The prosecution has suffered two crushing defeats in the trials against suspected terrorists Abdelghani Mzoudi und Mounir Al Motassadeq

"Excellent Relations"

Scandals: The public prosecutor's office in Athens is looking into the billion-dollar deal secured by arms manufacturer Krauss Maffei Wegmann. Were bribes paid in connection with the sale of Leopard 2 tanks? Among other things, the investigators are interested in the men behind two letter-box companies in Monaco and on the British Virgin Islands, through which hundreds of millions were to be paid in bribes. The German suppliers had every reason to give their arms offer a little extra help; because contrary to the Munich arms manufacturer's assurances, the decision in favour of KMW's tank was not the only obvious one - despite the indisputably excellent combat characteristics of the Leo 2.

Terrorists: Amid heavily driving snow, the circumstances surrounding one of the most spectacular agreements in international diplomacy in the Middle East have remained rather hazy - the exchange of prisoners negotiated by the emissaries of the German intelligence service, BND, between the Israeli government and the Lebanese Hizbollah militia made the headlines all over the world at the end of last week. The much acclaimed agreement between the deadly enemies Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Israeli Prime Minster Ariel Sharon not only opens up new perspectives for the faltering peace plan. It could also mark the beginning of a new, important role for Germany as "the region's broker" (Uhrlau) when it comes to restructuring the Middle East.

"We'll Remain True to Ourselves"

SPIEGEL in-depth interview with French defence minister Michèle Alliot-Marie about relations with America, the involvement in the reconstruction of Iraq and the European defence union:

"The US government has clearly expressed its intention to start a new page and to end the tension between us. ... France, Germany, but also the UK and other European countries, are united by their common resolve to turn the major economic power that is Europe into a political force which is able to protect its citizens, its interests and its values in the world. For that we need a common defence."

"Hazardous Laxness"

Eastern Europe: Experts are warning that borders with the West will become more porous following EU enlargement - also for diseases like Aids. Large parts of Eastern Europe, including the Caucasus, are being swamped by the Aids epidemic. Last year, the region recorded the world's largest increase in the number of Aids cases. The World Bank attributes the high rate of infection in the affected countries particularly to the dramatic rise in drug abuse.

"From Predator to Human Being"

SPIEGEL cover story: Sensational discoveries in East German coal mines prove that Europe was one of the earliest nuclei from which culture emerged. As long as 400,000 years ago, hunters living on the fringes of the Harz Mountains killed elephants and rhinos using spears. They were familiar with immersion heaters and plastics. Did humans become mind-centred beings because they ate vast amounts of meat?

"The Wrong Frog"

Linguistic research: Heidelberg ethnologist are studying people all over the world who do not distinguish between left and right - and who nevertheless find their way around. Ethnologists describe their way of expressing themselves as "geocentric", as opposed to our own "egocentric" approach. Jürg Wassmann, an ethnologist from the University of Heidelberg, explains that Western philosophy centres on the individual. The different perspective also influences people's behaviour.

"Of Course, I'm a Bit Too Much"

Interview with Berlin film director Romuald Karmakar about overtaxed audiences, unhappy love and his two contributions to the film festival "Die Nacht singt ihre Lieder" (Night Sings Its Songs) and "Land der Vernichtung" (Country of Destruction):

"In 'Die Nacht singt ihre Lieder', the audience's sympathies switch in almost every scene, there's a constant flux. But nowadays many people go to the movies just because they don't have to think or read or listen, or even look that closely. They want to recover from a bewilderingly complex world - and they find my films taxing."

"Glamour in the Country of Cheap Labour"

Berlin Film Festival: Hollywood is more involved than ever in the 54th Berlin Film Festival, which begins this week. Setbacks in the cinematographic market have kindled a renewed interest in Europe. Meanwhile, many US studios are also shooting films in the German capital - because of the cost, and because of the surroundings. European film centres such as Berlin and Prague are attractive to American producers particularly for reasons of cost. Compared with Hollywood fees, Germany is a country with cheap labour. But the cost factor alone is only rarely decisive when choosing Berlin. What the Americans particularly like about Berlin is its variety and its architectural diversity.