Barbados, home to hip hop and RnB sensation Rihanna, is set to declare a public holiday in her honour appropriately dubbed "Rihanna Day". The news came as a surprise to the 20 year old singer who was discovered by Jay-Z a couple years back.

The West Indies, led for the first time by 26 year old batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, includes most of the senior players who were part of the West Indies disappointing showing in the World Cup at home, despite their poor performances.

Australia won an unprecedented third straight World Cup yesterday with a 53-run win over Sri Lanka in a rain-affected final. Sri Lanka faltered to 215 for eight in fading light in the final at Kensington Oval.

Brian Lara could not be stopped. Even in defeat. His last match international cricket had just ended in a narrow loss to England here at a packed Kensington Oval. His last innings was only a meager 18, and run out too. But neither of those disappointments could stop Lara saying a fond farewell to West Indies and world cricket yesterday.

Irate West Indies fans called for captain Brian Lara to be sacked following the third consecutive defeat in the Super Eights of the World Cup on Sunday.

Rihanna has won the top entertainer award for the second consecutive year at the Barbados Music Awards.

Caribbean leaders yesterday welcomed the start of a free trade zone designed to allow goods, services and skilled workers to move more easily throughout the region.

Def Jam recording star Rihanna leads the field with a massive haul of ten nominations among those nominated for the first Barbados Music Awards slated for January.

A veteran of the Barbados entertainment industry is tonight asserting that music piracy has reached unprecedented levels in the Caribbean.

Barbados police are likely to charge three men in connection with the murder of a British tourist, who was gunned down during a robbery in the west coast tourist area of St. James last week.