Beatles to zombies, videogamers set for varied 2009

For videogame publishers the start of 2009 marks a new phase in gaming with the release of new titles no longer confined to the top holiday sale months but spread throughout the year. Traditionally about half of annual videogame sales were rung up in November and December...

Mamma Mia! is best ever selling DVD

The film of the Abba-themed musical Mamma Mia! has become the biggest ever selling DVD and the first movie disc to top five million sales, the Official Charts Company said. The DVD success crowns the movie’s lucrative run at the box office, where it earned more than...

Sydney welcomes 2009 with fireworks spectacular

Sydney defied predictions of a gloomy 2009 with its biggest ever New Year party and midnight fireworks display, watched by some 1.5 million revellers on the glittering harbour and surrounds. The theme for the celebrations was Creation and the centrepiece a pyrotechnic storm...

2009 to be one of warmest years on record

Next year is set to be one of the top-five warmest on record, British climate scientists said yesterday. The average global temperature for 2009 is expected to be more than 0.4°C above the long-term average, despite the continued cooling of huge areas of the Pacific...

No escaping the crunch for arts, entertainment in 2009

The world of entertainment, especially film, tends to benefit when times are tough, as people seek to escape worries about their job, mortgage, children’s education or heating bills. But 2009 is likely to be a tough one for movies, music, theatre, art, books and most...