Rudd unveils carbon research institute

AUSTRALIA has set aside $100 million a year for a new carbon storage technology research centre.

Australia get World Cup boost

Australia’s chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup have been boosted after Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy was appointed to the World Cup organising committee.

'Gooch' backed to lead from front

CHRIS Guccione can lead Australia to an improbable Davis Cup victory over red-hot favourites Chile this weekend, team captain John Fitzgerald says.

Luc Besson launches Blue

Film News: Company to produce 'advertainment' -- Helmer-producer Luc Besson is teaming up with advertising exec Christophe Lambert to launch Blue, Gaul’s first shingle devoted to “advertainment” — a blend of entertainment and advertising.

Australia appoints coach Mantilla

TENNIS Australia has hired Felix Mantilla and acquired a Barcelona-based training facility to fasttrack the learning and development of clay-court skills among Australian players.

Revolution in aisles with trolley TV

COMPUTERISED supermarket shopping trolleys that could revolutionise the way we shop are set to be trialled in Australia next year.

Dwight Caines upped at Sony

Film News: Exec now oversees all digital marketing -- Dwight Caines has been upped to prexy of worldwide digital marketing at Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Entertainment One gets credit

Business News: Company to receive $150 million -- Despite a global credit squeeze, Canada's Entertainment One has just received a four-year $150 million senior credit facility with a group of financial institutions led by JP Morgan. The facility leaves the Toronto-based distrib and producer poised for further growth. The other banks in the syndicate include Bank of America, Barclays and Toronto Dominion Bank.

Summit taps Kirkpatrick for post

Business News: Exec named president of worldwide marketing -- Summit Entertainment has tapped veteran exec Nancy Kirkpatrick prexy of worldwide marketing.

Peace stands behind 'The Line'

Business News: Group acquires rights to Canadian TV drama -- Peace Arch Entertainment Group has acquired distribution rights to upcoming TV series "The Line."

Schulman retiring as WB counsel

Business News: Legal guru had been with studio for 25 years -- John Schulman, Warner Bros. Entertainment general counsel and the reigning dean of studio legal eagles, is retiring after a 25-year career at the studio.

Entertainment League enters game

Business News: Former NBA exec start sports production unit -- The ranks of companies in Los Angeles focusing on sports production and marketing have added another player: Entertainment League Prods.

ITV's Paul Jackson exits

Business News: Exec returning to role as tube producer -- ITV director of entertainment Paul Jackson, former head of Granada America, is ankling at the end of the year to return to making programs.

ITV's Jackson exits

Business News: Exec returning to role as tube producer -- ITV director of entertainment Paul Jackson, former head of Granada America, is ankling at the end of the year to return to making programs.

PorchLight on for Sparky/Grimply piic

Film News: Companies team up for CGI 'Brothers' -- Singapore's Sparky Animation has pacted with Santa Monica-based PorchLight Entertainment and Scotland's Grimply Films to co-produce $22 million, CGI movie "The Grimpley Brothers."

Cheech Marin flies with 'Angel'

Film News: Actor to direct and star in comedy for HighRoad -- Cheech Marin will direct and star in the dramedy "Angel of Oxnard" for HighRoad Entertainment.

Women set Democratic fund-raiser

Business News: Voices taps David, Short, Garner to perform -- More then 50 women in the entertainment industry have organized an event to raise money for eight Democratic U.S. Senate candidates on Sept. 27, with a lineup of performances by Martin Short, Jennifer Garner and Larry David, among others.

Screen Oz plans industry boost

Film News: Overhaul of services good news for industry -- Australia's powerful new one-stop federal coin agency, Screen Australia, has unveiled a proposal to rescue the biz from the doldrums with more money available for development, marketing and distribution.

Obama organizers campaign for cash

Business News: Hollywood donors race to raise money -- With the presidential race in a dead heat, Hollywood donors feverishly made last-minute calls to raise money for what could be Barack Obama’s final entertainment industry fund-raiser before the general election.

Susan Lyne named Gilt Groupe CEO

Business News: Former Martha Stewart chief to run online retailer -- Susan Lyne, former chief of ABC Entertainment and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, is bailing on the media sector in favor of running an online luxury goods retailer.

Broadband in Australia below par: study

SEVERAL industrialised nations, including Australia, offer very basic broadband speeds compared with world leader Japan, a study says.

Smeets gets Davis Cup call-up

AUSTRALIA captain John Fitzgerald has drafted Robert Smeets into his squad for next week's Davis Cup showdown with Chile in Antofagasta.

Snoop Dogg passes test of character to enter Australia

Rapper Snoop Dogg has been granted a visa to enter Australia for a concert tour after concluding a full character assessment of the entertainer.

Vivendi off to 'Tennessee'

Film News: Film unit grabs rights to Aaron Woodley film -- Vivendi Entertainment has grabbed all U.S. rights to "Tennessee, " the latest pic from "Monster's Ball" producer Lee Daniels.

Reliance nabs major stake in Willow

Business News: Online business specializes in cricket -- In a further sign of its global ambitions, Indian media conglom Reliance Big Entertainment has acquired a majority stake in California-based Willow TV, which claims to be the world’s leading website for live streaming of cricket events.

Rodriguez Saves 60th Game As Angels Beat Rangers

Francisco Rodriguez earned his 60th save and Garret Anderson homered and drove in three runs to help the Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 7-3 Saturday night.

Red Sox Clinch Tie For Wild Card

David Ortiz hit a two-run homer, Daisuke Matsuzaka remained unbeaten on the road and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 on Sunday to clinch at least a tie for the AL wild-card.

Selanne Will Participate In Ducks' Camp

Teemu Selanne has signed a tryout agreement with the Anaheim Ducks
while negotiations continue on a standard contract for the 10-time
All-Star forward.

Phillies Beat Marlins To Regain 1st In NL East

The game was as tight as the NL East standings, and at the end of the night, the Philadelphia Phillies led both. Philadelphia went ahead, fell behind, rallied and held on Saturday, escaping threats in the final three innings to beat the Florida Marlins 3-2 and reclaim first place from the New York Mets.

Bryant Field Goal Lifts Bucs Over Bears

Brian Griese saved his big shot for the last moment. Griese set up Matt Bryant's winning 21-yard field goal in overtime with a 38-yard pass to Antonio Bryant, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rallied to beat the Chicago Bears 27-24 on Sunday.

Dempster Gets 17th Win As Cubs Roll

Ryan Dempster earned his 17th victory as the Chicago Cubs kept on winning a day after clinching the NL Central title, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 Sunday in their regular-season wrapup at Wrigley Field.

Danks, White Sox Shut Out Royals

John Danks and two relievers combined on a four-hitter and Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer as the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 3-0 on Sunday.

Americans Reclaim Ryder Cup From Europe

U.S. captain Paul Azinger sprinted up the stairs to the clubhouse
balcony and grabbed the biggest bottle of champagne he could find to
join an American celebration he felt was a long time coming in the
Ryder Cup.

Biffle Makes Late Pass For 2nd Straight Chase Win

Greg Biffle finished a middling regular season as a driver who just couldn't win. Now, he's the one who simply can't lose. Biffle
traded a lengthy winless streak for a winning one when it mattered
most. He made it a sparkling 2-for-2 in the NASCAR Chase for the championship
Sunday.

Yankee Stadium Going, Going, Gone After 85 Years

Even Yogi Berra knew this was the end. As baseball said farewell to Yankee Stadium, one of the game's most
beloved players stood beneath the stands in a full vintage uniform. Now
83, the man who coined the phrase "it ain't over till it's over" put
his own stamp on the day. "I'm sorry to see it over, I'll tell you that, " Berra said.