With a reported 46% loss in sales and more than 16.8 Billion dollars, Chrysler is smarting, a lot.

In an effort to cut losses, Chrysler has announced that it would be closing a quarter of it’s 3200 U.S. based dealerships around 789 dealerships. The dealership themselves were caught by surprise when they received mails from their parent company that the dealership would be closing.

Shocking and exciting millions was the quick fall of Ricky “Hitman” Hatton yesterday against the formidable Manny Pacquiao during the second round for the IBO light-welterweight title.

Filipino Manny Pacquiao is considered to be the best boxer in the world and the best pound for pound boxer.

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A 30-year old woman was hospitalized last April 26 after visiting Cancun, Mexico and is conformed to have contracted swine flu.

The woman is now staying at the West Georgia Medical System Hospital in LaGrange in Troup County.

Troup County health officials sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the patient’s sample for testing. The sample came back positive for swine flu.

American health officials have confirmed the U.S. death caused the swine flu that originated from Mexico. The officials also strongly suggested that schools be temporarily closed down to lessen exposure.

The victim was a 23-month old child from Texas.

U.S. President Obama has asked the U.S. Congress to provide $1.5 billion in emergency funds to fight the disease.

“This is obviously a serious situation, serious enough to take the utmost precautions,” President Obama said.

The infected patient is a tourist from Mexico who visited Disneyland during the weekends and is now confined at the Adventist Health System hospital.

Doctors are now discussing the case and will issue a statement shortly.

Officials of the Department of Health have not confirmed the case to be swine flu just yet.

Pirates seized an American container ship off the coast of Somalia, the first American-crewed ship to be seized in the Somalian area.

The Maersk Alabama container ship was on it’s way to the Kenyan port of Mombasa to deliver relief aid item. The relief aid container contained food and agricultural supplies from Djibouti.

The ship was seized at about 280 miles southeast of the Somali city of Eyl. The area is considered to be a haven for pirates, especially around the Gulf of Aden, where most pirate attacks occur.

via (NY Times)

Manufacturing, construction and service providing industries have axed hundreds of thousands of employees just to make ends meet.

The unemployment rate rose to 8.5 percent from last month’s 8.1 percent.

5.1 million jobs have been lost since December 2007.

Olympic Medalist, Micheal Phelps, acknowledged that he engaged in “regrettable” behavior and shown “bad judgment” after a British tabloid published a photo showing Phelps smoking marijuana from a glass pipe.

Marijuana is a banned “in-competition” substance, so it’s unlikely that Michael Phelps will face any punishment.

“I’m 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public — it will not happen again.” This was Phleps statement posted by Octagon, his management firm, on his Facebook site.

Michael Phelps won 8 gold medal in the last Olympic game, the most medals won in Olympic history. Phelps will return to training and is hoping to compete in the Austin Grand Prix from March 5-7.

(Via the LA Times, Photo from News of the World)

Sligar, 47, will serve five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender, as reported by CNN.

The inmate Eric McClain was assigned to clean Sligar’s office sparking conversation and the sexual relationship.

They initiated 10 to 20 sessions of oral sex and sexual intercourse in a staff restroom in the housing unit at the Federal Prison Camp in Florence, Colorado, according to the plea agreement.

(Via CNN)

Ms. World Brazil finalist Mariana Bridi Da Costa’s legs and arms have been amputated by doctors to contain infection that has been spreading through Da Costa’s blood.

Da Costa, 20, has been diagnosed with septicemia – an infection of the blood. What started as urinary tract infection has now claimed the former beauty pageant’s arms,legs, both kidneys and part of her stomach.

Brazilian doctors have given Da Costa 24 hours to live last week, but Da Costa has so far managed to keep strong.

via CNN