Actor Jason Momoa's face needed reconstructive surgery after attack

Authorities have charged Dominic Bando, 21, with assault for allegedly striking Stargate Atlantis actor Jason Momoa, left, in the face with a beer glass.

His wounds required 140 stitches to close.

African fans vote top musicians

Two Nigerian singers won top awards as MTV held its first-ever music award program for Africa.

D'banj won artist of the year award, and Naeto C, took the laurels for the best new African act.

Their songs dominate radio in Nigeria, Africa's most-populous country of 140 million people.

The awards ceremony was held in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. American artist Kelly Rowland is pictured announcing the D'banj win. Winners were selected by fans sending text messages.

African music also has increasingly been open to outside influence, incorporating salsa rhythms, rock beats and, increasingly, hip hop and R&B styles.

MySpace scoops new West CD

Add Kanye West to the list of artists previewing their new CDs on MySpace Music.

The 31-year-old rapper's 808s & Heartbreak came out today, but fans could hear the entire CD starting at 3 a.m. this past Saturday.

West is the latest act to debut a CD on MySpace before its official release.

Guns 'N Roses, Paul McCartney and Beyonce have all done the same.

HONOURED

Oliver Schroer wins posthumous award

Oliver Schroer and Gordon Lightfoot were among Canadian Folk Music Award winners last night.

The late Oliver Schroer, who rose from Toronto subway busker to nationally respected fiddler, won the solo instrumentalist of the year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards held in St. John's, N.L.

Schroer was the only musician to take multiple trophies, also winning an award for a category called pushing the boundaries.

His sister Martina was to accept his two awards, both of which were for his album Hymns And Hers.

With his imposing 6-foot-4 frame and beatnik look, the Toronto-born Schroer stood out in the folk scene. But so did his music, which was a hybrid of Bach and toe-tapping dance.

"Varied," was how the former philosophy student once described his career.

Schroer, who died in July at 52 after a yearlong battle with leukemia, was also honoured in a tribute at the awards ceremony.

Other winners included:

* Classic Canadian Folk Album: Gordon Lightfoot: Lightfoot!

* Instrumental Group of the Year: Sagapool, Montreal: Episode Trois.

* Children's Album of the Year: The Kerplunks, Gabriola Island, B.C.: The Kerplunks.

* New/Emerging Artist of the Year: Chloe Albert, Edmonton: Dedicated State.

* Contemporary Singer of the Year: Tannis Slimmon, Guelph: Lucky Blue.

* Young Performer of the Year: Emma Beaton, Qualicum, B.C.: Pretty Fair Maid.

* English Songwriter of the Year: Corb Lund, Edmonton: Horse Soldier! Horse Soldier!

* Contemporary Album of the Year: Luke Doucet and the White Falcon, Toronto: Blood's Too Rich.

* Traditional Singer of the Year: Enoch Kent, Toronto: One More Round.

Fiery tennis player arrested after fracas

Jimmy Connors was arrested outside a college basketball game in Santa Barbara where the former tennis great now lives.

Police say they put the cuffs on him after he refused an order to leave an area near the entrance of the Thunderdome following a confrontation.

A Santa Barbara County jail employee says Connors was booked and released, but did not have details.

Connors was ranked No. 1 for five consecutive years in the 1970s.

'Fleeting' wardrobe malfunction prompts appeal

The Federal Communications Commission has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the indecency case over Janet Jackson's breast-baring performance at the 2004 Super Bowl.

The FCC has appealed a ruling by the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.

It says the court was wrong to throw out the case and a $550,000 fine against CBS in July.

The appellate court cited the FCC practice of not considering objectionable images indecent if they're "fleeting." At the 2004 Super Bowl, Jackson briefly flashed a breast.

Spamalot reaches its holy grail

Some Broadway shows can't wait to say goodbye.

Monty Python's Spamalot will now close Jan. 11 -- a week earlier than the musical announced last month.

The Mike Nichols-directed adaptation of Monty Python And The Holy Grail has grossed more than $175 million in New York since opening in March 2005 at the Shubert Theatre.

It has been seen by more than two million people.

The Shubert already has a new tenant: a revival of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, starring Rupert Everett.

Long, global arm of Law & Order celebrated

Producer Dick Wolf will receive a special honour at the 36th International Emmy Awards for extending the long arm of his Law & Order franchise around the globe.

Sam Waterston, who has played prosecutor Jack McCoy in more than 325 Law & Order episodes, will present the International Emmy Founders Award to Wolf at tonight's awards gala.

"It's just stunning, people see Law & Order every place," said Bruce L. Paisner, president of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. "Every place in the world they have police and some kind of criminal justice system."

Forty nominees from 16 countries will be competing in 10 categories for International Emmys, honouring excellence in TV produced outside the U.S. British productions lead with eight nominations.

Jacko and the sheik settle giant lawsuit

Michael Jackson's aide says the pop star has reached a settlement with a Bahraini sheik who has been suing him for $7 million US.

Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa says he gave the singer millions and planned a series of collaborations following Jackson's acquittal on child molestation charges in June 2005.

Jackson says the money was a gift.