5-Hour Energy consumption cited for possible involvement in deaths.

Abercrombie & Fitch credits faster reaction times for bump in results.

BBC scrutiny continues as broadcaster celebrates 90th.

BP nears settlement with federal government on Gulf spill.

Best Buy battles skeptics with turnaround plans.

Checkers opens restaurant in a Walmart.

Chick-fil-A ranked No. 1 chicken chain in new survey.Continue reading...

Early look at new Windows 8 design baffles some users, but not three-year-old Julian, above, as Best Buy starts taking pre-orders for Windows 8 phones and gets ready to launch Surface tablet — and manage expectations ahead of growing thirst for tablets, and Oct. 23rd reveal of Apple's iPad Mini.

Lance Armstrong urges cancer supporters and celeb pals to stand by LiveStrong, as the New York Times and other media detail alleged doping cover-up.

Abercrombie & Fitch CEO sued by former private airline pilot over dismissal and eyebrow-raising requirements.

Apple sued over deal locking iPhone to AT&T network.

AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile will launch Isis mobile wallet on Monday.

Audi may help Mercedes-Benz overtake BMW in US.

Banana Boat recalls sunscreen due to flammability threat.

BBC roiled by "worst crisis in 50 years" and internal strife as its Jimmy Savile sex scandal handling goes public in broadcaster's own Panorama expose.Continue reading...

Dolce & Gabbana's spring/summer 2013 runway show had barely finished parading on the catwalk in Milan on Sept. 24 when the luxury fashion brand found itself generating buzz ... less for the clothes than for the accessories — specifically, the earrings dangling from the models' lobes. Depicting an African American woman's fruit-carrying head as earrings smacked of colonialism to some, and just plain offensive to others, and not just women and people of color.

D&G, accused of "romanticising slavery" and worse, turned to Vogue to publish the brand's explanation in an online article titled "Dolce & Gabbana Explains Controversial Jewellery." That's fairly ironic, considering Vogue has been behind both the NBA star LeBron James "King Kong" cover controversy and raked for a reference to "a pair of large, gold hoops as 'slave earrings'."

But did D&G's own show add the ultimate irony of its excuse? And what did they think would be the response?Continue reading...

It's Labor Day in the U.S., a public holiday which has become America's biggest retail sales day of the year.

Apple takes aim at Samsung's Galaxy S III in amended patent complaint, as Samsung stock takes a beating and company's culture, strategy, labor practices and PR tactics come under fire in wake of California ruling. Samsung and other Apple mobile rivals including Nokia are rushing new smartphone announcements ahead of expected Sept. 12th new iPhone reveal.

Abercrombie & Fitch brand cools, prompting store closures.

Allstate plans addressable TV campaign in U.S.

Apple offer to Amazon revealed in European e-books price-fixing inquiry.

Barack Obama plans to focus on issues at Democratic National Convention this week as jobs debate heats up this Labor Day.

BP's former CEO Tony Hayward returns to the spotlight.Continue reading...

Back-to-school season may not be what it used to be. Under the "new normal" that is the American consumer economy these days, many children, teenagers and their parents appear to be delaying their school-related purchases this season, according to the New York Times. Thus, the full swing of this year's back-to-school shopping blowout may amount to less than has traditionally been the case.

Some of the delay is because kids and parents are holding back to make sure they buy the stuff that's truly on trend, the newspaper says. And unusually hot weather has left some consumers decidedly not in the mood to shop for pants with legs and shirts with sleeves. Another factor is that households don't have to head into stores as early because they research more of their purchases online beforehand and, aware of retailers' strategies, hold out until later in the season when bargains are better.

The back-to-school season is the second-largest sales period for U.S. retailers, after the Christmas holidays. Continue reading...

ABC challenges Leno and Letterman with shift of Jimmy Kimmel Live to 11:35 p.m. ET.

Abercrombie & Fitch sales slide as half-naked models begin to underwhelm.

BMW revs motorcycle line as Audi ups threat via Ducati purchase.

Barnes & Noble sees results boosted by Fifty Shades of Grey popularity.

Boston Market pulls salt shakers off tables.

Caribou Coffee inks on-site deal with Jewel grocery chain.

Conde Nast booms overseas.

Dell reports gloomy outlook.

Dos Equis hits streets with fleet of food trucks.

EPrize acquired by private-equity firm.

Fazoli's pivots toward more premium positioning. Continue reading...

Whereever you look in America, you're likely to see teenagers walking around with some form of Abercrombie & Fitch clothing on them. It’s easy to tell because the company sticks its name all over pretty much every stitch of clothing that it sells.

If all those walking billboards don’t show that there is already enough loyalty to the A&F brand out there, the company would like to keep a little closer track of just who is in the club and who isn’t. Its U.S. stores will now have a loyalty program, Columbus Biz Insider reports. A&F-owned Hollister already has its own loyalty program that goes by the only-attractive-to-teenagers name of Club Cali. Continue reading...

Heineken to assume control of Tiger Beer producer Asia Pacific Breweries for $4 billion.

NASA sees $2.5 billion Mars Rover "Curiosity" successfully land, Twitter explodes.

Unilever sets sights on overtaking Skinny Cow with Magnum brand.

London 2012 Olympics boosts personal brands of Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis, Michael Phelps, Gabby Douglas, and Andy Murray. 

Abercrombie & Fitch leads brands entering India via web partnerships.

Apple iPad grabs 68% of global tablet sales.

Applebee's woos late-night diners.

AT&T plans to phase out 2G networks.Continue reading...