Some short news items:
Altria is near a deal with Beijing to let Marlboros be made and sold in China. The cigarette maker's net rose 18%. China's Economy Continues to Surge
Underlying inflation rose in March, increasing the odds that the Fed will continue to raise rates despite a slowing economy.
Dow Industrials Skid to Near Six-Month Low. Ford said net dropped 38% on slumping SUV sales, issued a gloomy forecast and signaled its Hertz unit could be up for sale.
Republicans rallied around John Bolton, President Bush's pick for United Nations ambassador, as Democrats vowed to explore several new but unsubstantiated accusations that he mistreated subordinates while in government service. Despite unease in some Republican circles, Bush aides portrayed the Democratic efforts as a smear campaign and predicted that Mr. Bolton will be vindicated and go on to be confirmed.
Sinking China Stocks Sparked Middle-Class Protests. The Chinese investors who have lost their nest eggs to a market that is two-thirds owned by the government are sounding a jarring note amid the capitalist changes transforming China's economy.
The comeback of the bedbug is turning into a legal and public-relations headache for the hotel industry. The pests nest on or near mattresses and feed at night by biting and sucking the blood of people as they sleep.
Connecticut on Wednesday became the second state to offer civil unions to gay couples — and the first to do so without being forced by the courts.
The Republican chairman of the House ethics committee offered on Wednesday to begin an investigation of Majority Leader Tom DeLay to end a stalemate that has kept the panel from functioning this year. Democrat's rejected it within an hour. "The only way I can be cleared is through the ethics committee, so they don't want one," Mr. DeLay told The Washington Times last week.
Pavano scattered seven hits over eight innings, and Jorge Posada hit a three-run homer to lead the Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays 11-2 Wednesday night in the opener of a two-game series.
I like your sentence news briefs (and your toons & clever gifs).. thanks. Sometimes I don't have time to go to a lot of links & the little snippets are great
How many pots of coffee have you had? :-)