Lance Armstrong is stripped of titles and banned from cycling for life by international body.

Nissan joins hybrid parade.

Virgin's four-star hotels are coming to NYC.

AIG CEO defends company's "free lunch" to New York mag.

American Idol sees ad rates fall.

Ancestry.com agrees to $1.6-billion takeover deal.

Apple creates buzz with plans for smaller iPad as school sales buoy its tablet lead.

BP sells entire Russian stake to Rosneft.

Banana Republic plans to bring back Mad Men collection.Continue reading...

The revolution in discovery and exploitation of shale oil and gas in the American heartland, starting with North Dakota, is turning global energy economics and, potentially, politics upside-down. It's also prompting major shifts in strategy for the big brands on the energy map in the United States and the world.

ExxonMobil became the latest iconic energy brand to boost its stake in the Bakken Shale formation when last week it agreed to buy assets of Denbury Resources there for $1.6 billion in cash and interests in two oil fields. The move increased Exxon's acreage in the formation, centered under North Dakota, which has helped make the state the second-largest oil-producing state in America, after Texas.

Royal Dutch Shell also has invested more in such "unconventional" oil assets lately, recently buying $2 billion worth of such properties from Chesapeake Energy. And in efforts to exploit the growing potential of shale reserves worldwide, Chevron is helping the Chinese company Sinopec.Continue reading...

Amazon plans to republish James Bond novel series.

Apple and Samsung are ordered into a patent-settlement conference, while Apple pressures Beijing with iPad snub.

Eatzi's expands into new locations.

Berkshire Hathaway will remain firmly under Warren Buffett's control as he undergoes prostate-cancer treatment.

Best Buy sees CEO search influenced by founder.

Bristol-Myers Squibb tops Corporate Responsibility Magazine's Best Corporate Citizens 2012 ranking.

Chevrolet touts Volt with Klout.

Citicorp sees executive pay plan ovewhelmingly rejected by shareholders.Continue reading...

Allstate targets college-football road-trippers online.

Boston Market upgrades image.

Conan ratings level off but stay solid.

Dell refocuses brand, stops chasing Apple.

Delta flights suffer mishaps over weekend.

Fox moves American Idol to Wednesday-Thursday slots.

Gap launches in Italy.

GE and IBM lead green social-media efforts.

GM unveils Baojun brand in China.Continue reading...