SPIEGEL cover story on human trafficking and prostitution.

"Drinking of the Same Poison"

SPIEGEL interview with Hamas leader Mahmud al Sahar about his organisation's strategy of violence, the conditions for a cease-fire and the cooperation with the Palestinian Authority:

"Killing is not the aim. We want a life in dignity and national independence, the end of occupation. Nevertheless we have no other possibility but to send the Israelis a clear message: if you continue to murder you will have to drink of the same poison. ... We need binding, bilateral commitments. And we need a common approach - which includes Mahmud Abbas and all the political groups and factions."

"We Are Overcoming our Fear"

SPIEGEL interview with Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, one of the founders of the Iranian student movement, about the riots in Teheran, the influence of the USA on the reformers, and the future of the theocracy:

"We Iranians are now overcoming our fear. In many other towns, such as Isfaham, Mashad and Tabris, many citizens are becoming active. But all this is just in preparation for 9 July, the anniversary of our protests in 1979. I am sure that a huge mass of people will take to the streets then in order to protest against the mullah regime. ... So far we have received no help from the USA, and we don't want any in future either. The fact that many exiled Iranian media are based in America doesn't mean in the least that they are supported by Washington. ... The Iranian people do not demonise the United States. We regard the Americans, and also the US administration, as friends. ... Primarily we want a secular republic, in which the state and religion are separate from one another. In addition, the human rights convention must be recognised and implemented, whereby we set great store by equal rights for women and freedom of speech. In terms of foreign policy, we are in favour of friendly relations with all states, in particular with the USA. ... Our goal is a referendum over the future form of government, ideally to be monitored by UN observers."

"Black Magic of Words"

Foreign Minister de Villepin has revealed his innermost being - he is impressed not by statesmen but by unhappy poets. The title of the book itself contains the entire programme. Villepin has named his homage "Elegy to the Fire Thieves", a reference to the rebellious young poet Arthur Rimbaud, for whom the task of a poet was to steal fire from the gods, like Prometheus, in order to give it to mankind.

"Picture Go-Getters in a Fix"

Photography: Bill Gates and Mark Getty want to revolutionise the industry, and earn millions, through the world-wide trade in digital photos. But now both are struggling with the consequences of having expanded too rapidly - and with court actions brought against them by furious photographers who see their craft as being under threat.

"Living Once More before Death"

Dying: Most doctors capitulate when they are no longer able to cure a patient - wrongly so. The experiences of 170 German hospices and palliative care centres demonstrate that the suffering of terminally ill patients can be alleviated more and more effectively. The most difficult task is, more often, trying to reconcile the soul of a dying person with death.

"Mass Wasting Disease"

Physics: The prototype kilogram in Paris, the standard for all scales on Earth, is becoming lighter. Even the experts don't know why. The situation is untenable. Although the decrease in the kilogram only corresponds to the mass of half a grain of salt, extrapolating this to the world's annual rice production, this inaccuracy does in fact amount to an entire lorry load. For this reason scientists now want to count the number of atoms in a kilogram of silicon.

"The Virus Hunters of the Amazon"

Research: Viruses attack human beings apparently from nowhere. Particularly animals are a source of dormant lethal illnesses. In the Brazilian jungle, military and scientific staff are joining forces to fight the epidemics that could threaten mankind. Scientists are often quick to describe the rain forests as the pharmacy of the world. Pharmaceutical companies are hunting for drugs against Aids and cancer in the jungle. Ecotourists marvel at the healing powers of herbs used by shamans to cure severely ill patients. But fatal diseases also lurk in the wild. The causative agents of Aids and Ebola, for instance, probably existed in the bodies of animals for millions of year before making the transition to human beings.

"Damn and Blast"

Music: The Chemnitz Opera House was hoping that the rediscovery of the "Second Part of the Magic Flute" would be a theatrical coup. But now the piece is being scratched from the programme and the director is to go to court.

"One Pair of Trousers, Two Pairs of Briefs"

SPIEGEL in-depth interview with sailors Michael Illbruck and Jochen Schümann about the sufferings of their crews, the secrets of their boats and a German America's Cup campaign:

Schümann: "Our ships for the America's Cup aren't designed until the course of the race is known. So you know what weather conditions to expect and are constantly optimising the ship, and you end up with a ship that can do eight or nine knots even in a wind of six or seven knots." Illbruck: "For me, the most unpleasant part is the fact that at some stage it stinks quite unbearably inside. There's no private life among sailors anyway, so you can adjust to the close quarters. With a team of professionals that's fine, because everyone has been sailing for a long time anyway. But the stench? Very unpleasant. ... If you want to win a regatta like the Volvo Ocean Race, you know: you aren't going to win anything with compromises. You weren't allowed to bring along any small change, no photographs, no extra sweatshirt or anything." Schümann: "It's a question of steering the right course every single second. You can sail very quickly, but you can also sail very quickly in the wrong direction. Match race sailing is like chess, only that the squares keep moving around - the wind and the water that is. The aim is to have a slight lead and to control your opponent."