VENUS & SERENA IN HARPER’S BAZAAR

Tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams recently posed for the November issue of Harper’s Bazaar.

The shoot features the sisters on the court styled in high fashion dressed from Versace to Ralph Lauren and accessorized from Prada to Jimmy Choo. Gotta love it.

POLITICS: PRES. OBAMA VISITS PENTAGON / HOUSE PASSES STIMULUS BILL / VATICAN CLASHES WITH PRES. ON ABORTION
Thursday, January 29, 2009 |

On Wednesday, President Obama and Vice President Biden met with Sec. of Defense Robert Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to get what the White House called a “comprehensive view of the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the impact on our forces”.

The administration plans to decrease troop deployment in Iraq and focus on the fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Gates wants to put Obama “in front of all the people that are involved in these decisions and all the people that are involved in committing the lives of men and women in our uniform so that the president can get all this advice in an unvarnished way,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

MUSIC NEWS: KELLY ROWLAND PROFESSIONALLY SPLITS WITH MATTHEW KNOWLES
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 |

According to Sam over at TheGrapeJuice.net, Music World has confirmed reports that singer Kelly Rowland has split with her manager Mathew Knowles. They both released statements:

MATTHEW KNOWLES:

“After a very positive meeting between Kelly Rowland and myself, we have amicably agreed to end our professional relationship. My company, Music World, will continue to manage Destiny’s Child as a group. As an artist Kelly has incredible talent and I only wish her the best. We will always be family first and foremost, and as a dad I only have love for Kelly.”

KELLY ROWLAND:

“Mathew Knowles has been a positive influence in my career. I have had great success under his guidance — both as a member of Destiny’s Child and with my solo projects. Although we have decided to part ways professionally, the Knowles family and the entire Music World Entertainment team will always be my family.”

NEWS BIT: FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA TO BE IMMORTALIZED IN WAX
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 |

Just one week after the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama, Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. today announced that it will unveil a wax figure of First Lady Michelle Obama in March and released photos of the figure’s clay head mold. Merlin Studios artists started working on the figure in late December.

Mrs. Obama will be the third First Lady to be immortalized in wax by Madame Tussauds Washington D.C., joining Jacqueline Kennedy and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“We are honored to bring a figure of Michelle Obama to our Washington D.C. attraction,” said Janine DiGioacchino, General Manager of Madame Tussauds New York and Washington D.C. “As our nation’s first African American First Lady, a proud working mom and a budding style icon, Mrs. Obama is a role model to women around the corner, and around the globe. We know our visitors will love seeing and interacting with her figure.”
Mrs. Obama’s figure will join President Barack Obama’s figure in the attraction’s replica of the Oval Office.

RANDOM PICS: A PREGNANT KIMORA LEE PROMOTES BABY PHAT
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 |

Jose Tawil, Kimora Lee Simmons and Moises Tawil attend the launch of Liverpool Baby Phat clothing line at the Liverpool Sante Fe on Tuesday in Mexico City.

The fashion designer/model who is currently engaged to actor Djimon Hounsou is currently expected her third child (the first for the couple). Kimora has two daughters with ex-husband Russell Simmons.