DER SPIEGEL describes Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's attitude towards the US plans for a missile defence system.

"Commissioner Defies Chancellor"

The European Commission in Brussels wants to revive the ban on tobacco advertising and make tobacco products more difficult to export, much to the annoyance of the German government. The Berlin politicians suspect that the Commission chose the controversial issue deliberately, in order to assert its broad claims to power. The battle against the powerful tobacco industry and its lucrative advertisements in the print media - not entirely without influence themselves - is in keeping with the spirit of the times. And so, politically speaking, Germany doesn't stand a chance.

"Blood Feud and Bolshevism"

Russia: A mass grave shows where Moscow's campaign in Chechnya is headed. The purported fight against terrorists has failed. President Putin is placing his hopes in the secret service.

"The Silence of the Farmers"

Poland: 60 years ago, more than a thousand Jews were murdered in Jedwabne - by Polish people. While historians and intellectuals are making corrections to the nation's self-image, a village cartel is trying to hush up the whole matter. Although the German occupying troops that had just marched in are claimed to have incited them, the crime itself was carried out by Polish nationals - that is the preliminary conclusion reached by the government investigation committee. Before the massacre, some 1800 Jews lived in Jedwabne; today there is only one woman with Jewish ancestry left there. When the village found itself in the headlines, the village priest visited her and gave her some advice: "The inhabitants of Jewabne have always helped you. You shouldn't forget that now when you are talking to strangers."

"Not Everything Has Been Decided"

Biotechnology: The argument within the German Federal government over the ethical limits of reproduction medicine is escalating. Will genetic testing in future be allowed to decide the fate of embryos? Over the next four weeks, it is precisely the warring ministers Bulmahn, Schmidt and Däubler-Gmelin who are to work out a common position for the SPD which is capable of achieving a consensus. In addition, Schröder wants to bring together about a dozen experts to form a national "Ethics Council". Scientists and researchers are to sit on it as well as representatives of the church and of the disabled.

"End of the Ban on Thinking"

Cloning: Until now, the cloning of human beings has been considered a taboo. Now the mood is swinging round sharply. For the experts meeting at a conference in Rome this week, it is no longer a question of whether the first clone will be born, but when.

"Precarious Particles"

Environment: Millions of laser printers hum away in German offices and homes. But the toners they use can harm the respiratory passages, to the point of occupational disability. Experts are not only worried by the hazard inherent in toxic heavy metals. Susceptible people also react to the mixture of harmful substances in the cloud of toner. Meanwhile the professional associations have already officially recognised several cases of toner-induced sickness.

"Pure Love, Pure Feeling"

SPIEGEL interview with Chinese author Gezi on homosexuality in the People's Republic, and the long goodbye to a taboo:

"I'm interested in complicated inter-personal relationships … Also, I wanted to write something special and make people think. The homosexuals in China need attention, understanding and recognition. … I don't know of any novels about homosexuality alone which describe gays as normal people having deep emotions. … My parents would never understand why I gave up my previous, very lucrative job, to devote myself solely to writing."

"Infernal Fall with Kohl and Merkel"

Musical theatre: In a spectacular show of strength, the Meiningen Theatre now wants to become the "East German Bayreuth". After two years of rehearsals, the Thuringian theatre is presenting Richard Wagner's monumental "Ring" as a political revue full of brash extras and drastic comedy. It looks very much as though a village club were all of a sudden to play in the national league. Because the "Meiningen Theatre - South Thuringian State Theatre", as the humble venue is officially called, is currently slaving away to become a world champion with Wagner, a kind of super-Bayreuth - the whole business is a grandiose tick, bold, almost audacious. Not only theatre director Christine Mielitz believes she is "on the verge of megalomania", no, her entire set-up is.