Los Angeles  - Entertainment giant Disney said it plans to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2012 as the first step toward its goal to become carbon neutral.

The company said it would reduce waste at its theme parks, cruise ships and office and retail spaces to half of the 2006 level of 170,000 tons by 2013. Disney plans to reduce its electricity use by 10 per cent by 2013. The goals were set even though the company plans to expand its California theme park and launch two new cruise ships by 2012.

Los Angeles  - Rapper Coolio has been charged with battery and possession of cocaine, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office announced Tuesday.

The charges stem from an incident on Friday in which Coolio, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after police searched his luggage and allegedly found cocaine.

According to police, the 45-year-old rapper allegedly grabbed a luggage screener's arm to prevent the search.

Los Angeles - The single mother of newborn octuplets and six other small children is moving out of her mother's home and getting a team of charity nurses to help care for her formidable brood, People magazine reported Tuesday.

The mother, Nadya Suleman, has come in for widespread criticism for her obsession with having babies even though she has no visible means of support. But the new arrangements will allow the children to get adequate care without the need for a massive government baby bailout.

Los Angeles (US), Mar. 10: England mid-fielder David Beckham has been told to forget playing any friendlies for his country by L A Galaxy.

The club is already paying the price for their timeshare deal with A C Milan, which sees Becks return in July for 13 of the 30-game MLS season.

According to The Sun, they are anxious to keep the England ace for every match possible, which means forbidding any extra travel back to Europe in the summer.

Los Angeles - Take notice Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, fellow superstar Dwyane Wade is making his point as a top contender for league Most Valuable Player.

Wade had 48 points, 12 assists and stole the ball from John Salmons for a running three-pointer as time expired in the second overtime, lifting the Miami Heat to a dramatic 130-127 home-court victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.

"If Mr Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr, if he's not legitimately considered for an MVP candidate, I don't know what he needs to do," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the emotional win.

Los Angeles  - NBA hall of famer Charles Barkley was a free man Monday, after serving 36 hours in jail at for a drunken driving conviction, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in Arizona said.

Barkley was not required to wear a jail uniform upon entering the facility Saturday morning. He was given a private tent but no other special treatment, Sheriff Joe Arpaio told the Arizona Republic. The county houses some jail inmates, who are serving sentences of no more than 12 months, in what the sheriff calls Tent City.