USA
President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin spent most of Sunday and Monday together at the Bush family's Maine home to discuss issues that have proven contentious for the two leaders, such as NATO, Iran's nuclear aspirations, missile defense, and independence for Kosovo.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D) of New York called for the creation of a federal import czar on Sunday, bringing attention to what he deems a lack of safety and quality concerns for Chinese imports. Recent consumer recalls of Chinese products include tainted pet food, children's toys containing lead paint, and defective car tires.
Overall, three-quarters of Americans believe black children have the same chance to get a good education as white children in their communities, whereas only 49 percent of blacks agree, according to a Gallup poll released Monday, in the wake of a US Supreme Court ruling that admittance to public schools spanning K-12 must be colorblind.
Carlyle Group, a Washington-based private equity firm, is in the preliminary stages of discussions to purchase Virgin Media for nearly $20 billion, according to a weekend report from the Times of London. Virgin Media's main product lines include broadband, wireless, and fixed-line telephones.
7-Eleven Inc. transformed a dozen of its convenience stores this weekend into Kwik-E-Marts, the fictional store from the popular animated TV series, 'The Simpsons.' The stores, which are part of a campaign for the July 27 opening of 'The Simpsons Movie,' will carry items that formerly existed only on television, such as Buzz Cola and KrustyO's cereal.
New York City's ban on trans-fats, the first such ban in the nation, officially went into effect on Sunday, as did the requirement for restaurants to post calorie counts on menu items. McDonald's and Burger King were among the chains that ignored the calorie-count rule in hopes that a lawsuit in federal court will reverse it.
A California town auctioned twice before on eBay is back on the market. The hamlet of Bridgeville is selling for $1.3 million after the sudden death of its newest owner.
