Small business confidence at 20-year low

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association says business confidence among its members has hit a 20-year low.

O'Callaghan seeks move away from Cork City

George O'Callaghan looks to be on his way out of Cork City again.

Farmer takes Tesco to court

A farmer in the UK will today apply for a court injunction forcing a supermarket giant to remove photographs of his family business from its egg boxes.

Kadokawa takes stake in school

Business News: Co. investing substantially in training -- Media conglom Kadokawa Group Holdings on July 1 will take a 15% stake in Amusement Media Academy (AMG), a private school that trains animators, game designers, comic artists, voice actors and other creatives at campuses in Tokyo and Osaka.

Russell Kelban joins Paramount

Business News: Exec named senior VP of brand marketing -- Paramount Home Entertainment has tapped Russell Kelban senior VP of brand marketing.

Universal ups Scoggins to senior VP

Business News: Creative exec developed Solar online -- Universal Pictures has upped Stan Scoggins to senior VP of worldwide digital asset management in the studio's creative services group.

Intrepid names Wyatt COO, CFO

Business News: Company ups Anil Kurian to VP of development -- Intrepid Pictures has hired veteran indie exec Trina Wyatt as chief operating officer and chief financial office and promoted Anil Kurian to VP of development.

CBS Interactive absorbs CNET

Business News: Quincy Smith to oversee expanded unit -- The Eye has absorbed CNET into CBS Interactive and reorganized the unit along five areas of focus, all overseen by CBS Interactive chief Quincy Smith.

MTV takes a stand on 'Rock Band'

Business News: Xbox 360 game to battle 'Guitar Hero' this fall -- Round two of the battle of the videogame bands is gearing up for fall as MTV disclosed plans Monday to release "Rock Band 2" in September.

Actors' Equity talks are free of drama

Business News: Union, producers agree to extend negotiations -- Legit thesp union Actors' Equity Association and the Broadway League, the trade association of stage producers and presenters, agreed early Monday morning to extend contract negotiations on a day-to-day basis.

NBC Universal promotes Vivi Zigler

Business News: Exec will lend expertise to company's websites -- NBC Universal has elevated Vivi Zigler to prexy of NBC Universal Digital Entertainment.

Discovery, APM Music form Tracks

Business News: Unit making original cues available for licensing -- Discovery Communications and APM Music have partnered to form Discovery Studios Tracks, which will make original music cues from the Discovery family of TV channels available for licensing to third-party productions.

Yahoo issues defense to investors

Business News: Netco offers reasons why Microsoft bid failed -- With one month to go before its annual shareholders meeting, Yahoo has issued its most elaborate defense of its failed negotiations with Microsoft yet.

IFC ups Lisa Schwartz to exec VP

Business News: Exec to supervise operations of film initiatives -- IFC Entertainment has upped Lisa Schwartz to exec veep of distribution, operations and business development.

Endemol sets up in Turkey

Business News: Company sells 'Wipeout' -- Following last year’s successful bow of its Dubai-based Middle East operations, TV format giant Endemol is launching a dedicated company in Turkey.

Yahoo takes defense to investors

Business News: Company presses case to major shareholders -- Yahoo Inc. began pressing a case to major shareholders Monday that its board and management deserve a chance to prove they made the right move when they rejected a $47.5 billion takeover offer from Microsoft Corp.

SAG, majors play beat the clock

Business News: Contract negotiations continue -- With expiration now only hours away, the Screen Actors Guild and the majors have resumed contract negotiations on the guild's feature primetime deal.

Hong Kong UIH's stake sale fails

Business News: Talks between Globalcrest, third party cease -- The sale of a majority stake in Hong Kong production shingle Universe Intl. Holdings has collapsed.

India's Saregama sings new tune

Business News: Music unit expands into film production -- Saregama, one of India's leading music and video distributors, will spend 1.5 billion rupees ($35 million) over the next year to expand movie production, per vice chairman Sanjiv Goenka.

NBR slates student aid

Business News: Board awards $75k in grants -- The National Board of Review will award $75, 000 in student grants among 10 schools in the New York tri-state area this year.

Grim tidings for Gamberini and Grosso

ACF Fiorentina's Alessandro Gamberini and Olympique Lyonnais's Fabio Grosso are expected to miss their sides' opening UEFA Champions League group stage meeting after picking up injuries in Italy's 2-1 win in Cyprus.

Exasperated Crvena Zvezda ditch Zeman

Zdeněk Zeman has been dismissed as coach of FK Crvena Zvezda after just five games in charge following a run of poor results which have seen the Serbian giants bow out of the UEFA Cup and sink to the foot of their league.

Brückner choreographs a waltz in Vienna

Players gave credit to new coach Karel Brückner after Austria's shock 3-1 win against France with captain Andreas Ivanschitz saying: "We played cleverly after taking the lead, something we have not done in the past."

Reid relishing midfield role

Steven Reid put two years of injury misery behind him to remind the Republic of Ireland of just what they had been missing.

Lushes lashes wins Matron Stakes

Lush Lashes, the 9-4 favourite, secured another Group One victory in the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes.

Captain leads by example

British raiders were out of luck in the Prix du Pin at Longchamp, with Andre Fabre’s Captain’s Lover landing the spoils under Stephane Pasquier.

Goldikova hands Head more glory

Freddie Head’s golden season continued apace at Longchamp as Goldikova claimed the scalp of Henrythenavigator in the Prix du Moulin.

New national record for cyclists at Paralympic Games

The Irish cyclists posted two national records in Beijing’s Laoshan Veldrome on the opening day at the 13th Paralympic Games.

Kilkenny break Galway hearts

Kilkenny 3-06 Galway 0-13
Substitute Danny Purcell broke Galway hearts at Croke Park this afternoon as he struck a late haul of 1-01 to inspire Kilkenny to their first All-Ireland minor hurling title since 2003.

Agent reveals depth of Robinho misery

Manchester City new boy Robinho told Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon he would “rather be a travelling salesman” than remain at the Bernabeu, the Brazilian’s agent has revealed.