have Something Special'

TV Watch

The Biggest Loser

By Patrick Gomez

02/23/2013 at 08:30 AM EST

Francelina Morillo and Jeff Nichols

Trae Patton/NBC (2)

Francelina Morillo may have lost the chance to win the title of Biggest Loser, but she has found love.

"We have something special," Morillo said Tuesday about falling for fellow constant Jeff Nichols while on the ranch. "I have found a bond with him that I haven't had with anyone else. It's like a mirror when I look at him."

Morillo, 26, and Nichols, 25, both lost their fathers while in their teens and bonded in the gym as they began to shed their weight – and emotional baggage.

"You get to see the person at their worst and you see them blossom and grow and become this better version of themselves. You learn to appreciate and admire them in a different way," Morillo says of her time with Nichols on the show.

But the couple was temporarily separated when Morillo was sent home for losing the least amount of weight in the episode that aired last Monday.

"I knew I had gathered the tools in there that I needed to survive in the real world," Morillo says of her tearful sendoff. "I've learned I can do this for the rest of my life and that I can keep the weight off – which is my ultimate goal."

Morillo returned home to New York but soon joined Nichols in Chicago. Now the couple are motivating each other to continue to lose weight.

"We balance each other out. He has the nutrition down pat and I am an exercise junky," Morillo says about working out with Nichols, whose status as a finalist or contender for the at-home prize has yet to be revealed. "It's just so much easier when you have the support of somebody else that knows exactly what you're going through."

Morillo arrived at the ranch weighing 267 lbs., after having lost 100 lbs. at home on her own, and now continues to lose weight by working with a trainer, spending two hours a day on the stairmill and monitoring her portion sizes.

"I was eating a lot of healthy stuff, but I was binging on everything," says Morillo, who used to eat large amounts of apples or oatmeal throughout the day. "If you have too much of good thing, it's also bad. Now I'm all about portion size."

With her eye on the $100,000 at-home prize, Morillo is also looking forward to applying to medical school and eventually fulfilling her dream to become a doctor.

"The new me is positive, outgoing, always smiling and wants the best for me," she says. "I've learned the best way to do that is to surround yourself with positive energy, positive people. That's who I am, and that’s what I radiate from now on."

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Josh Brolin & Diane Lane: Inside Their Up-and-Down Marriage

By Dahvi Shira

02/22/2013 at 07:30 AM EST

Diane Lane and Josh Brolin

Steve Granitz/Wireimage

Josh Brolin and Diane Lane's eight-year marriage is ending in divorce, but the road wasn't always rocky for the occasionally tumultuous pair.

"We're very similar in that celebrity is not a necessity," Brolin, 45, told PEOPLE in 2003, after meeting his soon-to-be-bride, 48, the previous year through stepmom Barbra Streisand. "Everything is easy."

The simplicity seemingly continued for Brolin and his beauty, who wed the following year in a ceremony at the actor's central California ranch.

Though there was a bit of a rocky start to their marriage, the pair got on track in 2005. As Lane told PEOPLE at the time, "I feel much better having a strong man with me who makes me feel embraced and secure. It's wonderful."

With her first marriage to actor Christopher Lambert behind her, Lane went on to say, "I wasn't going to go relationship shopping with my young daughter. I didn't want her to get attached to something that wasn't going to last."

In 2008, Lane praised Brolin, telling Redbook: "It's just invigorating to be around him. Josh completes me because I'm so attracted to his otherness."

On Thursday, reps confirmed the pair split, with a source telling PEOPLE, "They've been separated for several months. This was a hard decision for both of them to make. They were together for 11 years, the relationship just ran its course."

News of the breakup came almost two months after Brolin was held for public intoxication just before midnight on New Year's Eve 2013. Released without charge, the actor was spotted without his wedding ring the following day, donning sunglasses, in Venice, Calif., where he seemed unfazed by the trouble as he ate with a male friend at Sauce on Hampton.

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Lou Myers, A Different World Actor, Dies

By Tim Nudd

02/21/2013 at 08:25 AM EST

TV, film and stage actor Lou Myers, best known for playing Mr. Gaines on the sitcom A Different World in the '80s and early '90s, has died at 77.

Myers passed away at the Charleston Area Medical Center in his native state of West Virginia after battling pneumonia for several months, TMZ.com reported.

Myers was born in Chesapeake, W.V., the son of a Cabin Creek coal miner, according to the Charleston Gazette. After attending West Virginia State University, he got his first acting break as an understudy in the Broadway play The First Breeze of Summer.

He went on to appear in more than a dozen films, including How Stella Got Her Groove Back and The Wedding Planner.

On television, he had roles on ER, JAG and NYPD Blue, but is best remembered for playing Vernon Gaines on A Different World, which was a spin-off from The Cosby Show.

On Broadway, Myers appeared in productions including Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He won an NAACP Image Award for his portrayal of the Stool Pigeon in the play King Hedley II.

An accomplished piano player, Myers also sang jazz and blues with the touring company of Negro Music in Vogue.

He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Jeffries, 95, a son, Melvin Myers, and two grandsons, Brayden and Christian, the Gazette said.

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Oscar Pistorius's House Had Testosterone & Needles, Say Police

Breaking News

By Andrea Billups

02/20/2013 at 08:35 AM EST

Oscar Pistorius

Herman Verwey/City Press/Gallo Images/Getty

As a bail hearing continued Wednesday in the murder case of South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, new details have emerged as prosecutors outline their charges that he is guilty of shooting his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.

Police testified that they discovered testosterone and needles inside the "Blade Runner" Olympian's home, The New York Times reports.

But his defense lawyers said the Olympian took no banned performance-enhancing drugs, describing the substances found as herbal. The athletes, according to the International Paralympic Committee, tested drug-free as late as last September.

Pistorius, 26, has claimed the shooting was a case of mistaken identity.

Prosecution lawyers, questioning a police witness, said shots fired through the bathroom door that night countered Pistorius's claims that he was not wearing his prosthetic legs when he thought he heard an intruder inside his house and fired with a 9 mm handgun through the door.

Steenkamp, 30, was struck three times, in the head, arm and hip. She was buried on Tuesday amid an outpouring of national support and emotional family tributes.

A police detective testified Wednesday that Pistorius had accidentally fired a weapon at a restaurant in January and urged a friend to take responsibility for the shooting, The Times reports. The detective also testified that Pistorius threatened violence over a woman in another altercation.

Pistorius had claimed to investigators that his house was dark at the time he thought an intruder was inside but a witness who testified for the prosecution Wednesday said a light was switched on when the first shots were fired.

That witness said a gunshot rang out, then a woman's screams were heard, the more shots continued. Pistorius's lawyer, however, said that witness, a neighbor, lived 600 yards away.

The emotional Pistorius continued to proclaim his innocence. "I fail to understand how I could be charged with murder, let alone premeditated," Pistorius told the court in an affidavit read by his defense counsel Barry Roux. "I had no intention to kill my girlfriend."

The prosecution, however, was resolute, that this was not an accident but a premeditated act of violence. If convicted, Pistorius would receive life in prison.

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Kate Looks Great at First Official Outing Since Babymoon

By Simon Perry

UPDATED
02/19/2013 at 08:45 AM EST

• Originally published 02/19/2013 at 08:25 AM EST

Making her first official public appearance since her Caribbean babymoon, a tanned and healthy-looking Duchess of Cambridge showed off her blooming baby bump Tuesday morning during a visit to a residential treatment center run by one of her patronages, Action on Addiction.

Just back from a winter break in Mustique, Kate, 31, chose a gray MaxMara Studio dress paired with pearl drop earrings.

"She looked really relaxed and rested after her break. She could have worn a coat, but she looked happy to show off her bump," says Judy Wade, the royals writer for the Observer.

"It's nice to be back," Kate said as she greeted Action on Addiction's chief executive, Nick Barton. "It's a lovely day for it."

Kate also acknowledged how she felt about having a baby as she chatted with those at the center.

Said Lisa, 34, a mother of three: "I asked her if she was nervous about having a child, and she said it would unnatural if she wasn't. It's just human, isn't it?"

Another woman, Natalie, 28, is carrying a baby due in late July, and said after speaking to Kate, "She was saying she had been feeling unwell but was feeling better now."

Next month, the Palace is set to make an announcement on another group of charities and interests that Kate will support.

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Mindy McCready's Ex 'Not Shocked' by Her Suicide

By Stephen M. Silverman

02/18/2013 at 08:20 AM EST

Mindy McCready's ex-boyfriend and the father of her 6-year-old son said Monday morning that he wasn't surprised when he heard that the troubled country singer had apparently taken her own life.

"As sad as it is, it didn't come as a major shock," Billy McKnight told the Today show. "She's just been battling demons for so long."

He added, "I was around her when she attempted suicide twice, so I knew it was in her."

Cleburne County, Arkansas, sheriff's deputies responded to a report of gunshots Sunday at 3:31 p.m. and discovered McCready's body on the front porch of her Heber Springs house. Neighbors reportedly had heard two shots, and the deputies found dead at the scene McCready's dog and the singer herself.

"The demons that she hasn't beaten were there," McKnight said of McCready, 37, who had battled substance abuse.

Following last month's death of her fiancé David Wilson, which is currently under investigation as either a suicide or a murder, the courts ordered McCready to be institutionalized.

Asked on Today if she might have been released too early, McKnight said he knew McCready could talk her way out of anything.

"I feel for her mother and her family and especially my son," said McKnight, whose boy, Zander, was the subject of a bitter and prolonged custody battle with McCready.

After the death of Wilson, Zander and his 10-month-old half-brother, Zayne, whose father was Wilson, were placed in foster care, where they remain. McKnight said that he wants his son returned to him: "He needs to come home."

As for the other child, "I don't know what is going to happen to Zayne," he said.

Zander and Billy McKnight, summer 2011

Courtesy Billy McKnight

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Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Models: Then and Now

How are Elle, Christie, Kathy and more faring (and looking) since their first shoots? Answer: Pretty darn well!

Credit: Courtesy of Sports Illustrated

Updated: Tuesday Feb 12, 2013 | 09:00 AM EST
By: Kate Hogan

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Robin Roberts: My Dark Days, My Brave Fight

By Sharon Cotliar

02/16/2013 at 09:00 AM EST

Sitting in a white fluffy bathrobe in front of her bathroom mirror, Robin Roberts – still recuperating from a bone marrow transplant just five months earlier – seems at ease with her striking reflection. Just as she was after battling breast cancer in 2007, Roberts is once again bald, but this time she's skipping the wig.

"Whatever," the Good Morning America anchor says with a shrug. "I'm thankful I have a pretty-good-shaped head." And the 30 lbs. she's lost from her 5'10" frame during her month-long hospital stay? "It's been hard to put back on, a first in my life," she admits. "But I gained a pound last week in New Orleans. Woo-hoo!" And when Charlie Gibson, an old friend and former GMA cohort, drops by her Manhattan apartment and asks how she is, she replies as if nothing eventful has happened: "I'm good. How are you?" she says casually. "No, I wasn't being polite," Gibson replies. "I really want to know, 'How are you?' "

That's the question millions have been asking ever since the anchor left GMA last August to undergo a bone marrow transplant for a rare blood-and-bone-marrow disease called myelodysplastic syndrome, which can lead to a fast-growing form of leukemia.

"Every day I feel more like my old self. I didn't think I would," Roberts says, noting that she was so weak when she left the hospital in October, she could barely walk. While some shaky moments persist – "I've still got chemo brain and my vision is blurry" – Roberts is eager to return to her GMA anchor chair at last on Feb. 20, exactly five months after her transplant. "You feel so bad for so long, you just want to feel normal. And now I do."

She also has a new sense of perspective after fighting for her life for a second time. While Roberts, 52, projected an upbeat, brave persona in blog posts and tweets during her recovery, "it's important people know I'm not always like that," she says. "But I choose to be happy and not string together the bad days." Says her sister and bone marrow donor Sally-Ann: "We've been through a lot the last few months," including the death of their beloved mom, Lucimarian. "I marvel at Robin's strength."

It's a strength that was tested in April, when Roberts's doctor told her over the phone he suspected she had MDS. After looking it up on the Internet, "I was literally on the floor," she recalls. "I collapsed." But as GMA viewers know, she soon picked herself up and decided to go ahead with the grueling process of a bone marrow transplant; luckily her sister was a perfect match. Just as she was about to begin treatment, another life-altering event intervened: Roberts had to race home to Pass Christian, Miss., during Hurricane Isaac to say goodbye to her ailing mother, who died just hours after Roberts reached her on Aug. 30. The trip came at a pivotal moment for the terrified Roberts. "I don't care how old you are; when you're sick, you want your mom," she says, choking up. "And I wanted my mom."
 

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Oscar Pistorius Weeps in Court as Prosecutors Seek Murder Charges

By Andrea Billups

02/15/2013 at 08:15 AM EST

Oscar Pistorius

Antonie de Ras/Reuters/Landov

Oscar Pistorius, the South African track star known as the Blade Runner, put his head in his hands and wept Friday as prosecutors said they would seek a charge of premeditated murder in the shooting of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, the New York Times reports.

Pistorius, 26, appearing in a Pretoria courtroom, is accused of shooting Steenkamp, 30, whose body was found in a pool of blood in his gated home in Pretoria on Thursday. She was reportedly shot four times. He did not enter a plea on the murder charges and police said they would oppose any application for bail.

Pistorius rose to fame and became a national hero as a world-class sprinter while running in the London Olympics on carbon fiber blades. He was born without fibula bones and had amputations below the knees when he was an infant. He was the first Paralymic champion to run with able-bodied athletes in an Olympic games, making his debut last summer in London.

The murder charge has shocked South Africans who held the athlete up as a national hero. A grim Pistorious sat with his jaw clenched in the courtroom. At one point, his father Henke reached out to him, but Pistorius just walked on, teary-eyed.

Steenkamp had posted Valentine's Day messages of love on her Twitter account just hours before her death. "It should be a day of love for everyone," she Tweeted. Her family said they had no clue of trouble between the couple before her death.

Reeva Steenkamp and Oscar Pistorius

Gallo Images / REX USA

Police told reporters said they were interviewing witnesses, including neighbors. A 9 mm handgun was removed from the home by police.

Initial news accounts suggest that Pistorius, a gun enthusiast, had reportedly mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder. But police countered that story by disclosing previous police complaints of domestic problems at his home.

The court case will resume on Tuesday. Pistorius competed in the 2012 Olympics, running in the 400-meter race, where he reached the semi-finals. He also competed as a part of his country's 4x400 meter relay team. He has previously won two gold medals and a silver at the Paralympic Games, also held in London.

• With reporting by MIKE BEHR

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Kim Kardashian & Kanye West Involved in Security Breach at JFK

By Tim Nudd

02/14/2013 at 08:00 AM EST

Kim Kardashian and Kayne West

Splash News Online

Sorry, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. You'll have to endure the normal hassles of air travel, too.

The couple, returning from Brazil, were involved in a security breach at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday morning, when a TSA employee allowed them to skip a security checkpoint while transferring flights.

"An airline employee escorted the two travelers through a non-public area in order to provide expedited access to their domestic flight," a TSA spokesman said, according to New York's Daily News.

The spokesman said the employee was to blame – not Kardashian, 32, and West, 35.

The couple, who are expecting a baby, had returned from Carnival in Brazil and were transferring to a flight to Los Angeles. They made the connection but were forced to disembark and be screened privately, delaying the flight for an hour.

TMZ.com first reported the incident.

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One Direction, Taylor Swift Among Kids' Choice Awards Nominees

By Andrea Billups

02/13/2013 at 08:50 AM EST

One Direction, (from left) Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Harry Styles

Jon Furniss/AP

Time to get slimed!

Wednesday brought the nominations for Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards, set to air March 23 with Josh Duhamel as host.

For favorite musical group, nominees include Big Time Rush, Bon Jovi, Maroon 5 and One Direction. Favorite Song nominees include: "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen, "Gagnan Style" by PSY, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift, and "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction.

"We are delighted with our nominations for the Kids' Choice Awards," One Direction's Harry Styles said in a statement to PEOPLE. "It was amazing to perform 'What Makes You Beautiful' at last year’s show. Thank you as always to our incredible fans and supporters!"

Voting opens in 22 categories on nick.com on Thursday, allowing for a little Valentine's Day love for your favorite TV actors, musicians, sports and film stars. New categories added this year include favorite app and favorite villain.

Voters may also mark their ballots on Facebook using embeddable wall posts and on Twitter with custom hashtags.

This year mark's Nickelodeon's 26th annual awards. The show will be broadcast live from the University of Southern California's Galen Center on March 23, starting at 8 p.m. ET, on Nickelodeon, of course.

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The Bachelor's Sean Lowe Blogs About His Dates in St. Croix

Sean Lowe and Tierra on The Bachelor

Sean Lowe is the star of season 17 of The Bachelor, which airs Mondays on ABC. The hunky Dallas businessman and entrepreneur is blogging about his romantic journey for PEOPLE.com.

I'd developed really strong feelings for the final six women on The Bachelor – and I could hardly wait to take them to St. Croix. Our previous week in Canada was great! My heart and head were back on track, and I felt as though the women put their focus back on me. And because of that, each of my relationships grew stronger.

But it was time to leave the cold weather behind and move on to some sandy beaches. This was a huge week for all of us because I would have to decide whose family I was ready to meet.

I had three one-on-one dates and one group date in St. Croix. I decided to give the one-on-one dates to women I had questions for – and the group date went to the women whose hometowns I was ready to visit.

My first date was with AshLee, who was a front-runner in my mind since we visited the theme park back in Los Angeles. She is sweet, loving and compassionate, and I knew she truly wanted to give her heart over to me. But I was still left with doubts about our relationship because I didn't seem to have as much fun with her as I did with the other women.

Given her traumatic childhood, it's understandable why AshLee has control issues. But I think that was preventing her from really letting go and allowing herself to have fun. I really want a partner that I can laugh uncontrollably with and someone who can make even mundane tasks feel exciting. I hoped AshLee had that quality in her, or that I brought it out in her, and I was ready to find out.

After taking the catamaran to the island, AshLee decided to take one for the team and tell me everything I needed to know about Tierra. Until that point, I had only heard the women say they didn't like Tierra, but they never gave specific reasons. It was actually a huge relief to hear all that AshLee had to say. It took a lot of courage for her to bring it up.

That evening, we ended our date with an oceanside dinner where she screamed her love for me while standing on a chair. For the first time, I felt like AshLee was finally letting go and stepping out of her comfort zone for me. I left that date thinking once again that AshLee might be the woman for me.

Connecting with Tierra

Next was my long-awaited date with Tierra. I had a lot of fun with her that day walking around the streets of St. Croix, but I couldn't shake what AshLee had told me. That night, as we had a romantic dinner in an old sugar mill, I tried to really figure out what my feelings were for Tierra, and if I could see a future for us.

I was nervous that if I ended up with Tierra, drama would follow her into our everyday lives. But when she told me she was falling in love with me, I softened a bit. She was always kind when she was with me, and I wanted to believe that the drama was circumstantial and that once she wasn't around a bunch of girls dating the same guy, she would be drama-free. I still ended the evening with questions, but remembering that my connection with Tierra was strong.

Group Date

The following day was the group date with Des, Lindsay and Catherine. I didn't have a lot of questions for these three women. They all have one thing in common: I always have fun with them. Since the beginning I've said that I want to marry my best friend, and they definitely fit that criterion.

We spent the day traveling and touring the island in a Jeep. At the end of the day, I really didn't know who I would give the rose to because they were all so deserving. But I decided to give it to Lindsay because she was so supportive, patient and encouraging throughout this entire journey.

My last date of the week was with Lesley. She was another person who fit the best-friend criteria, but I needed to see more from her. Lesley had a wall up and I always felt like she couldn't be completely vulnerable with me.

Our date was fun, but I needed more than fun. I desperately wanted to see her open up emotionally and allow me to see her true feelings, but that never happened. I was shocked to hear her say on TV that she loved me, and I was left confused as to why she didn't tell me that during our date. Had she told me, it could have changed everything.

Sisterly Advice

I flew my sister, Shay, to St. Croix for her birthday. She loves the show (she signed me up for The Bachelorette!), and I thought it would be a cool present for her. She is also a great judge of character and she knows me better than anyone else.

My sister's advice before I left Dallas for L.A. was to avoid the girl whom drama surrounded. After hearing everything that AshLee had to say about Tierra, I thought it would be a good idea to have my sister sit down and visit with Tierra so I could get her opinion.

I had no idea what I was walking into upon entering the women's suite. I was not aware of the big blowout AshLee and Tierra just had. I found Tierra crying on her bed with her head in her hands. I had already figured by this point that Tierra was not the woman I was going to marry, so when I saw how distraught she was, I knew I had to end it right then and there.

I still believe Tierra has more good in her than people see, but I also recognize that she doesn't have the maturity or social skills necessary to make it on The Bachelor.

When it came time to send someone home at the rose ceremony, I felt confident in my decision. As much as I enjoyed spending time with Lesley, I knew I had to send her home because she never allowed herself to open up emotionally.

I was sad to see Lesley leave, but I felt so confident in my final four. Knowing hometown dates were right around the corner, I was incredibly excited. I loved bringing Emily home to meet my family, and it changed everything for me, so I had really high hopes for the coming week. On to hometowns!

Thanks for watching!
Sean

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Pink Trades Grammys for Mommy Time with Daughter Willow

By Maggie Coughlan

02/11/2013 at 08:00 AM EST

Grammys, schammys!

Even though she was nominated for best pop vocal album, Pink was absent from the awards show on Sunday.

Instead, the 33-year-old singer spent the evening on Twitter, sharing her musings about the broadcast – and her busy day.

"I'm sorry honey @hartluck but every time Johnny Depp speaks with that low voice, I can't find my clothes. Oops there they are. #brrrrr," she Tweeted to her husband Carey Hart when the actor introduced Mumford & Sons.

Then, after Kelly Clarkson charmed the audience with an adorable acceptance speech for best pop vocal album, Pink offered her congratulations.

"Congrats to Kelly Clarkson for the award and that lovable speech. You made me laugh. Can't wait to hear that song with Miguel," she wrote.

While much of the music world spent the day getting primped for the Grammys, Pink shared she had spent it with her daughter, Willow.

"I had the most incredible day. Pancakes, willow, train rides, park, arts and crafts, nap time, baking, kisses. Dancing, music. Life is good," she Tweeted, sharing a photo.

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