NATION

WHAT DID CHINA WANT?

THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY JOHNNY CHUNG AND OTHERS TO THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE BACKFIRE ON BEIJING

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT

THE PENTAGON'S REQUEST FOR $415 BILLION WORTH OF NEW PLANES GIVES BUDGET CUTTERS A FAT NEW TARGET

WHO IS MARSHA SCOTT?

ANOTHER ARKANSAS TRANSPLANT BECOMES MIRED IN SOME QUESTIONABLE WHITE HOUSE ACTIVITIES

WORLD

ZAIRE: WAITING FOR KABILA

AS HIS REBEL FORCES GOBBLE UP TERRITORY, LAURENT KABILA IS POISED TO END THE LONG, THIEVING RULE OF MOBUTU SESE SEKO AND PERHAPS BRING HOPE TO RUINED ZAIRE

HEALTH & MEDICINE

GIFT OF LOVE (Medicine)

A GROUP OF NUNS ARE DONATING THEIR BRAINS TO SCIENCE TO HELP FIGHT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

SOCIETY

A BOY WITHOUT A PENIS (Behavior)

THE EXPERTS HAD IT ALL WRONG, SAYS THE BELEAGUERED SURVIVOR OF A LANDMARK 1960S SEX-CHANGE OPERATION

RELIGION

Does Heaven Exist?

IT USED TO BE THAT THE HEREAFTER WAS VIRTUALLY PALPABLE, BUT AMERICAN RELIGION NOW SEEMS ALMOST ALLERGIC TO IMAGINING IT. IS PARADISE LOST?

SPORT

TECHNOLOGY

BRIEFING

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

BUSINESS

LOSING ITS LUSTER

DESPITE EXQUISITE SERVICE, NORDSTROM HAS SUFFERED A PROFIT SLUMP. CAN THE TONY RETAILING CHAIN GET THE MAGIC BACK?

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

!VIVA SELENA! (The Arts / CINEMA)

THE QUEEN OF TEJANO WAS MURDERED IN 1995. NOW HOLLYWOOD AND HER FATHER PRESENT THEIR VERSION OF HER LIFE

PEOPLE

LETTERS