Retail: Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney report strong sales

Record Thanksgiving holiday weekend sales from J.C. Penney Co. Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. raised hopes of a stronger-than-expected holiday shopping season on Monday, easing concerns about a sluggish U.S. economy.

The National Retail Federation said three out of four consumers hit the shops over the weekend, according to its holiday survey released on Monday. Stores reported strong demand for clothing, electronics, jewelry, books and toys.

J.C. Penney, which operates its namesake department stores and the Eckerd drugstore chain, said its Thanksgiving weekend sales reached a record, but did not disclose any figures. Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer, posted its biggest-ever one-day sales tally on Friday – a whopping $1.43 billion, up 14 percent from last year’s $1.25 billion.

Tourism: Carnival ship latest to return with virus

A Carnival cruise ship returned from a three-day voyage Monday carrying nearly 200 people sickened by a gastrointestinal virus, with symptoms similar to those plaguing other cruise liners.

A total of 190 passengers and four crew members on the Fascination reported vomiting and diarrhea, but experts had not yet confirmed whether they had a Norwalk-like virus, said Tim Gallagher, a Carnival Corp. spokesman.

So-called Norwalk-like viruses have plagued more than 1,000 people on other cruise ships in the past few months, including Holland America Line’s Amsterdam and Disney Cruise Line’s Magic, causing those companies to cancel one sailing each to thoroughly disinfect the ships.

International: EU targets tobacco ads

The 15-nation European Union on Monday outlawed tobacco ads in newspapers and magazines, on the Internet and at international sporting events beginning in 2005.

The new restrictions were approved by 13 EU nations, which was enough to push through the bill drawn up by the EU’s executive commission after a court struck down an earlier ban. Britain and Germany opposed them.

The rules already were approved by the EU parliament.