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The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Asia is costing billions of dollars, and commerce and tourism are especially distressed. One report calculated the cost of SARS to be $10.6 billion, and another predicted a global cost of over $150 billion.

The spread of the deadly SARS disease (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is traced from China to other parts of the world, and available information is provided about the pandemic, such as symptoms to look out for and precautions to protect oneself. The reasons for the prevalent uncertainty about the disease in the scientific community are discussed, and while the world waits for a cure, people are informed about what to expect in the near future.

Researchers in the life sciences industry in Singapore are receiving government assistance for a broad range of projects. Industry analysts said that biomedical sciences' manufacturing output rose 3.2% to $3.8 billion in 2002.

Temasek Holdings, the holding company of the Singapore government, controls a wide range of operations. The company controls businesses in such areas as the banking, logistics, and telecoms industries. However, many of Temasek's operations have not performed well. Investors are beginning to express impatience over the company's holdings.

The author examines entries in the 2002 Asian inventors contest. Topics include business creativity, inventions, and contest rules and prizes.

The incidence of fake drugs is the highest in India and China. At present, the worth of the fake drug market stands at $16 to $ 14 billion. A fake drug is an intentionally mislabeled drug in terms of source or identity. Stricter punishment is the way to check this crime.

Singapore has launched a plan to produce a further 7,000 university graduates a year from 2000, and Malaysia has also passed laws to increase the number of college places. The rest of Asia is also short of skilled manpower, and the focus of attention has mainly been on specialists, but companies are increasingly seeking middle managers with finance and marketing skills. China in particular is experiencing pressure on the skilled labour market, due to years of explosive growth.

Parents who are very busy and have no time to raise their kids are sending them to boarding schools, as the experience would better equip them to cope with an increasingly competitive society. Academics feel that early boarding school would undermine family ties and impair emotional development, as these children would not be able to relate to their own children.

Innovations in technology are taking place at the speed of light. The future prospects of investments in Asian countries, the growth of science and technology in these areas, and the nominations that have come from every corner of Asia for the Young Investor Awards are discussed.

The Chinese education business is an attractive destination now for the foreign investors as the popularity of private schools is increasing. In 2002, the Chinese consumers spent around $ 40 billion on education and it is expected to be $ 90 billion in 2005. The discouraging factors are the govenment regulations banning foreign investors from, grade 1 to 9 primary school education and religiuos education, and the lack of freedom for individual operations.

The new S$75 million Singapore Sports School's aims and objectives and the world-class infrastructure that the school accommodates to make champions of Singaporean budding young athletes are analyzed. The services of the school to promote healthy lifestyles, build bonds between ethnic groups and develop sports industry and its economy are evaluated.

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is discussed. The pharmaceutical companies are investing on research and development to take advantage of patent expiration on many drugs, in the next five years.

Airlines in Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia are either forming or looking to expand services. These airlines are planning to keep ticket prices as low as possible by offering no frills service, hiring nonunion pilots, using only one type of aircraft (the Boeing 737 or the Airbus A-320), etc. AirAsia and Virgin Blue are two such examples.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which is thought to have originated from an animal microbe, is an indication of the possibilities of other potential infectious diseases. SARS could be an impetus for improved practices in agriculture, public health preparedness, and increased research of communicable diseases.

This article discusses the efforts of health authorities, such as the World Heath Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to contain the spread of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). They are focusing members of two families of viruses, paramyxovirus and coronavirus.

This article discusses the plans of Singapore Telecommunications to reach far beyond the shores of Singapore and become the leading telecommunications company in Asia. The company has already acquired Australia's Cable and Wireless Optus and holds stakes in Globe Telecom in the Philippines, India's Bharti Tele-ventures, Thailand's Advanced Info Service and Indonesia's Telkomsel.

Successful stock pricing is not a cakewalk through. After the spe ctacular crash of 2000, investors are apprehensive about venturing into telecoms and technology stocks. Evidence of TMT sector is provided for companies that have strong market positions, proven managements and stock prices that have come down from the lofty valuations of early 2000.

Years of neglect has made tuberculosis get worse steadily and thus reduced the immunity of people. A unique initiative is spearheading the search for new drugs to tackle the disease. Public and private sectors are coming into partnership to share the cost and risk of developing drugs that treat diseases like TB. Funds have been provided to go ahead with clinical trials on PA-824, a potential new drug that helps in TB treatment.

An estimated 11.5 million Chinese workers had been laid off by the end of 1997, and the number is expected to increase to 17 million during 1998. However there have been several entrepreneurial success stories from laid off workers who have set up their own businesses. There are few available statistics, but laid off workers have set up less than 10% of the 83,000 registered private companies in Shanghai, although around 153,000 laid off workers have been re-employed by private companies since 1994.

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji is finding it difficult to get his ambitious housing reforms into operation. The reforms aim to cut back on state-subsidized housing, which has been common throughout China for decades, and shift the burden of home ownership to the individual. However, private housing development is occurring only slowly and people are proving reluctant to invest their capital in a market which they perceive to be unreliable. Stories of shoddily-built accommodation from individuals who have been attracted to home ownership are also not helping the situation.

China has begun purchasing oil fields worldwide and transporting the crude oil back to China, rather than simply purchasing oil on the world market. China National Petroleum Corp has pledged more than $8 billion for oil concessions in countries including Iraq and Sudan since mid-1997, and has also invested $12.5 billion in laying four oil and gas pipelines from Russia and Central Asia. This investment is being driven by the realization that China will not be able to meet its own energy requirements in the future.

The increasing competition for scarce fish resources in Asia is leading to clashes between neighbours. Over half the worlds' fish are caught or bred in Asian waters and just over half are consumed there, with China taking the largest catch. Aquaculture could become big business, and marine and freshwater farms have seen their share almost double to 22% between 1984 and 1993. However aquaculture may not be able to continue its rapid expansion, as fish farming takes its toll on the environment. There is a need to restructure the fishing industry to embrace smaller-scale, evironmentally sound technologies.

The economy of Singapore is discussed. The official government forecast for 2004 is at 5 percent growth of gross domestic product.

The efforts made by various domestic and international organizations to find an effective cure or vaccine after the outbreak of Sars in the Guangdong province of china have been provided.

Amidst the adversities of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the Iraq war, which have greatly affected international tourism and travel, many major airlines, including Singapore Airlines (SIA), have suspended flights and services. However, despite these unfavorable conditions, SIA turned in the best overall performance in Singapore for the Review 200.

The discovery of test to detect childhood leukemia is discussed. The discovery will promise higher cure rates and safe treatment for childhood leukemia.

Much of the medical and technical research that led to a SARS diagnostic kit took place in China.

HSBC reported that residential property prices (apartment buildings) in Singapore have continued declining since the Asian financial crisis. This has meant a decline in value of property. At present, the industry has about 2 years of capacity unused.

A bilateral free trade agreement was signed recently between the United States and Singapore, to remove the tariffs and trade barriers on about $ 33 billion in annual trade. The U.S. companies will have better access to Singapore's financial and services sectors. The logistics companies will gain the most profits. These trade agreements will develop regional economic powerhouses. However, what remains to be seen is whether the U.S.-Singapore trade pact benefits the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ten different nations with different economic proficiencies.

N.K. Yong, a cardiac surgeon, converted his swimming pool to a wine cellar and stores 1,000 cases of vintage wines at his Singapore home. Mr. Yong explains why he collects wine and gives advice on the subject.

IraqEs oil reserves are estimated to be the second largest in the world. Asian companies have several contracts with Iraq to develop oilfields, however the possibility of attack led by the United States has raised doubts in the industry whether the contracts would be honored in the future.

In Singapore economic uncertainty and concerns about international politics will likely impede the investment plans of foreign and domestic companies in 2003. Fear of terrorist attacks and unemployment will also have a negative impact on the economy of the country.

The impact of the arrest of the eight suspected Al Qaeda-linked terrorists, on the relations between Malays and ethnic Chinese, is examined. The loyalty of the Malay Muslims, who constitute 15% of the total 4 million population of the country, is being doubted now.

Inspite of adversities like uncertainty in the travel markets, chances of middle East war, terrorist attacks and high jet-fuel costs, and a fall in profits from S$27I.I million to S$255.7 million this year, Singapore airlines managed to retain it's top position for the 10th time in review 200 for the year 2002. It has been a pioneer in developing state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment services and other amenities.

Although Asian media companies' stocks are not faring well, an economic upturn could produce significant gains.

The impact of the United States decision to eliminate the tariff on tinned tuna from Latin America, on Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia is examined. This move has brought the trade policy of The US under heavy criticism as it would result in mass unemployment in the affected countries.

The reasons for consulting companies like A. T. Kearney and Bain & Co. in giving priority to China over other countries for strengthening their presence have been described. The growth opportunities for consulting companies in countries like South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia etc. have been mentioned.

SingaporeEs land reclamation project in MalaysiaEs Johor strait is the latest cause of friction between the two countries. The consequences of the land reclamation for Singapore and Malaysia are examined and emerging conspiracy theories around the project are discussed.

Drug companies are researching new ways to differentiate their product from the fake ones through tamper-proof packages, sealed double-foil blister packs, holograms, and logos on the tablets. In India, domestic and international companies together formed a consortium called the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance to fight this crime.

The impact of the arrest of the eight suspected Al Qaeda-linked terrorists, on the relations between Malays and ethnic Chinese, is examined. The loyalty of the Malay Muslims, who constitute 15% of the total 4 million population of the country, is being doubted now.