Machel Heats up New York
In the middle of winter, Machel Montano and the HD Family had the Barclay's Center in New York, USA on fire having delivered a scorching hot performance on Monday.
The reigning International Power and Groovy Soca Monarch along with Patrice Roberts, KI and Benjai represented the Red, White and Black well with a power-packed performance that had the audience moving throughout. The show was titled, Caribbean Fever Music Festival.
One quite interesting highlight of the event was the performance of the vocal group, BQ Girls, which features Miss Universe 1998, Wendy Fitzwilliam alongside Miss USA 2005, Chelsea Cooley; first runner-up Miss Teen USA, Haley Seibert and the winner of the talent competition in the 2011 Miss China Universe. The ladies delivered an impressive performance in what was one of their first major appearances since forming in recent months. The show also featured performances by Doug E Fresh, Slick Rick, Jamaican reggae band, Morgan Heritage, Mr Vegas, Cham and Allison Hinds.
Khago promises much for GT Taylor's Christmas Extravaganza
Dancehall star Khago is one of the headline acts performing under the 'Still Rules' theme at GT Taylor's Christmas Extravaganza stage show on Christmas Day.
Khago burst on to the scene in 2008 with the hit single Can't Cool, since then he has consistently churned out hits.
In a very short time he has managed to make quite an impression on dancehall fans globally with catchy tunes and high-energy stage performances.
Like most top dancehall artistes, Khago, who is viewed by many as a top contender for the King of the Dancehall title, has also had his fair share of controversy.
Still fresh in the memories of dancehall fans is his beef with one-time foe, now turned friend, I-Octane, and most recently Sizzla.
However, the hard-hitting deejay has put all that behind him and is focusing solely on building his name into an international brand under the guidance of Downsound Records CEO Josef Bogdanovich.
Looking forward to performance
Khago recently did a string of shows in countries including Belize, Canada and the United States and is now looking forward to his upcoming performance on the annually held Christmas Extravaganza stage show at Independence Park, Black River, in St Elizabeth.
According to Khago, he plans to deliver a blazing performance on Christmas night for his fans in St Elizabeth.
"The fans know me is a artiste weh just come fi work fi dem all di time. From a stage show Khago ready fi work, wi nuh worry bout which other artiste deh pon di show, mi just come fi work. Mi plan fi deliver a blazing performance fi di people dem. Yuh done know mi love mi country people enuh cause dem nuh bias inna music," said Khago.
Khago is also booked to appear on Sting 2012 which will be held at Jam World in Portmore on Boxing Day.
Queen records Christmas message in 3D format
The Queen has recorded her Christmas Day broadcast to the UK and Commonwealth in 3D for the first time, Buckingham Palace has said.
Her use of the technology comes 80 years after George V first broadcast a Christmas speech on the radio and started the December 25 tradition.
A spokesman said the Queen has watched the 3D message, produced by Sky News, and thought it "absolutely lovely".
The broadcast at 1500 GMT will also be shown in standard and high definition.
The theme of this year's broadcast is not known but it is thought likely to feature footage from the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, as well as the London Olympic Games.
The Christmas Day address is written by the Queen and usually follows a strong religious framework, reflecting current issues and her own experiences of the past 12 months.
It is one of the rare occasions when she does not seek advice from the government and voices her own views.
Last year the Queen spoke of courage and hope in adversity. She noted the resilience of communities in New Zealand after earthquakes, Australia after flooding and Wales after a mining disaster.
Embracing technology
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "We wanted to do something a bit different and special in this Jubilee year, so doing it for the first time in 3D seemed a good thing, technology wise, to do.
"The Queen absolutely agreed straight away there was no need for convincing at all, she was absolutely ready to embrace something new in this year."
The text of last year's broadcast was made available as an e-book download and on Facebook.
In 1918 the Monarchy used lithography to reproduce a letter from George V which was then distributed to returning prisoners of war after World War I.
In 1932 King George V made the Royal's first Christmas broadcast via radio. Five years later the Coronation of George VI became the first televised outside broadcast.
The first televised Christmas broadcast was made live by the Queen in 1957. Nearly half a century later, in 2006, the speech was podcast for the first time. Then in 2007 it was shown live on YouTube via a dedicated Royal Channel.
Viewers need special glasses and a dedicated television set to watch 3D broadcasts.
While the format has not taken off as widely as manufacturers initially forecast, there are dedicated satellite and cable channels and the BBC broadcast events from the Olympics and Wimbledon in 3D.
Sonisphere UK rock festival is cancelled for 2013
The organisers of Sonisphere say the rock festival has been cancelled for 2013.
The event, which was due to take place at Knebworth Park, was only confirmed a few weeks ago.
Organisers say they were unable to secure a strong enough line-up of artists, and will now take a year off.
"We made offers to over a dozen major artists but for various reasons none of these offers lead to securing a strong bill," they said.
The festival was also cancelled in 2012, which Stuart Galbraith, CEO of Kilimanjaro Live said was a "hiccup".
Adding to their statement about the 2013 cancellation, organisers said they were unwilling to go ahead with a festival they were not satisfied with.
'Lack of headliners'
The statement, on the event's Facebook page, said: "The three Sonisphere festivals to date set a very high standard and indeed 2011 was voted the best festival line up by The UK Festival Awards.
"We think it is really important that the event only runs when it has a line up that sets it apart from the competition whilst also carrying a ticket price that allows us to offer real value for money to the music fans.
"We were hoping to do that in 2013 but unfortunately it wasn't possible to fulfil both aims with the principle problem of there being a lack of available headliners of the calibre of previous festivals at Knebworth."
Organisers are still looking to being the festival back to the UK in the future.
"We have already started work on Sonisphere UK 2014 so hope to be able to bring you news about that later next year," they said.
The festival will still go ahead in Italy and France in June 2013.
Sachin Tendulkar retires from one-day cricket with India
Record-breaking India batsman Sachin Tendulkar has retired from one-day international cricket. "I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup-winning Indian team."
The 'Little Master' made his one-day debut in 1989 and collected 463 caps.
He excelled in the 50-over format and became the world's top run-scorer with 18,426 at an average of 44.83, including a record 49 centuries.
His last one-day international game was in the Asia Cup on 18 March, in which he scored 52 in a six-wicket win against Pakistan.
His form has dipped in recent years, however, and his average in one-day cricket in 2012 fell to 31.5, a figure that was boosted by a knock of 114 in his penultimate innings against lesser lights Bangladesh which was his 100th on the international stage.
Tendulkar added: "The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early and in right earnest. I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future.
"I am eternally grateful to all my well-wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years."
Tendulkar, who made himself unavailable for India's Twenty20 matches after playing just one game in 2006, has faced calls to retire from all international competition
Lakers rally past Warriors in OT in Steve Nash's return
Steve Nash sliced through the lane, broke down the defense, and created shots for Kobe Bryant time and again, just the way he has for teammates throughout his brilliant 17-year NBA career.
So much for an adjustment period.
Bryant had 34 points and 10 rebounds, Nash finished with 12 points and nine assists in his first game in almost two months, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Golden State Warriors 118-115 in overtime on Saturday night.
"It's easy. It's very easy. It's beyond easy," Bryant said about playing with Nash, who had missed 24 straight games while recovering from a small fracture in his lower left leg. "You put two guys together who can do opposite things and it fits extremely well. When I get a rebound, I look to get the ball in his hands because I know I will be getting an easy shot."
While defense remains an issue for the Lakers, the offense had no problems in Nash's return.
Metta World Peace and Nash each made a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minutes of regulation before the Warriors came back. World Peace scored 20 points, and Nash converted a step-back shot for the final basket in overtime to lift Los Angeles to its fourth straight victory.
This one had 20 lead changes, eight ties, and a sellout crowd of 19,596 cheering every possession as if it was the last one.
"To play 40 minutes after seven weeks was more than I could ask for," Nash said. "I felt in a decent rhythm. I feel positive about it. We'll see (Sunday). I'll have to keep working on it. I know it will be sore and painful but I'm used to that."
As well as the Lakers looked at times, the Warriors seemingly had the game in their hands.
Jarrett Jack scored 29 points and David Lee had 20 points and 11 rebounds in a disappointing collapse for Golden State, which had won 11 of 14 to get off to its best start in 20 years. As so often has happened in this one-sided California rivalry, though, the Lakers took over when it mattered most.
"This will not put a damper on our Christmas spirits," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. "We're excited about where we're at, and we're excited about where we're headed."
For the first time in a long time, the Lakers and Warriors share that sentiment.
The 38-year-old Nash was injured in the second game of the season, the former Phoenix star's first with the Lakers, who have struggled for most of this season without their point guard. Nash showed no signs of rust throughout the game, and not in the crucial moments, either.
-AP
I want to beat Usain Bolt-GATLIN
The lure of beating undisputed sprint champion Usain Bolt has become the driving force behind American Justin Gatlin's training during the tough winter months.
The 30-year-old former Olympic champion is valiantly attempting to rebuild a career tainted by a four-year doping ban, and is using the quest to defeat the outstanding Bolt as his motivation.
He made the podium at the London Olympics this year, finishing third behind champion Bolt and Yohan Blake in the 100 metres.
"I want to beat Bolt. He's a stellar athlete but I think I can step up to the plate," a hopeful Gatlin said.
"He's the incentive to train even more for this season, him and the year I had last year when I only got beat one or two times. I've got world champion blood in me. It's not about times but about running to the line, being the first across it."
Another showdown with the Jamaican pair of Bolt and Blake looms at the World Championships in Moscow next August.
Tame finish
Gatlin is already familiar with the taste of World Championship glory, having taken the double at the 2005 edition in Helsinki when Bolt was not yet on the international radar.
His 2012 season finished tamely as he fought off illness, and after taking some time off to spend with family, he is ready to take aim at Bolt again.
"I've got the Gatlin guns to throw at the Lightning Bolt and the Beast (Blake), and Tyson Gay ...," Gatlin stressed.
His fall from grace through the doping scandal has not diminished his love for the sport. In fact, Gatlin said he is as motivated as ever to return to the pinnacle of athletics, despite the residual criticism stemming from the scandal.
"For me, running is an outer-body experience. It's like this crazy rush of blood and you zap back into your body at the end of it," he explained. "I want to compete until I can compete no more."
(CMC)
Barry strikes late for Man City
Gareth Barry struck in stoppage time yesterday to ensure Manchester City kept the pressure on Manchester United in the Premier League title race with 1-0 victory over Reading.
The defending champions were being frustrated by bottom-place Reading until Barry rose over Nicky Shorey to head in David Silva's cross.
"It's more important to score early on in games," City manager Roberto Mancini said. "My heart is not strong for these late goals."
City are three points behind United ahead of the leaders' match at Swansea today.
"It was difficult clearly, because we had a lot of possession and had the chances but didn't score," Mancini said. "Our supporters know we try until the last seconds - always."
In the tight tussle for the four Champions League spots, Arsenal climbed to third ahead of Everton, Tottenham and West Bromwich Albion on goal difference.
Mikel Arteta's penalty on the hour clinched Arsenal's 1-0 victory at relegation-threatened Wigan after Jean Beausejour was adjudged to have brought down Theo Walcott.
"It looked very, very soft because it's difficult to tell if there is contact or not," Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said.
But it gave resurgent Arsenal a third consecutive league win for the first time this season.
"We didn't find the same fluency going forward," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "And it was much more a win because we wanted the result than because we dominated the game."
Everton relied on a fortuitous goal to win 2-1 at West Ham, with Kevin Nolan's clearance from Leon Osman's cross inadvertently coming off Steven Pienaar in the 73rd minute.
Everton's comeback began 10 minutes earlier when Victor Anichebe's header canceled out a first-half goal from Carlton Cole, who was sent off shortly after the equaliser for a high-footed challenge on Leighton Baines.
Everton had midfielder Darron Gibson sent off in stoppage time, but held on to go fourth.
Tottenham have an inferior goal difference to Everton's and strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe were both frustrated against a stubborn Stoke side at White Hart Lane.
But West Brom's recent slump was halted by a 2-1 victory that ended Norwich's 10-match unbeaten run.
Romelu Lukaku headed in the late winner after Zoltan Gera ended West Brom's near six-hour goal drought just before the break to cancel out Robert Snodgrass' opener for Norwich.
While West Brom are sixth, seventh-place Chelsea can return to third with a victory over Aston Villa today.
In the relegation dogfight, Queens Park Rangers are five points behind Wigan but a point ahead of bottom-place Reading despite Harry Redknapp's unbeaten start as manager ended with a 1-0 loss to Newcastle.
Players' salaries
QPR only won their first match of the season last weekend against Fulham, and Redknapp is unhappy with the size of some players' salaries.
"There are a lot of players at this club who earn far too much money for what they are; far, far, far too much money for their ability and what they give to the club," Redknapp said. "I don't really want to see the owners have their pants taken down like they have in the past. There's a lot of agents made money out of them."
Fulham's loss to QPR was followed by a 4-0 drubbing at Liverpool yesterday, which enabled the Anfield outfit to climb to eighth in the standings.
Stewart Downing scored his first Premier League goal since joining Liverpool before the 2011-12 season.
The winger scored Liverpool's third goal at the start of the second half after setting up captain Steven Gerrard's strike before the break.
Martin Skrtel had put Liverpool ahead after just eight minutes while top-scorer Luis Suarez side-footed home his 14th goal of the season in stoppage time.
Messi scores 91st goal of yearin Barcelona win
Lionel Messi polished off his record year with his 91st and final goal of 2012 in Barcelona's 3-1 win at Valladolid yesterday, which the team dedicated to ailing coach Tito Vilanova.
Messi scored in the 59th by dribbling between a defender's legs before making it 2-0 after Xavi Hernandez had opened the scoring two minutes before half-time.
Barcelona's players wore T-shirts before the game with messages of support for Vilanova, who had throat surgery to remove a second tumour in two years on Thursday.
Barcelona remained perfect in nine away games and extended their record league start with their 16th win in 17 rounds.
US fiscal cliff: Boehner still hopes for deal
Republicans will keep working to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff of tax rises and spending cuts, House Speaker John Boehner has said.
Earlier, right-leaning Republicans rejected a plan by Mr Boehner to raise taxes on higher earners.
Mr Boehner said "significant spending cuts and real tax reforms" were needed.
President Barack Obama said he believed a deal could still be done to beat the 1 January deadline, and called for everyone to "give a little bit".
Analysts say the Republicans' rejection of Mr Boehner's plan has weakened his position in negotiations with the Obama administration.
Mr Boehner's plan would have had little chance of passing a Senate vote.
It was seen as an effort to tell the US public that the Republicans should not be blamed if a deal could not be reached.
The House is controlled by the Republicans, but the Senate is Democrat-led.
At a news conference, Mr Boehner conceded the House's failure to take up the tax bill was not the outcome that he wanted.
He said "God only knows" how the cliff would be avoided, but Republicans would keep working on a plan to protect families and small businesses.
"We only run the House. Democrats continue to run Washington," he said.
If politicians fail to agree new fiscal rules by the end of year, steep tax rises and deep spending cuts are meant to take effect automatically.
Analysts say the resulting "fiscal cliff" could take the US into recession.
The House of Representatives is not expected to meet until after Christmas, while the Senate was due to meet only briefly on Friday.
Although Mr Boehner's proposal would have ensured a tax cut for 99.8% of Americans, it would have imposed a rise on those earning more than $1m (£600,000).
Mr Boehner said he had been unable to garner sufficient votes to secure passage of the bill.
Mr Obama initially sought tax rises for those earning more than $250,000, but later offered a compromise threshold of $400,000.
He also offered a change to the way Social Security cost of living adjustments are made for some recipients, cuts from government healthcare programmes and a two-year extension of the debt ceiling.
Mr Boehner announced his bill on Tuesday, saying he would bring forward a measure that extended Bush-era tax cuts for those earning less than $1m per year - but would not address the automatic spending cuts.
On Wednesday, the Republican leadership added a companion bill that would replace the automatic cuts with a proposal to remove cuts from defence and government operating budgets. They would be offset by reductions elsewhere in the budget.
The proposal would cut food stamps, benefits for federal workers and some social services programmes.
That bill was narrowly passed.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Mr Boehner's plans were "non-starters in the Senate", while White House spokesman Jay Carney called them a "multi-day exercise in futility at a time when we do not have the luxury of exercises in futility".
Analysts have painted a grim picture of the consequences of going over the cliff, with some warning that the impact could push the US back into recession.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said in its latest economic outlook that the recession from the cliff could become global.