Week of April 10th, 2006

The faithful who can't make it to the Holy Land themselves can show their devotion at home with a new line of products that brings the Holy Land to them. Hilary Krieger reports.

If you're going to be a coffee broker, you have to have a passion for what you're doing.

Credit cards are gaining popularity in China, and so is credit card fraud. In response, regulators are calling on banks to clamp down on customers they issue the cards to. Jocelyn Ford reports.

The Lone Star State is home to the nation's largest percentage of full-time workers without health insurance. As part of efforts to change that, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has proposed offering businesses an incentive to provide employees with health coverage. Ben Philpott has more.

Marketplace Money for April 14, 2006

Ever wonder where the portrait of George Washington that adorns the dollar bill comes from? Reporter Sean Cole visits a Boston Museum to get the answer.

A new report concludes MacDonald's fries in much of the US contain considerably more harmful trans fats than Mickey D's popular potatoes in other parts of the world. Ashley Milne-Tyte tells us why.

Three of the largest beef producers in the US have been found guilty of colluding to keep beef prices artificially low to drive smaller competitors out of business. Stacey Vanek Smith reports.

Mexico's center-left presidential candidate is hoping to broaden his appeal by reaching out to the Mexican business community. Dan Grech looks at how well the strategy is likely to succeed.

California's governor and legislature have agreed that the best way to curb greenhouse gas emissions is through a government-regulated cap and trade scheme. Sam Eaton reports on how businesses are lining up for the debate.

Traditional avoidance of leavened bread during Passover has prompted some Jewish families to sell their unwanted baked goods on eBay. Rachel Dornhelm reports.

US congressional representatives are in India today to meet with officials about President Bush's proposal to formally acknowledge India's nuclear program. Miranda Kennedy reports.

Commentator Robert Reich argues that Massachusetts' plan requiring people who can afford health insurance to buy it is no different than requiring drivers to carry auto insurance.

The Department of Energy releases its outlook for summer gasoline prices today, and motorists had better prepare for some bad news. Jeff Tyler reports.

Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling is expected back on the witness stand today where he'll continue to protest his innocence. But prosecutors are already incorporating his testimony into their cross-examination. Bob Moon reports.

If Italian opposition candidate Romano Prodi is able to pull out a victory over incumbent Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, he'll have a difficult time getting the country's economy back on track. Megan Williams reports.

When you think of fast growing Asian economies, China and India probably come to mind. But what about Pakistan? Miranda Kennedy reports on efforts to turn that country's largest city into an IT powerhouse that would rival India's Bangalore.

We've all heard about genetically modified corn and soybeans. But what about more experimental crops? Janet Babin reports on the challenge of keeping tabs on these test crops and ensuring that they stay separate from neighboring fields.

More women are starting companies than ever before, but only about 4% of them are backed by venture capital. Ethan Lindsey takes a look at why.

Newsweek Wall Street editor Allan Sloan talks to host Scott Jagow about why GMAC and Lucent Technologies recently sold at relatively bargain basement prices.

The World Trade Organization is expected to wade into the dispute over the value of China's yuan, calling on the Asian giant in a report today to adopt a more flexible currency exchange rate. But as Ashley Milne-Tyte reports, China may pay the request little heed.

The debate over immigration policy moves from the halls of Congress to the streets today where thousands are expected to rally for immigration rights in cities across the country. Jeff Tyler has more.