If successful, the fund would be one of the largest new property funds any firm has raised since the financial crisis, the Journal said.

Rivals Blackstone Group LP , TPG Capital Management LPand KKR & Co LPalready have funds to tap into the real estate market. Blackstone has more than $54 billion of property assets under management.

"We believed in the inherent value of the investments we were making despite the noise in the market," Robert Stuckey, head of Carlyle's U.S. real estate group, told the Journal. He declined to discuss the new fundraising.

In June, Crown Acquisitions and real estate investment firm Highgate agreed to buy from Carlyle a 27-story glass and steel office and retail tower at 650 Madison Avenue for about $1.3 billion.

Carlyle, which has about $176 billion in assets under management, could not immediately be reached for comment by Reuters outside of regular U.S. business hours.

(Reporting by Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore; editing by Patrick Graham)

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc wrote its largest-ever check for a subscription-streaming deal, securing hundreds of mostly childrens' TV programs from Viacom Inc for its Internet video service and ratcheting up pressure on rival Netflix.

Amazon's deal with Viacom gives the world's largest Internet retailer broader access to hit shows including "Dora the Explorer" and "SpongeBob SquarePants." Netflix had previously conceded that losing access to those shows would be a blow.

Amazon agreed to pay more than $200 million to Viacom for the license, its largest subscription-streaming transaction ever, a person familiar with the deal said. A second person familiar said the deal would run more than two years and included a deeper library of content than the prior Netflix agreement.

The Amazon-Viacom pact comes just days after Netflix stopped streaming popular Nickelodeon programming, following the expiration of its deal with the company.

The deal includes about 4,000 TV episodes that will be available to stream for free on Amazon Prime Instant Video. This service is free for subscribers to Amazon's Prime program, which, for $79 a year offers free two-day shipping in the United States for items purchased through Amazon.

Part of the payment went to secure exclusive subscription streaming rights to several shows from Viacom's Nick Jr channel, including the "Dora" franchise, "Go Diego Go!," "Blue's Clues" and "The Backyardigans."

Amazon is spending heavily on video content as it competes with Netflix and Hulu for a piece of the fast-growing market for TV and movies delivered over the Internet. Childrens' shows are among the most-watched on Amazon's service, according to Bill Carr, the company's vice president for digital video and music.

Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings, in a CNBC interview last week, said his service still had plenty of content for children but losing the Viacom programming could hurt.

"If you're a parent and your child's looking for 'Blue's Clues,' you know, that is definitely a problem," he said, while noting that Netflix still has programming from the likes of Disney and Cartoon Network.

In early May, Netflix announced a new multiyear license agreement with Walt Disney Co that gave Netflix the exclusive right to stream "Jake and the Never Land Pirates," along with access to other Disney shows including "Handy Manny."

Viacom's shares rose 1 percent to $67.575 in morning trading, while Netflix shares were up 1.4 percent at $225. Amazon gained 44 cents to $267.34.

(Reporting by Alistair Barr; Additional reporting by Liana B. Baker in New York; Editing by Richard Pullin and Maureen Bavdek)

Mayberry hit his first career grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the 11th after his tying homer in the 10th, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins 7-3 Tuesday night.

Mayberry tied it off Steve Cishek in the 10th after Juan Pierre scored on a wild pitch in the top of the inning.

Domonic Brown reached on a fielding error by pitcher Edgar Olmos (0-1) with one out in the 11th and advanced on pinch-hitter Kyle Kendrick's sacrifice. After Freddy Galvis was intentionally walked, Erik Kratz walked to load the bases.

Mayberry followed with a line-drive homer to left. He circled the bases and was mobbed by teammates at the plate.

"That was definitely one to remember," Mayberry said. "It feels good, I'm not going to lie to you."

Mayberry entered the game in the seventh inning. He became the first Phillies player to hit a game-ending grand slam since Dale Murphy against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 6, 1991.

"Sometimes with John, if you can get him with certain pitchers, that's when he becomes much better," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "Sometimes, when he comes off the bench I wouldn't call him a great pinch hitter but when he goes into the game, and he gets some time in the game, the next at-bat he becomes much better. He kind of runs in spurts, and tonight, well, tonight, he put some good swings on the ball."

Michael Stutes (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.

Brown, who had eight homers in the previous eight games, was 0 for 5 for Philadelphia and made an error in left field. But the Phillies won their third straight to move within a game of .500. They haven't been even all season.

"We're going to see if we can have a go at it. That's what we come to the ballpark for," Manuel said.

A disputed call in the eighth went against the Phillies and drew the ire of the crowd. Ben Revere was called for interfering with second baseman Derek Dietrich while breaking up a double play although he slid headfirst and didn't appear to go out of his way or make much contact. Michael Young beat the throw to first, but umpire Bob Davidson called an automatic double play.

Manuel argued briefly and fans booed loudly and hurled a derogatory chant at Davidson.

"I don't know what he was seeing," Manuel said. "Bob's kind of getting a little old."

Revere said Davidson "needs glasses."

The last-place Marlins have lost two in a row since a three-game sweep over the New York Mets.

Phillies rookie starter Jonathan Pettibone allowed two runs one earned and seven hits in six innings.

Miami's Ricky Nolasco gave up two runs and four hits, striking out six in 6 2-3 innings.

"This ballpark is very dangerous," Nolasco said. "The game is never over in this ballpark."

Down 2-0, Ryan Howard started Philadelphia's rally by lining a double leading off the bottom of the seventh. After Brown struck out, Delmon Young hit an RBI double high off the wall in left-center.

Nolasco then fanned Galvis, but pinch-hitter Kratz hit an RBI double that just missed clearing the right-field wall to tie it at 2. Kratz ran in from the bullpen right before his name was announced, grabbed a bat and went up to the plate.

Galvis saved three runs with outstanding plays at second base. With runners at second and third and two outs in the eighth, he made a sliding backhanded grab on Casey Kotchman's bouncer up the middle and threw him out.

His first gem came with a runner on third, one out and the infield up in the second. Galvis snared Adeiny Hechavarria's hard one-hopper, held the runner and got the second out.

For the second night in a row, the Marlins jumped ahead 2-0 and couldn't hold it.

NOTES: Phillies C Carlos Ruiz, out since May 20 because of a strained right hamstring, hopes to begin a rehab stint next week. ... Phillies RHP Roy Halladay was expected to meet with the team physician before the game and will speak to reporters on Wednesday. Halladay had shoulder surgery last month, but hopes to pitch again this season. ... Jonathan Papelbon tossed a perfect ninth in his first appearance since last Wednesday. ... Marlins CF Chris Coghlan was 0 for 5, snapping his 10-game hitting streak. ... The Marlins are 10-12 against the Mets and Phillies, 6-31 vs. the rest of the majors. ... Cole Hamels (1-9, 4.86 ERA) tries to avoid his 10th loss in the series finale Wednesday afternoon against Miami's Jacob Turner (1-0, 0.00).

___

Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobMaaddi

A total of 132 IRS officials received room upgrades at the 2010 conference in Anaheim, Calif., according to the report being released by J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general for tax administration.

One official stayed five nights in a room that regularly goes for $3,500 a night, George's report said, and another stayed four nights in a room that regularly goes for $1,499 a night. The agency paid a flat daily fee of $135 per hotel room, it said, but the upgrades were part of a package deal that added to the overall cost of the conference. Without the upgrades, the IRS could have negotiated a lower room rate, as required by agency procedures.

The inspector general's report was surfacing as the IRS came under fire again in connection with its targeting of conservative groups during the 2010 and 2012 elections. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the IG report ahead of its release.

In all, the IRS held 225 employee conferences from 2010 through 2012, at a total cost of $49 million, the report said. The Anaheim conference was the most expensive, but others were costly, too.

In 2010, for instance, the agency held a conference in Philadelphia that cost $2.9 million, one in San Diego that cost $1.2 million, and one in Atlanta that also cost $1.2 million.

Acting IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel has called the conferences "an unfortunate vestige from a prior era." Werfel took over the agency about two weeks ago, after President Barack Obama forced the previous acting commissioner to resign.

For more than 18 months during the 2010 and 2012 election campaigns, IRS agents in a Cincinnati office singled out tea party and other conservative groups for additional scrutiny when they sought tax-exempt status, according to a previous report by George.

The report issued last month said tea party groups were asked inappropriate questions about their donors, their political affiliations and their positions on political issues. The additional scrutiny delayed applications for an average of nearly two years, making it difficult for many of the groups to raise money.

On Tuesday, leaders of conservative groups complained to Congress that they were abused by the Internal Revenue Service for years as they sought tax-exempt status, including questions one Iowa anti-abortion group said it got about prayer meetings.

The testimony of the tea party and other conservative organizations before the House Ways and Means Committee was the first time groups complaining about the IRS's treatment have appeared directly before lawmakers since the IRS revealed the problem and apologized for it last month. They talked about applications for tax-exempt status that took three years for approval or in some cases haven't yet been approved and queries from the agency about the identity of their donors, video of meetings and whether speakers at such gatherings expressed political views.

"I'm a born-free American woman," Becky Gerritson, president of the Wetumpka Tea Party in Alabama, tearfully told the committee, adding, "I'm telling my government, you've forgotten your place."

Sue Martinek, president of the Coalition for Life of Iowa, an anti-abortion group, said the IRS asked them about "the content of our prayers."

"As Christians, we know we needed to pray for better solutions for unplanned pregnancies," she said.

The president of another group, the National Organization for Marriage, said the IRS publicly disclosed confidential information about donors. George Eastman said he thought the IRS's release of that information was designed to intimidate contributors to the group which opposes same-sex marriage "to chill them from donating again."

At Tuesday's Ways and Means hearing, committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., said the conservative groups were being singled out for their beliefs.

"They are Americans who did what we ask people to do every day add their voice to the dialogue that defines our country," Camp said. "And for pursuing that passion, for simply exercising their First Amendment rights the freedoms of association, expression and religion the IRS singled them out."

The committee's top Democrat, Rep. Sander Levin, said it was time to correct the IRS's problems.

"You are owed an apology," Levin, from Michigan, told the witnesses. "We say to you that each of us is committed to doing our part to ensure this does not happen again."

The leader of a small South Carolina tea party group said her organization first applied for tax-exempt status in 2010 and is still waiting for the application to be processed.

"Nearly three years in waiting for an answer is totally unacceptable," said Dianne Belsom, president of the Laurens County Tea Party. "The IRS needs to be fully investigated and held accountable for its incompetence harassment and targeting of conservative groups."

Belsom said her group in rural South Carolina has about 60 members and "seeks to educate ourselves and fellow citizens on various issues pertinent to living in a free country." The group also holds candidate forums in election years, she said.

"I'd like to note that our group is a small-time operation with very little money and this represents a complete waste of time by the IRS in terms of any money they would collect if we were not tax-exempt," Belsom said.

___

Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stephenatap

After scoring the final goal during stoppage time in Sunday's 3-0 exhibition win at Toronto's BMO Field, the 23-year-old player raised the U.S. Soccer Federation crest on her jersey toward the crowd, then put a finger to her mouth as if to silence the fans.

Born in British Columbia, Leroux moved to the U.S. as a teenager and was taunted with chants of "Judas" during the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament at Vancouver's BC Place in January 2012. On Monday, Leroux said on Twitter: "When you chant racial slurs, taunt me and talk about my family don't be mad when I shush you and show pride in what I represent. (hash)america."

Leroux said later Monday in a statement issued through the USSF that "my tweet from this morning wasn't in response to anything from yesterday's match at BMO Field."

"In fact, the atmosphere at the stadium was a positive step forward for women's soccer. Unfortunately, the type of abuse I have received in the past and via social media for my decision to play for the United States is a step backwards. That is what prompted my response in the heat of the moment."

The USSF collected some of the offensive tweets aimed at her, which referred to her with racial and sexist slurs and called her a "scab," ''insufferable classless," and "a loser."

"I hope you die of aids," another tweet read.

"It is sad that people are inclined to write these incredibly negative comments, but I am not going to focus on them moving forward," Leroux said. "Racism has no place in our beautiful game and we all need to come together to make sure no players are subjected to this kind of treatment in stadiums or on social media anywhere in the world. That said, the majority of fans have been extremely positive and I appreciate their support."

The game was the first meeting of the teams since the semifinals of last year's London Olympics, when a controversial decision by the referee contributed to a 4-3 U.S. win. Leroux received a yellow card for Sunday's celebration.

"Maybe not the classiest of moves," Canadian captain Christine Sinclair said after the game. "She scored on us, and an individual can do what they like. I probably wouldn't have done the same, but we move on."

The Canadian Soccer Association said Monday that it not been informed of any accusations of racial abuse at the time of the tournament in Vancouver last year.

Born in May 1990 in Surrey, British Columbia, Leroux was the youngest member of Canada's team at the 2004 Under-19 World Cup. She moved to the Seattle area in 2005 and then to Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2007. She switched her soccer allegiance to the U.S. in 2008.

Leroux's father, Ray Chadwick, is black and pitched in seven games for the California Angels in 1986. Her mother, Sandi, is white and was a third baseman for Canada's softball team at the 1987 Pan American Games.

RELATED:

In 2012, Graves gave Bachmann the strongest challenged she'd faced in her four terms, comingof an upset. Graves was poised to do even better this time, according to .

RELATED:

When Bachmannciting... no reasons in particular, Graves was understandably happy. The race, it seemed, was his. A local political blog , who said that his campaign wouldn't change a thing.

But Wednesday afternoon was a long time ago. That same blog, MinnPost, nowentirely. (The report was first spotted by .)

RELATED:

Graves summarized his decision: "There’s no way anyone could run and win who would be worse than Michele Bachmann. So we accomplished that task." But the reporter notes that a campaign against a non-controversial Republican could have been harder for Graves to win.

All of which sets the stage for a surprise move: Bachmann jumping back into the race and running uncontested. It's a risky strategy, but, given those recent polls, it may just be her best bet to actually win. You heard it here first. 

After weeks of excited Tweets over her new music, Miley Cyrus has shared what appears to be the cover art for her upcoming single, "We Can't Stop."

"Whatchuuu know about dattttt? #thecountdownisreal #2DaysWeCantStop,"on Friday, along with the pic, where she can be seen behind a giant red M, sporting a barely-there, black halter bodysuit, necklaces and her short platinum locks.

Miley also Tweeted several photos of what appear to be the singer working on a music video (with the hashtag #wecantstop), and a Tweet which read, "Just wrapping. 6 am."

In addition to the upcoming release of "We Can't Stop," the music video for the former Disney darling's collaboration with Snoop Lion, titled "Ashtrays and Heartbreak," was released on Thursday.

Copyright 2013 by . All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Kings are taking a much more tension-filled route toward the Stanley Cup finals this year than the squad that came out of nowhere in 2012 to steamroll their way to a maiden championship.

The Kings survived Tuesday's do-or-die Game Seven by holding off the visiting San Jose Sharks in a 2-1 nail-biter that put Los Angeles back in the Western Conference finals for a second consecutive year.

It was the kind of challenge the Kings never faced during their remarkable 2012 playoff run when they practically breezed to the Cup title as an eighth seed that grabbed a 3-0 lead in each best-of-seven series and went 16-4 in the postseason.

The Kings never faced an elimination game during last year's remarkable run, yet this year's squad seems to be enjoying their current march just as much even though they fell behind early in the opening round before being pushed to the limit by San Jose in the second round.

"Our backs were against the wall, it's us or them, and that's what hockey players like," veteran wing Justin Williams told reporters after scoring both goals in the Kings' victory, giving him nine points in four career Game Sevens.

"(You want) a chance to show up for your team when it's do or die. We have confidence, I guess knowing that we've been there before."

Williams embodies some of the team's toughness that may have been overlooked during the last campaign when everything seemed to come easily.

The 31-year-old Williams has dealt with several injuries over the years and was mired in an eight-game goal drought before coming through with the season on the line.

Then there is goaltender Jonathan Quick, last year's Conn Smythe Trophy winner as most valuable player of the playoffs, who is further spreading his reputation by thriving through more adversity in these playoffs.

The Kings fell behind 2-0 in their best-of-seven first-round series against St. Louis before their netminder kicked things into another gear.

Quick has three shutouts during the playoffs, and his 25-save effort in the decider against the Sharks was worthy of a highlight reel.

When asked what made the difference in the Kings' tight series against San Jose, Los Angeles center Anze Kopitar got straight to the point.

"Our goaltender," he said. "He pulled some saves off that kept us in the lead."

Added San Joe Sharks coach Todd McLellan: "We couldn't find a way to get another puck by Quick. Trust me, it wasn't because we weren't bearing down."

Los Angeles has certainly been bearing down at their home Staples Center - another distinct difference between the 2012 run - where they have now won 14 consecutive games, including seven straight in the playoffs.

A year ago, the Kings were road warriors as they set an NHL record by winning their first 10 post-games away from home.

Nothing appears the same for the fifth-seeded Kings, except for their confidence level as they pursue a second straight championship banner.

"The way we're built, we've been together and have dealt with adversity," said winger Dustin Brown, whose Kings await the winner of Wednesday's Game Seven between Detroit and Chicago.

"We're comfortable."

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

The jury, headed by Steven Spielberg, took the unusual move of awarding the Palme not just to Kechiche, but also to the film's two stars: Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux. The three clutched each other as they accepted the award, one of cinema's greatest honors.

Exarchopoulos stars in the film as a 15-year-old girl whose life is changed when she falls in love with an older woman, played by Seydoux.

Best acting honors at Cannes went to Bruce Dern for Alexander Payne's "Nebraska" and Berenic Bejo for Asghar Farhadi's "The Past."

The question has been swirling ever since Francis laid his hands Sunday on the head of a young man after celebrating Mass in St. Peter's Square. The young man heaved deeply a half-dozen times, convulsed and shook, and then slumped in his wheelchair as Francis prayed over him.

The television station of the Italian bishops' conference said it had surveyed exorcists, who agreed that Francis either performed an exorcism or a prayer to free the man from the devil.

The Vatican was more cautious Tuesday, saying Francis "didn't intend to perform any exorcism. But as he often does for the sick or suffering, he simply intended to pray for someone."

Fueling the speculation is Francis' obsession with the devil, a frequent subject of his homilies.