https://www.scmp.com/rss/46397/feed Wal-Mart Stores was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton, and is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. It is the world’s largest retailer, and is controlled by the Walton family. Its supermarkets are branded as Walmart. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Reuters Reuters A surge in fossil fuel ⁠prices since the Iran war is squeezing polyester suppliers and garment makers across India ⁠and Bangladesh, threatening to raise costs for fast-fashion retailers like Zara and H&M. Filatex, one of India’s biggest polyester yarn producers, is paying nearly 30 per cent more for the petroleum-derived feedstocks – purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG) – that it needs to make yarn, as Chinese suppliers raise prices and Middle East supply is disrupted,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3351409/iran-war-tearing-polyester-fabric-fast-fashion-and-shoes-could-be-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3351409/iran-war-tearing-polyester-fabric-fast-fashion-and-shoes-could-be-next?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 07:18:26 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press American investors have made a big move into Indian cricket, with two separate billion-dollar deals struck on the same day for teams in the country’s most popular sports league. No team in the Indian Premier League – one of Asia’s most-watched sports events – had ever sold for more than US$1 billion until a consortium backed by United States businessmen Kal Somani and Rob Walton – the former Walmart chairman – agreed on Tuesday to buy the Rajasthan Royals in a deal that Indian media valued at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/cricket/article/3348001/us-investors-bet-big-indian-cricket-separate-billion-dollar-deals-2-ipl-teams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/cricket/article/3348001/us-investors-bet-big-indian-cricket-separate-billion-dollar-deals-2-ipl-teams?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:57 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren GLP, a global operator and investor in logistics, digital infrastructure, renewable energy and finance, is deepening its commitment to China’s growth, projecting as much as a 50 per cent rise in logistics rental rates, supported by stronger domestic consumption and wider adoption of alternative energies. Angela Zhao, CEO of GLP China, said the country’s 15th five-year development plan for 2026 to 2030 would further cement the company’s role as a global thematic investor in “new economy”... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347106/singapore-headquartered-glp-eyes-50-rent-surge-china-demand-fuels-logistics-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347106/singapore-headquartered-glp-eyes-50-rent-surge-china-demand-fuels-logistics-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:20 +0000 Frank Chen,Ji Siqi Frank Chen,Ji Siqi China’s sprawling export sector is eyeing a brief window of opportunity to front-load shipments to the United States following a Supreme Court ruling that appears to have eased tariff rates – even as industry insiders remain wary of potential shocks ahead. All eyes are now on the coming Beijing summit, where US President Donald Trump is set to meet President Xi Jinping in a visit that could prove decisive for the future of bilateral trade, analysts and exporters said. Chinese goods had been... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344363/what-next-chinas-export-machine-after-top-us-court-blocks-trumps-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344363/what-next-chinas-export-machine-after-top-us-court-blocks-trumps-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:00:34 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian US warehouse retailer Sam’s Club has gained traction among Chinese shoppers by strengthening localisation and launching more China-tailored products, continuing to expand even as many foreign retailers have scaled back their mainland operations or exited the market. Instead of replicating its US model, Walmart-owned Sam’s Club has introduced products catering to local tastes, including copper gourd ornaments, ginseng and some traditional food items in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343683/walmarts-sams-club-cracks-china-market-formula-even-foreign-retailers-shut-shop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3343683/walmarts-sams-club-cracks-china-market-formula-even-foreign-retailers-shut-shop?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 04:30:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters Nancy Guthrie’s family has been cleared as possible suspects in her abduction, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said on Monday, as the case involving the mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie entered its third week. Guthrie’s family, which includes “all siblings and ‌spouses”, has been cooperative and gracious as authorities investigate the kidnapping, Nanos said. “To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel,” he said in a statement. “The Guthrie family are victims, plain and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343778/guthrie-family-not-suspects-arizona-kidnapping-sheriff-confirms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343778/guthrie-family-not-suspects-arizona-kidnapping-sheriff-confirms?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:03:43 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The world’s largest retail show held last week in New York saw a mood of measured optimism amid the bustle, cheap swag and canned smiles – a sense that the worst of last year’s tariff turmoil was over and that Chinese goods would continue to fill Walmart and Costco, even if they had to travel through a third country. “I feel more optimistic for this year,” said Teagan Pollard, an IT expert with TP Industries, which sells vaping equipment from China. “The economy and tariffs have been rough. But... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3340995/americas-biggest-retail-show-china-question-never-really-goes-away?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3340995/americas-biggest-retail-show-china-question-never-really-goes-away?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:00:14 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Alibaba’s ambition to turn its chatbot app into a powerful AI assistant that dramatically changes the way people interact with smart devices appears to be paying off, according to users and analysts. Instead of repeatedly swiping a screen to complete a task, a user can tell the Qwen app to conduct a range of tasks from ordering drinks to paying electricity bills after the Hangzhou-based technology giant links it to the group’s existing apps like shopping platform Taobao and payment interface... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340150/alibabas-upgraded-qwen-chatbot-app-receives-warm-consumer-reception?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340150/alibabas-upgraded-qwen-chatbot-app-receives-warm-consumer-reception?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:45:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Mattel is introducing an autistic Barbie on Monday as the newest member of its line intended to celebrate diversity, joining a collection that already includes Barbies with Down syndrome, a blind Barbie, a Barbie and a Ken with vitiligo, and other models the toymaker added to make its fashion dolls more inclusive. Mattel said it developed the autistic doll over more than 18 months in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a charity that advocates for the rights and better media... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3339652/mattel-adds-autistic-barbie-doll-line-devoted-showcasing-diversity-and-inclusion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3339652/mattel-adds-autistic-barbie-doll-line-devoted-showcasing-diversity-and-inclusion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:58:46 +0000 Danielle Popov Danielle Popov Noetix Robotics, a Beijing-based start-up, has introduced an affordable, “family-friendly” humanoid, marking a step in China’s efforts to bring such machines from laboratories and shops into homes. Presale for the child-sized robot, named Bumi and priced at 9,988 yuan (US$1,402), began on Wednesday. The humanoid stands 94cm tall and weighs 12kg, according to the company. China’s robotics industry is racing to develop more affordable humanoid robots. Unitree Robotics introduced its R1 in late... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3330046/chinese-robotics-start-noetix-debuts-family-friendly-us1400-humanoid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3330046/chinese-robotics-start-noetix-debuts-family-friendly-us1400-humanoid?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 10:00:12 +0000 Danielle Popov Danielle Popov Unitree Robotics has teased a new humanoid model in a short video on its social media channels, its most humanlike model to date. In the video, the H2 model performed a series of dexterous dance moves – including perfectly executed pirouettes and arabesques – and sported a strikingly human face modelled in silver with well-defined eyes, lips and nose. Standing at 180cm – the tallest humanoid robot the company has yet developed – and weighing 70kg, the H2 featured the tagline: “Destiny Awakening... https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/robotics/article/3329684/factory-floors-fashion-runways-chinas-unitree-robotics-unveils-next-gen-humanoid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/robotics/article/3329684/factory-floors-fashion-runways-chinas-unitree-robotics-unveils-next-gen-humanoid?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Walmart is teaming up with OpenAI to enable shoppers to browse and buy its products on ChatGPT, the retailer’s latest push to incorporate artificial intelligence. Users will be able to shop Walmart’s assortment directly on ChatGPT by clicking a “buy” button, Daniel Danker, Walmart’s executive vice-president of AI, product and design, said in an interview. The catalogue includes apparel, entertainment, packaged food and other products from Walmart and its Sam’s Club chain. “We view this as an... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3329040/walmart-and-openai-team-bring-shopping-chatgpt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3329040/walmart-and-openai-team-bring-shopping-chatgpt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 02:02:42 +0000 Danielle Popov Danielle Popov Two advanced models from China’s Unitree Robotics briefly appeared for sale on Walmart’s US website, creating a stir in the global robotics community and exposing a striking price difference for American buyers. The listings, offered by a third-party vendor called Futurology, marked the first time Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots have been featured on a major US retail platform, underscoring Chinese companies’ lead over US robot makers like Tesla and Boston Dynamics. The two models listed... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3328556/unitree-robots-china-briefly-appear-walmart-website-highlighting-us-robotics-gap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3328556/unitree-robots-china-briefly-appear-walmart-website-highlighting-us-robotics-gap?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:30:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Some flavour crazes flirt with us and fade. Others stay and make themselves at home. It is too soon to tell for sure, but the Dubai chocolate movement seems to have put down roots and is spreading at a brisk clip. The sweet flavours and thick texture that have made Dubai chocolate bars a hit are morphing into other kinds of confections, too. The original and now-classic Dubai chocolate bar was created by Fix Chocolatier in the United Arab Emirates in 2021, and by 2023, it had exploded on social... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3328220/how-dubai-chocolate-craze-took-over-world-and-now-going-beyond-bars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3328220/how-dubai-chocolate-craze-took-over-world-and-now-going-beyond-bars?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:15:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Tesla rolled out “affordable” versions of its bestselling Model Y SUV and its Model 3 sedan, but the starting prices of US$39,990 and US$36,990 were too high, some said, to attract a new class of buyers to the electric vehicle (EV) brand. CEO Elon Musk has touted the car as a way to tap a wider swathe of buyers, saying last year that a price below US$30,000, after incentives, was the key. Tesla is trying to reverse falling sales of its ageing line-up amid rising competition in Europe and China,... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3328173/affordable-model-y-and-3-tesla-drops-steve-jobs-turtleneck-walmart-hoodie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3328173/affordable-model-y-and-3-tesla-drops-steve-jobs-turtleneck-walmart-hoodie?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 01:56:44 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The cheap croissants and no-name detergents that power discount grocers in the US and Europe are now filling shelves in China, where struggling chains are betting on store brands to lure back shoppers. Purveyors from Walmart and Wumart to Alibaba Group Holding’s Freshippo are streamlining their sprawling hypermarkets – once packed with name-brand goods – cutting clutter and pushing their own “private label” lines, which promise to match or beat the quality of established brands at lower... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3327323/chinas-grocery-giants-use-aldi-tactics-lure-frugal-shoppers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3327323/chinas-grocery-giants-use-aldi-tactics-lure-frugal-shoppers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 03:57:13 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee This summer, the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) opened in Bentonville, Arkansas, attracting attention both for its striking architecture and revolutionary ideas about medicine. The four-storey building with its angular facade is clad in earth-tone precast concrete and brass panels, reflecting the geology of the surrounding landscape and the Ozark Mountains. Unusually for such a grand project – it has a rooftop garden, reflection pond, wellness studio and gym – a local architectural... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3323507/how-hong-kongs-third-medical-school-can-reach-new-healthcare-heights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3323507/how-hong-kongs-third-medical-school-can-reach-new-healthcare-heights?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:30:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports are biting into the income of some American retail-focused companies, with at least two already in bankruptcy court and others forecasting significant losses. Exporters were shouldering a relatively small share of duties on goods sent from China to the US, leaving American firms to absorb the remaining costs or pass them on to consumers, according to minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee’s meeting on July 29-30, citing the views of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3323198/2-china-exposed-us-retailers-face-risk-bankruptcy-trumps-tariffs-bite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3323198/2-china-exposed-us-retailers-face-risk-bankruptcy-trumps-tariffs-bite?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:00:27 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press One way to be climate-friendly? Shop sustainably. But figuring out which products count as “sustainable” can be hard, especially when buying online. The number of online products labelled “sustainable” is increasing as ordering with a computer or phone becomes more ubiquitous. However, there is no single seal of approval across e-commerce platforms that verifies if something is climate-friendly, partly because there are many ways to define sustainability. Third-party non-profit organisations... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3322651/what-does-sustainable-product-label-mean-and-can-you-be-sure-your-choices-are-green?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3322651/what-does-sustainable-product-label-mean-and-can-you-be-sure-your-choices-are-green?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 07:15:07 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen US President Donald Trump said on Friday he had ordered the commissioner of the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, fired, alleging data falsification, not long after July’s disappointing jobs numbers challenged his claim of a burgeoning American economy. The latest BLS data, which had been released earlier on Friday, showed employment growth last month was anaemic, with a gain of merely 73,000 non-farm jobs, below market expectations of an increase of more than 100,000... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3320512/trump-orders-labour-official-fired-after-weak-jobs-report-renews-attack-fed-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3320512/trump-orders-labour-official-fired-after-weak-jobs-report-renews-attack-fed-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 18:56:48 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The US stock market had its worst day since May on Friday after the government reported a sharp slowdown in hiring and President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from a number of US trading partners. The S&P 500 fell 1.6 per cent, its biggest decline since May 21 and its fourth straight loss. The index also posted a 2.4 per cent loss for the week, marking a sharp shift from last week’s record-setting streak of gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.2 per cent, while the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3320505/wall-street-slumps-trump-tariff-news-and-weak-us-job-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3320505/wall-street-slumps-trump-tariff-news-and-weak-us-job-data?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 16:54:16 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Thanks to a clog that looks like a sneaker, Ugg is increasingly becoming a men’s brand and boosting what was already one of the hottest shoe lines in the footwear industry. Sales of the Ugg brand, which is owned by Deckers Outdoor Corp., rose 19 per cent last quarter, with the growth in men’s products nearly doubling that rate. Ugg still sells more to women, but its men’s business is gaining ground after expanding its offerings over the last few years, including those for spring and summer –... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3320134/ugg-looks-post-malone-and-sneaker-inspired-shoes-win-men-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3320134/ugg-looks-post-malone-and-sneaker-inspired-shoes-win-men-over?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 11:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A Michigan prosecutor filed a terrorism charge on Monday against a man accused of stabbing 11 people at a Walmart shop. The charge has been rarely used in the state’s courts since it was adopted more than 20 years ago during the national outrage over September 11. Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg said she believes the charge fits because the weekend attack was intended to “put fear in the entire community and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis.” But proving that... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3319909/suspect-michigan-walmart-stabbings-charged-rarely-used-state-terrorism-count?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3319909/suspect-michigan-walmart-stabbings-charged-rarely-used-state-terrorism-count?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:11:58 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A man accused of entering a Walmart in Michigan and randomly stabbing 11 shoppers before being detained by several bystanders in the car park is expected to face terrorism and multiple assault charges, authorities said on Sunday. Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said a motive behind the attack by Bradford Gille of Afton, Michigan, remains unclear. Gille, who Shea said had “prior assaultive incidents as well as controlled substance violations”, said very little as he was detained by... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3319721/least-11-knifed-random-us-walmart-attack-suspect-held?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3319721/least-11-knifed-random-us-walmart-attack-suspect-held?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Jul 2025 01:11:06 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng Sam’s Club, the US membership-only bulk retailer owned by Walmart, has long been seen as one of the foreign supermarkets most attuned to the needs of China’s middle class. Each year, millions of urban Chinese families pay a 260 yuan (US$36.28) annual fee in exchange for what they see as access to a globally curated, quality lifestyle - featuring products like Scotch whisky, Chilean dried prunes, and chilled beef from the United States and Australia. That selection has come to symbolise a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319698/how-did-chocolate-pie-offend-middle-class-sensibilities-sams-club-members-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319698/how-did-chocolate-pie-offend-middle-class-sensibilities-sams-club-members-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 10:35:29 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun Ahead of Amazon’s annual Prime Day sales event, Chinese sellers are already walking a tightrope as they try to strike a balance between staying competitive and adjusting to Washington’s tariffs. Gloria Gu, an Amazon seller based in Zhejiang province, said her outlook for this year’s summer event – extended this year to a record four days, July 8-11 – was “not optimistic”. Her company mainly sells household consumables – low-margin products that are highly price-sensitive. “Depending on the item,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3316673/chinese-sellers-bracing-amazon-prime-day-sale-could-put-weight-us-tariffs-display?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3316673/chinese-sellers-bracing-amazon-prime-day-sale-could-put-weight-us-tariffs-display?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:00:08 +0000 Alan Robles Alan Robles It’s morning in The Hague and Senator Robin Padilla is wandering around looking for a place to eat – while carrying a life-size full-colour cardboard cut-out of Rodrigo Duterte. Settling down at an outdoor cafe, the Filipino political partisan props the standee beside him. The cardboard image of the former president depicts him seated, wearing dark glasses and a T-shirt. Padilla, president of the Duterte-controlled PDP Laban party, snaps a photo for his social media account. To some, this scene... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3312981/why-dutertes-diehard-fans-are-carrying-cardboard-cut-outs-around-hague?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3312981/why-dutertes-diehard-fans-are-carrying-cardboard-cut-outs-around-hague?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:13 +0000 Kandy Wong,Frank Chen Kandy Wong,Frank Chen American retail giants are now demanding that their Chinese suppliers shoulder half to 66 per cent of the cost of US import duties, as the ongoing US-China trade war ramps up pressure on businesses’ bottom lines, industry sources told the Post. US retailers have been locked in talks with Chinese producers for weeks over how to handle the additional costs caused by the trade war, with the firms facing intense political pressure at home to “eat the tariffs” and keep prices stable. Walmart and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3312482/us-retail-giants-pushing-chinese-suppliers-shoulder-66-tariff-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3312482/us-retail-giants-pushing-chinese-suppliers-shoulder-66-tariff-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 11:00:10 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong More than half of surveyed companies from the United States plan to raise prices on their products and pass on costs in response to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, a new global survey by Allianz Trade has found. Fifty-four per cent of American firms said they would increase prices, according to the research released on Tuesday. A total of 4,500 exporters were surveyed across China, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Singapore, Spain, the UK and the US – countries that collectively account for... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3311043/over-50-us-firms-plan-raise-prices-amid-trump-trade-war-risks-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3311043/over-50-us-firms-plan-raise-prices-amid-trump-trade-war-risks-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 May 2025 11:41:20 +0000 Reuters Reuters Small Indian shops and major online fashion retailers are boycotting Turkish products ranging from chocolates and coffee to jams, cosmetics and clothing amid growing anger at Turkey’s support for Pakistan in a confrontation with India. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly expressed solidarity with Pakistan, another majority-Muslim country, earlier this month after India had conducted military strikes in response to an attack in Indian Kashmir by Islamist assailants. Cross-border... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3311005/jam-jeans-indians-boycott-turkish-goods-grows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3311005/jam-jeans-indians-boycott-turkish-goods-grows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 May 2025 03:29:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US President Donald Trump on Saturday ripped into Walmart, saying on social media that the retail giant should eat the additional costs created by his tariffs. As Trump has jacked up import taxes, he has tried to assure a sceptical public that foreign producers would pay for those taxes and that retailers and carmakers would absorb the additional expenses. Most economic analyses are deeply sceptical of those claims and have warned that the trade penalties would worsen inflation. Walmart warned... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3310778/trump-says-china-and-walmart-should-eat-tariffs-instead-raising-prices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3310778/trump-says-china-and-walmart-should-eat-tariffs-instead-raising-prices?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 May 2025 16:51:42 +0000 The long-running criminal case against a gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack targeting Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas in 2019 is on the verge of coming to a close. Patrick Crusius, 26, is expected to plead guilty on Monday to capital murder and receive a sentence of life in prison with no possibility of parole for the massacre near the US-Mexico border. El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya said last month he was offering Crusius a plea deal and that he... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3307247/man-who-fatally-shot-23-texas-walmart-set-plead-guilty-murder-nearly-6-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3307247/man-who-fatally-shot-23-texas-walmart-set-plead-guilty-murder-nearly-6-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Apr 2025 17:15:01 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump on Friday failed to outline a deal to sell Chinese-owned TikTok to American investors, and issued an executive order pushing back the deadline to finalise an agreement, which will keep the popular short-video app alive. He once again linked the TikTok issue with tariffs on China, acknowledging Beijing’s dissatisfaction about the 34 per cent in new duties he imposed on Chinese imports on Wednesday. “My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3305303/trump-extends-tiktok-deadline-after-failing-outline-deal-sell-china-owned-app?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3305303/trump-extends-tiktok-deadline-after-failing-outline-deal-sell-china-owned-app?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Apr 2025 17:53:17 +0000 Many US multinationals – long seen as shining symbols of globalisation, with their sprawling supply chains – are coming under rapidly mounting pressure as the US has slapped its trading partners around the globe with punitive tariffs. That includes Apple, which has estimated that more than 90 per cent of its manufacturing is done in China, primarily for assembling and producing flagship products such as the iPhone and iPad. If the world’s most valuable publicly traded company cannot secure an... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3305116/apple-tesla-walmart-among-us-firms-seen-hit-trumps-tariffs-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3305116/apple-tesla-walmart-among-us-firms-seen-hit-trumps-tariffs-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:00:08 +0000 Walmart heiress Christy Walton has “quietly entered the political discourse” by placing a full-page advert in The New York Times over the weekend, as reported by Fortune. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cindy Gallop (@cindygallop) The paid political advertisement features a picture of the Statue of Liberty, with the words “USA, USA, USA” emblazoned at the top. The page includes a list of statements, including “we are a people of principle of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3303979/who-christy-walton-billionaire-walmart-heiress-who-just-took-out-non-partisan-ad-new-york-times-she?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3303979/who-christy-walton-billionaire-walmart-heiress-who-just-took-out-non-partisan-ad-new-york-times-she?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Mar 2025 11:00:13 +0000 Robby Starbuck rose to prominence in 2024 after he campaigned against “woke policies” at retailers and corporates across America, resulting in the back-pedalling of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programmes. The DEI programmes are largely a mix of employee training and policies that aim to protect minority or marginalised groups. DEI initiatives aim to correct historical discrimination, but right-leaning pundits claim the policies unfairly target white people. Starbuck has been at the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3295646/meet-robby-starbuck-right-wing-anti-woke-activist-who-took-walmart-making-music-videos-snoop-dogg?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3295646/meet-robby-starbuck-right-wing-anti-woke-activist-who-took-walmart-making-music-videos-snoop-dogg?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jan 2025 20:00:10 +0000 Social media giant Meta announced Friday it is dismantling its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes across the company, marking another major shift in strategy as it aligns with politically conservative priorities. In an internal memo to employees, the company outlined sweeping changes including the elimination of its diverse slate hiring approach and the disbanding of its DEI team. The move comes amid what Meta describes as “a changing legal and policy landscape” following recent... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3294339/meta-abandons-racial-diversity-programmes-zuckerberg-woos-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3294339/meta-abandons-racial-diversity-programmes-zuckerberg-woos-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jan 2025 21:11:15 +0000 The first time Sister Seyram Mary Adzokpa felt pulled towards religious life was walking in a Walmart store in the US state of Texas, at the age of 25, with her mother. Born in Ghana, West Africa, Adzokpa had never encountered a nun. Her family attended the Catholic Church faithfully, but she knew nothing of the religious life and always thought marriage would be her path. “I wanted a husband like my dad. With three kids. I had the names of my two girls picked out,” she said. Eleven years after... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3292884/young-nuns-brides-christ-taking-religious-vows-and-leaving-their-families-behind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3292884/young-nuns-brides-christ-taking-religious-vows-and-leaving-their-families-behind?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jan 2025 20:15:08 +0000 Yi Luo Yi Luo Freshippo, Alibaba Group Holding’s grocery chain known as Hema in its home market, was profitable for nine straight months in 2024, the unit’s chief executive Yan Xiaolei said in an internal letter on Tuesday. The supermarket opened 72 new stores across China in the past year, averaging one every five days, the most in five years, according to Yan, who assumed the CEO role in March. The additions brought the total number of Freshippo outlets to 400, spanning 50 cities, Yan said in the letter,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3292897/alibabas-supermarket-freshippo-records-9-straight-months-profit-ceo-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3292897/alibabas-supermarket-freshippo-records-9-straight-months-profit-ceo-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:00:33 +0000 It’s no secret that successful sports stars are some of the industry’s wealthiest personalities. From NBA players such as Stephen Curry and NHL greats like Wayne Gretzky, to Formula One drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and boxers like Floyd Mayweather, famous athletes have made bank with big pay cheques and even bigger endorsement deals. But, as it turns out, the real wealth in sport lies with the teams’ billionaire owners. After all, you’ve got to have some serious cash to be able to buy out or... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3291663/7-richest-sports-team-owners-net-worths-ranked-mets-steve-cohen-and-ex-microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3291663/7-richest-sports-team-owners-net-worths-ranked-mets-steve-cohen-and-ex-microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:00:11 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng US retail giant Walmart is teaming up with Chinese on-demand delivery giant Meituan, promising speedy door-to-door service on the mainland, four months after it sold its stake JD.com, winding down the long-time partnership. Walmart’s China unit said on its official WeChat account that all of its stores across the country are now listed on Meituan’s platform, making groceries and other goods available for immediate delivery. Meituan vice-president Xiao Kun said that by using the Shangou service,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3291228/walmart-partners-chinas-meituan-30-minute-deliveries-anytime-anywhere?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3291228/walmart-partners-chinas-meituan-30-minute-deliveries-anytime-anywhere?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Dec 2024 13:00:17 +0000 Tired of thinking about what gifts to get everyone this year? Artificial intelligence chatbots might help – but don’t expect them to do all the work or always give you the right answers. Anyone scouring the internet for holiday deals is likely to encounter more conversational versions of the chatbots that some retailers and e-commerce sites have built to provide shoppers with enhanced customer service. Some companies have integrated models infused with newer generative AI technologies, allowing... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3289700/can-ai-chatbots-really-make-your-christmas-shopping-easier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3289700/can-ai-chatbots-really-make-your-christmas-shopping-easier?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Dec 2024 22:15:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Fast-growing speciality e-commerce sites such as PDD Holdings’ Temu and its rival Shein are branching deeper into the business of selling toys, as many American and European shoppers prepare to seek out steep bargains during the Black Friday weekend. In previous years, Temu and Shein – which sell primarily from smartphone-based apps – would not have been the usual places for shoppers to buy toys and other holiday gifts. The sites face concerns from regulators and US-based consumer product makers... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3288677/temu-shein-branch-deeper-selling-toys-during-holiday-shopping-season?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3288677/temu-shein-branch-deeper-selling-toys-during-holiday-shopping-season?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Nov 2024 07:39:59 +0000 Reuters Reuters China’s Xiaomi has asked India’s antitrust body to recall its report that found the company and Walmart’s Flipkart breached competition laws, arguing it contains commercial secrets, two people familiar with the matter said. Any recall of the Competition Commission of India report could delay its antitrust investigation, which began in 2021. In a rare move in August, the commission recalled an antitrust report on Apple after the company similarly complained commercial secrets were... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3279609/xiaomi-wants-indias-competition-watchdog-recall-report-flipkart-over-sensitive-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3279609/xiaomi-wants-indias-competition-watchdog-recall-report-flipkart-over-sensitive-data?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Sep 2024 08:34:02 +0000 Yuke Xie Yuke Xie Slowing consumption in China and fierce competition from domestic rivals have weighed on the performance of many international consumer brands. And yet a select few, including Lululemon, Adidas, and Ralph Lauren, have managed to outperform their peers and post strong revenue growth in recent months. A key factor driving their success may be a growing polarisation of consumer preferences. Budget-conscious shoppers are seeking greater value for their money, while higher-income consumers continue... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3279323/how-5-international-brands-are-charting-growth-china-despite-miserly-consumers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3279323/how-5-international-brands-are-charting-growth-china-despite-miserly-consumers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Sep 2024 03:30:13 +0000 A towering flame gradually subsided Tuesday in the aftermath of a massive pipeline explosion after a vehicle drove through a fence and struck an above-ground valve, officials said. Deer Park officials said police and local FBI agents initiated investigations and found no preliminary reports that would suggest a coordinated or “terrorist” attack and that “this appears to be an isolated incident”. The investigation included efforts to learn more about the driver of a vehicle that was incinerated... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3278787/major-pipeline-fire-outside-houston-texas-forces-evacuations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3278787/major-pipeline-fire-outside-houston-texas-forces-evacuations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Sep 2024 20:27:30 +0000 Walmart is raising about US$3.6 billion by selling its stake in e-commerce firm JD.com, winding down an eight-year partnership that appears to be paying diminishing returns amid a challenging landscape for Chinese tech giants. The US retailing giant sold 144.5 million shares for US$24.95 apiece, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. That is a discount of 11 per cent to Tuesday’s close in the US, according to Bloomberg... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3275295/walmart-said-raise-us36-billion-sale-jdcom-stake-fuelling-china-tech-slump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3275295/walmart-said-raise-us36-billion-sale-jdcom-stake-fuelling-china-tech-slump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Aug 2024 06:24:25 +0000 While traditional brick-and-mortar supermarkets struggle amid the rise of e-commerce, Linda Wang from Shanghai still visits Sam’s Club, a membership-only bulk retailer owned by Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. “Their selection feels more curated,” said Wang, a corporate executive who spends an average of more than 1,000 yuan (US$140) each time she shops for her family of four. “Unlike traditional supermarkets, where there are just too many options, and you end up feeling overwhelmed by the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3275043/chinas-selective-shoppers-embrace-members-only-retailers-walmarts-sams-club?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/economic-indicators/article/3275043/chinas-selective-shoppers-embrace-members-only-retailers-walmarts-sams-club?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Aug 2024 13:00:12 +0000 Halfway through cooking a Kerala mutton stew for a family celebration, Akasha Advani realised she had no coconut milk. In the past, she would have called her local grocery store in New Delhi and had the item delivered in about 30 minutes to two hours’ time. But instead she used Blinkit, an ‘instant’ delivery app, and the coconut milk was at her door in eight minutes. It was a similar story last month, when her son invited friends to their house in the Defence Colony neighbourhood only for them... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3266704/delivered-instant-indias-quick-commerce-apps-shake-online-shopping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3266704/delivered-instant-indias-quick-commerce-apps-shake-online-shopping?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Jun 2024 04:00:10 +0000 The combined wealth of the Walmart heirs – which includes founder Sam Walton’s children, Rob, Jim and Alice, as well as his late son John’s wife, Christy, and their son Lukas – is roughly US$240 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. While some have worked in the family business – whether that’s serving on the company board or working to manage the family’s wealth – others chose to pursue areas of personal passion. Sam, the original man behind the company that now encompasses... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3265828/how-walmarts-discreet-heirs-make-and-spend-their-billions-rob-jim-and-alice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3265828/how-walmarts-discreet-heirs-make-and-spend-their-billions-rob-jim-and-alice?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Jun 2024 20:00:09 +0000