COVER

Kim Raises the Stakes (Cover Story)

North Korea declares itself a nuclear power and spurns the six-party talks, dashing hopes that Kim Jong Il can be coaxed down from his diplomatic ledge

Going Into Business (Cover Story)

The state can't feed its citizens, but cautious economic reforms have led to a growth of enterprise, markets and trade. Can the regime keep a lid on the changes?

ASIA

Southern Exposure

Jolo is the birthplace of one the Philippines' oldest insurgencies. Now violence is flaring again

BUSINESS

Truffle Kerfuffle

Chinese "pig-snout" fungi are flooding gourmet-food markets, and the French are not amused

BRIEFING

Thaksin's Real Challenge (Notebook)

The Thai PM won reelection in a landslidebut failed to make any headway in the country's restive south

Milestones (Notebook)

Ellen MacArthur sets record

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Holding Up Half the Sky

Mo Yan's Big Breasts and Wide Hips celebrates the role of women in China since the Qing dynasty

GLOBAL ADVISER

King for a Day (TIME Global Adviser)

Talk about meritocracyhere's how to check into the nobility's historic palaces

Style Watch (TIME Global Adviser)

Even better than the real bling; seamless style

Your Health (TIME Global Adviser)

Fidgeting to lose weight; feeding the brain; the next step in skin care