COVER
Iran's Nukes: Now They Tell Us?
A new intelligence report says Iran has halted its nuclear-weapons program. What that revelation tells us about the U.S. spy network, the White House — and the battle between them
LIFE
Where's the Best Beef? (Food)
A quest for the perfect steak leads us far from the madding world of plastic wrap and supermarkets
Photos: The Perfect Beef (Photos)
A group of food aficionados go deep into the hills of northern Spain in search of the perfect steak
BRITAIN
Gordon Brown's Blues (Downing Street Memo)
Missteps and a scandal over party funding have tarnished the British Prime Minister's reputation for competence
Boris Johnson: The Clown Prince (Profile)
Famous in Britain for his polymathic brilliance and oddball wit, Conservative MP Boris Johnson is running for mayor of London. To win, he'll have to show his serious side
Video: Introducing Boris Johnson
The affable politician wants to be the next mayor but what are his policies and what does he love about London?
ESSAY
Pomegranates: A Fruitful Trade
Afghanistan's pomegranates offer a healthy and delicious alternative to poppy-farming
BOOKS
Hot Fusion: Omega Minor
Paul Verhaeghen's novel is an intoxicating brew of sex, nukes, neo-Nazis and cognitive psychology
Thabo Mbeki: The Dream Deferred
An ambitious biography explores the South African President's nature as his power ebbs
GLOBAL ADVISER
Fashion for Hire (Style Watch)
Can't afford to buy that must-have handbag? Try renting one
The Karoo: Dazzling Desolation (TIME Traveler)
The sky is cloudless and the mountains are a sequence of blues and ambers in South Africa's Karoo desert
Xmas Spirit in Gothenburg (If You're in ... Gothenburg)
Visit Scandinavia's Christmas capital to light up your holidays
Design for Living (Check In)
Guests are surrounded by style icons in this Paris hotel
LETTERS
Leadership vs. Loyalty (Inbox)
The Bhutto Deal Goes Bust; Eulogy from a Colleague; Bolton's Strategy