Behind the First Noel (Cover Story)
Who were the wise men? What about that star? And is it possible Jesus was born in Nazareth? How the story of Christ's birth came to be


The Terror Threat Continues (Viewpoint)
Despite some success, President Bush must continue to confront extremists


A Dangerous Lark
In Chasing the Dragon, journalist Roy Rowan recalls his adventures amid the chaos of 1940s China


Treats Are a Trap (TIME Global Adviser)
But by following a few holiday rules, kids can have their cake and eat it too

Dog Days Of Winter (TIME Global Adviser)
It's not just for artic explorers anymore: Take a dogsledding tour of the world's coldest hot spots

Screen Gems (TIME Global Adviser)
Once the art world's poor relation, film and video are coming of age—as two shows at London's Tate galleries prove

Living for the City (TIME Global Adviser)
The power of the Pharaoh is at your fingertips in Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile

Style Watch (TIME Global Adviser)
The Art of the Close Shave

Under The Volcano (TIME Global Adviser)
Verne's volcano overlooks Iceland's latest must-stay hotel

The Best Pictures of the Year
The most compelling images of 2004, from Baghdad's bloodshed to Saturn's brilliance


A Whole Lot to Swallow
Squeezed at home, China's biggest computer maker, Lenovo, is buying IBM's money-losing PC business. But venturing abroad is fraught with risk


Check and Balance
An electoral upset puts a damper on Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's agenda

Back to Reality
Wary consumers and a plunging dollar are dampening Japan's recovery

Ch. Jiahu, with Hawthorn Accents
Did China make the world's first wine, 9,000 years ago?

Milestones
Japan's princess engaged

Verbatim
Quotes of the week

Letters
The Best of Asia