COVER

The Year in Pictures

We greeted a U.S. President and said goodbye to the King of Pop. We saw a miracle on a river, faces of war, and the world through the eyes of a whale calf. From Iran and China, a U.S. Senator's graveside and the rings of Saturn come the most striking images of 2009, described by the photographers and citizen journalists who produced them

Indelible Images

Our annual Year in Pictures issue returns, capturing a turbulent time in a series of unforgettable moments

COMMENTARY

Glimmers in the Holy Land (Viewpoint)

The peace process is stalled, but a breakthrough is achievable. Here's what the U.S. can do

LETTERS

TOP 10 EVERYTHING 2009

Top 10 Movies of 2009

From animated features with heart to the ubiquitous George Clooney, TIME charts the movie highs of the past year

ESSAY

A Cosmic Farce

In Hong Kong, the practice of feng shui has been cheapened to the point of absurdity