Cathay Pacific's Flight Attendants Union is lobbying the management of the Hong Kong-based carrier for improved wages, after the airline rejected the union's request for a 5% pay increase with a 2% offer on November 30.

The FAU this week approved a motion to go on strike in the new year — not by refusing to board the planes, but by performing the bare minimum required service. That means yes to water and flight safety instructions, and no to nuts, alcohol and smiles, with friendly service being the heart of the Cathay customer experience.

Not helping matters: the CX flight attendant who recently threatened to throw coffee in the face of daughter of the former Prime Minister of Thailand, and was duly fired. (Coffee, tea or third-degree burns?)

Yahoo CEO and five board members step down as Ross Levinsohn named interim CEO and Scott Thompson discloses he has cancer.

Apple drops "4G" from UK iPad ads and reportedly bringing retina display to MacBook Pro while Foxconn prepares for Apple TV production.

Facebook co-founder renounces U.S. citizenship to avoid $600M in taxes as almost-over IPO roadshow focuses on mobile and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak wants in. (Also, wish Mark Zuckerberg a happy 28th birthday today.)

ABC bids adieu to Desperate Housewives.

Ally mortgage unit files for bankruptcy.

Avon weighs sweetened offer from Coty. (Update: Coty withdrew its offer late Monday.)Continue reading...

American Media, publisher of National Enquirer, no longer is for sale.

Barney’s teams with Lady Gaga for holidays.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek launches global editions.

Cargill to buy Provimi and extend its reach in animal food.

Caterpillar faces increased competition from Chinese heavy-equipment makers in U.S. market.

Cathay Pacific campaign doesn’t mean “make you feel special” that way.

Dr. Scholl’s sells footwear in addition to foot care.

Estee Lauder sounds caution about consumer spending on cosmetics.

Google purchase of Motorola will heavily affect advertising industry; deal leaves BlackBerry's Research in Motion in “no-man’s land.”Continue reading...

Gap is turning to storytelling in its new global campaign, promoting its 1969 premium denim collection with "real people" (to start with, the team behind the collection, at its Los Angeles denim studio) and some other local touches, including tapping into the mobile truck craze and even featuring the studio's resident dog.

The first major campaign by the brand's new CMO, former Ogilvy exec Seth Farbman, the "1969: L.A. and Beyond" campaign aims to tell "the story of its 1969 fall collection from the inside out. Starting with the personalities behind the denim, 1969: L.A. and Beyond gives a transparent look at the designers and how they come together each day to create the latest in denim fits, fabrics and washes. Taking it from the studio to the real world, the campaign also shows how the denim comes to life in various cities by the people who wear it."Continue reading...

American Airlines' fee battle with travel sites such as Expedia snares Sabre.

BMW mulls adding artificial sounds to make EVs safer.

Borders asks publishers for longer-term IOUs.

Cathay Pacific expands long-haul flights.

CES now a must-attend for media companies.

Cisco joins race to mix TV and web video.

Facebook financing deal spurs SEC review.Continue reading...

Many airlines have started to charge for everything from meals to blankets in an effort to generate revenue any way they can. Air travel, in fact, has been stripped down to basics and as a result, feels to travelers like more of a commodity.

That's why it becomes more important for an airline to differentiate itself in other ways — and that's what Cathay Pacific is doing with its latest ad campaign.Continue reading...

BP is expected to announce today that embattled CEO Tony Hayward will be replaced by American Robert Dudley. Hayward will leave with a hefty financial package.

Apple's white iPhone 4 delay buys time to fix antenna issue.

Barclay's and other European banks respond to stress test results.

BlackBerry security questioned by UAE authorities.

Disney, Ford, Goldman Sachs & more after the jump.Continue reading...