Lure of the Rings
The Two Towers is poised to become the biggest hit of 2002—a sign that fantasy has become a needed antidote to today's grim reality


Where Will They Strike Next?
Indonesia nabbed the alleged mastermind of the Bali bombing, but the threat remains. TIME surveys Asia's terror targets

Will They Strike Again?
TIME investigates the terrorist threat—and countermeasures in place—in Asia's possible target countries. The region still has some work to do, but better security will make a difference

Tackling Terror
To win the war on terrorism, Asia's governments must join forces

General Strike
A messy parliamentary election shows Musharraf's "guided democracy" may be losing its way

The Silent Scream
Peaceable villagers forge an uneasy truce with the predators in their midst


No More Pencils, No More Bics (Digital)
The tech industry is banking on new tablet PCs, but are they misreading the handwriting on the wall?


Dear Leader's Nuclear Agenda
North Korea was running a nuclear weapons program

Sex, Lies and Probates
Wang Din-shin is Hong Kong's newest centi-millionaire

Singapore's Bubble Bursts
Singapore is called the "Nanny State"

Milestones
For the Week of December 2, 2002

Speed Dialing
In India, China and across the world, telecoms are regrouping—led by visionary moguls like Li Ka-shing

3G Glasses
If Li Ka-shing is a visionary, then what does he see in high-speed mobile networks?

Hard Cell
Okay, the first two hundred million Chinese have handsets. The other billion or so? A different story

I Never Felt So Handsome
Four days. 5,000 of the world's top accountants. It doesn't get better than this


Feeling the Pressure
Ha Jin follows up his National Book award with The Crazed, a tale of China on the cusp of Tiananmen

Real Geisha, Real Story
A real-life geisha recalls her exciting career in dull fashion in Geisha, a Life


Desperately Seeking Survival
Bali's living are casualties of a dead economy

Asian Table
Kuta's pain is Ubud's gain

Hot Spot
The Balinese know how to treat their brides