So did News Corp. have a better day today? In a word, no. Some of the challenges rattling the media empire that Rupert Murdoch built:

• Scotland Yard has notified only 170 of 4,000 suspected victims, according to Sue Akers, deputy assistant commissioner of the London Metropolitan police in charge of the phone hacking scandal, at a hearing today. Akers told a group of MPs she’s taking a "very broad" approach to the inquiry in ‘Operation Weeting,’ which is examining 11,000 pages of material containing the names of the 4,000 possible victims. Murdoch has been called before a parliamentary committee to answer questions on the hacking scandal, according to a BBC report, along with his son James and Rebekah Brooks, the CEO of News International.

• News Corp.'s BSkyB bid is in trouble, with British politicians crossing party lines to support a motion which reads, "The house believes that it is in the public interest for Murdoch and News Corporation to withdraw their bid for BSkyB." Asked if the government expected News Corp to heed parliament, a spokesperson said: "Ultimately, that is a decision for News Corp but we would always expect people to take seriously what parliament has said." The House of Commons is scheduled to vote on it Wednesday, with Prime Minister David Cameron reportedly backing the motion.Continue reading...

The closure of the News of the World on Sunday wasn't the end of Rupert Murdoch's media woes.

The homepage of the Guardian (above) shows the latest revelations in the phone-hacking scandal, which has widened to include other Murdoch-owned titles and additional targets, including former British prime minister Gordon Brown (and his family), the Royal Family (with Prince Charles' phone calls to now-wife Camilla believed to be hacked), and the news that News Corp. has withdrawn its plan to spin off Sky News as part of its $12 billion bid to assume control of BSkyB.

That BSkyB bid now faces a potential six-month review in the wake of fresh allegations including the attempted hacking of British 9/11 victims' cellphones to retrieve their final frantic messages, and the revelation by Scotland Yard that Murdoch's Sun reporters ferreted out details about Gordon Brown's disabled son from his medical records, among other crimes.Continue reading...

Airbus and Boeing compete for major deal from AMR.

Albertsons ends self-checkouts.

Apple loses “app store” battle with Amazon, picks new target.

Arby’s launches “casting call” contest.

Audi to build cars in North America, reports record first-half global sales.

Campbell Soup needs immediate help from new CEO.

Citigroup leverages digital to engage Asian consumers.Continue reading...

As News Corp. faces fresh allegations that phone hacking was more widespread than previously thought at News of the World, Rupert Murdoch's embattled "red top" tabloid has published its last issue, the production of which was played out over its Twitter feed.

Murdoch is fighting to defend his management team and keep institutional investors such as the Church of England from withdrawing support that would hinder his other titles, not to mention his BSkyB deal. The newspaper's former editor, Andy Coulson, was arrested Friday, as attention turns to News Corp. exec Les Hinton, Murdoch's "lifelong lieutenant and closest advisor," as the Guardian puts it.

Click below to see NotW's final cover, featuring its more provocative exclusives over the years, and check out its website and this video to see the newspaper's own tribute to its 168-year history.Continue reading...

As Renault extends its News of the World ad boycott to other News International titles, News Corp.'s very bad week gets the Taiwanese animation treatment (now with tattooed hipster intro).

Below, Star Wars chic, Apple politicking and more.Continue reading...

In shocking news today, Rupert Murdoch is folding The News of the World — the 168-year-old newspaper with the highest circulation of any newspaper, anywhere.

The British tabloid is at the center of a phone-hacking controversy that was broken by rival newspaper The Guardian, a scandal that has rocked the UK, been hotly debated in the British parliament, besmirched the Murdoch family name — son James delivered the news, via the company's Sky News channel — and challenged the integrity at the heart of Murdoch's farflung News Corp. media empire.

"Recent allegations of phone hacking and making payments to police with respect to the News of the World are deplorable and unacceptable," stated Murdoch in a statement published on the newspaper's online homepage, above. "We are committed to addressing these issues fully and have taken a number of important steps to prevent them from happening again."

The upcomimg Sunday edition of News of the World will be its last, with proceeds from the edition's sales going to charity as the company shifts into crisis mode to address charges that the so-called "red top" authorized hacking into mobile phones, including not only celebrities such as Hugh Grant, but those of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and families of 7/7 bombing victims.Continue reading...

Apple plans iPhone fix as new iPhone rumors abound.

AT&T targets African-Americans in “Rethink” campaign.

Facebook deepens ties with Microsoft via Skype video chat integration.

Five Guys and other better-burger chains influence Americans to eat more burgers.

Google turns to TV advertising in India.

HP enlists young celebrities to help sell TouchPad.

Huffington Post launches in the UK.

Infiniti creates year-long art show in Europe.Continue reading...

Ford pulls ads from News of the World (along with Vauxhall, Lloyd's and Virgin) over hacking controversy, as UK parliament holds an emergency debate in black eye for Rupert Murdoch's News International.

Amazon and Apple lead US retail-growth charts.

Apple reportedly launching next iPhone in the third quarter.

Anheuser-Busch InBev goes virtual in new campaign for Beck’s.

Caterpillar trails Komatsu in crucial China market.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg test-drives Google+.

Google rumored to plan ITA flight search feature.Continue reading...