BlackBerry launches new Z10 smartphone in US today, as CEO says Apple's iPhone is outdated.

Pepsi introduces first new package design since 1997.

PPR, French owner of Gucci and Saint Laurent, announces rebrand to "caring" Kering with new owl logo.

Nike surges on China rebound, North American results in latest quarterly earnings report.

Asda pulls private-label corned beef from UK shelves over horsemeat discovery as new report finds consumer concern fading. 

Chrysler looks to Nike and Starbucks for inspiration.

Coca-Cola tops British grocery brands ranking as Walkers rises to #2.

Facebook tests yet another timeline design.Continue reading...

Disney sees higher TV ad revenues drive quarter and considers ESPN exit from U.K. sports coverage.

Dell seeks to transform brand, going private in $24 billion buyout under founder Michael Dell, as Microsoft gambles on involvement.

U.S. Postal Service plans to cut Saturday mail as Hallmark fights the cuts.

Apple loses right to iPhone brand in Brazil.

Arby's launches "fan of the week" promo via Facebook.

Lance Armstrong reportedly under investigation for obstruction and other serious crimes.

BP is hit by new $34 billion claim from U.S. state governments over Gulf spill.Continue reading...

Swatch Group's new year surprise — that it's paying $1 billion to acquire the luxury unit of Harry Winston Diamond Corp. — is making observers beyond the jewelry business watch both brands more closely.

Canada's Harry Winston Diamond Corp.’s $1 billion sale ($750 million plus $250 million in debt) of its luxury business to Switzerland's Swatch Group AG provides the cash for Winston to invest more in diamond mining, a business that last year was more than twice as profitable as jewelry.

Shares in Toronto-based Harry Winston rose 4.4 percent on Monday after the deal was announced. The high-end company's chairman and CEO, Robert Gannicott, told The Globe and Mail that the company planning will use the cash to focus primarily on mining after eight years as a luxury jewelry brand. His plan: purchase the 60 percent stake of the Diavik mine it doesn’t already own from Rio Tinto Group.

In addition to Winston exiting the luxe jewelry-selling business, the deal will have an impact on Swatch Group's (relatively) cheap and cheerful Swatch brand.Continue reading...

Cadillac sees its ATS named North American Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show, while Ram celebrates naming of 1500 as truck/utility vehicle of the year.

Hostess strikes a deal to sell Wonder Bread and other brands plus production facilities to Flower Foods.

HP CEO Meg Whitman receives $15.4 million.

American Express travel cuts point to end of an era.

Apple cuts orders for iPhone parts.

Billabong receives another takeover bid. 

Deutsche Bank reportedly considers 20-percent bonus cuts in Europe.

GM's Chevrolet division relaunches Corvette brand.Continue reading...

Amazon creates towns of seasonal warehouse workers to fulfill holiday orders.

Apple gets patent-infringement victory over Google in Android case as Google sets to announce a solar-energy venture.

AT&T finally kills T-Mobile bid, giving it few strategic options to challenge Verizon and leaving future of Deutsche Telekom in the U.S. in doubt. 

Bi-Lo wants to merge with Winn-Dixie and take it private.

Conoco gets ground-breaking permit for drilling in Alaska.

EA's Star Wars: The Old Republic game sees fan frenzy for today's launch.

Facebook points to future with design of its new headquarters complex.Continue reading...

Pepsi returns to musical roots in spots for tonight's debut of The X Factor on Fox, while the UK version of the show copes with criticism over treatment of contestant. Meanwhile, analysts say that PepsiCo shareholders could reap big gains if the company executes a strategic split-up.

SABMiller gets Foster's to accede to a deal.

Burger King's post-King advertising clicks with consumers.

AOL needs Patch to turn a profit.

Apple schedules Oct. 4th press conference, presumably for iPhone 5 reveal.

CBS scores huge ratings for first episode of Two and a Half Men with Ashton Kutcher, including setting a Canadian TV record.

Chipotle sees strong growth potential from ShopHouse Asian eateries.

Chrysler seeks to keep lid on UAW pay through 2019.Continue reading...

Swatch Group has broken off a partnership with Tiffany & Co. that was originally set to last for 20 years, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Nick Hayek, chief executive of Swatch, claims that Tiffany “pushed for the partnership’s creation in 2008 but then neglected it and blocked its development,” according to the Financial Times. As a result, Swatch would like some big bucks in compensation – and it presumably won’t take it in champagne flutes.

The brands' collaborative watch business, dubbed Tiffany Watch Co., is definitely winding down — Tiffany fired back Monday to say that Swatch didn’t “make the necessary commitments and work co-operatively” on the business, either.Continue reading...

ABC finds that Dancing With the Stars rates — ahead of President Obama’s Libya speech.

Aldi thrives in opening urban locations in the U.S.

Amazon beats rivals into the cloud.

Apple’s iPad could one day be charged by the human heart.

AT&T sees 4G issues, girds for T-Mobile deal scrutiny.

BP is making death settlements in the Gulf oil spill beginning at $8 million per person.Continue reading...