The status of CP violation and the CKM matrix is reviewed. Direct CP violation in B decay has been established and the measurement of sin 2β in ψK modes reached 5% accuracy. I discuss the implications of these, and of the possible deviations of the CP asymmetries in b → s modes from that in ψK. The first meaningful measurements of α and γ are explained, together with their significance for constraining both the SM and new physics in [Formula: see text] mixing. I also discuss implications of recent developments in the theory of nonleptonic decays for B → πK rates and CP asymmetries, and for the polarization in charmless B decays to two vector mesons.
Properties of Axial-vector Mesons and Charmless B Decays: