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.

UK competition rules waived for bank takeover

British Chancellor Alistair Darling confirmed today the UK government has decided to “waive competition requirements” in relation to the £12.2bn (€15.5bn) takeover by Lloyds TSB of its ailing rival Halifax Bank of Scotland.

Lloyds reveals details of £12bn HBOS takeover

Lloyds TSB unveiled details today of its £12.2bn (€15.5bn) takeover of ailing rival Halifax Bank of Scotland.

Lloyds TSB takes over HBOS

UK banking giant Lloyds TSB today announced a £12.2bn (€15.5bn) takeover of rival Halifax Bank of Scotland.

Conquest bids for Ayr double

Conquest is set to bid to become the first sprinter since Coastal Bluff in 1996 to complete the Stewards’ Cup and Ayr Gold Cup double when he lines up in Scotland on Saturday.

Troubled HBOS in 'advanced takeover talks'

Troubled UK banking group Halifax Bank of Scotland confirmed today it was in “advanced talks” over a potential takeover by rival Lloyds TSB.

Education of children in care boosted

A PACKAGE of measures designed to help the education of the 14, 000 children in care in Scotland was announced by the Scottish Government this week.

Training should not be relegated to periphery

THE Apprenticeship (Scotland) Bill aims to establish a right to an apprenticeship for suitably qualified young people aged between 16 and 18.

HBOS shares continue to slide

Shares in Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) continued to slide today as the lender cemented its position as the stock market’s biggest casualty from the Lehman Brothers collapse.

Only way is up for vibrant St Pat's

Their 47-year wait for an away victory in Europe over, Dublin side St Patrick's Athletic FC travel to face Hertha BSC Berlin in the UEFA Cup as underdogs but with the ambition to pull off a "phenomenal" upset.

Murtagh masters Johnston raider

Mastercraftsman just prevailed in a desperate struggle with Shaweel to give Aidan O’Brien a seventh Bank Of Scotland (Ireland) National Stakes at the Curragh.

O'Brien's Freemantle cedes to Nafaath at Curragh

Aidan O’Brien’s Freemantle was well and truly turned over in the Bank Of Scotland Ireland EBF Fund Maiden at the Curragh as Nafaath ran out a ready winner.

Another UK tour operator goes bust

A second British tour operator has gone bust days after the collapse of XL Leisure sent the travel industry into turmoil, the aviation regulator confirmed today.

XL collapse sees rivals prosper on FTSE

The collapse of a rival operator buoyed holiday giants TUI Travel and Thomas Cook today as the FTSE 100 Index surged nearly 2% in the final session of the week.

XL travel rivals see shares rise on FTSE

UK holiday giants TUI Travel and Thomas Cook were experiencing strong gains today as investors digested the collapse of rival operator XL.

More tour operators expected to go under

The collapse of tour operator XL is the latest blow to the UK air travel industry, which has endured a torrid summer with a number of companies closing down.

ER tussles with U. S. distributor

Business News: U.K. company claims unpaid fees -- Struggling U.K. tyke specialist Entertainment Rights, whose properties include “Postman Pat” and “The Lone Ranger, ” is taking legal action against its primary U.S. DVD distributor, Genius Products, over alleged unpaid fees.

Berlusconi immunity threatened

Business News: Opposition wants to strip away protection -- Silvio Berlusconi’s year has had a somewhat inauspicious start. Momentum is gathering behind an opposition move to lift the immunity from prosecution that shields the Italo media mogul and premier from his legal woes.

Banijay returns El Terrat to sender

Business News: Buenafuente buys back company -- In a surprise about-face, Gaul's Banijay Entertainment has sold Spanish production company El Terrat back to its original owner, prexy Andreu Buenafuente, just three months after announcing its purchase.

Obama urges for digital switch delay

Business News: Officials concerned that people are unprepared -- Don't flip the switch just yet -- that's what the incoming Obama administration urged Congress on Thursday regarding the long-planned Feb. 17 transition to all-digital broadcasting.

Blu-Ray warms tech expo

Business News: Sony pushes online products in Vegas -- Blu-ray sales could triple or even quintuple in 2009.

Jermaine Dupri out at Island Records

Business News: Rapper-producer-mogul exits music unit -- Jermaine Dupri is out as president of Island Records Urban Music division, a unit he ran for almost two years.

First Look ups Marie O'Reilly-Thein

Business News: Exec will manage retail and rental accounts -- First Look Studios has upped Marie O'Reilly-Thein to senior veep of sales for home entertainment.

Sides more vocal in SAG strike talks

Business News: Meeting next week to decide referendum's fate -- The sides in SAG's strike authorization vote battle are becoming more vocal in advance of the guild's emergency national board meeting next week to determine the fate of the proposed referendum.

Blu-Ray warms tech expo

Film News: Sony pushes online products in Vegas -- Blu-ray sales could triple or even quintuple in 2009.

Fashion kicks off with Golden Globes

Film News: For TV divas, the red carpet is their big moment -- It's fashion kickoff time. First up: the Golden Globes, next the Academy Awards. While the Oscars is as intense as the Super Bowl, the more relaxed Globes pits the smallscreen against the bigscreen: On one team we have the TV clotheshorses; on the other, their big sisters, the movie stars.