Apple and Android dominate mobile-platform impressions while Apple reports strong sales of iPhone 5 in China and talks with Foursquare about data-sharing deal.

GE plans to buy Avio Italian aerospace group as CEO perceives an "investment pause" in some industries over economy.

Walmart takedown by New York Times continues with searing update on Mexican bribery scandal.

Freedom Group, parent of Bushmaster rifle used to kill Connecticut kids, will be sold by owner Cerberus.

AOL gives all employees $1,000 year-end bonus.

Billabong gets another takeover bid.

BlackBerry 10 now in tests at 120 companies.

Brazil burger chain offers edible packaging.Continue reading...

Toyota sets to reclaim world sales crown as GMand Volkswagen vie for No. 2 and hints at elimination of Matrix model.

Domino's Pizza founder sues over Obamacare contraception coverage mandate.

McDonald's tries to get franchisees to stay open on Christmas.

Akamai taps co-founder as new CEO.

Burger King works with franchisee to expand in Mexico.

Chobani nears openingof huge new factory in Idaho.

Cosi uses pop-up unit in Chicago to test growth ideas.

Cox cable TV guide offers personalized recommendations in U.S. first.

Discover Communications makes key European deals.

Facebook counts on big deal with Walmart.Continue reading...

Thanks to the rising smartphone dominance of Android and the iPhone, Research Into Motion needs to hit a home run with its BlackBerry 10 release on January 30 so it’s no surprise that the hype for the product is starting to build now in the midst of the holiday-shopping frenzy.

One piece of good news for RIM: the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency has signed on to pilot BlackBerry 10 devices and the supporting BlackBerry Enterprise service in January, after saying it planned to dump BlackBerry in favor of the iPhone.

As leaked photos go viral ahead of its official reveal on January 30, BlackBerry has been releasing sneak peeks at the new smartphone (tagline: "Re-designed. Re-engineered. Re-invented") at BlackBerry10.com, including sparking interest in the BB10's Hub (above) to manage conversations.Continue reading...

CNN seen naming Jeff Zucker, former head of NBCUniversal, as its chief.

Groupon sees board meet on new CEO.

LinkedIn wants to solve world's skills gap.

Aldi stretches brand promise for hunger challenge.

Angry Birds sparks export boom from Finland.

Apple continues shakeup over iOS 6 maps app mishap as brand hit with patent suit over headphones.Continue reading...

Happy Thanksgiving to our American readers! Businesses prepare for Black Friday rush as record number of US retailers (including strike-threatened Walmart, Kmart, Target and Toys R Us opening on Thanksgiving) and consumer sentiment remains "shaky." Google notes American Thanksgiving with homepage logo nod to Macy's parade (above) and a round-up of holiday links.

Apple must disclose HTC deal to Samsung.

BBC praised for appointing outsider — Royal Opera House CEO Tony Hall — as director general.

BlackBerry 10 prep revs up RIM outlook.

Coca-Cola enters F1 with Burn energy drink brand sponsoring the Lotus racing team.

Facebook proposes to ends voting that gives users a collective ability to nix privacy policy decisions.

GE retired CEO Jack Welch "unretirement" makes cover of Bloomberg Businessweek.Continue reading...

HP CEO Meg Whitman pilloried over $8.8 billion start-up acquisition charge for Autonomy as stock plunges and former CEO comes out of woodwork.

News Corp. reportedly eyeing Simon & Schuster as add-on to HarperCollins and acquires 49% of YES Network as former newspaper execs charged with bribery. YES, meanwhile, extends Yankees TV rights through 2042.

Amazon unveils brand pages and looks to reinvent publishing model with Tim Ferriss book.

Apple products top kids' holiday wish lists, while spaceship-like campus delayed until 2016.

BlackBerry dropped by US agency over device reliability concerns.

Big Ten college sports conference brand could be diluted by eastern driven.

Darden CMO defects to Ruby Tuesday.Continue reading...

Slightly more than a decade ago, the BlackBerry ruled the American corporate landscape and acquired the nickname CrackBerry. Every executive seemed to have one in tow so they could covertly send messages while they were in meetings in exotic locales, multitasking thumbs trained to text at blinding speed.

Times have changed. Most executives aren’t traveling to exotic locales anymore and everybody and their second cousin (twice removed) has a Smartphone. And most of those people touting Smartphones around town don’t own BB devices.

Research in Motion currently only owns 9.5 percent of the market, according to Boy Genius Report, but the company would love to return to its old days of dominance. RIM will make its attempt at such a feat on Jan. 30 when it will show off its new BlackBerry 10 platform and the first devices to run the operating system to consumers, following months of meetings with carriers (and influentials such as the gentlemen above) to firm up distribution deals.Continue reading...

Microsoft announces the departure of Windows chief (and Ballmer's heir apparent) in wake of Windows 8 launch.

LG breaks through with new smartphone.

Hostess Brands starts closing plants as workers strike.

Acura brings Dr. Phil and Suze Orman into its Christmas promo campaign.

Apple finally gives in on employee perks.

Bojangles recruits American Idol winner Scotty McCreery for campaign.

Cadillac shows design chops in China.

Callaway Golf drives buzz on Twitter for new high-tech driver.Continue reading...