Eleven British nationals, here for the Carnival season, were left traumatised last weekend, after bandits stormed a private Maracas Bay home they were renting and made off with more than TT$100,000 worth of cash, clothing, jewelry and household items on Carnival Tuesday night

The song, "Band Of The Year", by Patrice Roberts and Machel Montano, has won the national Road March title, with "Threads Of Joy" by Brian MacFarlane declared winner in the Large Band category.

Police are investigating a report from a San Fernando man that he was attacked and beaten by a group of men, but Dawg E Slaughter who said he was on the scene when the incident occured, yesterday described the allegation as one of "all kinda madness".

It was Machel Montano against himself yesterday at the Queen's Park Savannah, Downtown Port of Spain, Adam Smith Square and Victoria Square as his Road March contender, the melodious "Band of the Year" featuring Patrice Roberts, edged ahead of his dizzying "Scandalous".

Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation special adviser Jack Warner publicly asked the Soca Warriors to save their best for England at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Trinidad and Tobago striker Stern John says it is time for this country to start presenting itself as World Cup competitors.

Two of four semi-final leaders in their respective groupings were toppled Saturday night, as the 2006 Steelband Panorama competition climaxed with Digicel Phase II Pan Groove displacing Neal & Massy Trinidad All Stars in the large band category and, at the same event, Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille losing its berth to Sforzata.

"Some people say soca music is devil music but soca music is of the people and any music of the people could never be devil music," Bounty Killer said referring to comments made by Jamaican reggae artiste I Wayne last year.

Shock then anger was the reaction of the majority upon the announcement that Shurwayne Winchester had dethroned Bunji Garlin to capture the 2006 International Soca Monarch title.

England U-21 and Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte has said he will turn down the invitation from Warriors coach Leo Beenhakker to go to the World Cup Finals with Trinidad and Tobago in order to concentrate on graduating to the senior England squad.