hello everyone,
I'm sharing some variables accross activities by using a class like this :
public class Globals {
static Boolean hint1_graph_type_switcher; 
static Boolean hint2_stockview_valuation;
other variables ...
    }
then I'm using these variables anywhere across my multiple activites with ...
if (Globals.hint2_stockview_valuation == false) {
        ....
    }
pretty basic and it was working fine untill ...
I introduced some webview stuff like this:
//-----------------------------------------------------------
        // open a webview with the NEWS when the more_arrow is clicked :
        mNews.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(View v) {
                String news_URL = "http://us.m.yahoo.com/w/yfinance/symbolheadlines/"+ ticker + "/?.intl=us&.lang=en";
                Intent news_Webview_intent = new Intent(Chart_View.this, News_Webview.class);
                news_Webview_intent.putExtra("NEWS_URL", news_URL);
                startActivity(news_Webview_intent);
            }
        });
        //-----------------------------------------------------------
and here's the News_Webview.class:
public class News_Webview extends Activity {
//
// http://www.chrisdanielson.com/tag/progressdialog/
//
String news_URL;
private WebView webview;
private ProgressDialog progressBar;
private static final String TAG = "Hub";
/** Called when the activity is first created. */
@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    requestWindowFeature(Window.FEATURE_NO_TITLE);
    setContentView(R.layout.webview_news);
    this.webview = (WebView)findViewById(R.id.webView);
    Bundle extras = getIntent().getExtras();
    if (this.getIntent().getExtras()!=null){
        news_URL = extras.getString("NEWS_URL");
    }
    WebSettings settings = webview.getSettings();
    settings.setJavaScriptEnabled(true);
    webview.setScrollBarStyle(WebView.SCROLLBARS_OUTSIDE_OVERLAY);
    final AlertDialog alertDialog = new AlertDialog.Builder(this).create();
    progressBar = ProgressDialog.show(News_Webview.this, "", "Loading...");
    webview.setWebViewClient(new WebViewClient() {
        public boolean shouldOverrideUrlLoading(WebView view, String url) {
            //Log.i(TAG, "Processing webview url click...");
            Intent viewIntent = new Intent("android.intent.action.VIEW", Uri.parse(url));  
            startActivity(viewIntent);
            return true;
        }                  
        public void onPageFinished(WebView view, String url) {
            //Log.i(TAG, "Finished loading URL: " +url);
            if (progressBar.isShowing()) {
                progressBar.dismiss();
            }
        }
        public void onReceivedError(WebView view, int errorCode, String description, String failingUrl) {
            Log.e(TAG, "Error: " + description);
            Toast.makeText(News_Webview.this, "Oh no! " + description, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
            alertDialog.setTitle("Error");
            alertDialog.setMessage(description);
            alertDialog.setButton("OK", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
                public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
                    return;
                }
            });
            alertDialog.show();
        }
    });
    webview.loadUrl(news_URL);
    }
}
the problem now is that, when it "comes back" from this Activity, it looks like my Globals variables have disappeared ???
if (Globals.hint2_stockview_valuation == false) {
fires an error :
06-23 12:14:03.443: ERROR/AndroidRuntime(2611): Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
2 questions then :
- Should I use something else than this "Global" class to share variables across activities ? Is it just bad practice to do this ?? I know that I can use the preferences but I thought it was quicker to do it this way (no need to "read" the preferences everytime I start a new activity ... 
- Any idea on WHY this is happening ? Should I "get back" my savedInstanceState in some way when my activity returns from the News_Webview.class ??? 
As always, thank you for your help.
H.