THE NATIONS
JAPAN
A housewife's win means politics will never be the same
• Gadfly: A writer-governor is shaking the establishment

DIPLOMACY
Why the U.S. was at Kim Jong Il's coming-out party

UNITED STATES
Where Gore and Bush stand on Asian issues

PHILIPPINES
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo rallies the opposition
• Interview: Ex-president Ramos on what Estrada should do

MALAYSIA
Post reformasi, NGOs push for change

SINGAPORE
Living with Shame — the island-state lightens up

EDITORIALS
Crisis
For Estrada, resignation would be the honorable course

Milestone
A stunning victory for Hong Kong conservationists

Letters & Comment
Hong Kong's protest law

NEWSMAP
This week's news round-up by country

Newsmakers
A Japanese woman seeks redress

Viewpoint
Kim Dae Jung's conservative problem

TECHNOLOGY
Faded Beauty
Getting nervous about 3G network costs

Please Hold
Firms turn to computers to serve customers better

Best Bettor
Winning at the track just takes the right software

Cutting edge
Snoop-proof and wire-free

INSIDE STORY
Timor
Despite the dangers, refugees begin the long trek home

ARTS & SCIENCES
Cinema
Digital drive: a boost for Asia's young movie-makers

People
Wiranto croons the wrong note with Indonesian activists

Health
A cold cure that could kill

BUSINESS
Markets
How to survive the roller coaster

Insurance
Who'll be left standing in Japan?

Investing
Biotechnology may be the next dotcom

Renong
Can Halim Saad save his troubled company?

Interview
Hong Kong's monetary chief: no new Crisis

STATISTICS
The Bottom Line
Asiaweek's ranking of world economies, ranked by inflation CPI