COVER

Kim's Great Game (Cover story)

North Korea's Kim Jong Il is no longer the pariah of a region that once shunned him

ASIA

A Losing battle

Jakarta has lifted martial law in Aceh, but the rebels remain undefeated and the killing continues on both sides

BUSINESS

To the Drawing Board

A company that once manufactured Christmas trees is now animating Siegfried & Roy's cats

BRIEFING

Princess Diaries (Notebook)

An outburstand retractionby Japan's crown prince highlights the lonely life of its princess

Howard's Bad Spin (Notebook)

The Australian PM's comments on one of the world's best bowlers spark an outry in cricket-mad Sri Lanka

Panda Reprieve (Notebook)

New research shows China's giant panda population may be seeing a resurgence

Paradise Regained? (Notebook)

The Maldives' president offers unprecedented reforms; is it more talk or a real change?

Verbatim (Notebook)

Quotes of the Week

Letters (Notebook)

Iraq: Moment of Truth

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Revisiting the Silk Road (Art)

A new exhibit shows that the greatest treasures of the legendary trade route were not just silk and spices

SPORTS

To the Hammer Born (The Road to Athens)

In Koji Murofushi's family, becoming a world-class athlete is just the standard career path

GLOBAL ADVISER

Everyone's an expert (TIME Global Adviser)

Bored with the usual encyclopedias? Then start writing your own

In A Pickle (TIME Global Adviser)

London's newest tower is winning praise and residents' hearts

Amuse Bouche (TIME Global Adviser)

Grab some Seoul food in Korea

Check In (TIME Global Adviser)

Immaculate Conceptions