News in brief

Two Chinese firms are trying to back out of a contract to build a dam in Pakistan, asking for a renegotiation at "current market prices."

A "controversial" resort village project atop Colorado's Wolf Creek Pass will go forward, despite continuing contract battles among the various players.

Hawaiian Airlines will ask a bankruptcy court to impose a new contract on its pilots, who refused to ratify the deal struck by their union reps.

A Texas school district that sued a contractor for breach of contract has had to pony up $1 million to settle the dispute, after the contractor counterclaimed.  "A bad settlement is better than a good lawsuit," a spokesman said.

Rapper Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, whose business difficulties have led to frequent appearances in these columns, has a new venture: he's going into the auto parts business to make custom wheels for trucks, SUVs, and luxury cars.

Recreational vehicle maker Thor America says it will close its plant in Middleburg, Pennsylvania, after workers overwhelmingly refused to accept a contract that would cut wages and increase incentive bonuses.