Surviving Wal-Mart A former Wal-Mart strategist tells you how to survive and thrive in a world dominated by the retail giant.

WAL-SMART

William H. Marquard

Tata McGraw-Hill

Pp: 272

Price: Rs 450

In the history of American business, there have been corporationsfar more powerful than Wal-Mart--for instance, Standard Oil and usSteel--but none of them was as feared or reviled as Wal-Mart istoday. True, this is a different day and age, but the universal awethat this hyphenated "beast from Bentonville" evokes is a left-handed compliment to its growing sphere of influence. It is not justsuppliers, competitors, state administrations, and technologyinnovators, but also employers who need to keep an eye on Wal-Mart.Consider this: Wal-Mart spends $240 billion every year on …

Jui Li sets aftermarket part recall in motion

After CAPA decertifies part, Jui Li takes responsibility for 5,000 hoods

OEMs conduct hundreds of recalls each year, but 2002-2003 marks the first year that an aftermarket part manufacturer has voluntarily recalled its wares since the parts were introduced in 1979. Beginning in December 2002, Taiwan-based Jui Li Enterprise Co. Ltd. began reeling in as many as 5,000 of its Toyota Tacoma hoods that were sold in the United States from July 15,1997 to March 29, 2002. A CAPA-certified hood that flew up as a repairer was taking a customer's Tacoma for a test ride sparked the recall. After examining the part, CAPA decertified all lots of Jui Li's P/N JLH13900. (See "NonOEM Tacoma hood …

Trouble understanding? EU nations will send police units abroad to tourist hotspots

European Union justice and interior ministers have agreed that member states can deploy special police units to tourist hotspots across Europe to handle complaints and problems when their citizens get in trouble with the law.

The EU-wide plan would see national police officers stationed abroad for several months at a time where large numbers of their nationals go on vacation or are attending a sports event.

"If you are abroad and you have been pickpocketed ... you will want local police that speak your language to help to solve the problem," said French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who was chairing security talks in Cannes on …

Lukas is ready for challenge of Triple Crown

NEW YORK - In his Hall of Fame career, D. Wayne Lukas has trained18 Eclipse Award winners, won 13 Breeders' Cup races and saddled thewinners of four Kentucky Derbies and five Preakness Stakes.

He also won three Belmont Stakes in a row, from 1994-96, and thatexperience could work to his advantage on Saturday, when he sendsoutCharismatic in his bid to become only the 12th horse in history tosweep the Triple Crown.

"The first couple of times I tried it, I came away very, veryhumbled and very, very distressed over the Belmont Stakes," saidLukas, whose first Belmont starter, Preakness winner Codex, finishedseventh in the 1 1/2-mile race in 1980. "And then we had a …

Israeli settlements hinder Mideast peace, Clinton says

WASHINGTON President Clinton said today that Israel is nothelping Mideast peacemaking by its settlement activity. He said heis concerned and has informed Jerusalem of his views.

At a news conference, Clinton said Israel and the Palestinianshad agreed to deal with the explosive settlement issue throughnegotiations. "It just stands to reason that anything that preemptsthe outcome . . . cannot be helpful in making peace.

"I don't think anything should be done that would be seen aspreempting the outcome," Clinton said.He also called on the two sides to conclude their negotiationson a partial Israeli withdrawal in the West Bank town of Hebron.Former Secretary of …

Steelers fans' loyalty goes beyond Super Bowls

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Proud, tough and resilient. The same adjectives that could describe the Pittsburgh Steelers could also apply to their large and fiercely loyal fan base.

Now the team has rewarded its black-and-gold faithful with a shot at another Super Bowl. Only the Green Bay Packers stand between the Steelers from a seventh title when the tradition-rich teams play in Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6 in Dallas.

Shuttling between stores for the latest Steelers gear, fans Monday in Pittsburgh's commercial Strip District were still giddy over the 24-19 victory over the New York Jets to win the AFC title.

"It's in your blood. I have the Terrible Towel that I was wrapped in as a …

Report: Ex-tennis star Nastase sick of Romania

A television station reports that tennis great Ilie Nastase is considering leaving Romania because of an allegedly interfering press.

Realitatea TV reported on its website on Tuesday that the 63-year-old Nastase was tired of having to hide from "the …