Mighty Sparrow responding well to treatment - family
The family of Slinger 'Mighty Sparrow' Francisco, widely regarded as the 'Calypso King of the World' says he is responding very well to treatment.
His daughter, Nicole Robinson, says he is no longer in a coma and has been communicating by blinking and lifting his hands.
The 78-year-old Sparrow was admitted to a New York hospital two weeks ago for complications resulting from diabetes.
The 'Mighty Sparrow', 78, who has been performing for more than four decades and has been having health challenges for the past three years.
Emmy award winners to be revealed in Los Angeles
British stars including Damian Lewis and Dame Helen Mirren are in the race for top accolades at Sunday's prestigious Emmy awards in the US.
Dame Helen is nominated in the lead actress in a mini series or movie category for her role as a leading lawyer in HBO drama Phil Spector.
Homeland star Lewis takes on fellow Brit Hugh Bonneville in the best lead actor in a drama category.
American Horror Story: Asylum has the most nominations with 17 nods.
Oscar winner Jessica Lange is in the running for her role in the horror tale.
Lewis and Bonneville face stiff competition in their category from Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston, Kevin Spacey for House of Cards, Mad Men's Jon Hamm and Jeff Daniels for The Newsroom.
At a Bafta party ahead of the ceremony, Bonneville said he felt relaxed about his prospects.
"I don't think the pressure is on me, frankly. I feel slightly embarrassed to have been nominated alongside these amazing actors and much as I love the others, I hope it is Bryan Cranston's year because that show has been phenomenal and his performance has been extraordinary.
"He is a great actor, as are the others, but I think it's Breaking Bad's year."
Mad Men star Elisabeth Moss, who missed out on the best actress award to Homeland actress Claire Danes in 2012, received two nods.
Her performance as Peggy Olson in Mad Men was shortlisted in the leading actress in a drama category alongside Michelle Dockery for Downton Abbey, Nashville's Connie Britton, Kerry Washington in Scandal and Vera Farmiga in Bates Motel.
Moss was also recognised for her leading role in director Jane Campion's recent acclaimed drama Top Of The Lake, which scored eight nominations including outstanding mini series or movie.
House of Cards became the first programme only available online to receive a nomination for best drama series.
Game of Thrones was recognised in 16 categories, while Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra received 15 mentions.
Michael Douglas, who plays the flamboyant pianist, will go head-to-head with his on-screen partner Matt Damon to be named best lead actor in a mini series or movie.
It is the first major nomination for the HBO production which will not qualify for the US film awards season because it was made for television, although it was released in cinemas outside the US.
Sir Elton John will perform live at this year's Emmy Awards for the first time in the ceremony's 64-year history.
Most nominations
American Horror Story: Asylum - 17
Game of Thrones - 16
Behind the Candelabra and Saturday Night Live - 15
Breaking Bad and 30 Rock - 13
Downton Abbey, Mad Men and Modern Family - 12
Homeland and Phil Spector - 11
Boardwalk Empire - 10
Portman and Parker Dazzle on Red Carpet
A slew of celebrities stepped out to attend the 2013 New York City Ballet Fall Gala at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater. Natalie Portman and Sarah Jessica Parker were among the famous faces who stole attention when gracing the red carpet.
"Black Swan" star Portman looked gorgeous in a textured, tri-color aqua-yellow-and-black strapless dress from Christian Dior. Wearing a minimal makeup with her long hair down, she completed her look with a Richard Mille watch and a matching clutch.
The Jane Foster of "Thor" movie series came to support her dapper-looking husband Benjamin Millepied. The choreographer, who serves as a new Director of Dance at the Paris Opera Ballet, was set to present his original work at the event.
"Sex and the City" actress Parker also looked radiant in her soft-hued gown that was dubbed "Meeting of Two Minds" because it was a mix-and-match of Olivier Theyskins silk-organza silk bottom/skirt and Prabal Gurung satin bustier.
The "Glee" star, 48, styled her long locks in a neat ponytail and applied smoky eye makeup. The mother of three finished off her look with Manolo Blahnik shoes, an Acne bag, a Fenton-Fallon pave palm cuff, and Fred Leighton diamond drop earrings.
Drew Barrymore was also among the celebrity guests. The "50 First Dates" beauty opted for black, wearing head-to-toe Chanel, including "C" logo earrings. The 38-year-old star paired her lace-sleeved dress with matching black pumps and a clutch.
Hotel heiress Nicky Hilton wore a Grecian gown with beaded waist and neckline, celebrity wedding planner Martha Stewart went with a three-quarter gold pants and jacket combo, while model/actress Amber Valletta chose an electric pink number with a sexy slit.
Usain Bolt 'would run 200m only' at Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Usain Bolt says he would probably only run the 200m if he decides to compete at next year's Commonwealth Games.
The six-time Olympic champion hopes to participate in Glasgow, but will discuss it with his coach Glen Mills.
"It's on my to-do list," Bolt, 27, told BBC Radio 5 live. "I really want to do it but I never go against my coach."
He said the 100m and 200m double would "probably would be unlikely", adding: "I probably would run the 200m if I go because it's my favourite event."
The Jamaican has never won a Commonwealth medal but added: "We are going to discuss it, we are not fully sure if I will go but throughout the season we will decide if that will be a good thing to do."
Bolt came to prominence with victory in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and did the same in London four years later.
He now aims to complete the 'treble treble' by winning all three disciplines at the 2016 Games in Rio to cement his legend status.
"That would be outstanding for me," said Bolt. "I've done so much so far and to go and to defend my titles once more would just set me apart from a lot of athletes.
"I want my name in stone with many other athletes - [boxer] Mohammed Ali, [runner] Michael Johnson, [basketball player] Michael Jordan - all these greats in their different sports.
"I want to be among these guys when I retire, so that when people talk about sport I'm always in the mix."
Bolt is considering putting plans to end his career after the next Olympics on hold to run at the 2017 World Championships in London.
"I wanted to retire after Rio," he said. "But my fans are really saying: 'No, go one more year, do it one more time'. Then my sponsors came on board, so I might go one more year.
"I said it to my coach and he said it's possible, it can be done. We'll see."
Source-BBC
World Athletics Championships: Seven tested positive at Moscow
Seven athletes failed drugs tests at August's World Championships, the International Association of Athletics Federations has announced.
Roman Avramenko of Ukraine, who finished fifth in the men's javelin, was the only one of the group to reach a final at the event in Moscow.
The IAAF said that all seven have been sanctioned or provisionally suspended.
It had promised a stringent testing programme in Moscow after a recent series of high-profile doping cases.
Former world champion Tyson Gay and ex-100m world record holder Asafa Powell both tested positive for banned substances ahead of the championships.
Their doping positives were made public in July, a month after it was announced that Veronica Campbell-Brown, 200m champion at London 2012, had tested positive for a banned diuretic - something which is viewed as a masking agent by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The 25-year-old Avramenko recorded a personal best throw of 84.48 in June before competing in Moscow, Vítezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic won the gold medal.
Avramenko tested positive for the steroid dehydrochloromethyltestosterone.
The other athletes found to have tested positive at the World Championships were Massoud Azizi (Afghanistan, men's 100m), Elyzaveta Bryzgina (Ukraine, women's 200m), Ayman Kozhakhmetova (Kazakhstan, women's 20km walk), Ebrahim Rahimian (Iran, men's 20km walk), Yelena Ryabova (Turkmenistan, women's 200m) and Jeremías Saloj (Guatemala, men's marathon).
The IAAF said that in addition to taking urine tests from 538 athletes in Moscow, 1,919 blood samples were collected as part of its Athlete Biological Passport programme, designed to detect abnormalities in an athlete over time.
The president of the IAAF, Lamine Diack, said: "The specialised analyses and the blood samples taken in connection with the Athlete Biological Passport emphasise the IAAF's firm commitment and resolve to use the most sophisticated methods at our disposal in the fight against cheating in sport."
Source-BBC
West Indies outplayed by India
West Indies A were outplayed by India A in the only Twenty20 match of their tour, at the M Chinnaswammy Stadium in Bangalore yesterday.
After India A set the visitors a 215-run target, the hosts' bowlers skittled the opposition out for 121 in 16.2 overs.
After Yuvraj Singh cracked a half century and along with quick-fire knocks by Unmukt Chand and Kedar Jadhav and took the team to 214, Rahul Sharma had a five-wicket haul, while Vinay Kumar and Yuvraj Singh two wickets each. Singh cracked 52 off 35 balls with three sixes, while Jadhav made 42 off 21.
Scores: India A 214/7 in 20 overs (Y Singh 52, U Chand 47, K Jadhav 42, A Russell 4/45) beat West Indies A 121 all-out in 16.2 overs (A Fletcher 32, R Sharma 5/23, V Kumar 2/22, Y Singh 2/24) by 93 runs.
Ambrose turns 50
Former West Indies cricketers have lauded their colleague Curtly Ambrose on his 50th birthday. The former Antiguan, Leeward Islands and West Indies pacer celebrated his half-century yesterday, and former captain Sir Vivian Richards, former pacers Courtney Walsh, Kenneth Benjamin and Winston Benjamin all appeared on a local radio programme alongside Ambrose last Friday, as they spoke of the player's cricketing achievements while congratulating him on reaching this milestone.
Sir Viv, who captained Ambrose from 1988 to 1991, said the determined bowler put a lot of work into his game, calling him a "dream to captain".
Walsh, who doubled with Ambrose to become the most dangerous pair in both Test and one-day internationals between 1988 and 2000, said: "I say it without fear anywhere I go: Ambrose is like my brother. I played more against Winston and Kenny in County cricket because 'Ambi' came on the scene late in terms of that and didn't like much of it, and we have always been friends. But Ambrose and I have built up a certain bond, and if it wasn't for cricket and the things we did on the field probably that bond would not be there," said Walsh.
Source-CMC
Bermuda U17s claim win over Dominican Republic
Bermuda 3 Dominican Republic 1
Bermuda Under-17s national team made a winning start to their final round of the CFU World Cup qualifiers with a 3-0 win over Dominican Republic in Haiti.
Goals by Eva Frazzoni and Zahra Gibbons handed Aaron Denkins’ side a two-goal lead at the interval, but Dominican Republic reduced the deficit in the 76th minute.
Bermuda, who finished runners-up behind Puerto Rico in their first round group, restored their two-goal lead when DeShae Darrell scored in injury-time.
Denkins’ team take on group favourites Trinidad and Tobago in their next game on Monday.
Bermuda Football Association National Academy director Richard Todd said: “Next up for Bermuda is Trinidad who steamrollered their way through the last round by defeating US Virgin Islands 13-0, Antigua 4-1, and St Kitts 7-0.
“This will be a real test and measure of where our girls rank in the Caribbean.”
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals to be played next Friday.
The final and third-place game will be played on September 29. The two finalists from the Haiti tournament will participate in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers scheduled to be played in Jamaica from October 30-November 9.
USA, Canada, Mexico, hosts Jamaica, Central American qualifiers El Salvador and Guatemala will await the two CFU advancing teams.
Bermuda Under-17s
M Pond, T Fubler, K Burch-Waldron, S Dill, N Burgess, K Lespere, Z Gibbons, A Nolan (J Samuals, 89), E Frazzoni, L Smith, D Greaves (S Lowe-Darrell, 70)
Substitutes: D Darrell, V Davis, A Denkins, D Foote, T Durham, Z Durham, K Jackson S Lowe-Darrell
Assault On Iraq Funeral, Other Attacks Kill 96
Two suicide bombers, one in an explosives-laden car and the other on foot, struck a cluster of funeral tents packed with mourning families in a Shiite neighbourhood in Baghdad, the deadliest in a string of attacks around Iraq that killed at least 96 people yesterday.
The assaults, the latest in a months-long surge of violence, are a chilling reminder of insurgents' determination to reignite sectarian conflict more than a decade after the US-led invasion.
Thousands of Iraqis have been killed in violent attacks in recent months - a level of bloodshed not seen since Iraq pulled back from the brink of civil war in 2008 - despite appeals for restraint from Shiite and Sunni political leaders.
The attack on the funeral was one of the largest single terrorist assaults on civilians in Iraq in recent years. It happened shortly before sunset in the densely populated Shiite neighbourhood of Sadr City in northeastern Baghdad.
Police said at least 72 people were killed and more than 120 were wounded in that attack. One bomber was able to drive up near the tent before detonating his deadly payload, and another on foot blew himself up nearby, police said.
The explosions set the tents and several nearby cars on fire, sending a towering plume of thick black smoke over the city.
"I saw several charred bodies on the ground and tents on fire and also burning cars. Wounded people were screaming in pain," said Sheik Sattar al-Fartousi, one of the mourners. "The scene was horrible. The funeral turned into an inferno."
He said the first blast went off as dinner was being served in one of several tents set up for the funeral of a member of the al-Fartousi tribe. He estimated that more than 500 people were attending the event.
Civilian pickup trucks loaded with casualties and ambulances with sirens blaring were seen racing from the scene.
Hussein Abdul-Khaliq, a government employee who lives near the bomb site, said the tents were packed with mourners when the blasts went off.
He described seeing several lifeless bodies on the ground, and wounded women and children. The clothes of several victims were soaked with blood, and firefighters had to leave the scene to refill tanker trucks with water as they struggled to contain an immense blaze, he said.
"This funeral was not a military post or a ministry building, yet it was still targeted," Abdul-Khaliq said. "This shows that no place and no one is safe in Iraq."
Less than two hours after the funeral attack, another car bomb blast struck a commercial street in the nearby Ur neighbourhood, killing nine people and wounding 14, according to police.
Gunmen later shot up a shop that has been discretely selling liquor in the largely Sunni neighbourhood of Azamiyah, killing four people, police said.
Earlier in the day, insurgents launched a suicide attack on a police commando headquarters in the city of Beiji, an oil-refining centre 250 kilometres (115 miles) north of Baghdad. Guards managed to kill one suicide bomber, but the three others were able to set off their explosive belts inside the compound, killing seven policemen and wounding 21 others, police said.
Source-AP
Caribbean Grads Struggle For Jobs - World Bank
The World Bank says despite spending nearly 11 years acquiring an education, school leavers in the Caribbean often struggle to find formal employment.
The Washington-based financial institution has released a new report titled 'Quality Education Counts for Skills and Growth' and offers some suggestions why it is difficult for Caribbean students to obtain employment, highlighting key areas where system-wide changes are needed.
It said while early-childhood education is essential to a child's development as it builds the foundation for primary schooling, unlike primary and secondary education, "there has been no national push for preschool education.
"This has resulted in huge variations to education services and often meaning children from rural areas or lower-income families miss out," according to the report, which noted that, currently, less than 15 per cent of school leavers in the subregional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) move on to further education.
"Consequently, boosting tertiary education attendance is key," the report said, adding that attracting qualified teachers is a "chronic challenge" for the Caribbean, and is particularly pronounced within the core subjects - English, maths and science.
With such a predominance of unqualified teachers, the report says the pass rates for these subjects in particular have suffered.
In 2009, the report said, less than 50 per cent of students region-wide passed CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) exams in English and maths.
With a highly centralised system, the report said there is little decision-making authority within the schools themselves in the Caribbean, stating that inter-national studies have shown that giving schools the ability to make certain decisions themselves is closely linked to education quality.
The World Bank report also indicated that closing the digital skills gap would be key if graduates were to flourish in the quickly evolving Caribbean labour market.
It said as traditional trades and sources of employment disappear, 21st century technology is taking their place, "but employers regularly complain that school leavers do not have the appropriate skills for a digital workplace".
Bernadette Lewis of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) said it was vital that the region's youth were sufficiently supported to realise the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
"It calls for a certain amount of education and awareness. We have seen tremendous talent in the area of young people making innovative use of ICTs, but there's little support."
Noting that critical soft skills such as ICT are best taught within a formal education setting, the World Bank report highlights a need for them to be maintained within the private sector.
"Learning is a lifelong activity and, as such, both public and private sector involvement is needed to support learners throughout their career."
The report notes that the unemployment rates for 15-19 year olds in the Caribbean are between two and four times the adult average.
"School leavers struggle to find formal employment because their education doesn't sufficiently prepare them for the job market and employers are then left to train up those who they do hire.
"Systemic changes with the education sector are therefore needed if learners in the Caribbean are to be given the opportunity to realise their potential," it adds.
Source- CMC