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The article examines the success of a handgun that is marketed by the Austrian company Glock GmbH. The business model underlying this gun was created by firm owner Gaston Glock, who was originally a manufacturer of shovels and knives. He promoted the handgun in the U.S., first targeting police officers as clients and then progressing to the American citizenry.

The article reports on the foreign investment practices of the Chinese government current in late July 2009. The central focus of the article is that the Chinese had invested significant amounts of money in a variety of international businesses. Among other issues the article assesses the impact that Chinese mergers and acquisitions are having on the global economy. INSET: CHINA'S FLURRY OF DEALS.

The article seeks to answer why Europe has been suffering its first recession since the euro was introduced in 1999. Information on the situation in Ireland and Spain as well as unemployment statistics across the European Union is provided. Additional topics include subprime companies and debt-fueled private equity.

The article reports South Africa has become the economic engine of Africa. Companies with South African origins, including brewer SAB Miller, cellular service provider MTN, and Standard Bank are invested heavily in Sub-Saharan Africa and internationally. However, mining, a major domestic industry, has suffered as global commodity prices have fallen, and economic growth is expected to slow in 2009. Also, despite its economy and sophistication, South Africa has a population that is still mostly very poor.

The article discusses the potential effects of U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama's plan to create 2.5 million jobs between 2009 and 2010. The possibility that the plan could create jobs in other countries such as China, Germany, and Mexico rather than the U.S. is mentioned. The expectation of large amounts of lobbying to ensure that the plan creates jobs in the U.S. by encouraging consumers to buy American products is also discussed.

This article reports that the Finnish telecommunications company Nokia will introduce a touchscreen smartphone called the 5800 in September, 2008. Competitor products are discussed, including the iPhone from Apple, the BlackBerry from Research In Motion (RIM), and the Android operating system for smartphones developed by Google. Comments are included from Anssi Vanjoki, an executive vice-president at Nokia. INSET: WIRELESS WEB CONTENDERS.

The article discusses the impact of the declining value of the U.S. dollar on the European economy. The widening gap between the dollar and euro leads to decreased profit from exporting goods to the U.S., where the dollar is weak and demand is low. Jobs at European factories are lost as companies begin manufacturing goods in the U.S. and elsewhere. The European Central Bank has kept interest rates high, contributing to the euro's strength. The economic situation in Ireland is highlighted.

This article focuses on the media buyer Irwin Gotlieb. It details the inner workings of his company, GroupM, and the changes taking place to account for the changing economy and increasing demands from GroupM's overseers, advertising company WPP Group. Also included in the article are biographical information about Gotlieb, and Gotlieb's use of rebates in the media buying industry.

The article discusses sovereign wealth funds controlled by investors from China, Russia and countries of the Middle East and the impact of the $2.8 trillion in these funds on the United States and Europe. Christopher Cox, chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, worries that the economic might of undemocratic countries and their investors could lead to less market transparency and enforcement of laws. INSET: FEAR FACTOR.

The article reports on the positive impact cellular telephones and cellular phone service is having on many countries in Africa, including Kenya. A discussion of the impact the phones have had on the quality of life, economies, and communication abilities of Africans is presented. The negative aspects of cellular phone use which have been seen in Africa, including their use in helping to organize guerilla armies, are discussed.

The article focuses on the top one hundred companies in the information technology industry. The author discusses the reasons behind the rankings of particular companies such as the computer manufacturer Dell Incorporated, the software company SAP AG, and the telecommunications company Motorola Incorporated. A chart is presented which ranks the top one hundred companies in information technology industry. INSET: Methodology and Glossary.

This article presents the rising concerns over labor shortages in many fields throughout the global arena. In China, the migration from the countryside to the city factories has tapered off. Aging populations are not teaching new generations their skills. Employers in 27 countries are using new recruitment strategies and beefing up in-house training and rehiring retirees. Farming is using billboards and television to lure migrant workers. What they aren't doing is increasing wages.

The article focuses on Klaus Kleinfeld the chief executive officer (CEO) of the company Siemens. The Munich, Germany electronics and engineering company is expanding sales and may reach earnings targets for the first time since the year 2000. Kleinfeld has received little credit for its success and faces questions about a bribery scandal even though he is not personally implicated. Details are given for Kleinfeld's personality, the critics' response towards him and his restructuring moves. INSETS: Push and Pull;The Sweet Smell of Demand.

This article reports on Gazprom, a Russian company that is the world's largest producer of natural gas. Russian premier Vladimir Putin has used the production of natural gas, much of which is exported, as a political weapon, supplying or denying energy to European countries as it chooses. Gazprom, which generates 8% of national tax revenue, is Russia's pre-eminent economic institution and a major force in domestic politics.

This article looks at Central Europe's intelligent and low-cost labor pool. This area of Europe has emerged as the low-cost manufacturing zone of the continent. Moviemakers are also finding that not only is the labor cheap, but the workers are also very intelligent. The area with its highly skilled workforce is becoming the next outsourcing haven behind China and India. American companies noticing they were getting applications from qualified Bulgarians, opened offices in Bulgaria.

Discusses how a global savings glut is good for growth--but risks are mounting. Statistics on savings in American households; Falling long-term interest rates; Economists, investors and policymakers who are considering two inter-twined and heretical notions--that what really matters for interest rates is the global economy and that there may be too much savings, rather than too little; Savings predictions from the International Monetary Fund; Explanation of why the savings glut is creating new risks for the global economy.

Focuses on the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against foreign currency. Reasons for the depreciation, including the U.S. trade deficit and hints that Japan, China, and other Asian countries may be willing to countenance an appreciation of their currencies; Lack of concern from the U.S. government, serving as an invitation to sell the dollar; Concern of European Union leaders for their economic recovery due to the depreciation of the dollar and the appreciation of the euro; Wariness of foreign investors to finance the United States' current account deficit.

In 2000, Goldman Sachs cut a questionable deal that smoothed the AOL-Time Warner merger. Will the SEC take action? "BusinessWeek" has learned that the premier Wall Street bank agreed to buy 1% of AOL Europe -- half a percent from each parent -- for $215 million. AOL Europe, in return, agreed to a "put" contract promising Goldman that it could sell back the 1% by a specific date and at a set price. That simple transaction solved Bertelsmann's EU problem without trapping AOL in an accounting conundrum -- a perfect solution. Or so it seemed at the time. But the deal also may have violated U.S. securities laws. The AOL Europe transaction threatens to create problems for Goldman Sachs. But it could also prolong the legal headaches of Time Warner Inc., as the AOL-Time Warner combine is now called.

The author discusses the conflict between Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons and SEC officials over possible violations of accounting rules during the company's former association with AOL. It was late 2003, and Richard D. Parsons, chairman and chief executive of Time Warner Inc., had been at loggerheads with the Securities & Exchange Commission for more than 18 months. The issue: whether the company properly booked a slew of advertising deals negotiated by America Online Inc. before it merged with Time Warner. Parsons had already reduced AOL's reported ad revenues by $190 million over eight quarters. But he drew the line at SEC demands that he restate even more by marking down an unusual $400 million advertising contract AOL had struck with German media giant Bertelsmann in 2001. Despite Parsons' gamble, the SEC isn't buying the experts' conclusions and still demands that Time Warner lower its revenues from the Bertelsmann contract. If the SEC brings charges, Time Warner is likely to settle, "BusinessWeek" has learned. But the standoff, as reconstructed through interviews with corporate, government, accounting, and legal sources, already has become the rarest of events in post-Enron Corporate America -- a monumental battle of wills between a regulator and a major corporation.

The article analyzes the effects of the rebuilding of Iraq on the U.S. economy and the political career of U.S. President George W. Bush in 2003. Key issues discussed include the mounting costs of U.S. intervention, predictions on the time and money needed to rebuild Iraq and international and domestic pressures on Bush concerning economic policy, world politics and diplomacy.

Focuses on Heineken, the Dutch brewer. Challenges facing chief executive officer Anthony Ruys; Drop in sales; The beer market which is changing; Decline of beer consumption in the U.S. and Europe due to tougher drunk-driving laws and a growing appreciation for wine; Competition from a flood of new brands; Efforts of Ruys to get Heineken to break out of its play-it-safe corporate culture.

In the end, the United States-led invasion of Iraq, now reaching its zenith with an occupied Baghdad largely intact, was a unique 21st century production--part high-tech war, part hunkering down in the face of determined guerrilla attacks. America's weapon of choice was the satellite-guided munition, Iraq's the rocket-propelled grenade. As 'BusinessWeek' went to press on Apr. 9, Saddam Hussein's fate was unknown. But despite some last-ditch resistance from urban militias, one thing was clear in a chaotic Baghdad: Scarcely three weeks into a furious U.S.-British blitz, victory in Iraq is assured, and it will be faster, cheaper, and more decisive than many imagined. Military officials caution that it could take months to secure the far reaches of the country. U.S. President George W. Bush is fortunate that a war that began so inauspiciously on the diplomatic front unfolded with lethal precision on the battlefield. But now he must cope with the fallout from America's intervention -- in the region, and among deeply estranged allies. In the enormously challenging days ahead, the President must prove that the postwar world can be made safer and more prosperous after the last Saddam statue is pulled down. The U.S. must secure the peace in Iraq -- an uneasy period that could be marked by suicide attacks, car bombings, and ambushes. It must promote democracy in the region, despite cries from the Arab Street that the war was inhumane. It must repair ties to allies and a collaterally damaged United Nations and NATO. INSETS: A Dangerous Postwar World;Who Will Build a New Iraq?.

Discusses projected social and economic conditions of Iraq after a United States military attack. Civil construction which will be a large task; Political infrastructure which will need to be replaced and democratized; Question of whether to allow the post-war Iraqi oil industry to privatize.

Reports on Germany and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in relation to Germany's decline to support U.S. President George W. Bush in a potential war with Iraq. Description of Germany, its economy and political will to reform; Information on Germany's power in relation to the European Union; Comparison of Germany's economic situation to that of Japan. INSET: THE 'SUPER MINISTER' IS GUNNING FOR REFORM.

Provides an overview of the United States economy as of January 2003. Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate; Current account deficit as a share of GDP; Inflation-adjusted yield on two-year government notes; Decline in interest rates; Benefit of a modest further drop in the dollar to domestic manufacturers who export or who compete with imports; Worth of foreign direct investments in factories, real estate and corporate acquisitions in 2001 and 2002; Reasons for foreigners' diffidence.

Looks at the crisis in the global telecommunications market. Telecommunication companies' reduction of its prices and sale of its assets; Lucent Technologies Inc. and Alcatel SA's issuance of dire revenue warnings and layoffs; Findings of the magazine's study of the capacity for each type of telecommunication service and its comparison to worldwide demand. INSETS: A WORLD OF HURT;TELECOM'S NEW STRUCTURE.

Focuses on the efforts of Siemens' vice president Joachim Doring to get employees to share knowledge. Mention of ShareNet, a Web site created for Siemens employees to store information that might be useful to colleagues; Perceived impact of ShareNet on Siemens' sales; Statement that knowledge management systems are gaining a foothold in corporations around the world. INSET: How the Web Helped Siemens.

The article highlights the deal between Bertelsmann AG (BA) and Napster Inc. (NI) that could help transform BA into a powerhouse for the Internet Age. Even as BA seeks to make NI a partner, BA is still suing NI for facilitating massive copyright infringement. NI creates software that allows people to trade music for free. However, with this deal, BA wants to turn NI into a platform for downloading and selling all its media products, including books, films and music. INSET: NAPSTER: TUNE IN, TURN ON, PAY UP.

Focuses on the critical situation of the euro as of October 2, 2000. Europe's single currency which has lost more than 25 percent of its value against the dollar; Problems with the euro which have been accelerated by a wave of investment leaving Europe; Reasons for the weakness of the euro and ways in which Europe's leaders can strengthen it.

Reports on the relationship that German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder has with Big Business. Efforts by Schroder to push through the broadest tax cuts since World War II; How the economy has reacted to his moves; Why Schroder is unwilling to undertake bold labor reforms. INSETS: The Path to Reform;SCHROEDER'S AGENDA.

The article reports on efforts by Frankfurt, Germany, to become the financial capital of Europe. As the euro and the Internet shake up Europe's economies, Frankfurt is making a bid to become the financial capital of the Continent. Its stock exchange is at the fore- front of efforts to unify European financial markets within the next two years. As headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB), which sets monetary policy for the euro zone, Frankfurt is the hub for analysts and bankers trying to predict the ECB's next move.

This article discusses agricultural and plant biotechnology in the U.S. Plants could be engineered to produce their own pesticides, to grow in different types of soil, and to produce food that is of high nutritional value. Farmers are scrambling to adopt the first commercially available bioengineered crops. INSETS: 'LIFE SCIENCES'?;INVESTORS, DON'T SOW YOUR SEEDS TOO SOON.

The article reports on the national business plan of Slovakia. The automobile industry in the East, which runs from Poland to Slovakia and the Czech Republic, is experiencing trouble due to the global financial crisis. Kia Motors has cut production by 15% at plants in Europe and Volkswagen has closed down assembly lines in Bratislava.

The authors offer opinions on means of ending the financial crisis of 2008. The actions of central banks to inject liquidity into the financial system may not be sufficient. An approach now being used in Europe, where governments directly invest in banks they feel are strong enough to survive the crisis, is seen as more promising.

The article discusses the global reaction to the 2008 U.S. financial crisis. Despite anger and feelings of betrayal by the international community, the U.S.economic model has maintained its resiliency. Topics include a discussion of the economic future of the U.S., what role the financial collapse will have on attracting business professionals to American businesses, and reactions from several European and Asian economists and investors regarding the U.S. financial crisis. INSET: EUROPE'S DEEP POCKETS.

The article presents a profile of financial consultant Mario Staggl, a fugitive accused of helping former UBS private banker Bradley Birkenfeld hide $200 million from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Staggl's native country Liechtenstein is known as a tax haven, due to the fact that tax evasion is not considered a crime there. Information about his life prior to and after the accusation is included. INSET: LINKS.

The article is about German entrepreneur Thomas Middelhoff, the owner of Arcandor, a German company that owns Karstadt, a department store chain. In Germany he is generally disliked for his aggressive business activities, and he is not given much credit for saving Arcandor. He took over the company in 2004, when it was nearly bankrupt, but was able to save it by making deals with banks.

The article discusses the phone manufacturer Nokia. Nokia is opening a factory outside of Cluj-Napoca, Romania close to a technical university where engineering graduates will work for less than a quarter of what Western Europeans make. Nokia held a job fair in June 2007 which brought 8,000 applicants but they expect to hire only 500 and then move up to 3,500 by the end of 2009.

The article suggests that investors look to Europe as a profitable place to invest. Included are examples of companies such as Siemens and UBS which have been favored companies by investors. It is reported that Europe possesses leaders in mobile technology, such as Nokia, which has a large share in the global market.

The article describes an "Agent Training" weekend adventure tour offered by the company MyDays. The agency offers hundreds of "experiences" including Russian MIG 25 flights into the upper atmosphere, adventures involving parachute jumping, hovercraft, playing secret agent at a former Soviet air base that involves secret codes, snipers, and paintball.

The article discusses the annual ranking of Europe's 50 best-performing companies. A chart is presented which lists these 50 businesses. Almost half of the listed businesses are service companies which run on intellectual capital. A description of how the 50 companies were selected and ranked is presented. The top five are BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Xstrata, BG Group, and Arcelor.

The article reports on the growing trend of business school students studying at universities abroad. European business schools, once populated largely by locals, now draw diverse enrollment. This diversity can give students an edge in the job market, especially with multinational companies that value the ability to operate with different cultures.

This article looks at the increasing popularity of Bulgaria as a filmmaking hotspot for American studios. Nu Image Inc. has made a bid to buy the studio at Boyana but Bulgarian officials are balking at the sale. U.S. government officials are trying to persuade Bulgarian officials to honor its agreement to prove its respect for business agreements before joining the European Union. Bulgarian skilled technical workers are 50-60% less expensive than their American counterparts.

Discusses the pros and cons of Europe's single currency, the euro. Idea that the euro zone has not had the economic growth that was expected with the adoption of the common currency; The prediction of University of Bonn Professor Manfred J. M. Neumann who protested the introduction of the euro; Question of whether the euro was a mistake, especially since public discontent is increasing due to economic stagnation and budget deficits; Effort of the European Central Bank to fight inflation; Outlook for euro countries.

Profiles Klaus Kleinfeld, who in January 2005 will become Siemens AG's chief executive officer. Background of Kleinfeld, including his experience with Siemens as head of the German company's Medical Solutions Division; Significance of Kleinfeld's energetic personality, ability to speak English fluently; Comparison of Siemens to its better-performing competition, General Electric; Profile and financial performance of Siemens. INSET: Klaus Kleinfeld.

Discusses how Huawei Technologies Co., has created several digital technologies that will soon link PCs, TVs, stereos, and other devices to the Internet and each other in living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. Consideration of how Huawei is a privately held, low-cost manufacturer of equipment first developed elsewhere; Trend for the company to capitalize on close ties with local officials in order to establish an advantage over foreign rivals; Settlement of a lawsuit filed by Cisco Systems Inc. alleging patent and copyright infringements by Huawei; Likelihood that Huawei will spend at least $500 million on research and development in 2004; Talent associated with Huawei's engineers who start at salaries near $6,600 a year.

Discusses presidential candidate Senator John Kerry's plans for the United States foreign policy. What Kerry gained in his experiences fighting in Vietnam; How Vietnam's lessons will shape his foreign policy; How both candidates support the dismantling of nuclear facilities; Kerry's position on the war in Iraq.

Reports that many of the organizations at the core of the sport of soccer are in dismal financial shape. First-division teams from Ireland to the Ukraine, who typically have a shot at turning a profit only if they qualify for the elite UEFA Champions League or the UEFA Cup; Runaway salaries, which are at the heart of the problem according to Stephen Schechter of Schecter & Co., a London firm that helps soccer clubs issue bonds; Organization of the league system, in which membership is fluid and revenues may drop by half if a team slides to the second league; Popularity of soccer, which is on the rise; Managers, often ex-players, who lack basic business expertise; Efforts of teams like Manchester United to reach international markets by playing exhibition games abroad; Difficulties of teams popular only in their home regions, whose declining revenues leave them unable to recruit stars, in turn further depressing sponsorship and ticket sales.

Explains that some major car companies, including BMW and Ford, will possibly withdraw their involvement with Europe's Formula One racing. Description of one race in Germany; Negative effect of Ferrari's dominance in the sport on attendance at the races; Resentment for founder Bernie Ecclestone, who is accused of hogging revenue and power; Argument from Ecclestone that the track owners are responsible; Threat of carmakers to pull out and hurt the sport further.

Profiles the German company, Aldi. History of the company; Appeal of its low prices in a country of ebbing wealth; Description of Aldi as Europe's stealth Wal-Mart; Characteristics, including awesome margins, huge market clout, and seemingly unstoppable growth; Connection with an old-school attitude characterized by financing expansion with cash to avoid debt, shunning publicity, and moving quietly into new markets before the competition catches on.