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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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Focuses on the failure of ImClone Systems, Inc. to receive approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its cancer drug Erbitux. Demand of development partner Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co. that the company's founders, Samuel and Harlan Waksal, step aside; Congressional investigation and inquiries into the company regarding the trials of Erbitux; View that ImClone rushed through its FDA application, kept clinical trials small, and hired board members to impress investors.

The article examines how Europe is garnering the attention of U.S. investors who place their money into struggling businesses. Some factors that facilitate this phenomenon are Europe's declining economy as well as crashes in British and Spanish housing markets. Firms associated with this practice are mentioned, including Apollo Management, Blackstone Group and Carlyle Group.

The article discusses possible regulatory actions by the U.S. government against German electronics manufacturer Siemens, which disclosed questionable payments that may have been bribes. The U.S. may penalize the company under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and could force the company to allow monitors to investigate the company's activities. INSET: LINKS.

Suggests foreign policy adjustments that ought to be considered by U.S. President George W. Bush in his second term. Opinion that the campaign in Iraq should be based on making the country stable, rather than on democracy; Need for overwhelming military force in Iraq, rather than the initial approach of making the military light and mobile; Importance of re-launching the peace process in the Middle East; Consideration of the nuclear weapons capabilities of Iran and North Korea as prevalent issues in 2005. INSET: LESSONS LEARNED?.

Presents a commentary on the disparity between drug prices in the United States and other countries. Higher drug prices in the U.S. than in Europe and Canada; Comments from Dr. Mark B. McClellan, commissioner of the Food & Drug Administration; Possible importation of cheaper drugs from Canada by Americans; Safety issues stemming from drug importation; Suffering of research and development budgets as a result of lower prices; Difficulties of Europe's pharmaceutical industry; Need for a Medicare drug benefit and other subsidies for the elderly and poor in the United States.

Reports on the plan of businessman John H. Dasburg and two other U.S. investors to buy Airways. Acquisition price; Competition among the world's three largest parcel shipping giants, Federal Express (FedEx), United Parcel Service, and DHL Worldwide Express; United States Transportation Dept.'s holding of a hearing on whether Airways is indeed a U.S. airline; Implications if the judge rules in favor of FedEx and UPS.

Discusses the poor financial performance of various European companies. Deutsche Telekom which has considerable debt; French and German stock indexes which are down more than 60 percent; Fall in the value of equity holdings which is negatively impacting pension plans; American stock indexes which have downgraded their ratings of several European companies.

The article focuses on the reversal of his step by U.S. president George W. Bush regarding limiting the emissions of carbon dioxide. Bush has reversed his pledge to limit the emission of carbon dioxide. But environmental groups are mobilizing people for demanding that Bush should follow hi previous stand. He is also supposed to face pressure from German Chancellor who would visit the U.S. with high agenda of global warming.

The article discusses the concerns over proposed deals to purchase U.S. telephone companies by the German corporation Deutsche Telekom (DT). The German government has a 58% stake in DT and all its acquisitive talk has set concerns in the U.S. Though many telecommunications executives dismiss the moves as political grandstanding, they may have cause for concern. State-owned firms are de facto subsidized, giving any U.S. subsidiary unfair advantages in the domestic market. U.S. policy has encouraged privatization. Letting state-owned companies buy U.S. companies would reward anticompetitive behavior.

The article focuses on the possible acquisition of a U.S. telecommunications company by Germany-based Deutsche Telekom. For years CEO Ron Sommer has been promising a U.S. acquisition that would catapult the German ex-monopoly to the top ranks of the global telecommunications business. Now it looks as if he finally has a chance to make that vision come true. Among the possible takeover candidates are Sprint, WorldCom, Qwest Communications International Inc. and AT&T. However, there are perils for Deutsche. A U.S. acquisition will plunge the company into a market where it has little experience and where the rules are much different from those in Europe.

The article focuses on the business strategies of Chairman Jurgen E. Schrempp, chief executive of DaimlerChrysler. Schrempp has outlined his management streamlining strategies which is expected to replace Thomas T. Stallkamp, president of the company's U.S. arm. The streamlining plan has threatened employee morale and unsettled some investors.

Discusses key issues concerning stock and option movements in several high-profile merger deals in the U.S. in 1999 that strongly suggest insider-trading activity. Examination of whether deal insiders involved in the mergers used the information to make money in the stock market; Analysis of pertinent topics and relevant issues; Implications for securities trading.

The article reports on international business conglomerates and how they are surviving the U.S. recession. United Technologies has used China's $585 billion stimulus program to attract business for the Otis elevator unit. ITT Corporation sells heating and cooling systems for desalination plants which are energy efficient and, due to the popularity of the green movement, sales between 2008 and 2009 have risen 30%.

The article looks at the performance of mobile telephone maker Nokia in the United States. The author notes that the company is popular throughout most of the world, but is lacking in the U.S. Nokia's e71x, the thinnest smartphone that offers a keyboard in the U.S., is expected to sell for $100, allowing Nokia to compete with Apple's iPhone.

In this editorial the author examines how the German newspaper industry has manged to stay financially strong despite a majority of advertisers using Web sites instead of print publications. The author suggests that the U.S. newspaper industry could boost revenues by adhering to the business model of German newspapers. The editorial specifically focuses on Bild, a daily newspaper out of Berlin with 12 million readers.

The article discusses Europeans' mistrust of the U.S. economy and U.S. businesses. On top of political mistrust of the U.S., Europeans increasingly see the credit crisis of 2008 and the slowing world economy as due to U.S. influence. The article notes a move toward economic liberalism of continental European politics and suggests that this is due to growing anti-Americanism and as a reaction to capitalism's corruptions.

This article focuses on European banks and their lending policies. The article reports that European banks require a 20% down-payment for a home loan and that adjustable-rate mortgages are rare. The author reports that because European banks were slow to adopt the U.S. techniques that are now backfiring, the European market is not experiencing the crisis that the U.S. is.

By bidding for China's Harbin Brewery Group, Anheuser-Busch Cos. threatens to snatch a choice asset from London-based SABMiller PLC, which owns a minority stake in Harbin. At the very least, SAB faces a bidding war that will force it to pay as much as $500 million to defend its turf in China. The mainland is a must for any global beermaker, but that's still a lot of money for any brewer to sink into the Chinese market. It's probably coincidence, but the battle in China comes as SAB's Miller Lite is gaining on Anheuser's Bud Light in the U.S. Still, the rivalry in China shows how fiercely megabrewers are competing as the fragmented global beer market consolidates. No one doubts SAB's ability to go one-on-one with St. Louis-based Anheuser, which has almost half the U.S. market. Since the former South African Breweries PLC began breaking out of its home base a decade ago, it has used acquisitions to build beverage revenues fivefold, to an estimated $12.6 billion. SAB'S boldest move was buying Milwaukee's Miller Brewing Co. from Philip Morris Cos. in 2002. The $5.6 billion price was seen as high, given that top-selling Miller Lite was in decline. But the beer is back following a management shake-up, redesigned labels, and ads that capitalize on the low-carb craze.

Focuses on the Recording Industry Association of America, which is taking file-swappers to court for downloading music from the Internet. Discussion of the RIAA strategy to scare hardcore sharers with lawsuits and disrupt the whole network of pirated material; Indication that taking file-sharers to court abroad could be more complicated than in the United States because copyright protections differ in various countries.

Focuses on Lance Armstrong, who has dominated the sport of cycling, and the impact of his dominance in attracting sponsors to the sport. Number of consecutive Tour de France cycling competitions won by Armstrong; Indications that the sport of cycling is suffering from a lack of sponsors in Europe, the heart of professional cycling; Comments from Alain Rumpf, director of pro cycling at the International Cycling Union, with respect to a recent collapse of funding from Coast, a mid-size German clothing chain; Value of free advertising realized by the United States Postal Service (USPS), who are trying to build awareness in Europe as an international shipper of goods, and their sponsorship of Armstrong; Television ratings of the Tour de France on the Outdoor Life Network; Indications that sponsors are pulling back because of Armstrong's dominance.

Scrutinizes the overseas performance of U.S.-based coffeehouse chain Starbucks Corp. Number of stores opened by Starbucks in 2002; Business loss of Starbucks in Japan; European customers' complaints that Starbucks overpriced its products; Number of overseas stores of Starbucks; Net earnings of the company for the first half of 2003; Overseas competitors of Starbucks. INSET: DECAFFEINATED.

Examines the prospects for the proposed merger between telecommunications company, WorldCom and Sprint Corp. View that without last minute concessions by WorldCom, the United States Justice Department's antitrust chief, Joel Klein is set to file suit against the merger; Why the European Union may reject the deal under any terms, for fear the merger entity would establish US hegemony over the Internet.

Explores the role of Deutsche Telekom AG's chief of international operations Jeffrey A. Hedberg in the acquisition activity of the company in the United States. Profile of Hedberg; Highlights of his career; Contributions to the company; Criticism of the company's foreign strategy by some analysts.

Focuses on the annual summit of the Group of Seven countries in Cologne, Germany on June 17, 1999. Military intentions of Russia for postwar Kosovo, Serbia; Plan to ratify a set of reforms in response to 1998's Asian economic meltdown; Structural reforms by the United States to make euroland more efficient.

Discusses the pressure mounting in Europe to increase executive pay scales in 1999. Impact of globalization on the wages of European executives; Comparison of the salaries of U.S. and European executives; Issues hampering the rise in European executive salaries.

Comments on Dutch insurance company Aegon's strategy of listing its stocks on Wall Street in the U.S. and parlaying its soaring stock price into a milestone acquisition by Transamerica. Key features of the firm's strategy to boost shareholder value; Analysis of pertinent topics and relevant issues; Implications for stocks and the insurance industry.