What's that Lassie? Ubisoft just pulled another Clancy franchise outta their asses? No way!

Ubisoft, one of the world�s largest video game publishers, today announced the creation of Tom Clancy's Air Combat, a new Tom Clancy franchise being developed by Ubisoft�s Bucharest studio for next generation consoles and PC. The first air combat game taking place in Tom Clancy�s universe, the brand will launch in 2008.

�Ubisoft has an unrivalled track record of creating and sustaining new brands,� said Serge Hascoet, chief creative officer at Ubisoft. �Our commitment to refreshing our catalogue with regular introduction of new IPs is what keeps gamers coming back for more. With this new brand we�re redefining the aerial combat genre and extending the Tom Clancy universe to deliver a compelling new action titles to next-generation gamers.

Moody's cuts McDonald's debt rating

(AP) � McDonald's Corp. shares dipped lower Thursday after Moody's Investors Service downgraded its ratings, citing the fast-food chain's adoption of a more aggressive financial strategy.

Moody's said Wednesday that McDonald's revitalization plan is likely to improve its operating performance and cash flow, but higher debt levels will be required to support initiatives to return value to shareholders.

Shares fell 24 cents to close at $54.56 Thursday.

McDonald's announced its largest-ever dividend increase Sept. 13 and pledged to return $15 billion to $17 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks by the end of 2009. .

(AFX UK Focus) 2007-09-11 19:55 GMT: Yum Brands, McDonald's compete for China

NEW YORK (AP) - For nearly two decades in China, the KFC logo has enticed the hungry with the promise of juicy, crispy chicken.

Now, Yum Brands Inc. -- which owns KFC and Pizza Hut as well as Taco Bell in the U.S. -- has some competition for the cravings of Chinese diners.

After watching Yum gobble up much of China's emerging middle class, McDonald's, which has 800 restaurants in operation in China, is ramping up development in the country.

"The businesses are years apart maturity wise, but we believe Yum's business can remain the primary driver of corporate profitability and McDonald's' business can become a measurable contributor to its own," said J.P. Morgan analyst John Ivankoe in a note to investors, after he met with both companies' teams in China last week.

At Yum, the China business helped hasten a recovery after a string of problems in its U.S.