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.

Wings' Lidstrom heads West All-Star reserves

Nicklas Lidstrom is headed to the NHL All-Star Game for the 10th straight season, but for the first time as captain of the Stanley Cup champion.

Giambi completes deal to return to Oakland

Jason Giambi and the Oakland Athletics have finalized a one-year contract with an option, bringing the free-agent designated hitter and first baseman back to the place he began his big league career.

Curry scores 29, rally falls short

Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler scored 22 points apiece and No. 2 Duke held off a late Stephen Curry-led charge to beat Davidson 79-67 on Wednesday night.

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.

Bite in fight? League probes alleged Ruutu chomp

Ottawa Senators forward Jarkko Ruutu has been suspended by the NHL for two games without pay for biting Buffalo Sabres enforcer Andrew Peters.

Atlanta suffers rare home loss

Dwight Howard had 23 points and 19 rebounds, helping the Magic hold on for a 106-102 victory Wednesday night in a matchup of the top two teams in the Southeast Division.

Georgia's Stafford, Moreno to enter NFL Draft

Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno are leaving Georgia for the NFL Draft.

Zags end Vols' home streak

Matt Bouldin tied a career high with 26 points to help Gonzaga upset No. 15 Tennessee 89-79 in overtime on Wednesday night.

Eagles suffer letdown, fall to Crimson

Jeremy Lin scored 27 points to lead Harvard to an 82-70 upset over No. 17 Boston College on Wednesday night, coming after the Eagles upset previously top-ranked North Carolina in their last game.

Short and sweet: Cowboys release Pacman

Troubled cornerback Adam 'Pacman' Jones was released by the Dallas Cowboys following a season in which he was suspended six games for an off-field fight.