Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Gruevski, Nikola, 1970–, Macedonian political leader. An economist, he worked for the Balkan Bank (1995–98), then served as trade minister (1999) and finance minister (1999–2002) under Prime Min...

(Encyclopedia) Marape, James, 1971–, Papua New Guinea political leader. First elected to parliament in 2007 as a member of the National Alliance party, he served as education minister (2008–11) under Prime Minis...

(Encyclopedia) Gonsalves, Ralph Everard, 1946–, Vincentian political leader. Gonsalves practised law in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for several years, becoming deputy leader of the Unity Labor party (ULP) in ...

(Encyclopedia) McConnell, Mitch (Addison Mitchell McConnell, Jr.), 1942–, U.S. politician, b. Tuscumbia, Ky., grad. Univ. of Louisville (B.A. 1964), Univ. of Kentucky Law School (J.D., 1967). A conservative Republ...

(Encyclopedia) SLM Corporation, foremost provider of funding for higher education to American students; commonly known as Sallie Mae. The company, which also offers information and resources to assist students and o...

(Encyclopedia) Sherman, John, 1823–1900, American statesman, b. Lancaster, Ohio; brother of William Tecumseh Sherman. He studied law, was admitted (1844) to the bar, and practiced law several years in Mansfield, O...

(Encyclopedia) leveraged buyout, the takeover of a company, financed by borrowed funds. Often, the target company's assets are used as security for the loans acquired to finance the purchase. The acquiring company o...

(Encyclopedia) Matsukata, Masayoshi mäsīˈōshē mätso͞oˈkäˌtä [key], 1835–1924, Japanese statesman. A Satsuma clansman and a genro, he was a leading figure in the modernization of Japan. As finance minist...

(Encyclopedia) Stone, Richard (Sir John Richard Nicholas Stone), 1913–91, British economist, grad. Cambridge, 1935. After working for the British government during World War II, he became (1945) the first director...

(Encyclopedia) Bolkiah Mu'izzadin Waddaulah, Sir Hassanal, 1946–, sultan of Brunei (1967–). He succeeded to the throne after the abdication of his father, Sultan Sir Omar Ali Saifuddin. Known as a playboy, he no...