COVER

Abu Sayyaf

Abu Sayyaf gained notoriety as a kidnap gang, snatching Filipinos and foreigners for no greater cause than cash

Thailand's Terror (Asia)

The kingdom's trouble-prone south has harbored Muslim militants in the past. Can the current government keep them out, or will Thailand be the next front in the Southeast Asian war against terror?

ASIA

Hu's in Charge?

Jiang Zemin stepped down at the 16th Party Congress, but the force is still with him

BRIEFING

Dead Wrong? (Notebook)

North Korea's compulsive lying gets it in trouble over kidnapped Japanese—again

ASIA

The China Syndrome

Orville Schell says a smooth transition to new leadership is not enough. China needs to move in bold new directions

BRIEFING

Give It Away Now (Notebook)

Bill Gates gives millions to help India's suffering massesand the striving few as well

Milestones (Notebook)

For the Week of November 25, 2002

BUSINESS

Scraping the Bottom

A new plan by the Hong Kong government to prop up real estate prices smacks of desperation

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Pop Master

Haruki Murakami is a great novelist who just happens to be Japanese

Asia Scares America

The success of The Ring is encouraging Hollywood to mimic Asia's most popular pictures

TRAVEL

Short Cuts

Phu Tork means "lonely mountain" in the northeast's Isaan dialect

Detour

Kam Chanodethe islandlike abode of the mythical Naga