Reebok got itself into a heap of trouble with the Federal Trade Commission when it put out an ad campaign that claimed that the design of its EasyTone and RunTone shoes help give anyone who wears them better muscle tone than anyone who wears other shoes.

The company had such noted muscle-tone experts as Kim Kardashian spreading the news of its effects. Back in 2009, the kontroversial starlet blogged her love for the product, the Daily Mail reports. 

“You guys wouldn’t believe it, these shoes have a ball (kind of like that big balance ball you use to do sit ups on) on the bottom of the shoes!” Kardashian wrote. “So basically it works your leg and butt muscles as you simply walk!”Continue reading...

American Airlines cuts flights, says not related to bankrupcy filing.

Avon looks to a new CEO to reinvigorate culture.

Chevron and Transocean encounter government suit over oil spill in Brazil.

Clint Eastwood signs on for E! reality show with his family.

Facebook tests coupon ads; embraces clean power following Greenpeace pressure.

First Solar scales back as demand for solar panels slumps.

Ford promises its new hybrids will leap ahead of Prius in fuel efficiency.

Groupon gets faint IPO support from its underwriters.Continue reading...

Abercrombie & Fitch tells investors it discounted prices too much.

Accenture calls on clients to help make a statement.

American Airlines and union plan to return to talks.

Apple's iPhone passes BlackBerry as business favorite.

BP faces charges over Alaska spill.

Chrysler plans to invest heavily in building Jeeps in Toledo, Ohio.

Corona brings back long-time holiday spot.

Delphi prices IPO at $22 a share.

DirecTV unveils dramatic man-vs.-wolf action in new spot.

GE bets on software development.Continue reading...

Amazon ships Kindle Fire and Kindle Touch early.

Apple searches for next retailing genius, recalls first-generation iPod Nano devices.

Audi A7 wins car of the year nod.

Barbie links with Stardoll for premium collection.

BMW promotes sustainability with China roadshow.

Boeing cements wide-body lead over Airbus with biggest ever deal, with Emirates.

Borders demise parsed by Bloomberg Businessweek.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launch smashes records.

China 'ready' to allow foreign companies to issue stock.

Chevrolet woos Sonic buyers with perks program, while GM slows Chevrolet Cruze production.

Citrus Australia introduces new seal of authenticity.

Crowne Plaza tilts makeover toward young travelers.

Deutsche Boerse defends NYSE Euronext deal.

Disney buys Babble.com for $40M to reach 'hipster parents.'

Estee Lauder co-founder Evelyn Lauder dies, lauded for launching Pink Ribbon campaign for breast cancer research.

Facebook nears U.S. privacy settlement that would make public sharing opt-in, not opt-out.Continue reading...

Kim Kardashian's wedding was sponsored, so why shouldn't her divorce announcement be sponsored too? Moving on, the Kardashian sisters are once again being accused of ripping off real designers' handbags.

"Nut Liquor" peanut butter vodka isn't even the least appealing new vodka of the week. Meet "Wodka Vodka," a new brand with the (no kidding) tagline, "Escort Quality. Hooker Pricing."

Chinese consumer finds worm in milk powder imported from Holland. Brand offers compensation ... but only if worm is proven to be Dutch.

Do you swallow this "Swallowable Parfum" ad, below?Continue reading...

This week, Old Navy launches its 2011 holiday marketing campaign, which "invites customers to 'Come fun, Come all' and experience the secret source of all Old Navy fun — the place where the brand's quirkiest ideas are born and tested."

The "magical tour of where the brand's fun and quirky ideas are born and tested" is called "Funnovations Inc."

It's a way for Old Navy to breathe a little excitement into the brand by giving consumers a look at, and some input into, its product pipeline. The only question is if Old Navy used its Researchovations department to see if the Willy Wonka-esque "Funnovations" was already trademarked. (Hint: It is.)Continue reading...

MF Global faces federal investigation over missing funds as its bankruptcy proceedings rattles Wall Street.

Unilever shelves some Culver brands.

AIG makes headlines as earnings slump continues.

Apple may be mulling end of Mac Pro line.

Autodesk shifts R&D budget toward the cloud.

Boeing must help airlines learn to fly new Dreamliner.

Debenhams tests virtual pop-up stores in the U.K.

DirecTV and News Corp. renew contentious carriage deal.

E! Network caught by surprise by Kim Kardashian divorce.

FDA ordered by President Obama to ease drug shortages.Continue reading...

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is suing 17 US and European banks and more than 130 individuals on charges of selling bonds backed by mortgages that should have never been packaged into securities. Institutions named including Bank of America, its Merrill Lynch unit, Barclays, Citigroup and Nomura.

Halliburton is suing BP for defamation and misrepresentation, while a key court ruling in the Gulf of Mexico litigation could encourage more lawsuits. Oil and gas production is curtailed in the Gulf, meanwhile, as New Orleans declares state of emergency ahead of storm.

Facebook tests comment translation button.

GM rehires Bob Lutz as an adviser.

Google acquires Zave Networks, a digital coupons platform, as it expands local deals offering.

Hugo Boss releases campaign featuring Orlando Bloom and Sienna Miller in support of African schools.Continue reading...