EconBob – Bob Michaelson

Wal-Mart’s new China chief likely will give the retailer a fresh start in the country, but the chain still will face uphill challenges to boost profit and gain ground against competitors.

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Wal-Mart’s New China Chief Faces Uphill Road

Toyota lifted its full-year net income forecast, but expects its earnings to come in at nearly half the level of last year, and below the profitability projections of its smaller Japanese rivals.

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Toyota Talks Up Despite Down Quarter

Rebels in Sudan released 29 Chinese workers, capping a hostage drama that exposed the risks of China’s investments in the conflict-prone African region.

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Sudan Rebels Free Chinese Workers

The U.S. shut its embassy in Damascus as Syrian forces continued to pound the city of Homs.

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America Exits Syria as Russia Makes Push

Wal-Mart Stores said Greg Foran, senior vice president for Wal-Mart International, has been named president and CEO of Wal-Mart China.

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Wal-Mart Names China Chief

Japan’s push to enter a broad Asia-Pacific trade pact faces one of its toughest challenges this week: acceptance from Washington.

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Japan Seeks U.S. Support in Trade Talks

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called for better protection for the land rights of farmers during a visit to Guangdong province, where a reformist leader has grabbed attention by defusing a land dispute with an experiment in local democracy.

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Chinese Leader Backs Land Rights

Egyptian prosecutors will bring criminal charges against more than 40 employees of nongovernmental organizations, including at least six Americans, escalating an investigation of foreign groups that has ruptured Egypt’s relationship with its most important financial patron.

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Egypt to Charge Foreign Workers

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao offered a forceful justification for helping Europe out of its debt crisis, in remarks that appeared aimed in part at countering public skepticism about using Chinese money to support rich world countries.

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China Takes On Skeptics of Aid to Euro Zone

Katie Brickman is both Ian Welch’s girlfriend and his government-paid caregiver. Mr

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For Wounded Vet, Love Pierces the Fog of War