COVER

Dark Side Rising (Cover Story)

The first three Star Wars were epic. The next two, not really. Now George Lucas has pulled out all the stops and finished the cycle with Revenge of the Sith

A Look Back in Wonder (Cover Story)

After nearly three decades, George Lucas has finished his culture-changing saga of a fallen father and the son who redeems him. The director seems as surprised as anyone at what he has done. Lucas talks to TIME about what's next

ASIA

Done Talking?

It looks increasingly unlikely that the North Korean nuclear crisis will be solved through the six-party talks. So what will the U.S. do now?

Guest of Honor

Nearly six decades after the Kuomintang fled to Taiwan, its chairman seeks peace with China

BUSINESS

A Sharper Focus

While rivals like Sony are struggling, Sharp has become Japan's hottest electronics firm by playing to its strengths

GLOBAL ADVISER

Palace Coup (TIME Global Adviser)

There's no skimping when it comes to Abu Dhabi's latest luxury hotel

Shangri-Bar (TIME Global Adviser)

Cocktail culture makes an unlikely debut in a far-flung corner of China

Have Horse Head, Will Travel (TIME Global Adviser)

Have Horse Head, Will Travel Lonely Planet's latest book uses absurdity to make travel fun again

SPECIAL REPORT

Under the Gun

The Philippine military is fighting low morale, poor equipment and stubborn militants. That's a problem not just for the nation but for the entire region

WORLD

A Journey From War To War (United States)

Victor Lu was as proud of the country of his birth as his Vietnamese parents were keen to forget the trauma of theirs. Then he died in Iraq

BRIEFING

Arms at the Ready (Notebook)

What were five Thai militants arrested in Malaysia looking for?

Cut and Paste (Notebook)

China's Communist Party members take an easier approach to self-criticism