One of Germany's wealthiest woman, Katrin Radmacher, won a landmark case that protects her wealth from legal claims by her former husband. Sandra Davis from Mischon de Reya has analysis.

Thousands of US troops stormed deep into Helmand province in Afghanistan Thursday in a major assault against the Taliban. Chietigj Bajpaee from Control Risks has more.

With unemployment on the rise on both sides of the Atlantic Jean-Claude Trichet left interest rates on hold at 1% Thursday. Dr Jacques Cailloux from RBS has analysis.

Spain's Telefonica is mulling a swoop on T-Mobile UK in response to reports that Vodafone is planning to make a move of its own, according to the FT. Emeka Obiodu from Ovum has analysis.

The unemployment rate in the US touched 9.5% Thursday as employers cut more jobs than expected in June. Yra Harris from Solaris Capital has analysis.

Japanese business confidence rebounded from a record low, according to the Bank of Japan's tankan survey. Charles Dumas from Lombard Street Research considers the outlook.

Commodity prices have been on a rollercoaster ride and Chris Watling from Longview Economics thinks that the "commodity supercycle" is well and alive. He expects prices to increase in the next couple of years.

As the third quarter and the second half of 2009 kicks off, the big question is: will the next few months be as record breaking as the last? Simon Goodfellow from ING Wholesale Banking considers the outlook.

Fareed Zakaria, author of The Post-American World.

Iraq began to sell its oil fields to foreign companies for the first time since 1972 Tuesday. Samuel Ciszuk from IHS Global Insight has analysis.