Times are tough for the Washington Redskins

But they also warned about potential pitfalls such as tradebarriers in overseas markets, while Chinese automakers and jointventures have had limited success in overseas markets BOOST IN STATUS "It's a good move. "But a partnership is no guarantee for success in the future,especially if they want to operate on a global level." Other analysts cited Chery Automobile's aborted effort tosell cars in the United States to highlight the challenges facingemerging Chinese automakers overseas. After years of talks, Chery and Chrysler LLC, which Daimlersold in 2007, reached agreement in July 2007 for the Chineseautomaker to manufacture compact cars under the Chrysler badgefor sale in the Americas. But the two sides abandoned the plan after Nissan reached asimilar deal with the U.S automaker in April of last year.

Both Foton and industry analysts are optimistic about theventure's prospects at home, however, especially given a 4trillion yuan economic stimulus package unveiled by Beijing thataims to bolster the slowing economy and will focus oninfrastructure construction. In a statement, Beiqi Foton said it expected 18 percentannual industry-wide growth in heavy truck sales in China overthe next two years, helped by the stimulus plan. Official data shows sales of commercial vehicles in thecountry, including buses and trucks, rose 7.65 percent to 2.47million units in the first 11 months of last year. Beiqi Foton's shares were unchanged at 5.27 yuan in lateafternoon trade, compared with a 0.5 percent fall in thebenchmark Shanghai Composite Index .SSEC.

I slept on this one.Times are tough for the Washington Redskins. So Esquire Magazine went right to the source for the inside scoop on what's going on with this team.That's right. They asked a Redskinette, ah, First Lady of Football.Redskin cheerleader Jamilla Keene was interviewed by Esquire following Washington's Week Seven 27-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.Ms. Keene thinks the addition of consulting playcaller Sherman Lewis may help the team. She is relieved not to have been near Clinton Portis' helmet when he slammed it on the sideline during the Eagles game. "That might have hurt a bit," she says.Keene calls quarterback Jason Campbell the silent leader of the team and says the players know it.