Content about the Times

New York -- Two U.S. lawmakers are launching an investigation into allegations of bribery at Wal-Mart Stores’ Mexican affiliate. Representative Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Representative Henry Waxman, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent a letter to Michael Duke, Wal-Mart CEO, requesting an in-person meeting with company officials.

New York City -- Wal-Mart Stores is cutting back healthcare coverage for new part-time workers and significantly raising premiums for many new full-time associates, the New York Times reported. It is a major turnaround for the retailer which, a few years back, under heavy criticism that many of its 1.4 million workers could not afford or did not qualify for coverage, expanded coverage for employees and their families. The move generated of flurry of positive publicity.