Winslet won the Emmy for her role in Mildred Pierce, a drama about a woman who bakes her way out of poverty.

Downton Abbey's gongs included best mini-series and best supporting actress for Dame Maggie Smith.

1960s period piece Mad Men won best drama for a fourth year running but took just two prizes from 19 nods.

Modern Family, ABC's "mockumentary" about three couples and their children, won five awards including best comedy.

And Martin Scorsese was named best director for a drama series for his pilot episode of Prohibition-era drama Boardwalk Empire.

In HBO's Mildred Pierce, Winslet, 35, plays a divorced single mother who decides to open a restaurant business during 1930s Depression-era California.

The role was famously played by Joan Crawford in a 1945 film noir.

Accepting her award, Winslet said she wanted to share the honour with her mother.


"It doesn't matter how old you are or what you do in your life, you never stop needing your mum and I will never stop needing mine, so thanks mum, thank you so much," she said.

Downton Abbey's writer, Julian Fellowes, was honoured for outstanding writing in a mini-series, movie or dramatic special.

Accepting his award, Fellowes said: "When we were in the hotel a bit earlier, my wife said to me, 'I think we should just relax and enjoy the evening, because I don't think we're going to win'. Well, we're going to enjoy the evening now."

Referring to the academy award he won for writing the film Gosford Park in 2002, he added: "At the risk of sounding grandiloquent, I would like to thank you, the American industry. Ten years ago you kick-started my second career with an Oscar, tonight you have nurtured it, I am very grateful, thank you."



Elizabeth McGovern, who plays the Countess of Grantham in the series, was beaten by Winslet in the best actress in a mini-series category.

Jean Marsh was also shortlisted in the category for her portrayal of parlour maid Rose Buck in the BBC's Upstairs, Downstairs remake.

Marsh, who co-created the series, played the same part more than 40 years ago and was nominated for an Emmy in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

British Luther actor Idris Elba lost out to Barry Pepper, of The Kennedys, for lead actor in a mini-series.


And Pepper's co-star in The Kennedys, Briton Tom Wilkinson, was beaten to best supporting actor in a mini-series by Winslet's Mildred Pierce co-star Guy Pearce.

Other nominated British actors who missed out included The Good Wife's Alan Cumming and Kelly MacDonald, for Boardwalk Empire.

And Hugh Laurie, star of US show House, lost out to Kyle Chandler, of Friday Night Lights, in the lead actor in a drama series category.

The awards were hosted by Glee's Jane Lynch, herself shortlisted for best supporting actress in a comedy series.

Comedy programmes took the early Emmys, with Melissa McCarthy taking the best actress in a comedy series and Jim Parsons of Big Bang Theory being honoured best actor in a comedy.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart won the Emmys for best variety, music or comedy series as well as best writing in that genre.

Julianna Margulies won best dramatic actress, for her role in The Good Wife, while Kyle Chandler won best dramatic actor for playing a football coach in Friday Night Lights.

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton reckons the key to being quick is to take risks on the racetrack - and be in no rush to start a family. On the subject of starting a family with pop star girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger he says: "I'm still young and I'm not in that position yet."
Full story: Reuters

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen and Force India driver Adrian Sutil have both recently paid visits to the Williams factory in Grove, prompting speculation over who will drive for the team in 2012.
Full story: Joe Saward's grand prix blog

Bernie Ecclestone says he wants to add grands prix in South Africa and Mexico to the calendar in the future. The F1 supremo also reveals the organisers of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was dropped from the schedule this season because of civil unrest, still paid the fee to host the race - meaning F1's owners did not lose any money.
Full story: The Independent

Williams driver Pastor Maldonado is preparing for his first drive around Singapore's Marina Bay circuit. "Everyone has told me it is the most beautiful place and I really like street circuits so I think I can be quick there," he said. Williams will also try out an upgraded diffuser and new front wing during Friday practice.
Full story: Williams F1 team

Pirelli are taking the soft and super-soft tyre compounds to Singapore and the F1 tyre supplier reckons the humid, night race provides tyre technicians with a unique problem, as track temperatures tend to go down dramatically during each session, rather than rise.
Full story: Pirelli

Force India reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg is in Goa for the the team's Driver Academy Finals. "Down to 25 kids from many thousands," the German says.
Nico Hulkenberg on Twitter

Michael Schumacher is targeting more points for Mercedes at this week's Singapore Grand Prix and is even looking forward to the bizarre schedule that comes with a night race. "Surprisingly, it [is] somehow fun to drive and have meetings in the middle of the night."
Full story: Michael Schumacher

Team Lotus will put on a "maximum downforce" package for Singapore and technical chief Mike Gascoyne hopes a new floor, diffuser and bigger front brake ducts will help improve the car's performance.
Full story: Team Lotus

Renault driver Vitaly Petrov arrives in Singapore on Monday to acclimatise to the hot and humid conditions ahead of Sunday's night race. The Russian adds: "I don't think you can easily prepare for this race. The conditions will be the same as we faced in Malaysia, and we can't simulate these weather conditions back in England!"

At least 36 people have been killed after unidentified gunmen opened fire at a crowded bar near the Burundi capital, Bujumbura, officials say.

A local hospital is reportedly unable to cope with the wounded, while dead bodies have been left in a car park.

"I heard someone some distance away shout: 'Kill them all,' and they opened fire," one survivor told the BBC.

Burundi's last rebel group officially laid down its arms in 2009 but sporadic attacks have continued.

The BBC's Prime Ndikumagenge in Bujumbura says it is the most deadly attack since last year's disputed poll.

Former rebel leader Agathon Rwasa withdrew from the presidential election and fled the country after his National Liberation Forces (FNL) accused the governing party of fraud.

The government has blamed recent attacks on bandits but our correspondent says some fear a new rebel group has emerged.

There are some reports that the attackers crossed into Gatumba from just across the border in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Presidential trip cancelled


"They really took their time. Two bullets went through my body and another two are still inside. My legs sustained grenade injuries. All I can ask for is peace. I don't know why I should be a victim," he said

A doctor who only gave his name as Leonard told the AFP news agency the hospital where he worked was "totally overwhelmed" by the number of wounded.

"We are lacking blood, equipment and medicine to treat all the injured," he said.

AFP reports that dead bodies had been left in a car park at one hospital.

President Pierre Nkurunziza visited the scene and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

He said he was cancelling this week's trip to New York, for the UN General Assembly.

Some 300,000 people are said to have been killed in Burundi's 12-year civil war between the minority Tutsi-dominated army and ethnic Hutu rebels.

The conflict officially ended in 2005 with a peace deal which saw former rebel leader Mr Nkurunziza elected president but FNL rebels continued fighting.