US: The US Supreme Court has dismissed a class action sex discrimination lawsuit against Walmart that would have been the biggest in US history. The ruling overturned a judgement by a lower appeals court that 1.5 million female Walmart employees could unite in the lawsuit. Walmart was alleged to have paid women less than men and favoured men for promotion, but the Supreme Court said the case was too complex to wrap into a single lawsuit and that the women would have to pursue action individually.

France: Carrefour is pressing ahead with plans to sell off Dia, the world's third-largest discount food supermarket, which analysts have valued at around £3.8bn. Carrefour announced the plans during a stormy agm, which was disrupted by angry investors who questioned why the sale was necessary. Several hundred workers from Carrefour's trade unions also protested outside the meeting, insisting that the sale could lead to job cuts. Women's rights activists wearing false beards stormed the stage, claiming that Carrefour did not have enough women in top jobs.

Australia: Farmers have demanded an end to Coles' and Woolworths' stranglehold on petrol pricing in rural areas. Australian Institute of Petroleum records revealed there had been little fluctuation in prices at rural petrol stations. In contrast, city prices had varied in line with wholesale petrol prices, which have dropped 6c/litre in the past six weeks.

Belgium: Delhaize Group has unveiled a string of eco-institutes in its latest corporate responsibility report. The retailer said it had reformulated almost 2,000 products to cut down on salt, sugar and fats; launched sustainable seafood policies; opened its first state-of-the-art green store; and boosted its on-site solar energy 63% across the group in the past year.

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority is holding a two-day public awareness campaign starting 26 June on new standards for the retail and grocery sector. The event will spread awareness about new initiatives to develop the sector.