Brands to Watch: McDonald's First Global Brand Officer + more

* McDonald's promoted McDonald's UK president and CEO Steve Easterbrook to EVP, global chief brand officer, a new position that fills the hole in its senior management team created when former CMO Mary Dillon left in May to join U.S. Cellular. Jill McDonald, currently CMO for McDonald's in the UK and northern Europe, is being promoted to UK CEO.

* Dell put its first U.S. smartphone on sale today: the Aero, which costs $99 with a two-year AT&T contract and runs on Google's Android platform.

* Watch out, Netflix: Apple is rumored to be preparing a 99-cent TV show service.

* Facebook sues Teachbook, a social networking site for teachers, over use of -book in its name; deletes accounts purporting to be from North Korea; and bans marijuana-based advertising campaign.

* Microsoft is now handling all search requests for Yahoo in North America; the global rollout will take until 2012.

* American Express extends 17-year U.S. Open sponsorship with NextContenders.com, a behind-the-scenes digital look at the tennis tournament.

* Shareholders approve $10 billion takeover of Qwest by CenturyLink.

* American Apparel blames lack of immigration reforms in U.S. as factor in sliding financials.

* BP's well is under control, but shares continue to slide.

* CBS Evening News ties a 20-year ratings low, despite anchor Katie Couric's trip to Afghanistan.

* Chevy celebrates 75 years of the Suburban with Diamond edition model.

* Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne flipped burgers at a company picnic for 9,000 employees today.

* Conde Nast hired Monica Ray from Time Inc. to lead its consumer marketing efforts.

* Ford announced a partnership with Portland General Electric to drive electric vehicle production.

* Gap launched an online shopping hub for the UK.

* Jeep Grand Cherokee is being investigated for possible gas tank safety issue.

* P&G picks relatively unknown on U.S. late-night TV to launch new Pringle's campaign.

* Puma extends sponsorship of runner Usain Bolt to cover London 2012 Olympics.

* Skechers wraps up "Shape-Up America" tour.

* TiVo's new remote includes a slide-out, QWERTY keyboard.

* And China's highway capacity comes under scrutiny, as 60-mile traffic jam in Beijing could last until September.