COVER
Lure of the Rings
The Two Towers is poised to become the biggest hit of 2002a sign that fantasy has become a needed antidote to today's grim reality
ASIA
Where Will They Strike Next?
Indonesia nabbed the alleged mastermind of the Bali bombing, but the threat remains. TIME surveys Asia's terror targets
Will They Strike Again?
TIME investigates the terrorist threatand countermeasures in placein Asia's possible target countries. The region still has some work to do, but better security will make a difference
Tackling Terror
To win the war on terrorism, Asia's governments must join forces
General Strike
A messy parliamentary election shows Musharraf's "guided democracy" may be losing its way
The Silent Scream
Peaceable villagers forge an uneasy truce with the predators in their midst
TECHNOLOGY
No More Pencils, No More Bics (Digital)
The tech industry is banking on new tablet PCs, but are they misreading the handwriting on the wall?
BRIEFING
Dear Leader's Nuclear Agenda (Notebook)
North Korea was running a nuclear weapons program
Sex, Lies and Probates (Notebook)
Wang Din-shin is Hong Kong's newest centi-millionaire
Singapore's Bubble Bursts (Notebook)
Singapore is called the "Nanny State"
Milestones (Notebook)
For the Week of December 2, 2002
BUSINESS
Speed Dialing
In India, China and across the world, telecoms are regroupingled by visionary moguls like Li Ka-shing
3G Glasses
If Li Ka-shing is a visionary, then what does he see in high-speed mobile networks?
Hard Cell
Okay, the first two hundred million Chinese have handsets. The other billion or so? A different story
I Never Felt So Handsome
Four days. 5,000 of the world's top accountants. It doesn't get better than this
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Feeling the Pressure
Ha Jin follows up his National Book award with The Crazed, a tale of China on the cusp of Tiananmen
Real Geisha, Real Story
A real-life geisha recalls her exciting career in dull fashion in Geisha, a Life
TRAVEL
Desperately Seeking Survival
Bali's living are casualties of a dead economy
Asian Table
Kuta's pain is Ubud's gain
Hot Spot
The Balinese know how to treat their brides