In an aggressive move to boost profitability, Starbucks announced plans to close some 600 under-performing stores in the U.S. over the course of its fiscal 2008 and 2009. (more)

Hard-up Polish students snapped up a bargain break in Paris--and found they'd been recruited into an Iranian terrorist group. (more)

It's never too soon to be thinking about back-to-school. (more)

Chrysler is banking on new pickup model. (more)

Burger King has joined McDonald's in going after the mommy market. (more)

Japanese athletes have begun a spartan, chopstick-free Chinese food training program to help them acclimatize for this year's Beijing Olympics. (more)

Increasing numbers of the nation's largest employers are offering gift cards and other incentives to encourage workers to slim down and quit smoking, a survey found. (more)

Steve Ballmer has been CEO at Microsoft Corp for eight years, but he will finally get to move into the corner office vacated by Bill Gates, the college friend who brought him to the company nearly three decades ago. (more)

Anheuser-Busch taking caffeine out of drinks. (more)

The Pearl River Piano Company says it's now the world's largest piano maker. (more)

Schlitz brings '60s formula back home. (more)

Dell rolls out a snazzy purple laptop as part of an overhaul of its consumer PC offering. (more)

After Steve Jobs: Handicapping Apple's back bench. (more)

GM puts its new crossover to the test. (more)

Nestle Australia has sold its yoghurt and dairy dessert business, including its Echuca factory, to New Zealand-based Fonterra. (more)

Microsoft is hoping that better Windows products and marketing will eventually stem the market share gains that Apple has been making. (more)

Local home builders are rolling out the red carpet, almost literally, for prospective buyers with well-organized catered parties, design seminars and cooking demonstrations. (more)

Text-message ruling could change corporate policies. (more)

By adhering closely to its "High School Musical" formula and stretching the results over even more of its divisions, Disney has devised a way to generate coin more efficiently than the U.S. Mint. (more)

Gasoline has become the hot new promotional must-have. (more)

Their vivid commercials may be remembered longer than the best plays of the Euro 2008. But will they sell more merchandise? (more)

New tack that got the sporty cat back on track. (more)

He is a son of privilege, educated at elite private schools in Turkey and universities in England. (more)

Despite its many charms, the iPhone continues the uncompetitive practice in which cellphone companies maintain tight controls over which phones can be used on their networks. (more)

Egypt uses stark warnings in anti-smoking campaign. (more)

P&G updated a stale mass-market shampoo to appeal to younger Gen Y and Millennial women. (more)

Hoping to be hip, Sears teams with MTV. (more)

Samsung's soon-to-be-released Instinct smartphone will have a new, lower price when it goes on sale this Friday -- a penny less than $130. (more)

By using local, trusted vendors, Nestle has seen its revenue from Peru's lowest income sector increase from zero to a third of all profits. (more)

Starbucks food executive resigns. (more)