Mean Streets (Europe)
An epidemic of violent crime, teen pregnancy, heavy drinking and drug abuse fuels fears that British youth is in crisis


Once a Senator, Never a Saint (Campaign '08)
John McCain's political popularity rests on his reputation as a straight-talking, ax-wielding reformer. So how does he explain his own close ties to special-interest lobbyists?


Alliance Of the Unwilling
Amid arguments over troop deployments in Afghanistan and with defense spending continuing to decline in much of Europe, NATO faces fundamental questions about its role


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Showing Their Metal (Sport)
New Formula One rules make this year's world championship less a test of engineering than of skill


The Glitter Factory (Mining)
As precious-metal prices soar, China is overtaking South Africa as the world's largest gold producer


Finding Their Religion (Music)
After a decade of aimlessness, R.E.M.'s music is good again


Wake Up and Sell the Coffee (Profile)
Howard Schultz is back at the helm of Starbucks and trying to put a jolt into the company that turned coffee into an iconic brand. Is the passionate entrepreneur who started it all the right man for the job?