Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill is being allowed to participate in a concert tour before completing her sentence in a tax case, her lawyer has said.

Christmas has helped some people in the grieving Connecticut town of Newtown cope a little better with the shooting tragedy that killed 20 schoolchildren, while others have yet to feel the holiday joy.

Imprisoned hip-hop star Lil’ Kim has slammed authorities for placing her in a federal detention centre that she feels is too rough for a first-time offender.

Choking back tears and pleading for leniency, celebrity homemaker Martha Stewart was sentenced to five months in prison for lying about a stock sale -and vowed: "I'll be back.".