Carlsberg's new World Cup spot (above) features soccer legends.

BMW prototype sparks bomb scare in Manhattan as global sales increase.

Borders unveils Kobo e-reader.

Smirnoff tops power 100 ranking of alcohol brands.

Uniqlo dubbed New York's "hippest retailer."

IBM acquires Cast Iron systems for cloud capabilities.

JetBlue unveils new "digital brand experience" campaign.Continue reading...

J&J faces knock on reputation as bacteria identified in children's Tylenol recall, production is suspended and US House investigation called.

Yahoo rolls out a new campaign that aims to take share from Google (although Facebook is its real foe, argues AllThingsD's Kara Swisher).

Sprint goes text-centric for teens (survey supports), while Sprint's Virgin Mobile $25 prepaid plans are a precursor to a new prepaid brand.

Mother's Day 2010 is more social, less sentimental, with non-Hallmark mom-ents and flowers via Facebook.

Apple, BP, Google and more branding news:Continue reading...

Coca-Cola kicks off FIFA World Cup campaign (above).

Anheuser-Busch the next official beer of the NFL?

BP boss Tony Hayward meets with US Congress as value drops $23 billion.

British Airways, “British enough”?

BMW sales soar, from Minis to Rolls-Royce sedans.

Chrysler introduces sales incentives.

Domino's ad blitz pays off.

Facebook defends "open privacy" policy.Continue reading...

United Airlines' acquisition of Continental Airlines in a $3 billion deal will create the world’s biggest carrier. The combined company will keep the United name and be based in Chicago.

BP vows to clean up oil spill after weekend explanation (and U.S. government pressure); implications for CEO's vision?

Apple sold about 300,000 iPad 3G units this past weekend, its first at retail.

Johnson & Johnson's recall of children's Tylenol and related drugs raises questions about branded vs. generic drugs.

Google introduces live sports to YouTube with Indian Premier League soccer, and advertiser interest including HP and Coca-Cola.Continue reading...

Lady Gaga is now a household word in China. Apple's next iPhone continues to make hay. Ralph Lauren's son takes a page from dad. Tintin's on trial for being a racist. Read on for more branding buzz.Continue reading...

Amazon & Dell founders fund healthcare startup.

Armani plans 10 more hotels.

Audi announces Iron Man 2 Challenge.

Bentley unveils two models for Chinese market.

British Gas ad banned over misleading claims.

California county bans toys with fast-food meals.Continue reading...

Europe moves to relax flight restrictions as volcanic ash eruptions appear to subside, and stranded travelers turn to social media. [WSJ | Bloomberg | BBC | USA Today]

As expected, Toyota will pay a $16.4 million fine to U.S. safety regulators. It's also recalling the Lexus GX 460 SUV. [BBC | Marketwatch]

After nearly two years of red ink, Citigroup posted $4.4 billion in profit in the first quarter. [NY Times]

Coca-Cola launches a multi-million dollar global campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. [BrandRepublic]

Tesco staffs up for the UK launch of Best Buy. [Guardian]

P&G's new Bounty paper towel campaign targets schools. [Brandweek]Continue reading...

The 2010 World Cup will have the world abuzz once again with soccer fever and the passionate displays of nationalism that accompany it. And brands are going to be paying attention to that fervor -- for obvious reasons.

This summer, ESPN will undertake one of the most ambitious efforts ever to track media consumption. If the cable network succeeds, it could usher in an entire new era of understanding how, and calculating how many, viewers consume specific media in a fragmented age.

To accomplish its goal, ESPN will work with several research firms and the Wharton Interactive Media Initiative. The team will also include the TouchPoints system, developed to measure unduplicated cross-platform audience reach. Additionally, modified "diary" iPhones will track individual media use. Continue reading...