COVER

The Realists Take Charge (Cover Story)

The election whupping marked the end of George W. Bush's radical experiment in partisan government - and a plea for politicians to get serious about solving problems

BUSINESS

Vietnam Trades Up

Vietnam's entry into the World Trade Organization could supercharge the country's booming economy, if the government can carry out much-needed reforms

TECHNOLOGY

Best Inventions 2006

From a cat engineered to keep you from sneezing to espresso in solid form and a robot that rides a bike?plus, of course, the Invention of the Year?Time brings you a guide to this year's most fascinating innovations

BRIEFING

Letters (Notebook)

The Scramble for the Bomb

GLOBAL ADVISER

Asha's Encore (Curtain Raiser)

India's star Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle in Belgium

Desert Flower (Diversions)

The city of Nukus is an avant-garde oasis in Central Asia

Spice Island (Amuse Bouche)

Upmarket dining in a backpackers' Thai paradise