December 16, 2002 | Vol 160 No.25

'Think of this as a tip sheet for a scary new year, a deeply reported look at where the world is heading' (FORECAST 2003)

TIME peers into the political, economic and social trends that will shape the new year

Forecast 2003: In The Line Of Fire (FORECAST | GEOPOLITICS)

Look for war in Iraq, student revolts in Iran and maybe disarmament in North Korea

Living With Fear (FORECAST | GEOPOLITICS)

What will al-Qaeda think of next?

A Tough Act to Follow (FORECAST 2003 | GEOPOLITICS)

China's new leader will find the path to reform blocked by his old boss

Asia's Nightmare

Can the spread of AIDS in Asia be stopped?

Hate Takes Aim In India (FORECAST | GEOPOLITICS)

Conventional Wisdom

A constitution for the European Union is due in the spring

Balancing Act for Lula

Brazil's President-elect has a tough job ahead

A Man With A Mandate (FORECAST | GEOPOLITICS)

Times have brought changes of fortune for George W Bush

New Name, Old Worries (FORECAST | GEOPOLITICS)

What will follow the Yugloslav Federation?

What If They Say No? (FORECAST | GEOPOLITICS)

Peace In The Balance (FORECAST | GEOPOLITICS)

Elections To Watch (FORECAST 2003 | GEOPOLITICS)

Great Mall of China (FORECAST | BUSINESS & FINANCE)

China opens up to foreign trade

That Old Empty Feeling (BUSINESS & FINANCE)

Terrorism and war could empty resorts, hike oil prices, and rattle the world economy

Hong Kong's Long Fall (FORECAST | BUSINESS & FINANCE)

Still no end in sight for Hong Kong's economic woes

So Near, and Yet So Far

China is pushing to open up direct flights to Taiwan

On Trial

Will corporate reform in 2003 help us learn to love CEOs again?

Look Who's Growing Fastest (FORECAST | BUSINESS & FINANCE)

One of the world's poorest regions is coming up faster than ever before

A Little Less Privacy, Please (FORECAST | BUSINESS & FINANCE)

Selling off state industries is losing its shine

Fraying at the Edges (FORECAST | BUSINESS & FINANCE)

Swiss bank reform doesn't seem such a cuckoo idea?

New Friends For the Euro (FORECAST | BUSINESS & FINANCE)

Brits lead the sceptics, but in Sweden feeling may be on the turn

Fly Away (FORECAST | SOCIETY & CULTURE)

Seeking pleasure whereever possible as a means to avoiding the perceived grim reality

Dressy Droids (FORECAST | SOCIETY & CULTURE)

Robotic mannequin reacts to the presence of a human by moving to show of clothes in the best way

Rock Revival (FORECAST | SOCIETY & CULTURE)

Rock music may be set to return to a less produced format with some new bands showing the way

Web Mania (FORECAST | SOCIETY & CULTURE)

Korea gets an expensive net habit

Next-Gen Liposuction (FORECAST | SOCIETY & CULTURE)

Bargain basement prices for plastic surgery

Page Turners (FORECAST | SOCIETY & CULTURE)

5 books for your reading list

21st Century Pope (FORECAST | SOCIETY & CULTURE)

Who will succeed the pope

Art Returns To Sculpture (FORECAST | SOCIETY & CULTURE)

Gary Webb, a name to watch for the Turner Prize

The Sequel Syndrome (FORECAST | SOCIETY & CULTURE)

Hollywood banks on sequels

Aussie Arrival (FORECAST 2003 | SOCIETY & CULTURE)

Hit Back at High Street (FORECAST 2003 | SOCIETY & CULTURE)

Exclusivity is the latest weapon in the fashion house armories

Let's Give Schumacher A Brake (FORECAST 2003 | SOCIETY & CULTURE)