Access to affordable credit helps me pay my employees, but I don't really need it.

Infliction is killing me!

But who cares? Big retailers are making record profits!

That's why we support the Durban Marshall Credit Card Bill!

See? Banks and credit unions help small businesses make payroll.

This bill would cut the vital resources they need.

While increasing megastore profits, they deserve it. Don't they? Tell Congress, stop the Durban Marshall money grab for corporate megastores. Paid for it by the Electronic Payments Coalition.

Here's your morning brief from Monday, May 18th. I'm Daniel Bach for the Wall Street Journal.

The strike on the Long Island Railroad is entering its third day after unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority negotiated through the night, but failed to reach a deal.

About 300,000 passengers used the railroad which connects Long Island to New York City.

The MTA has arranged some

limited shuttle service, but is advising commuters to work from home and avoid non-essential travel.

China said it has agreed to establish bilateral boards of trade and investment with the United

States in a move towards shoring up a commercial truce between the world's two largest economies.

China's Ministry of Commerce also said the U.S. agreed to sell aircraft as well as aircraft

engines and components to China, a boost for one notable industry where the country lags behind

the U.S. How the boards would meet and operate still needs to be negotiated. But the U.S. trade representative

Jameson Greer says that the U.S. now has what he called strategic stability with China.

And with the war in Iran effectively shutting the Strait of Hormuz and cutting off liquefied natural gas supplies, coal is making a comeback.

Taiwan and South Korea, among Asian countries that are more reliant on LNG

imports are both turning to coal, which emits around double the amount of carbon dioxide

as burning natural gas. Even Italy has put its coal plants on standby as the country prepares

...