In a move that is part of Sony Ericsson’s April-announced plan to cut its 10,000-employes-strong global workforce by 20 percent, the mobile handset maker Wednesday said that it intends shifting its North American headquarters from North Carolina to Atlanta, and close nearly eight sites worldwide to eliminate around 1,600 jobs.

Going by a recorded message and a memo from Delta Air Lines Inc CEO Richard Anderson, to the employees of the Atlanta-based carrier, additional management and administrative jobs would likely be slashed by the airline.

Thanks to fewer charges resulting from strict outflow management, the world's biggest home-improvement retailer Home Depot Inc's (HD) has posted a 44.4 percent first-quarter net income growth, thereby surpassing the analysts' estimates.

Citing weakening industry demand and fuel hedge losses, Delta Air Lines has reported a $794 million first quarter loss. While the loss falls below the earlier year figures of a $6.39 billion loss, the year-on-year comparison cannot be taken in an exacting sense, since Delta took over Northwest Airlines in October for $2.8 billion last year.

In its first secure outside capital transaction, GunBroker. com has closed a $7-million in debt funding round with Bank of America. The deal - arranged by the Atlanta-based business advisory and private equity firm Triton Value Partners, consisted of a loan for three years and a revolving credit facility.

The Cincinnati domestic fares of the Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines are being slashed from 5 percent to 60 percent. The price reduction, which comes as a revenue-generating measure at the underperforming hub, will be applicable with immediate effect to fares of all the 87 domestic destinations from Cincinnati.

According to a report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday smoking death rates in the U.S. took a downward plunge and the states with the highest smoking rates have the highest death rates from smoking.

A U.S. consumer health advocacy group has filed a class action lawsuit against Coca-Cola Co, against what it called the company’s deceptive claims regarding their Vitaminwater beverage line.

Last week, Oprah Winfrey sent a letter to Atlanta educator Ron Clark, who has made two appearances on her show. Delighted, he was even more so, when an extra piece of paper fluttered out of the envelope. It was a $365,000 donation for the innovative private school he opened in 2007, in what is one of the city's poorest neighborhoods.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution, the subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc. will slash 156 jobs and reduce its circulation range to 27 counties around metro Atlanta in the latest round of cuts at the daily newspaper.