ThinkPad makers recalling batteries

Some 526,000 batteries used in ThinkPad notebook computers worldwide are being recalled in the latest problem with batteries made by Sony Corp., the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday.

IBM Corp., based in Armonk, N.Y., and Lenovo Inc. of Research Triangle Park, N.C., recalled the rechargeable, lithium-ion batteries used in ThinkPad computers because they may pose a fire hazard. About 168,500 of the batteries were sold in the U.S., while the rest were distributed worldwide, the CPSC said.

It was the fourth recall in recent months involving Sony batteries believed to be defective.

Detroit

Kerkorian pushes GM for alliance

Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian pressed his case for a three-way alliance between General Motors Corp., Renault and Nissan on Thursday, backing up his argument with a threat to push his GM holdings to more than 10 percent.

Kerkorian’s Tracinda Corp. broke the news in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The move came a day after GM Chairman and chief executive Rick Wagoner met with Carlos Ghosn, who heads Renault SA of France and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. of Japan, in Paris and agreed to continue talking about the alliance even though the discussions are running into difficulties. The talks are taking place at the behest of Kerkorian and Jerome York, Tracinda’s representative on the GM board.

Des Moines, Iowa

Starbucks adding breakfast fare

Starbucks Corp., seeking to become more than a morning destination for coffee, will introduce warm breakfast sandwiches and pastries to the New York City market next week.

Similar breakfast fare has been slowly appearing in other urban U.S. markets in what has been viewed as a measured expansion of its business. The nation’s largest specialty coffee retailer has estimated that warm breakfast food could add $30,000 a year to an average store’s sales.

The move is an effort to cash in on food sales now going to an array of rivals, from fast-food giants such as McDonald’s Corp. and Burger King Corp. to myriad delicatessens, bakeries and restaurants.

New York

PayPal changing user agreement

The online-payment service PayPal will simplify its user agreement and better inform users about fraud protection under an agreement announced Thursday with 28 state attorneys general.

PayPal said it already has removed links from its user agreement to make the document easier for people to read and print. During the payment process, PayPal now explains how the company protects customers against fraud – for example, when a seller fails to deliver merchandise paid for via PayPal – and what protections apply to their transaction.

PayPal enables individuals and businesses around the globe to send and receive money online. .