"This Is Our Tsunami" (Cover Story)
Hurricane Katrina's late-summer tour of the U.S. Gulf Coast created what could be the country's largest catastrophe ever. A special TIME report into the disaster

How Did This Happen? (Cover Story)
Why a natural disaster became a man-made debacle—and what this catastrophe says about U.S. rescue capabilities four years after 9/11

Dipping His Toe Into Disaster (Cover Story)
Slow, awkward and at times tone-deaf, Bush mishandled the storm's first days. Now he has his own recovery problem


Koizumi's War
In Japan's parliamentary elections, the Prime Minister is out to devastate his foes, transform his party and challenge the status quo. Is it suicide—or genius?

The Play's the Thing (Viewpoint)
Koizumi's deft political stagecraft will do nothing to further real reform

Going Postal
The battle over reform

The Assassins
Koizumi's Hit Squad


A Bridge in Baghdad
A tragedy at a pilgrimage site brings Sunnis and Shi'ites together—for now

Verbatim

Letters
Lose That Spare Tire!

Five Asian Albums Worth Buying
From J-rock to Indian electronica, new CDs that cover the musical spectrum


Worth the Wait (TIME Global Adviser)
Dallas-Fort Worth's artful new airport terminal

Old Wine in New Bottles (TIME Global Adviser)
Old varietals are becoming the latest fad among winemakers

Aw, Shucks (TIME Global Adviser)
Four days of fun and feasting at Galway's International Oyster Festival

From Spy Station to Style Heaven (TIME Global Adviser)
Come in from the cold at Berlin's hottest new hotel

The Smell of Success (TIME Global Adviser)
Slick restaurants are mushrooming in the Indian boomtown of Bangalore