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The article reports that the same Pentagon contractor that paid Iraqi newspapers to print positive articles written by American soldiers has also been compensating Sunni religious scholars in Iraq in return for assistance with its propaganda work. The author reviews the work conducted by the public relations company Lincoln Group LP. According to the author, the company has retained three or four Sunni religious scholars to offer advice and write reports for military commanders on the content of propaganda campaigns. Comments from Lincoln Group vice president Paige Craig are included.

The article looks at how the United States military is implementing a multimillion-dollar covert campaign to plant propaganda in the Iraqi news media. According to the author, military officials pay friendly Iraqi journalists monthly stipends. Documents from the Pentagon show that articles are delivered to a defense contractor who translates them into Arabic and submits them to Iraqi newspapers or advertising agencies without revealing the Pentagon's role.

The article reports that some White House officials and others advising the government have grown skeptical about a plan to significantly increase Saudi Arabia's oil production capacity. As oil prices have climbed over the last few years, the administration of U.S. Present George W. Bush has looked to Saudi Arabia to pump extra oil. Doubts about Saudi Arabia's assurances of how much it can expand capacity have been raised in a secret intelligence report and in a separate analysis by a leading government oil advisor.

Reports that United States President George W. Bush met with Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to discuss the cost of oil and a plan by the Saudis to increase their oil-pumping capacity. Relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; Report that Saudi Arabia will push down oil prices as demand for energy increases; Impact of the rise of oil and gasoline prices on the U.S. economy.

Focuses on the reasons for the demise of the Enron Corp. in the U.S. Breakdown in checks and balances; Impact of the Enron downfall on business legislation; Evaluation of statements from accounting firm Arthur Andersen.

Reports the opposition of senator Phil Gramm and the criticism of wife and former chairwoman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Wendy Gramm to a U.S. Senate futures bill. Support of the couple to Enron Corp.; Directorship of Wendy Gramm in Enron Corp.; Withdrawal of opposition to the bill.

Focuses on the problems in searching fingerprint databases in the U.S. Inability of the American military to identify detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan; Evaluation in the use of a mobile system that records fingerprints of suspects by the Defense Department; Need for rectification of the fingerprinting problem.

Reports on the effort of Lukoil Oil Co. president Vagit Y. Alekperov to transform the oil company from an Russian oil company to an international oil giant in Russia. Alliance of the company with ConocoPhilips; Joint venture for production in undeveloped hydrocarbon fields; Acquisition of the government's stake in Lukoil by ConocoPhillips.

Cites the result of a study pertaining to the impact of higher oil prices on the global economy. Role in hampering gross domestic product growth, bolstering inflation and increasing unemployment; Comparison of effects between the U.S. and developing countries; Implication of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' decision to restrain oil production further.

Reports that senior executive Walter van de Vijver at the Royal Dutch/Shell Group told a subordinate in an e-mail that the employee's analysis of the company's oil and gas reserves needed to be destroyed because it was incomplete. Dismissal of the van de Vijver and the company's chairman, Sir Philip Watts; Lowering of estimates of proven reserves by the company, a crucial financial indicator; Investigation by regulators and prosecutors in the United States and Europe.

Reports on the statement released by Walter van de Vijver, former president of exploration and production for Shell Group, regarding the compliance of the company to the oil reserve policy of the Securities and Exchange Commission in the U.S. Estimated volume of the company's oil reserve expected to be at risk; Impetus to the resignation of van de Vijver; Progress of the internal investigation into the company's disclosures of its reserves.

Reports that the U.S. Justice Department has opened an inquiry into whether executives at the Royal Dutch/Shell Group violated any laws by their delayed disclosure of a significant shortfall in proven reserves of oil and natural gas. How the company and its executives are already the focus of investigations by European regulators and the Securities and Exchange Commission; Authority of the Justice Department to bring criminal as well as civil charges; Background on the Justice Department inquiry; Details of how the company lowered its estimates; Importance of reserves for oil and natural gas companies.

Focuses on a review of industry practices by the Royal Dutch/Shell Group, which downgraded its estimate of its oil and natural gas reserves. Conclusion that some of its chief rivals, like Exxon Mobil, had more conservative accounting of their reserves; Question of when the group's board members learned of the reserves shortfall; How, in the wake of disclosures about the reduction of reserves, two top Shell executives were ousted and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has started an investigation.

Reports on a U.S. Pentagon task force finding that the Iraqi oil industry was so badly damaged by trade embargoes that its production capacity had fallen by over 25 percent. How the finding conflicts with statements by the U.S. President George W. Bush administration; Comments of Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz and Vice President Dick Cheney; Estimated oil revenues from Iraq; Conclusions of the Energy Infrastructure Planning Group, a secret government task force; Scope of the task force; The poor state of Iraq's oil infrastructure.

Reports that the Bush administration and major oil companies have allied with activist groups, in support of an international campaign for information disclosure about financial transactions in global oil markets. Intentions to pressure governments of oil-producing countries; Roles of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Exxon Mobil corporation, and non-governmental organizations; Anticipated goals of campaign for transparency.

Examines the increase in Canada's oil reserves. Questionable ranking of Canada's reserves; Implications of Canada's increased oil reserves for U.S. President George W. Bush's goal to reduce U.S. dependence on unstable oil suppliers; Views of analysts; How oil sands were counted as reserves for Canada.

Reports that the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration has predicted the increase in U.S. dependence on Middle East oil by 2025.

Reports that the U.S. has failed to curb its dependence upon Saudi Arabian oil supplies despite efforts to diversify sources of oil after the Persian Gulf war. Implications of dependence upon Saudi oil in relation to energy security issues in the U.S. and prospects of war with Iraq; Political leverage afforded Saudi Arabia due to the volume of their oil exports; Discussion about foreign relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia; U.S. strategies to safeguard oil supplies and prices.

Reports that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has expressed its opposition to the proposal to let gun sellers and owners import World War II infantry weapon made in the U.S.

Profiles Brent Scowcroft, former United States national security advisor and head of the Scowcroft Group, which dispenses advice to corporate clients. His role in the debate over United States military strategy in Iraq; Other positions he holds, including within the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and the American-Turkish Council; His career in U.S. politics; His involvement in international affairs.

Focuses on U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's tenure as chief executive of Halliburton, which is under scrutiny from government investigators. Securities and Exchange Commission's inquiry into changes made in Halliburton's accounting practices; Why the company suffered because of Cheney's acquisition of Dresser Industries; Question of whether Halliburton adequately informed shareholders of the risks of asbestos liabilities it was taking on; Background on Halliburton's asbestos problems INSET: On Cheney's Watch, a Fateful Deal.

Focuses on the Dallas, Texas oil services company Halliburton Company and how it is benefiting directly from the U.S. efforts to combat terrorism. Reliance of the Pentagon on a unit of Halliburton called KBR, also referred to as Kellogg Brown & Root, which is the exclusive logistics supplier for both the Navy and the Army; Significance of the government contracts for the company, which was facing declining stock prices and an investigation into its accounting practices.

Examines how electricity traders at Enron drove up electricity prices during the California power crisis. Questionable techniques that contributed to power shortages, according to Enron documents; Types of strategies used by traders; Argument of California officials that Enron and other power marketers manipulated the state's market, costing consumers and utilities tens of billions of dollars in 2000 and 2001; Request for a criminal investigation by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Focuses on failure of legislative and regulatory safeguards designed to protect investors and employees in the collapse of businesses such as the failed Enron Corp. Forecast that this failure may bring about legislative changes and reviews by regulators, accounting firms and other organizations; Details of the collapse; Role of accounting firm Arthur Andersen in the collapse; Ways in which the company was viewed by the United States government, its board of directors and others.

Reports that officials of the Enron Corp. met four times in 2001 with the staff of United States Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force to discuss energy policy matters.

Reports that prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, terror experts were aware of the designs of Osama bin Laden. Attitude of the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush; Why the government's fight against terrorism proved inadequate; Detection of the Islamic jihad threat in 1993; Missed signals in antiterrorism war; How U.S. intelligence tracked bin Laden and Al Qaeda; Shortcomings in national defense; Response to the 2001 recommendation from the National Commission on Terrorism. INSET: A Trail of Missed Opportunities.

Reports on the possibility that the collapse of energy company Enron Corp. may force deregulation reforms in the United States. Inquiries into deregulation talks by United States Congressmen; Demands for more disclosure from energy traders; Efforts by Enron and others to reduce local control of electricity transmission so that energy merchants can use them to transport and sell power; Campaign-funding support for U.S. President George W. Bush by Enron, including the amount donated to his various campaigns.

Reports on the proposed merger of energy companies Enron Corporation and Dynegy Inc. in fall 2001. Issue of gas and electricity prices since Dynegy has gained more control of the industry; Question of whether the merger would violate antitrust laws; Role of the United States Department of Justice in the merger; Background information on Enron; Challenges faced by regulators who will review the merger.

Reports that the United States has gained closer ties with the United Arab Emirates in efforts to detect and deter the movement of money by terrorist networks. Importance of the Emirates' cooperation; How nearly half the money that paid for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. was traced to sources in the Emirates; Meeting and discussion between U.S. and Emirates officials; Comments of Sultan bin Nasser al-Suweidi, governor of the Emirates Central Bank.

Focuses on Khalid Almihdhar, one of the suspected hijackers in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Efforts of investigators to trace Almihdhar's movements in the U.S. and around the world; How Almihdhar is linked to previous attacks against American targets by Al Qaeda, the terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden; Why Almihdhar was placed on the U.S. government's watch list of suspected terrorists.

Reports that the United States (U.S.) General Accounting Office issued a demand letter for U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney to turn over records regarding his energy task force.

Reports that United States regulators have ordered that restraints on electricity prices in California be applied at all hours and extended to ten other Western states, as part of efforts to control the power crisis. Hope of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that the extended price limitations will prevent electricity suppliers from exporting their power out of California; Response to the decision, which was unanimously supported by the bipartisan commission; Political implications of price controls.

Focuses on the impact of order released by the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on the financial issues surrounding the energy crisis in California.

Reports that the energy industry in the United States is increasing production at a rapid pace in response to high prices, as of May 13, 2001. Timing of the increase, which comes as US President George W. Bush is preparing a national strategy for addressing the energy crisis; Increased investment by power companies in natural gas supplies and electricity generating capacity; Opinion of some analysts that Bush's policy, which will emphasize the streamlining of many environmental regulations, is unnecessary.

Focuses on Duke Energy, a power-generating company that has been accused of overcharging customers during California's energy crisis. How Duke Energy is discussing a settlement with California Governor Gray Davis, which would stop any investigation into the matter of overcharging customers; How Duke Energy would offer power at a substantially lower rate on the condition that they would not have to admit any wrong doing; Outlook.

Discusses criticism of how federal regulators oversee United States utilities. Criticism faced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, whose mission is to ensure the fairness of electricity rates across the countries; Discovery that some utilities had been overcharging California for power; Choices which the commission faced, in fixing the problem; Controversy in light of California's electricity crisis. INSET: Some Evidence of Overcharges, by Jeff Gerth.

Reports on some evidence of overcharges for wholesale electricity in California.

Focuses on phenylpropanolamine as an ingredient in a number of cold and cough products which was banned in the United States due to its linkage with stroke in young women. Concerns that emerged in the 1970s; Information on over-the-counter sales in 1992; Details on the stroke of counselor Odell Buggs in 1993; Information on the report from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut in 2000.

Discusses the marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies in the United States, especially those related to physicians. Description of 'prescriber profiles,' which describe the prescribing patterns of physicians; Questions of the ethics of this practice, which may violate doctor-patient privacy; Attempts by pharmaceutical companies to change the prescribing habits of physicians.

Reports on the construction of the National World War II Memorial in Washington in November 2000. Opposition to the monument's construction; Financier of the memorial; Expected completion; Rationale for building the memorial.

Reports on the plans of the United States Federal Trade Commission to investigate records of pharmaceutical companies to see whether drug industry strategies were keeping lower-cost generic drugs from patients or harming consumers. Comments from Robert Pitofsky, the commission chairman; Purpose of the commission's effort; Implication of the Hatch-Waxman.

Focuses on a survey compiled by consumer activist Elizabeth Helms which implicates drug stores in the high cost of prescription medication. Claim that consumers could cut their drug bills by more than half if they shopped around; Helm's representation of the Citizens for the Right to Know at a United States Senate hearing; Helm's defense of the pharmaceutical industry.

Focuses on legal and political issues surrounding generic drugs. Example of a legal dispute between a brand-name drug company, Abbott, that makes the drug Hytrin, and companies attempting to create its generic; Issues surrounding the disputes, including the stated need for competition in the drug market in order to keep drug costs down; Effects of generic competition on brand-name pharmaceutical companies; Attempts of the Federal Drug Administration to create new rules to regulate drug companies.

Presents information on the United States (U.S.) drug industry where the political debate is centered on how to help elderly people pay for their medications. Amount of annual spending of pharmaceutical companies on research and development; Actual cost of developing a particular medicine; Phases of clinical trials; Average drug approval time of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Implications of generic medications to a brand drug's market share.

Focuses on the high price of prescription drugs in the United States despite the investment of tax dollars in the research and development of new drugs. Controversy surrounding the price of Xalatan, a glaucoma therapy developed by Pharmacia Corp. and subsidized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH); Effects of the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which requires federally financed drug researchers to patent and commercialize their inventions; Comparison of US and international drug prices.

Reports on the celebration of the 30th Earth Day in the United States (US) on April 22, 2000. Participation of environmentalists and supporters in the celebration; Gathering at the Mall in Washington; Announcement made by US President Bill Clinton on his efforts to combat global warming; Overview of the Earth Day celebration.

Focuses on the report of a bipartisan select House committee on Chinese acquisition of secret United States military technology including nuclear weapons design. December 30, 1998 approval of the report by committee members; Statement from Representative Christopher Cox (R-Calif.) on the report's findings; Details from witnesses and intelligence officials.

Reports Congressional consideration of how to oversee the United States derivatives market. Impact of the September 1998 near-collapse of hedge fund Long-Term Capital Management; The Federal Reserve Bank's brokerage of a bailout deal; Notional value of contracts held by 12 institutions that are the biggest dealers in financial derivatives; Overview of the market; Arguments for and against regulation.