Ireland scrap South Africa plan

Ireland have shelved plans to play South Africa at a neutral “non-traditional” venue in November after running out of time.

Bank of Ireland denies takeover approach

Bank of Ireland has released a statement denying that it has received a takeover approach from Spanish institution Banco Santander.

Report: Santander considers take-over of Bank of Ireland

Santander is reportedly considering a take-over of Bank of Ireland.

Asian stock markets soar amid US rescue talks

Asian stock markets soared today as a news of a US government plan to rescue banks from risky mortgage debt brought hope of a let-up in the world’s worst financial crisis in decades.

EA set for Asian online push

Business News: Gaming giant expands reach -- Games giant Electronic Arts aims to have 12 games online by the end of the year and also intends to expand soccer game "FIFA 2" to five new foreign territories.

Hollywood Interactive finds funding

Business News: Rivers duo to cover Emmy red carpet online -- Hollywood Interactive Group has announced the acquisition of $5 million in venture capital funding, while also securing Joan and Melissa Rivers for red-carpet Emmy coverage on its MyHollywood.com website.

Hader, Faris spice up 'Meatballs'

Film News: Caan, Mr. T round out 3-D project -- Bill Hader and Anna Faris have signed on to voice the lead characters of Sony Pictures Animation's "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs."

Eric Roth rides to New Regency

Film News: Exec tapped as exec VP of business affairs -- New Regency has tapped former Weinstein Co. exec Eric Roth as executive VP of business affairs.

Tokyo Film Festival unveils lineup

Film News: Four films to world premiere in competition -- The 21st Tokyo Film Festival unveiled its lineup Thursday, including four world preems in the competition section: Ivy Ho's helming debut "Claustrophobia, " Feng Xiaoning's disaster pic "Super Typhoon, " thesp Atsuro Watabe's helming debut "Echo of Silence" and Tetsu Maeda's school drama "School Days With a Pig."

Jaime Rosales tackles weighty issues

Film News: Goya winner and rising star upsets status quo -- If a cinema star's been born this year in Spain, it's director Jaime Rosales.

Groups sue Trade Representative

Business News: 'Property enforcement treaty' being questioned -- A pair of public interest groups have filed suit against the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to force disclosure of details about a "secret intellectual property enforcement treaty" that the Bush administration is currently negotiating with numerous countries.

Rally Ireland duo to stand down

THE duo responsible for securing Ireland’s entry to the World Rally Championship, Sean O’Connor and Ronan Morgan are to stand down from the promotion and management of Rally Ireland at the end of this month.

SAG power shifts

Business News: Unite for Strength gains control of union board -- Dissidents have won control of SAG's national board in a surprise result that heightens the chances of an end to the guild's contract stalemate with the majors.

NATAS circles grow

Film News: Donahue, Bergen, Williams honored -- The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Pacific Southwest chapter, has inducted six new members into its prestigious gold and silver circles.

San Sebastian fest boosts niche biz

Film News: Event serves up specialty film players, initiatives -- When the charmingly humble Mahmoud al Massad presented a rough cut of "Recycle" at San Sebastian's Cinema in Motion last year, he was an almost totally unknown director.

Stars, bizzers head to San Sebastian

Film News: Celebs to see and industry events to attend -- Normally low on glamour, San Sebastian has turned up its own star quotient a few watts. "Tropic Thunder" will be tubthumped by Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr., while Meryl Streep and homeboy Antonio Banderas are being honored with Donostia Awards.

Galicians on parade at San Sebastian

Film News: Region will have strong presence at film fest -- Producers and companies from the region of Galicia will be out in force at the 56th San Sebastian Festival, a crossroads between Spain and Latin America. For the first time, the Galician Audiovisual Consortium will run a stand at San Sebastian's Sales Office film market.

Modest players pack multiplexes

Film News: Full frame vie for weekend box office -- After last weekend’s box office boom -- led by the Coen brothers’ "Burn After Reading" -- this weekend could prove a lull as several new modest players make their play before action-thriller "Eagle Eye" debuts a week from now. (Kate Hudson, right, stars in "My Best Friend's Girl")

Televisa, Univision trial postponed

Business News: Royalty case delayed for scheduling reasons -- The court faceoff between Mexican media conglom Televisa and U.S. Hispanic giant Univision Communications has been moved yet again -- this time to Dec. 2.

Galicia's film biz goes global

Film News: Spanish org extends co-production reach -- Some 2.7 million people live in Galicia; an estimated 10 million Galician emigres are spread worldwide and continue to maintain strong homeland links. Up to 1 million Gallegos dwell in Buenos Aires alone, endowing Galician cultural heritage with a fascinating mix of tango and bagpipes.

IFP grants, awards go to filmmakers

Film News: Org delivers indie awards on Sept. 18 -- The IFP gave out $130, 000 in grants and in-kind awards were handed out Sept. 18 at the annual Independent Filmmaker Awards ceremony.

'Fiction' heads into eighth season

Film News: Slate packed with Toronto documentaries -- IFC’s “Stranger Than Fiction” documentary series is heads into its eighth season with a slate packed with docus from Toronto.

IFC enters six in Fantastic Fest

Film News: Trio will be released simultaneously on VOD -- IFC has six films at the Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, including two North American preems and three pics that will be released simultaneously on video-on-demand and at the cinema through IFC’s In Theaters program.

Foreign Oscar submissions pile up

Film News: Oct. 1 deadline has countries unloading pics -- With the Oct. 1 deadline for foreign-language Oscar submissions looming, a slew of countries unveiled their choices this week.

Report: A-Rod, Wife Reach Divorce Settlement

Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and wife Cynthia have settled their multimillion-dollar divorce case, the New York Daily News reported Thursday.

Briefs: Steelers' Farrior fined $7.5K for obscene gesture

Thursday's NFL news briefs: Steelers linebacker James Farrior was fined $7, 500 by the league for making an obscene gesture toward Browns fans Sunday night.

Grateful Dead to play for Obama

Music News: Band set to perform at candidate's fundraiser -- The Democratic presidential candidate's campaign has confirmed a long-rumored fundraising concert that will include four remaining members of the Grateful Dead at Penn State University's Bryce Jordan Center.

Harte: O'Neill will be in squad

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has insisted that Stephen O'Neill is very much in contention to play against Kerry in Sunday's GAA Football All-Ireland Senior final at Croke Park.

Galvin benched as Kerry make two changes

Kerry captain Paul Galvin will have to play a substitute's role after failing to force his way into the defending champions' team for Sunday's GAA Football All-Ireland Senior final clash with Tyrone.

Burnley backing for new tournament

Scotland manager George Burley gave his approval to the 4 Associations Tournament which will involve his team, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in spring 2011.

Leaky Saints dump defensive coordinator Gibbs

Gary Gibbs, the New Orleans Saints' defensive coordinator the past three years, was fired on Wednesday.

Saints confirm repairs to Bush's balky left knee

The New Orleans Saints have confirmed that running back Reggie Bush had surgery on his left knee, and will require months of rehabilitation.

49ers

Tom Rathman agreed to return to the San Francisco 49ers' coaching staff Wednesday night as their running backs coach.

Seahawks

Greg Knapp is the new offensive coordinator for the Seahawks, the first of many moves to be made by Seattle under new coach Jim Mora.

Broncos interview Frazier; Stoops possibility?

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has interviewed a half dozen candidates to replace Mike Shanahan, three from each side of the ball.

Elbow hurting, Mawae tries to brace for Ravens

Tennessee Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae insisted Wednesday he is day-to-day for the Titans' divisional playoff game against Baltimore, and he didn't mean to cause such a stir by saying he wouldn't play this week.

DEs Haynesworth, Vanden Bosh practice

Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and end Kyle Vanden Bosch took part in their first full practice in weeks Wednesday, and they couldn't be more eager to chase the rookie quarterback in the Titans' AFC divisional playoff game on Sunday against Baltimore.

Giants RB Jacobs practices; DE Tuck misses workout

New York Giants leading rusher Brandon Jacobs returned to practice on Wednesday and pronounced himself ready to go for the NFC semifinal against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ex-Bills QB, politician Kemp diagnosed with cancer

The office of Jack Kemp says the former housing secretary, congressman and Buffalo Bills quarterback has been diagnosed with cancer.

Panthers get injured linemen back for Cards game

The Carolina Panthers should have starting defensive tackles Maake Kemoeatu
and Damione Lewis back for Saturday's playoff game against Arizona. Kemoeatu,
Lewis and right offensive tackle Jeff Otah practiced Wednesday after being sidelined
by injuries late in the regular season.