Bank of America to restart 16,000 foreclosures.

Barcelona signs first shirt sponsor (in a deal worth $225 million) in 111-year history.

Chevrolet to rebrand Aveo as Sonic.

Goldman Sachs former VP found guilty of economic espionage.

Ikea gives in, launches new home assembly assistance service.

KFC to award $20,000 in food to a tagline-model "so good" city.Continue reading...

The Queen of Daytime (and, let's face it — all media) is ending her show next year with 25 seasons under her belt. That makes the annual Oprah's Favorite Things holiday gift guide especially poignant this year.

Billed as Oprah’s Ultimate Favorite Things this year, part one airs Friday (Nov. 19) with sponsorship by FedEx. Consistently the show's most watched episode since it first aired in 2002, this year’s promises: two audiences, two hours, Black Eyed Peas, Josh Groban, Johnny Mathis, a “humungous twist” — and a really, really big box to be unwrapped.

While Winfrey has confirmed that her book club (which makes or breaks authors and publishing houses) is going with her to OWN, her Discovery-backed cable network launching in January, it's unclear whether her "favorite things" franchise will also make the trip to Oz; er, OWN.Continue reading...

Sip in style! Evian Natural Spring Water unveils fouth annual limited edition bottle, designed by fashion legend Issey Miyake. It's available for $7.99 per bottle at evian.

Gucci launches a new interactive website, adding a touch of glamour to the world of social media.

The countdown to Christmas just got an upgrade, as Porsche unveils a $1 million advent calendar.

InStyle, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nars and Foursquare are collaborating on an interactive new promotion, allowing Saks shoppers to “check-in” at hot spots in the store and win prizes.

After the jump: Jimmy Choo, Ferragamo, Swarovski and more.Continue reading...

Comcast and GE name Comcast COO Steve Burke as new CEO of NBC Universal, replacing Jeff Zucker after the NBCU sale to Comcast closes. 

Alberto Culver has been sold to Unilever for $3.7 billion in cash.

AIG will lose the US Treasury as a part-owner.

Apple's Ping music-based social network incorporates users' iTunes libraries.

Barnes & Noble ownership battle nears its climax.

BP pressured to restore reputation and stock price as new CEO Robert Dudley takes the reins on Friday.Continue reading...

The FCC calls off network neutrality talks as Google and Verizon deny a New York Times report that they're in "secret talks" about a unified tiered approach to online bandwidth management, although the FT hears that such an agreement is indeed imminent.

GM dangles a lifetime warranty for its Opel and Vauxhall brands to European car-buyers (the continent's first such offer) — "lifetime" meaning up to 100,000 miles, that is. GM CEO Ed Whitacre, meanwhile, says he welcomes an IPO to shake "Government Motors" nickname while Ford receives a new federal loan guarantee.

Add Lebanon to the list of countries contemplating a BlackBerry blackout over security concerns, with Saudi Arabia's ban taking effect tomorrow — although 11th hour talks are under way. Bloomberg reports that U.S. and Canadian government officials are now involved in Research in Motion's talks with skittish foreign governments, with the BBC noting that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will discuss the BlackoutBerry crisis with the UAE.

BP finished pumping cement into its damaged Gulf of Mexico oil well to seal it off.

News from Chevrolet, Adobe, Pfizer and more after the jump.Continue reading...

Mad Men's stylish cast (and their Barbie versions: Roger, Joan, Don and Betty) are ready for Sunday's season 4 premiere. Check out Barbie circa season 1 after the jump.

Betty White is putting her face on a limited collection of hipster hoodies.

Booty Pop spearheads fashion's rear view.

Diane Von Furstenberg and other fashion designers are in love with Twitter.

Katy Perry will launch her first perfume exclusively at Neiman Marcus.Continue reading...

Today's New York Times picks up on Crocs' new image campaign, as the maligned brand of soft-soled rubber footwear takes its new "Feel the love" tagline to TV and the streets.
The commercials are part of Crocs marketing effort to showcase its new spring styles, including the Melbourne, a men's loafer. Its design has also been refreshed with a stripe it's calling a Crocband.

Croslite, the proprietary odor resistant and soft material in all Crocs shoes, conforms to your foot -- and is the name of the animated shoe characters in the commercials. But is it catchy enough to win back fans of the once ubiquitous soft shoe?Continue reading...