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Reflects on the Expo 2000, an international exhibition held in Hannover, Germany. Schedule of the Expo 2000; Features of Bertelsmann's corporate exhibit; Criticisms on Norway's exhibit; Description of Slovakia's exhibit; Views on the Future of Health exhibit; Remarks on the paper-covered car at the Japanese pavilion; Opinion on Twipsy, the Expo's mascot; Admission cost of Expo 2000.

Reports that the 'Die Tageszeitung,' Berlin, Germany's left-leaning daily newspaper, went ahead with its threats of eliminating its headlines for a day because it did not get 300 new subscribers. The importance of headlines to the newspaper; Reasons for the newspapers quirky circulation drive.

Reports that Albany International Corp. has agreed to acquire the paper-machine businesses of closely held Geschmay group of Germany. Cost of the acquisition; 1998 sales of the operation to be acquired.

The article reports that Leipzig, Germany-based bank Sachsen LB is in negotiation to sell itself to Stuttgart-based Landesbank Baden-Württemberg amidst the bank's financial difficulties. Sachsen operates a number of affiliate companies that have struggled to sell commercial papers, including Ormond Quay Funding PLC. As part of the conditions for the €17 billion line of credit, auditors from Landesbank and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale have inspected the books of Sachsen and its affiliates in Dublin, Ireland.

The article reports on the plan of German government-controlled bank WestLB to sell 85 billion euros in assets from its balance sheet, as announced on November 12, 2009. The bank mentioned that healthy and toxic paper and other assets are included in the portfolio. The amount of risk guarantee received by the bank from its owners in 2008 is 4.8 billion euros. The rescue requires WestLB to sell assets and simplify its balance sheet as mandated by the European Commission.

The article reports on the call of the German finance ministry for changes in oversight of banks in relation to the near collapse of IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG and SachsenLB in June 2007. The finance ministry seeks to intensify cooperation between different supervisory authorities. The near collapse of the IKB and Sachsen was prompted by the failure of key affiliates to sell commercial paper and repay creditors due to the international liquidity crisis.

The article focuses on the problems posed by the lack of appeal of short-term debt to investors due to credit concerns for German banks. It cites that investor concern is aggravated by absence of transparency. It attributes the increase in the issuance of asset-backed commercial paper to conduits. According to WestLB spokesmen, less than 1 percent of the bank's assets in Greyhawk are exposed to subprime markets and its conduit is not facing liquidity problems.

Discusses how Axel Springer Verlag AG, the most influential newspaper group in Germany, launched Fakt as part of efforts to expand in a newly unified Europe. Consideration of the war between the German-owned tabloid against another daily founded by Adam Michnik and other Solidarity sympathizers; How Michnik's paper, Gazeta Wyborcza, is pursing an $18 million marketing campaign including a billboard photograph of Michnik; Impact of nationalism on corporations in Europe; Efforts of the French government to prevent pharmaceutical company Novartis AG from merging with France's Aventis SA; Aversion of Europeans to foreign control; Anti-German sentiment of the Austrians toward the French company Siemens AG.

Focuses on the proposal of Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to scrap a capital-gains tax for companies. Supporter of the proposal; Details on a reform-geared policy paper Schroeder has written with British Prime Minister Tony Blair; Potential effects of the proposal.

Features German artist Sigmar Polke. Information on his art exhibition `Sigmar Polke: Works on Paper, 1963-1974,' at the Museum of Modern Art; Comments on his work; Details on some of his works.

The article discusses the long-standing rivalry between German pencil manufacturers Staedtler Mars GmbH and Faber-Castell AG. The latter will celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2011, while Staedtler can trace its own origins back to 17th-century pencil maker Friedrich Staedtler. Both are based in Nuremberg and both fancy themselves leaders in pencil innovation.