“Victory in Big Battles”

China: In a secret document, Beijing’s military leadership discusses the probability of going to war over Taiwan and with the USA. SPIEGEL magazine is publishing excerpts.

“Coveted Subsidiaries”

Groups: The Siemens company Epcos became a favourite among shareholders; now the group is offering its chip manufacturing operations to investors. Infineon is the first major flotation of the year and it will not be the last either: the fact that major groups are parting with entire business sectors and floating them on the stock exchange is part of a current trend requiring managers to confine their companies to their core competencies. The flotation of subsidiaries not only puts extra funds in the groups’ coffers but as a rule also boosts the market value of the parent company. And in addition, the new public limited companies are equipped with the new currency – shares – which allows them to enter into partnerships.

“Tear down All the Statues!”

SPIEGEL interview with New York literary agent John Brockman on the business with books about science, and research scientists who become stars through writing:

“I am not favouring the popularisation of science but rather genuine contributions towards research which are, however, written in a way that is intelligible to all. Unlike textbooks, these books are intellectual adventures. They touch upon the important issues of our time …”

“Rituals Are Important”

SPIEGEL interview with Hans-Georg Gadamer on the opportunities for and limitations of philosophy:

“One entirely unjustified expectation is to think philosophy can replace any type of science … It would be even more unjustified to think that philosophy should or could itself become a science. Demonstrability using scientific methods is not the business of philosophy … I think a great task is for us to learn to ask questions once again, in other words not to think from the start that everything has been settled.”

“Poison from Big Brother”

Georgia: The Caucasus republic is coming under increasing pressure. Moscow accuses it of siding with the Chechen rebels – a pretext: Russia needs the country as a southern outpost and is delaying disbanding its military bases. Meanwhile, the national father, Eduard Shevardnadze, is manoeuvring. Sometimes he calls upon Nato to come to his aid “against attempts to destabilise the situation in Georgia”. Then again he plays down Russia’s attacks as “Moscow foolishness” and promises the Kremlin his support against “Chechen terrorists”.

“Idyll with a Secret”

Geology: A huge magma chamber is pulsating below Yellowstone National Park in the USA. Scientists warn that a world-wide disaster threatens if this super-volcano should erupt. Such an eruption is long overdue – but then: it has been for a few thousand years. Scientists still don’t understand the Yellowstone super-volcano well enough to answer the decisive question: when will it next erupt? There are no signs to suggest an imminent catastrophe; but with cycles lasting 600,000 years it is hardly possible for researchers to decide whether they are observing the beginning or the end of a process. All that is certain is: the Yellowstone super-volcano will eventually erupt.

“A Head Start in the Genes”

Sports medicine: Why do some people effortlessly build up muscle tissue when training, while others remain fat? Doctors have found the answer in the genes for physical strength. Sporting aces all have the long version of the so-called angiotensin conversion enzyme (ACE); they have inherited one copy each from their mothers and fathers. Those who are resistant towards training, on the other hand, only have shorter versions.

“Rage in the Land of Smiles”

Intellectuals: Austria’s artists, poets and philosophers are mobilising forces against FPÖ politician Jörg Haider. Their protest has elements of an operetta – a parade of vanities, along with plenty of joking and Viennese wit.

“The Lords of the Wheels”

Formula One: Ron Dennis, Eddie Jordan and Frank Williams turned small racing car workshops into coveted partners for large corporations. What was good for the company coffers is difficult when it comes to holding on to power. Is the era of the patriarchs drawing to an end? Dennis, Jordan and Williams have a lot in common. Their passion for motor sports drove them to a point where they now own the most successful formula-1 teams alongside Ferrari. Their business acumen has made multi-millionaires of them; but now that big money is forcing its way into their sector, they are becoming members of a dying race.

“The Betrayal of the Square”

Art: The painter who achieved fame with his radical geometric compositions, Kazimir Malevich, is now being celebrated by the Bielefeld Art Gallery which has put on an opulent exhibition – but this focuses provocatively on the dazzlingly colourful late work of the Russian avant-gardist which has so far been frowned upon.

“Hard-Wired”

Cebit Special: On-line life is becoming an everyday thing, computers are becoming a feature of our lifestyle. Mobile phones are developing into all-round devices. Holidays, combine harvesters and entire manufacturing plants are auctioned off on-screen. Designers are creating interactive office furniture. Holiday snapshots travel the data highway.