American Airlines parent AMR plans to cut 13,000 jobs and pensions.

Apple's iPhone 5 may be coming in June.

Benetton family plans to take retailer private.

Deutsche Bank profit tumbles on European debt crisis.

Facebook sets stage for historic IPO as valuation game begins.

GM cancels half of upfront ad commitments in cost-cutting move.

Google responds to Microsoft criticism of privacy policies.Continue reading...

Pop phenom Lady Gaga is going to Harvard — not to go back to school, but to launch the Born This Way Foundation, her first foray into setting up a non-profit as a charitable endeavor to channel her well-publicized support of gay rights, teens and ongoing fight against homophobia.

Gaga established the youth anti-bullying charity with her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, who commented: "My daughter's foundation was born out of her passion to create a better world where people are kinder and nicer to one another and are accepted for who they are, regardless of how different they may be."

"She has experienced many of the struggles that our youth encounter today, and identifies with the lasting effects they can have without proper support," her mother added. "Together, we look forward to creating a new movement that will engage and empower youth and accept them as valuable members of our society."

Her non-profit foundation focuses on “youth empowerment and issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development,” and will be unveiled on February 29th at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre, to an audience of policy makers, nonprofits, foundation leaders and youth, all committed to “a kinder and braver world,” according to a press release.Continue reading...

Archer-Daniels-Midland to cut 1,000 jobs.

Arby's hires ex-Burger King marketer as CMO.

Bank of America and other U.S. banks struggle with customer service on Twitter.

Bing passes Yahoo for the first time.

CBS sees Ashton Kutcher consider return to Two and a Half Men.

Chrysler nudges up Jeep Wrangler output.

Coca-Cola finds fungicide in orange juice.

Continental could add extra fuel tanks to deal with unscheduled stops.

Downton Abbey frenzy in America creates marketing hook for book industry.Continue reading...

Pepsi's new year's resolutions include bringing the Pepsi Refresh Project to Canada with a commitment to supporting social innovation and community projects with "over $1 million" in grants to non-profits, businesses and individuals seeking funding for positive ideas that will have an impact on their communities.

The latest expansion of PepsiCo's crowdsourced social good platform, which launched in 2010 by redirecting its $20 million annual Super Bowl budget and subsequently faced allegations of cheating before expanding in Europe, Asia and Latin America last year and becoming a marketing case study at Harvard, follows a company-backed survey that found "92 per cent of Canadians would like to do something to improve the world around them, but many lack the money and the know-how to put their ideas into action."Continue reading...

Accenture introduces global brand campaign.

Alamo trademark flap resolved in Texas.

Anna's Thins cookies adopt a new look.

Apple's iPad tested as voting device in Oregon, continues "App Store" fight with Amazon.

Best Buy ups holiday spending and introduces "Game On, Santa" campaign.

Boeing wins its biggest-ever commercial-jet deal even as mechanism for deal is criticized.

Cannes adds Mobile Lions award.

Coach pushes for China to become its No. 1 market within three years.

Deutsche Borse and NYSE seek to appease European Union.

Fiat introduces another TV commercial featuring Jennifer Lopez and its Gucci edition.Continue reading...

Occupy Wall Street should be happy with news that Wall Street bonuses will be way down this year and some success for Bank Transfer Day, while protesters in New York will be serenaded by Crosby & Nash in free concert today.

American and Alaska airlines complete world's first commercial biofuel flights.

American Express lures digital commerce startups with $100M funds.

Australia passes carbon tax.

Best Buy refocuses global expansion plans in new strategy.

Carlos Slim draws protests in Mexico by offering free TV on the web.Continue reading...

Not only does X-Men: First Class — the new #1 film in America, taking in an estimated $56 million over the weekend to topple The Hangover's sequel — rewind the Marvel superhero movie franchise's plot back to the 1960s, but it appears to have taken the marketing strategy from that era as well.

No overt product placement. No high-profile marketing tie-ins. No Happy Meals. No Professor X-branded Big Gulps.

It's like the film is some kind of Hollywood mutant.Continue reading...

AARP sues over reverse mortgages. 

Adidas opens women's concept store in Seoul.

Asahi hits roadblock in Australia push.

BMW to expand lineups of EVs and hybrids.

Daimler and Rolls-Royce launch bid for Tognum.

Dynegy faces Chapter 11.Continue reading...