Amazon's brand value soars 32% in Interbrand's 2012 Best Retail Brands report.

Apple's iPad challenger Proview is open to a settlement as Apple extends checks on Chinese suppliers. Apple also signed China Telecom as second iPhone seller.

Cabela's expands and rolls out smaller-store format.

Coca-Cola sponsors teen parties in Tanzania.

FedEx may be eyeing TNT Express.

Ford signals moderate growth and expansion in China.

Gap teams with fashion bloggers for Be Bright global launch.Continue reading...

Adidas taps Katy Perry for new campaign.

AFL-CIO launches image campaign.

Airbus posts record sales.

American Airlines stops flying to India, sacks 150 workers.

AOL leads companies testing crowdsourcing.

Apple expands iTunes Match, reportedly preps interactive textbooks for the iPad, while pre-earnings valuations vary.

BASF halts its genetically modified products in Europe, including its Amflora potato.

Beats Electronics breaks up with Monster.

Beyonce accused of skin-lightening in album promotion, gives first post-baby interview.

BlackBerry-maker RIM criticized by analysts for PlayBook incompatability.

BMW recalls 89,000 Mini vehicles.

Burberry quarterly profits jump 22%.

Carnival faces heat in wake of Italy shipwreck, its worst accident in 40 years, as environmental fears mount and cruise industry is rocked.

M&M's will introduce a sixth candy character — Ms. Brown — in its Super Bowl commercial, while Kia plans 60-second commercial with Adriana Lima and Motley Crue, in keeping with trend to longer Super Bowl spots.Continue reading...

Hulu reportedly draws bids from Amazon, Yahoo and Google.

Google+ usage plateaus, while Google dominates US web brands, adds offline access to Gmail and apps in boost for Chromebook.

Dish Network revels in blocked AT&T merger with "challenger brand" T-Mobile, while AT&T forges on with $700 HTC Jetstream Android tablet announcement.

GM reboots "Chevy Runs Deep" campaign.

Amazon's Android tablet could erode Apple's iPad dominance, while @author program elevates writers' brands.

Apple may have another lost iPhone fiasco on its hands.

Britney Spears' medical records protected by judicial decision in branding lawsuit.Continue reading...

Adidas takes a nuanced approach to differentiate among national markets.

Air Koryo wants you to "friend" the North Korean state-run airline.

AOL is reportedly in talks with bankers to take the company private.

AT&T plans to bring back 5,000 U.S. jobs sent overseas.

Barnes & Noble gets lift from Nook reader.

BMW vows no power loss with four-cylinder sedan revival.

Boeing sets 2017 for debut of new version of 737.Continue reading...

News Corp. titans, Rupert and James Murdoch, face three-hour Parliamentary questioning today in spreading phone-hacking scandal.

Walmart reportedly eyes Rite Aid.

AMD stalls in CEO search, which might overshadow earnings improvements.

American Airlines leans toward Airbus over Boeing in fleet decision, Journal says, while Bloomberg hears that the airline may split the order.

American Family Insurance promotes “the American dream.”

Baidu reaches deal with major record labels.Continue reading...

Apple won't exhibit at CES in Las Vegas this week, where competitors (including Vizio) will unveil tablets that will take aim at the iPad; and increases Q1 orders for the iPhone in advance of Verizon launch.

Arnold Schwarzenegger leaves office after seven years as governor of California.

Australia braces for damages claims as flooding projected "to last weeks."

Bank of America sees home loan charge, buys back bad loans and mounts defense against WikiLeaks.

Best Buy aims to become a major content creator online.

Buzz Aldrin sues over use of his image on moonwalk trading card.Continue reading...

BP oil spill fund offers fast-track payments.

eBay and BBH part company after marketing changes.

ESPN buys PVI intellectual property from Cablevision.

Gawker Media resumes publishing, serves as object lesson in password security.

Google launches site for teaching tech to parents; Google Mobile searches grew 130% in Q3.

Lions Gate loses Carl Icahn as a bidder.

Microsoft joins Expedia, Kayak to block Google acquisition; fends off Twitter rumors.Continue reading...

Apple patents "anti-sexting" technology.

EA taps Venus Williams as a brand ambassador.

GM admits that its new extended-range hybrid Volt isn’t always all-electrically driven.

Hasbro and Discovery debut the new Hub children’s TV network.

Honeywell takes the lead among U.S. corporations in political giving.

Intel sees signs of growing PC demand, and tries brand anonymity in some new products, for a change.

Jamba Juice announces major refranchising.Continue reading...