  The B-meson system is an interesting probe for the exploration of strong
interactions, the quark-flavour sector of the Standard Model, and the search
for new physics. In this programme, non-leptonic B decays, which are
particularly challenging from the point of view of QCD, play a key role. After
discussing strategies to deal with the corresponding hadronic matrix elements
of four-quark operators and popular avenues for new physics to manifest itself
in B decays, we focus on puzzling patterns in the B-factory data for B -> pi
pi, pi K decays; we explore their implications for hadron physics, new physics
and rare K and B decays.
