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The article presents a discussion of microbes, particularly microbiome networks and how studying them can possibly prevent future pandemics, adapted from the book "Man Versus Microbe" by Brian Bremner. The article discusses the analysis of microbial swap samples, bioengineering, and how microbes can possibly factor into vaccine development.

The article reports on the current coronavirus epidemic and the international response. It mentions the need to control or shut down markets that sell live animals or freshly slaughtered meat, the fast development of drugs to combat epidemics, and the sharing of information to assist in drug development.

Offers a look at the initial public offering of China Construction Bank. Listing of China Construction Bank's shares overseas; Banks and investment banks, such as Bank of America Corporation, that have paid billions of dollars to buy into China's financial institutions; Desire of foreign investors to gain access to Chinese consumers in order to promote credit cards and mortgages.

Focuses on Chinese President Hu Jintao's trip to Washington D.C. where he will meet with U.S. President George W. Bush. View of many in the West that China, an economically ascendant nation, is destined for superpower status; Details of Hu's scripted trip to Washington, including a speech at Yale University, a visit to the United Nations and Microsoft Corp.'s headquarters; Hu's efforts to balance high-speed economic growth with social stability in China.

Focuses on the Shenzhen Development Bank Co. (SDB) in China. Reports on how Frank Newman will become the first foreigner to hold the position of chairman at SDB; Review of how the bank is loaded with bad debt; Question of whether China can repair its mismanaged financial system; View of the author that mismanagement within the country's financial system is the most serious threat to sustained Chinese prosperity; Career history of Newman; Analysis of the Chinese steel industry; Strategies to be implemented by Newman to improve the situation at SDB.

Reports on the automobile industry in China. Information about compact cars made by Chery Automobile Co. and Honda Motor Corp.; How Korean and Japanese autos imported to the United States have competed with domestic small cars in price and quality; Companies that are planning to export cars made in mainland China to western markets; Indication the Chinese government subsidizes or offers incentives to domestic companies such as Chery and Geely Auto; How the Detroit automobile industry will compete; Expansion of American car companies in the Asian market; Outlook for the Chinese auto industry.

Profiles incoming chief executive officer of Japan's Sony Corporation, Sir Howard Stringer. Why outgoing Sony CEO and Chairman Nobuyuki Idei handpicked stringer; Challenges to Stringer; question of whether Howard can succeed; Suggestion that Stringer may be able to impose Western management practices that could radically reshape and revive Sony; Background on the company; What Stringer needs to do to revive Sony. INSET: Dysfunctional Empire: Sony at a Glance.

Discusses why U.S. manufacturers should worry about competition from China. Impact of Chinese imports on American manufacturing; Concerns of manufacturers and workers over China's low wages and high technology; Signs of a possible massive shift in economic power; Dispute over the economic relationship between the U.S. and China; Issue of outsourcing; Question of America's huge trade deficit; Observation that U.S. companies are no longer investing in new capacity at home; China's enormous domestic market and expansion of their export base; China's competitive advantages; How key elements of the U.S. industrial base are eroding; Areas where the Chinese have huge ambitions, including digital technologies. INSETS: THE CHINA CHALLENGE;THE CHINA PRICE.

Offers a look at Nissan Motor Company chief executive officer Carlos Ghosn as of October 2004. Statement that Ghosn helped the corporate turnaround at Nissan; Ways in which Ghosn handled quality control; Hiring of Douglas G. Betts as the vice-president for assembly quality; Statement that Ghosn hopes to build product excellence; Report that Ghosn will replace Louis Schweitzer as chief executive officer of Renault automobile group; Profits reported by Nissan in 2003; Popularity of Nissan automobile models including the Altima sedan and the Murano automobile.

This article discusses the economic condition of Japan. One of the big surprises of the global economy is Japan's remarkable turnaround. It has grown faster than the U.S. over the past six months, and its 3.2% expansion for the fiscal year ended in March is the best showing the country has managed since 1996. The stock market is up 45% over the past 13 months. Exports--always a strong driver of Japan's economy--are soaring, particularly to China. After all, over the past decade a historic plunge in stock and land prices, three recessions, and stagnant growth have wiped out as much wealth as World War II did--though much of that was the wealth of a bubble economy, unrealistic valuations doomed to fall. The surprise is that more and more of the recovery is being powered by demand at home, both from businesses and consumers. On May 28, Japan reported that household spending shot up 7.2% in April from the year-earlier period as shoppers flocked to department stores and discounters, stocking up on everything from suits to stereos. INSET: Who Helped Turn Japan Around?.

The article discusses the state of the stock market in the United States. Sure, the economy looks strong. But Iraq, high oil prices, and looming rate hikes are weighing down the market. Interest rates are set to rise as early as late June as the Fed begins a sooner-than-anticipated tightening cycle. Oil prices continue to be sky-high, topping $40 a barrel and threatening to eat into corporate profits. In late April, Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan warned that oil could stay pricey for several years and act as a big damper on business investment. Many investors, particularly Europeans, increasingly see Iraq as a quagmire. That, and the growing U.S. budget deficit, are raising questions in their minds about whether President George W. Bush can win a second term in November. Some investors fear that if Bush's challenger, Senator John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), wins, he would reverse Bush's tax cuts and deal a blow to the economy. Even if Bush prevails, many strategists worry that his earlier economic stimulus -- including capital-gains tax and dividend cuts -- has already largely run its course.

Presents speculation about whether the overheated Chinese economy is headed for a crash. Signs that China may be growing too quickly, including shortages of steel and electricity and the sharp rise in the luxury residential market; Examples of lavish infrastructure projects; Report that President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have been signaling since last summer that it is time to ease up on growth; Statistics on the growth of the Chinese economy; Impact of the yuan's cheap international exchange rate on the Chinese economy; Concerns that China's financial system is not sophisticated enough to handle the growth; Concerns that a crash in the Chinese economy could have a major impact on global markets; Details of efforts by the Chinese government to engineer a soft landing; Details of the Chinese financial system; Concerns about impact on the economy of bad loans.

Presents a profile of fund manager Wilbur Ross, who is putting money into distressed industries such as steel, textiles and telecommunication. Details of Ross's background as a banker and investor; Purchase of textiles manufacturer Burlington Industries; Ross's plans to take his International Steel Group Inc. public this month; Details of the performance of Ross's investments; Details of how Ross cuts his deals; Ross's personal view of his role in rescuing distressed companies; Ross's personal history and early career; His political connections to the Democratic Party; Details of the mixed results produced by Ross's investments in Asia. INSET: WILBUR LOUIS ROSS.

Profiles Toyota Motor Corp. and its growth within the automobile industry. Number of hours it takes for Toyota workers to manufacture one vehicle, suggesting optimum efficiency of the factory assembly line; Number of automobile lines manufactured at the Nagoya (Japan) factory, indicating flexibility in the manufacturing process; Economic history of Japan since the 1980s; Comparison between Toyota and other automobile manufacturers with respect to certain statistics in the auto industry, implying that Toyota is the best managed company; Potential problems Toyota may be required to face.

Examines the economic crisis in North Korea and the role played by its president, Kim Jong Il in is problems. Lingering effects of the fall of the Soviet bloc which provided markets for its steel, machinery, and arms; North Korea's need for grain to feed its population; Possible scenarios which could result from the crisis; How a collapse could benefit the U.S., China and South Korea; Willingness of South Korea to help the North avoid collapse; Plans to gradually merge North Korea and South Korea.

Focuses on the economy of South Korea. How it recovered from the Asian economic crisis of 1998; Idea that Korean has developed a thriving modern economy that is a model for developing nations; Role of President Kim Dae Jung in the economic turnaround; End of the connection between the banks and the chaebol; Innovation in Korean business and popular culture; Growth of the technology industry; Foreign direct investment in Korea; Economic and political outlook for Korea.

Profiles Hank Paulson, chief executive officer of banking empire Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Biographical and career details; How megabanks such as Citigroup are threatening Goldman; Comments of Paulson, including his view on merger partners; Paulson's strategy and the possible risks if he fails; Stock performance; Paulson's relationship with employees; Management at Goldman; Overview of the company.

Focuses on MTV (Music Television) Networks International, owned by Viacom. Global reach of the network which has stations in over one hundred countries; Revenues of the company; Proposed reasons for the success of the company, including the universal appeal of music; Role of MTV Networks International president, Bill Roedy, in expanding the network; How MTV has helped local acts become famous around the world.

Focuses on the relations of China with the United States as of May 28, 2001. Leaders of China who believe the U.S. is trying to contain China's military strength; Policy of the U.S. which is to remain fully engaged with China in trade and most other matters, despite the large shift in U.S. global strategy; Contrast of policy of the Bush Administration with that of past administrations.

Presents speculation regarding the success of the platform of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, as of May, 2001. Koizumi's plans for economic reform in the areas of banking, employment, deficit spending and the postal savings system; How, because of a July election, Koizumi has only a matter of weeks to put policies in place; Mention of tensions within Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party.

The article reports on Masayoshi Son Chairman of Softbank Corp., who is focusing on the best technologies that show the best growth prospects. Son has already invested $8.8 billion in corporate and venture capital money in more than 600 companies--about half of the money coming from institutional investors. Son seems to be the last true believer in the Internet Revolution.

Focuses on economic conditions in South Korea, as of September 2000. Technological innovations organized by the Koreans; How huge conglomerates, or chaebol, apply their high-technology expertise to startup companies; Outlook for such Korean companies as Daewoo and Hyundai. INSETS: AN ECONOMY AT WAR WITH ITSELF;DIGITAL KOREA;BREAKING AWAY: SUCCESS OUTSIDE THE CHAEBOL.

Focuses on Masaru Hayami, governor of the Bank of Japan, central banker to the second-biggest economy. Controversy surrounding efforts for corporate reform in Japan; View on the effect of so-called cheap money on economic growth and inflation; Hayami's rationale for raising interest rates; How a rise in Japanese rates could affect the United States economy; Details of the central bank's structure; Challenges facing the bank.

This article discusses the economic outlook of the U.S. in 2000. Because U.S. businesses are increasing their productivity, the U.S. economy is set to defy the pessimists again in 2000. Companies are finding new ways to produce more with less. Standard & Poor's predicts that the inflation-adjusted gross domestic product will grow to 3.6% in 2000, while the consumer price index will rise to 2.3%. Since the U.S. economy is bumping up against resource constraints, every bit of efficiency will help. Analysts think that Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan will manage to keep inflation under control in 2000. But to do so, the government will impose more rate hikes. However, these rate hikes would not inflict serious punishment on the economy. Helped by the efficiencies of the Internet, productivity growth is expected to continue.