AP - WASHINGTON (AP) — Tim Russert, a political lifer who made a TV career of his passion with unrelenting questioning of the powerful and influential, died of a heart attack Friday in the midst of a presidential campaign he'd covered with trademark intensity. Praise poured in from the biggest names in politics, some recalling their own meltdown moments on his hot seat.

Fashion Wire Daily - The sources for Vera Wang's inspiration are never merely passing, superficial references. Whether it's a painting, a novel or an intangible memory, they form an integral part of the design. Wang distills their key elements, whether a color palette or a narrative theme, into clothing that quietly evokes the artistic core of the original work.

Reuters - Coldplay sold 125,000 copies of its new album on the first day of release in Britain, a solid tally industry experts say should be music to the band's ears and those of its ailing record label EMI.

AP - The jury in the R. Kelly child pornography case has reached a verdict after less than a day of deliberations.

AP - Mount Olympus never had such a potent gang as Marvel Comics, whose vast pantheon ranges from Hollywood A-lister Spider-Man to the murky shape-shifting process server Ditto.

AP - It has all the trappings of a chatty viewing party for "The Hills," but with an after-school-special twist.

AP - Mike Huckabee, a former Republican presidential hopeful, has been hired by Fox News Channel as a political commentator.

AP - Kevin Spacey already has two Academy Awards and heads London's Old Vic theater. Now he can add a new title — Oxford University professor.

AP - The jury in the R. Kelly child pornography case has reached a verdict after less than a day of deliberations.

Reuters - Pop star Madonna's brother Christopher Ciccone has written a memoir called "Life With My Sister Madonna," to be published next month by Simon and Schuster.

Fashion Wire Daily - Even if you can't make it to Bali next winter, picking up a few pieces from Nicole Miller's Resort 2009 collection, which she presented in New York on Wednesday, June 11, would be your next best option.

Reuters - News Corp's MySpace plans to launch a global redesign next week in an attempt to widen its demographic and boost user engagement on the site, the social networking site said on Friday.