In brief: Children’s pendants recalled after tests

Washington – Federal consumer safety regulators on Friday announced the recall of “The Princess and The Frog” pendants sold at Walmart stores because of high levels of the toxic metal cadmium, an unprecedented action that reflects concerns of an emerging threat in children’s jewelry.

The recall affects two products, about 55,000 items in total, sold exclusively by the world’s biggest retailer for $5 each. The action was taken voluntarily by Rhode Island-based jewelry company FAF Inc.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which disclosed the recall, had been testing for cadmium in children’s metal jewelry for several weeks in response to an Associated Press investigation that reported high levels of the known carcinogen in the Disney movie-themed pendants and other children’s metal jewelry imported from China.

The Walt Disney Co. released a letter Friday it sent its vendors and licensees that sets a zero-tolerance policy for cadmium in any children’s jewelry bearing its brand.

Associated Press

Layoffs planned for CBS News staff

New York – CBS News, seeking to hold down news-gathering costs as its flagship evening and morning news programs continue to lag in the ratings, is preparing a significant round of layoffs next week, according to people familiar with the situation.

The budget tightening is expected to impact every newscast, including “60 Minutes,” the network’s crown jewel, although the cuts on that show will be minimal. As many as 100 positions, or 7 percent of CBS News’ 1,400-person staff, could be cut, these people said.

A news executive disputed that figure and said the layoffs would be considerably fewer.

It appears unlikely that any on-air correspondents or anchors in the news division will be cut, but the layoffs will hit editorial employees, technicians and support staff.

Los Angeles Times

Airbus increases price tag for jets

Seattle – Airbus raised the list prices of its current jets by 5.8 percent Friday and upped the price of its proposed A350-800 by 7.9 percent.

The A350-800, now listed at $225 million, is designed to compete directly with the 787-9, a stretch version of Boeing’s Dreamliner that will follow the initial 787-8 model. The European manufacturer’s list prices for two other A350 models, the -900 and -1000, also were increased 5.8 percent.

Boeing has not yet announced its 2010 pricing. In 2009, the 787-9 was listed at $200 million.

Seattle Times