BOSTON — The business world is abuzz with Apple's magical new iPad, set for worldwide release today. This column is not about that. That's because the real economic action this week took place not in Apple's shimmering and idealized high tech utopia, but rather, in the greasy and grimy world of manufacturing. No, it's not as sexy as a Steve Jobs marketing orgy. But it is more important. It turns out the world's factories are churning fiercely again, from the U.S., to China to Europe and beyond. And that's a very good thing.

PARIS, France — French teachers are protesting, but not for the usual reasons: They say violent attacks have become all too commonplace in schools, an unintended result of budget cutbacks. A string of incidents since the beginning of the year have turned some schools into venues for settling instead of earning scores. In January, an 18-year-old student named Hakim died after being stabbed by a fellow student at a suburban high school over an exchange of words between the alleged attacker and the victim’s sister.