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THE REGION

SINGAPORE
Big Money Battles For Singapore Steel
Earlier this year, shares in NatSteel trading at a 30% discount to its net asset value. Now the stock is soaring, and two of Asia's biggest tycoons are duelling for control of the company. With the Singapore government intricately involved, this is no simple takeover battle. By Trish Saywell and Sara Webb

Two Tycoons Face Off
International brand-name collector Ong Beng Seng and Oei Hong Leong, corporate raider, vie for Singapore's bargain

Blow By Blow: Bidding For A Singapore Asset
A detailed timeline of events in the fight for NatSteel

UNITED STATES
The Cost of Security 
Stricter implementation of immigration rules is aimed at preventing further acts of terrorism on U.S. soil. But with entry visas taking longer to issue, U.S. companies are beginning to hurt. By Murray Hiebert

VIETNAM
Where the Action Isn't
Vietnam's 30-month-old stock exchange is boring: not enough listed companies, not enough investors, not enough trades. Changes may take a while. (Plus: Going nowhere, slowly.) By Margot Cohen

CHINA

16th PARTY CONGRESS
One Leader Too Many?
Jiang Zemin isn't fading away into retirement. Sure, he gave up the party leadership to Hu Jintao, but for now he is still officially China's No. 1 leader and is only going to relinquish his powers gradually. By Susan V. Lawrence

The top winners and losers in China's hierarchy
Who else profited at the 16th Party Congress. By Susan V. Lawrence

CHINA BRIEFING
Intelligence, briefs and business digest

INNOVATION

YOUNG INVENTORS AWARDS: WINNERS
Here's to Ingenuity
Three young researchers are rewarded for making their ideas work. Their inventions will help to improve our lives

GOLD AWARD
Life-Saving Precision
Anthony Samir's winning invention helps doctors take tissue samples from tumours. He designed and tested it using a camera tripod, a laser, gelatin-and stuffed olives. By Andrew Trounson

SILVER AWARD
Music to My Ears
An Australian inventor and wannabe rock star has developed a piece of software that could strike a chord with deaf people. By Michelle Innis

BRONZE AWARD
The Fungus Among Us
A scientist in Singapore has developed a two-step, organic and safe way to clean polluted soil. By Ben Dolven

LOOSE WIRE
A Friendly Place on the Net
Why newsgroups-communities of polite, like-minded souls eager to perform the on-line equivalent of lending cups of sugar-have thrived. By Jeremy Wagstaff

MONEY

DIGITAL CAMERAS
Picturing The Future
The Japanese firms that dominate the digital-camera industry are slugging it out in the world's hottest consumer-electronics market. Here's a guide to what will ultimately make or break the big players. By Ben Dolven

Is This The Next Best Thing
Foveon's colour-sensor chip may shake up the digital-camera market. By Ben Dolven

Competing Players
A quick guide to the pretenders to the digital photography crown

STOCKMARKET
Bad Times for Korean Bourse
Tainted by scandals, losing listings and investors, South Korea's smaller exchange must tighten rules and supervision to survive. By Kim Jung Min

STOCK WATCH
Drugs Are a Good Bet
Looking for a bright spot in Japan's stockmarket? Check out the pharmaceutical companies that have been reporting record profits. By Ichiko Fuyuno

CURRENTS

INDIA
Journey Of Discord
Loathed by Muslims but a hero to many Hindus, Narendra Modi is fighting a divisive campaign to keep power in riot-torn Gujarat. Success at the polls could mark a turning point in Indian politics. By Joanna Slater 

TIME OUT: NIGHTLIFE
And So To Bed 
If you're flat out after a few drinks, you might like to try Bangkok's hottest new nightspot. By Brian Mertens

INREVIEW: FICTION
Wrapped Up in a Sarong Saga
Adrienne Mong reviews Rani Manicka's saga of Malaysian family life, "The Rice Mother."

REGULAR FEATURES

LETTERS
Just Look at the Map; Don't Mock; Babel; The Mob; Testing Freedom

EDITORIALS
Hu's in Charge, Right?
The problem with politics in China is that sometimes even "facts" can be subject to plausible speculation. And, deadlock in Burma

INTELLIGENCE
News from the inside track. This week: South Korea Stung Into Trade Action; Warming North Korea-Thai Trade; Sony's China Plans for PlayStation 2; Cheap Burmese Heroin Exports; Cambodia's Thorny Succession; U.S. Pension Fund Chided Over Burma

REGIONAL BRIEFING
A weekly round-up of the news from the hotspots of the region. This week: U.S. Threatens to Withhold Oil from North Korea. And a Spotlight on newly appointed Malaysian second finance minister, Jamaludin Mohamed Jarjis

THE 5TH COLUMN
Freeing Up China's Currency
Joshua Eisenman, assistant director of China studies at the Nixon Centre in Washington, argues that Beijing should introduce more flexibility into its exchange-rate regime. He writes: "If China takes advantage of its current strong economic position and moves towards greater flexibility, it would further its reforms, reduce poverty [and] further global integration . . ." 

ECONOMIC MONITOR: JAPAN
What Recovery?
Japan's economic outlook is getting increasingly gloomy, as recent data indicate that the country's fledgling recovery could already be withering. With the United States economy stalling and Japan's domestic demand weakening, some economists say the world's No. 2 economy may be slowing drastically and could even start to contract in the coming months.  By Ichiko Fuyuno

PRICES AND TRENDS

CAREER REVIEW
High Pay, Low Performance
In general, most companies reward their top talent when things look good that year-which is a tad too short-sighted. Experts say it's time to tie pay into a longer-term view of corporate success. By Tim LeeMaster

TRAVELLERS' TALES
Review columnist Nury Vittachi rounds up the wild and wacky sightings made by travellers in the region. 

CEO CALL
Staying on Top
Siemens CEO Heinrich von Pierer: With a presence in 190 countries, Siemens has certainly gone global. Talking with customers is key. Interview conducted by Review Deputy Editor David Plott

ASIA LIFESTYLES

Three-Part Harmony
Are you Gadget Man, or maybe Family Man, or even Label Man? Nury Vittachi has all the answers. (Graphs accompanying this report are available in only the print version of the Far Eastern Economic Review.)