Top News

• Murder, rape charges planned in Shaniya death
  Murder and rape charges will be filed against a North Carolina man already facing charges of kidnapping 5-year-old Shaniya Davis, police said Thursday.
  
• Oprah Winfrey ending talk show in 2011
  Oprah Winfrey will announce Friday that she is ending her talk show, said a spokesman for Harpo Productions. The final show will air in September 2011.
  
• Wal-Mart scuffle prompts racism claims
  This much isn't in dispute: Heather Ellis cut in line at a Wal-Mart nearly three years ago. But the accounts of what happened next vary, depending on whom you ask.
  
• Belgian PM is first 'president of Europe'
  Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has been appointed the first "president of Europe," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Thursday.
  
• Tainted French soccer win angers Irish
  Ireland's justice minister is seeking a rematch after Thierry Henry confessed to handling the ball in the buildup to the goal that sent France to the World Cup.
  
• Amid protests, California raises tuition
  Hundreds of students marched and chanted outside the UCLA building on Thursday where California university officials are expected to approve a 32 percent undergraduate tuition hike over the next two years.
  
• 3 teens arraigned in burned boy case
  Three teens accused of setting a 15-year-old friend on fire were being arraigned Thursday on charges of attempted murder.
  
• Continental, American expand charges
  Major U.S. airlines' "going to see Grandma" surcharges are piling up this holiday season, and my, what big teeth they have.
  
• Georgia's bulldog mascot dies at age 4
  Uga VII, the University of Georgia mascot whose deeply furrowed face was a fixture at the school for more than a year, died early Thursday, the university said. He was 4 years old.
  
• How Microsoft blew it with cell phones
  Microsoft Windows continues to dominate the PC market with a 90 percent market-share stronghold, but when it comes to smartphones, Microsoft is getting beat up worse than a mustachioed villain in a Jackie Chan movie.
  

Business

• Gap profit spikes 25%
  
  
• Is TARP bailout helping the economy?
  As the Obama administration considers how to approach the next phase of the $700 billion financial bailout, questions are being raised on Capitol Hill about whether it is helping the economy.
  
• Dell misses forecasts, shares sink
  Shares of Dell Inc. fell sharply following the stock market's close on Thursday, after the PC maker reported drastically lower quarterly profit and sales that badly missed Wall Street's forecasts.
  
• Coming soon: Mini Cooper by Rolls-Royce
  Carmaker Mini is preparing to launch a new special edition of the subcompact icon outfitted by its ultra-luxury cousin Rolls-Royce.
  
• Now open: The best job on Wall Street
  
  
• Are you committing career suicide?
  The difficult job market has forced millions of workers to downgrade into a position they're overqualified for or take a survival job to make ends meet. And while riding out the recession might be a practical strategy for now, what will become of the underemployed when the dust clears and it's time to get back on track?
  
• You don't have to be a millionaire to buy a house
  The Great Recession has ravaged savings and boosted unemployment rates, forcing people become more conservative with their cash. It has also made homes a lot more affordable -- at least for those people still working.
  
• The Masters of the Universe are back
  Mergers are all the rage in Corporate America again. Healthy companies are looking to take advantage of their strong balance sheets and surging stock prices to strike while the iron is hot.
  
• Treasurys gain on sliding stocks
  
  
• $4.8 trillion - Interest on U.S. debt
  Here's a new way to think about the U.S. government's epic borrowing: More than half of the $9 trillion in debt that Uncle Sam is expected to build up over the next decade will be interest.
  
• Are you committing career suicide?
  The difficult job market has forced millions of workers to downgrade into a position they're overqualified for or take a survival job to make ends meet. And while riding out the recession might be a practical strategy for now, what will become of the underemployed when the dust clears and it's time to get back on track?
  
• Mixed forecasts for holiday spending
  The stock market is up. Consumer confidence is down. Unemployment is way up. Gas prices are down.
  
• Losing your 65% COBRA subsidy
  Thousands of people will begin to lose a major discount on their COBRA health care premiums in as little as 10 days. Here's what you can do:
  
• AOL to cut one-third of workforce
  AOL plans to cut one-third of its workforce after its spin-off from Time Warner is completed, the Internet media company announced Thursday in a government filing.
  
• Rebuilding from real estate rubble
  Semper fidelis, the U.S. Marine Corps motto, means "always faithful" in Latin. As a young grunt serving at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Duane Draughon learned to remain loyal to the mission -- "whatever the cost," he says.
  
• How we picked the Top Companies for Leaders
  To select the Top Companies for Leaders, Fortune, Hewitt Associates, and the RBL Group invited human resources executives from around the world to participate in the study. Participation was open to organizations of any type (for example, public, private, nonprofit), size (employee and revenue), and location.
  
• Mortgage loans: Record number are late
  Mortgage borrowers are still falling behind on their payments in record numbers, despite the many foreclosure prevention efforts initiated by the government and non-profits.
  
• 25 top companies for leaders
  Most large companies love to talk about developing strong leaders. But when it comes down to it, many of them don't know how to turn their words into action. So Fortune teamed with human resources consultants Hewitt Associates and the RBL Group to find out which companies do it best.
  
• CEO Swap: The $79 billion plan
  On July 1, A.G. Lafley woke up at 6 a.m., worked out, showered, and headed to the office in downtown Cincinnati, just as he had for nearly a decade. But this was the first morning in more than 3,000 days that he was no longer the chief executive of Procter & Gamble.
  
• How to build great leaders
  For John Tolva, IBM's Chicago-based director of citizenship and technology, the value of his four-week assignment to Ghana last year really hit him during a game of Scrabble by candlelight.
  

Entertainment

• Oprah ending talk show
  Oprah Winfrey will announce Friday that she is ending her syndicated talk show.
  
• Some parents wary of 'Moon'
  Not everyone is as psyched for Friday's "New Moon" release as the "Twi-hards." Some parents are worried.
  
• When Avril met Wilmer
  Is newly single Avril Lavigne officially moving on from her ex, Deryck Whibley?
  
• Star checks into 'General Hospital'
  Many a soap actor longs to make it big in Hollywood, but James Franco is taking the reverse route.
  
• John Mayer in 'therapy'
  The musician gets close to the bone in an interview for his new album.
  
• People behind People's choice
  One of the toughest questions plaguing fans just got more difficult: Team Edward, Team Jacob ... or Team Johnny?
  
• Nicole Richie hospitalized
  Nicole Richie was hospitalized for pneumonia in Los Angeles and was "doing well," her rep said.
  
• Boyle sets pre-sale record
  "Britain's Got Talent" sensation Susan Boyle's debut has set a pre-ordered sales record on Amazon.
  
• Authorities allege additional taping of Erin Andrews
  A man charged with stalking sports reporter Erin Andrews is now accused of making nude videotapes of her in one more city than previously thought, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
  
• Heidi Klum trying to lose 20 lbs.
  Heidi Klum will be on the "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" -- though she's still working on her figure.
  

Sports

• Peter King: Favre passes biggest preseason test
  If Brett Favre can develop a quick rapport with his teammates and remain healthy for his 19th NFL campaign, the Vikings might be on the brink of something special, writes Peter King.
  
• Favre, Peterson tally TDs in Vikes' 17-10 road victory
  Benefitting from a full week of practice, Brett Favre showed glimpses of his future Hall of Fame self and played a strong role in the Vikings' 17-10 victory over the Texans.
  
• 'Not-so Amazins' lead lengthy list of disappointments this season
  The Mets and Cubs have fallen woefully short of expectations, which is why the beleaguered clubs are headlining Jon Heyman's in-depth look at this season's biggest disappointments.
  
• Will Brady play in Pats' opener?
  
  
• 'Pacman' strikes deal to play with CFL
  If controversial cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones is going to return to the NFL, it will be via the Canadian Football League. Jones agreed in principle to a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers late Monday night and is expected to join the team as early as Wednesday.
  
• Alabama DL Deaderick shot, wounded in robbery
  TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick was hospitalized in good condition Tuesday after being shot in the arm during an apparent robbery attempt at an off-campus apartment complex.
  
• Dodgers net Thome, Garland
  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers made a big push to lock up the NL West, acquiring slugging first baseman Jim Thome from the Chicago White Sox and right-hander Jon Garland from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
  
• Rubio shuns Wolves, inks deal with Spanish club
  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Point guard Ricky Rubio will be staying in Spain for the next two seasons instead of coming to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves this fall, according to two published reports.
  
• Pettitte flirts with no-no
  BALTIMORE(AP) After an error ruined Andy Pettitte 's bid for perfection, the left-hander's effort to console his dejected teammate was absolutely flawless.
  
• Michigan's Rodriguez denies practice allegations
  ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday that his football program has abided by NCAA rules, despite allegations from players and former players who say the team has practiced far beyond the time allowed.
  

Health

• 'I want my mammograms!'
  A government task force says women in their 40s don't need annual mammograms, but Sara Fought would beg to differ: She says she's alive today because a routine mammogram found cancer when she was 42.
  
• Who decides on mammograms? Inside task force
  The United States Preventive Services Task Force said this week that women should not begin routine mammograms until age 50, contradicting well-established advice and creating a mini-storm. Who is this task force and what authority do they have?
  
• Task force changes mammography guidelines
  Women in their 40s should not get routine mammograms for early detection of breast cancer, according to updated guidelines set forth by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
  
• HIV+ soccer team scores against stigma
  Somebody told me about a group of HIV positive ladies in the Epworth Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) clinic in Zimbabwe who had formed a football team and every time they won a match, they would march through the clinic in their football jerseys singing uplifting songs in order to inspire other HIV-infected people like them.
  
• Senate health bill arrives with $849 billion price tag
  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping health care bill that would expand health insurance coverage to 30 million more Americans at an estimated cost of $849 billion over 10 years.
  
• HHS chief says no to changing mammogram policy
  A federal advisory board's recommendation that women in their 40s should avoid routine mammograms is not government policy and has caused "a great deal of confusion," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday.
  
• Poll: Majority of U.S. adults don't want H1N1 shot
  More than half of all adult Americans say they don't want to get the H1N1 flu vaccine, according to a new national poll.
  
• Poll: Majority favor ban on abortion funding
  Six in 10 Americans favor a ban on the use of federal funds for abortion, according to a new poll.
  
• Army suicides set another yearly record
  Suicides among soldiers this year have topped last year's record-breaking numbers, but Army officials maintain a recent trend downward could mean the service is making headway on its programs designed to reduce the problem, Army officials said Tuesday.
  
• Study: Heart attack patients receive much radiation
  Heart attack patients are exposed to a radiation dose equal to about 725 chest X-rays over the course of their hospital stay, according to research presented Monday at the American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Florida.
  

Technology

• How Microsoft blew it on Windows Mobile
  Microsoft Windows continues to dominate the PC market with a 90 percent market-share stronghold, but when it comes to smartphones, Microsoft is getting beat up worse than a mustachioed villain in a Jackie Chan movie.
  
• Android's growth worries some
  A year after its release, Google's open source Android operating system has become a sensation.
  
• Online churches draw believers
  Hjalti á Lava was searching his iPhone for a Bible app when he stumbled across Church Online, a service of Web site LifeChurch.tv. Soon he was regularly logging into the Oklahoma-based cyber-church -- some 4,100 miles away from á Lava's home in the Faroe Islands, west of Norway.
  
• With Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft fights back
  With Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft showed Wednesday it's trying to retake the browser initiative.
  
• California approves new energy efficiency standards for TVs
  The California Energy Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to become the first state to impose energy efficiency standards for televisions. The agency estimates the move will save consumers $1 billion a year in energy costs.
  
• Senate studies 'shocking' online-marketing ploys
  It could happen to anyone who shops online these days.
  
• China gaining in space race
  When China decided to test an anti-satellite missile in 2007, the impact shattered not just the target satellite but any illusions that China did not have military intentions in space and the capabilities to achieve them.
  
• Google: your new phone company
  Google is set to become your new phone company, perhaps reducing your phone bill to zilch in the process.
  
• Social network sites criticized on bullying
  The world's biggest social networking site has rejected criticism by a senior UK police officer responsible for preventing online bullying that it is failing to combat abuse.
  
• Can you be liable for your tweets?
  Rocker-actress Courtney Love was recently sued for something she posted on Twitter. What does the law say about libel and online social media -- and what does it mean for you?
  

Science

• Mars Science Lab launch delayed two years
  NASA's launch of the Mars Science Laboratory -- hampered by technical difficulties and cost overruns -- has been delayed until the fall of 2011, NASA officials said at a news conference Thursday in Washington.
  
• Shuttle lands at California air base
  NASA officials Sunday waved off the first opportunity for space shuttle Endeavour to return to Earth, citing poor weather conditions.
  
• iReporters watch planets, moon align
  
  
• Inspiration for 'Contact' still listening
  From a remote valley in Northern California, Jill Tarter is listening to the universe.
  
• Indian lunar orbiter hit by heat rise
  Scientists have switched off several on-board instruments to halt rising temperatures inside India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft.