RUSSIA: Auchan has expanded its network of stores in Russia with the first store under a new hard discount hypermarket fascia, Raduga. The store is in Penza, 388 miles south east of Moscow. Head of Auchan Russia, Jean-Pierre Zhermen, said up to 100 Raduga stores would be opened during 2010.

The French retailer, which also operates the Auchan City format in Russia, is understood to be taking advantage of the recent withdrawal from Russia of fellow French chain Carrefour, which pulled out just four months after opening its first store.

GERMANY: Rewe Group has launched a new own-label brand called Feine Kost at its Penny stores. The range has been launched in time for Christmas and includes sparkling wine, cheeses and confectionery, and is an addition to Penny's Feine Welt premium range, which was launched earlier this autumn. The products are priced 15% lower than brands, and complete a line-up of own-label tiers, which include the Ja! value range, and Rewe Bio, an organic line.

US: Walmart is donating $1.1m (£677,000) worth of toys, books and gift cards to military children and their families this Christmas. The company will also lay 16,000 wreaths at national cemeteries across the United States to honour soldiers who have died. The programmes are dubbed Operation Homefront and Wreaths Across America.

"This holiday season, we recognise the sacrifices of our deployed servicemen and women and their families back at home," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. "We know that many military families have a tough time during the holidays. They miss their loved ones who are away, and we hope that our efforts will make their holiday easier and better."

UAE: French hypermarket Géant has been signed up as the anchor retailer for a new shopping mall in Abu Dhabi. Wahat Hili Mall, in the city of Al Ain, is being built to boost tourism and leisure facilities, and is part of an economic plan that is designed to boost the population of the city to one million people by 2030.