From the movies to your closet: 'Hunger Games' inspires everyday style

"How-to-dress like Katniss" web pages, blog posts and articles are being bookmarked and pinned up by girls of all ages.

(CNN) -- A single braid down the back, a light hunting jacket, a pair of sturdy leather shoes and a small golden pin; not exactly a culmination of things you would call fashionable.

But these are the key accessories to one of the hottest new characters to hit the big screen: Katniss Everdeen.

Peak bloom dates for cherry trees in the nation's capital are this week,

Peak bloom dates for cherry trees in the nation's capital are this week, earlier than usual.

Weather out of whack as winter nears end

On the last weekend of winter, people were taking out their skis in Arizona and putting them away in Minnesota. They were putting on sweaters in Phoenix and stripping down to their shorts to ice fish near Fargo, North Dakota. They were calling out snowplows in the California desert and counting the millions left in their snow removal budget in Ohio.

Deadly explosions in series of attacks on Iraqi cities

 

At least 30 people have been killed in a series of explosions in Iraq, officials say.

Two car bombs in the predominantly Shia city of Karbala are reported to have killed at least 13 people.

Another car bomb near police headquarters in the northern city of Kirkuk killed seven people, according to hospital sources.

Russia joins Red Cross call for daily truce in Syria

The Red Cross says a daily ceasefire is needed to safely evacuate the woundedBBC Online

Russia has joined the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in calling for a daily two-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Syria.

In a statement, the foreign ministry called on the government "and all armed groups who oppose it" to agree to ceasefires "without delay".

Tigers confident in must-win match

The Tigers are confident as they took to the field against Sri Lanka in a do or die match to qualify for the final of the Asia Cup at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium

Cuban authorities release 'Ladies in White' marchers, dissident says

All of the members of the group who were detained Sunday were released, said dissident Oscar Ernesto Chepe, who supports the group.Havana, Cuba -- Cuban authorities have released dozens of members of the "Ladies in White" group after detaining them, a dissident said Monday.

Katy Perry' as in Paris

Appropriately rocking a Yankees fitted cap, Katy Perry recently hit up BBC's Radio 1 Live Lounge, where she channeled her inner Jay-Z by letting loose a cover of Jay and Ye's Watch The Throne smash "N****s In Paris." Witness above, as the ever-popular pop star runs through a rather intriguing, clean performance of one of 2011's hottest tracks. And no, she didn't let is loose ten or twelve times like Hov and Yeezy made the norm. The only thing that would have made this better is Will Ferrell playing Perry's hypeman.

Music

Here it is, folks. After hearing a brief teaser, the second collaboration between Madonna and Nicki Minaj, amptly titled "I Don’t Give A," has emerged in its full audio glory. While this tune might not satisfy the hip-hop demographic, it certainly carries some radio potential. Listen below and be on the lookout for Madonna's new long-player MDNA to drop on March 23.

Pitbull Responds to Lindsay Lohan

Attorneys for hip-hop artistPitbull have asked a federal judge in New York to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Lindsay Lohan over a song that mentioned her by name. The actress is suing over an alleged infringement of her publicity rights, but the defendant warns of the consequences if a judge agrees to allow her claims to get to trial.

Getty Images

A healthy dose of sensitivity caused Lohan to sue Pitbull (real name: Armando Christian Perez), Sony Music, RCA Music, and others last year for causing her "tremendous emotional distress" with words that were allegedly "destined to do irreparable harm" to her image as "a professional actor of good repute."The song, "Give Me Everything," included this line: "So, I'm toptoein', to keep flowin', I got it locked up, like Lindsay Lohan."

Last week, the rapper responded in court by saying that the song is protected by the First Amendment. The musician cites a number of other artists, fromCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young to Eminem, who have mentioned celebrities in songs, and tells the judge to be wary of putting publicity rights above free speech rights.

"Sustaining Ms. Lohan's allegations would lead to absurd results: the use of a celebrity's name in any work of art -- such as a song, poem or painting -- would trigger liability," says the defendant in court

French manhunt for school killer

French police are hunting for a gunman who shot dead four people, including three children, at a Jewish school in the city of Toulouse, prompting President Nicolas Sarkozy to put the region on its highest terrorism alert.

More than a 100 officers were dispatched to the area on Monday to search for the gunman, who is also a prime suspect in the killing of three soldiers in two seperate shooting last week..

As thousands held vigils for the latest victims, a police source told the AFP news agency that the same weapon and the same stolen scooter appeared to have been used in all three attacks.

All three attacks were carried out by the rider of a powerful, dark-coloured scooter, using a .45-calibre weapon, who witnesses described as calmly shooting his victims at point-blank range.

In  carrying out the killings outside the Ozar Hatorah school on Monday, the shooter opened fire with a 9mm calibre weapon, which jammed.

He then produced a second weapon, a pistol of the same .45 calibre as that used in the other attacks, and chased children into the school to continue his spree.

Possible pattern

Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland, reporting from Toulouse, said that people were particularly concerned by the sense that a pattern of killings was emerging.

"It would seem to be a huge coincidence otherwise; over the space of eight days you have three attacks, all of which involve an attacker on a motorcycle wearing a black helmet and the same sort of gun. So the evidence is starting to stack up."

Beyonce’s First Show Since Baby Set For May

First Published: March 19, 2012 1:55 PM EDTCredit: LifeAndTimes.com

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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Beyoncé is set to return to the stage for the first time since giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy.

The Grammy winner will perform three concerts in New Jersey in May at Atlantic City’s Revel Resorts. Revel said Monday that the shows will be held over Memorial Day weekend for the premiere of the $2.4 billion resort.

Charlize Theron praises Michael Fassbender's ...

Charlize Theron has had her share of impressive costars in her illustrious career, and Michael Fassbender can proudly add his anatomy to that list.

The actress and new mom announced on Saturday at the Human Rights Campaign

2 foreign tourists die in Norway avalanche

Rescue personnel prepare Monday March 19, 2012 to go to the mountain area near Kafjord, Norway where an avalanche is reported to have buried 6 tourists. AP Photo/Ola Solvang

OSLO, Norway: Two people were found dead after an avalanche hit an expedition of Swiss and French skiers in northern Norway on Monday, while one of the six people swept away was found alive, police said.
Out of the six skiers, five were Swiss and the sixth was French, Astrid Nilsen of the Tromsoe police told AFP, correcting previous information indicating they may all have been French nationals.

Who'd George Clooney call after his arrest?

We'll give you a hint: It wasn't his sweetheart Stacy Keibler.

Nope - When George Clooney found himself detained Friday after being arrested outside of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, he says he did what many of us would do in that situation: He used his one phone call to ring his mom.