In this issue
Edition: South Pacific
Edition: South Pacific
No. 49
COVER
Behind the First Noel
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
ASIA
Not Natural
Illegal logging has allowed normal typhoons to become killers
Choking on Growth (Cover Story)
Asia's breakneck growth has blackened its skies, endangering everyone’s health
The Long Mistake (TIME in Depth)
In a TIME exclusive, American defector Charles Jenkins talks about his life inside North Korea
SOCIETY
Missionary, Explorer, Hero
(Religion)
St. Francis Xavier was a failure, so why do millions of believers flock to see his remains in Goa?

Cartoons of the Week
Garbage Is Good: Nov. 15 Is America Recycles Day
Tech Buyer's Guide 2009
Bernie Madoff's Stuff Goes Up for Auction
Does Mexico City Need a Red-Light District?
The 50 Best Inventions of 2009
2012: End-of-World Disaster Porn
The Troubled Journey of Major Hasan
Photos: A Muslim Candidate's Unconventional Strategy
U.S. Crime Writer Tackles a Real Hong Kong Cold Case