World Business Briefing | Asia: Uzbekistan: Wal-Mart Bans Cotton

Oct. 1, 2008

Wal-Mart Stores said it was requiring its suppliers to stop sourcing cotton from Uzbekistan in an effort to end child labor there.

WTO opens key talks on cotton exports

GENEVA, Switzerland, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- The head of the World Trade Organization said talks on the cotton market that opened in Geneva Tuesday were a key to promoting development in the Third World.

N.Y. lawmaker eyeing Black Friday law

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- A New York lawmaker says the city should implement a new law that would require stores to improve security measures on Black Friday.

Canadian Wal-Marts to open 24 hours

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Wal-Mart Canada announced Thursday it will keep 192 of its stores open 24 hours a day in December through Christmas Eve.

Chief fired over counterfeiting accusation

FAIRLAND, Okla., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Authorities say the acting police chief of Fairland, Okla., has been fired for allegedly passing fake $100 bills at a Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart fires lobbyist linked to Abramoff

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has fired a top lobbyist, who is expected to plead guilty to corruption charges in Washington, a company official said.

Wal-Mart to purchase wind power in Texas

DALLAS, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it would buy 226 million kilowatt hours of wind power per year for use in 360 stores in Texas.

Some ReliOn insulin syringes are recalled

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the recall of some ReliOn-brand single-use, disposable hypodermic syringes due to a potential health hazard.

Wal-Mart poised for big holiday season

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Retail giant Wal-Mart is poised to accomplish something rare for U.S. retailers this holiday season: It is poised to have a Merry Christmas, analysts said.

Wal-Mart sees hard-times shopping trends

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Wal-mart Chief Executive Officer Eduardo Castro-Wright said U.S. consumers are adjusting to "hard times" by changing their spending habits.

AC/DC won't sell music digitally

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- The Australian heavy metal band AC/DC said it will not release any of its music, including its new album "Black Ice," digitally.

Employee mistake leads to arrests

CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Police in Chandler, Ariz., say three men were arrested in a credit card scam after a Wal-Mart employee mistakenly sold them an empty computer box.

Wal-Mart Canada woos Asian women

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Wal-Mart Canada Tuesday announced the launch of a new line of women's petite clothing in response to Canada's burgeoning Asian population.

Stores adjust to slow sales predictions

NEW YORK, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Predictions of a slow U.S. holiday shopping season are causing some stores to change their holiday sales strategies, industry observers said.

General Electric toasters recalled

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of General Electric toasters due to a shock and fire hazard.

Wal-Mart built on landfill closes

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Wal-Mart has closed a store at a Cleveland-area shopping center that was built on landfills, citing potentially explosive methane gas fumes.