"The West Is Waging War on Us"

SPIEGEL in-depth interview with Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko about his troubled relationship with the European Union and Nato, about Moscow's resistance toward the Russia Belarus Union, the protests by opposition forces in his country and the treatment of Adolf Hitler:

"As an institution, the European Union has so far cut itself off very much, both in political and economic terms. It is even more isolated than our Soviet system, which you once criticised so harshly. ... Here, as in all former Soviet republics, Nato is considered a totally superfluous institution. ... Hitler was a terrible individual, both for us and for the Germans themselves. But every process has a positive as well as a negative side."

Islamists: A report on Islamists who are being recruited in Europe to take part in the holy war in Iraq.

"We Want Freedom"

SPIEGEL interview with Hamas leader Ahmed Sheikh Yassin, 65, about his No to the Geneva peace plan, suicide attackers and the battle for a Greater Palestine:

"The foundations of Israel are untenable. They kicked millions of Palestinians out of their homes. The Israelis don't want to live as equals with others at all. If they wanted to, they could open the gates for us so we could live together. ... The occupation, the settlements, sealing in our people, 10,000 prisoners - is all that not violence? Every day houses are destroyed. We are not the only source of violence. The occupation has to end before this resistance will stop. ... I would like our people to be strong and to defend themselves. We want our freedom and our land."

"Saving for Poland"

European Union: When the EU expands to the east, many regions which have until now been receiving structural aid will cease to benefit, these include, in particular, Germany's eastern states and the Ruhr district.

"The Current System Will Fail"

SPIEGEL interview with Henry McKinnel, head of Pfizer, about the rise of his company to become the world's leading pharmaceuticals manufacturer, his criticism of the German health care system and the industry's controversial pricing policy:

"The two take-overs [Ed.: of Warner-Lambert and Pharmacia] have allowed us to significantly lower our expenses, and we are expecting further successful drugs from the research pipelines of the two companies. ... Neither of them were typical mergers, either by past or future standards. Both were unusual opportunities which I seized upon. ... The German health care system cannot be cured as long as the money doesn't flow where it can be used most effectively. And the most effective way of spending money in a health care system is through the timely use of modern pharmaceuticals. However in Germany more is spent on generic drugs and 20-year-old medicines than on innovative, cost-saving ones. ... In Canada, we have to sell our products at up to 60 percent below their US price, in Europe they sell for about half. Germans and Canadians are quite simply living at the expense of the Americans. They profit by the fact that American consumers pay the bulk of the enormous research expenditure. Things cannot continue like this."

"In the Mouth of the Dragon"

World trade: China's rise to become an economic power offers huge opportunities for German industries. All the major companies want to be in on this, bureaucratic obstacles and legal uncertainties do not deter them. Is a massive shift of jobs to the Middle Kingdom threatening?

"On a Holy Mission"

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Arab Islamists are indoctrinating Bosnian Muslims. The small Balkan state is in danger of becoming a hotbed for fanatic religious fighters. The radicalisation of Bosnian Islam is already widely apparent. In the evenings, when the faithful flock to the Fahd Mosque, the men have beards and the women wear headscarves. Apart from the Islamists, there is also an explosive leftover from bygone days: during the civil war Muslim fighters, so-called mujahedin, poured into the country to help their troubled brothers in their fight against Serbia.

"Code Name Abu Nidal"

Turkey: Two weeks after the attacks in Istanbul the picture of the terrorists is taking shape, but the leaders in the background are on the run. The trail leads to Syria and Northern Iraq. The Turkish investigators say that the group behind the attacks was directed by four imams (prayer leaders). Two of them are known by name. The authorities estimate that the financial backers of the network comprise some 30 people, while the so-called news group, which looks out for further sympathisers in mosques and houses of prayer all over the country, is made up of some 150. Experts are surprised by the social mix of the group, which resembles that of the 11 September attackers. The only feature linking virtually all the suspects, according to investigators, is their close affiliation with Salafism, a fundamentalist school of Islam which Bin Laden and his deputy Savahiri also belong to.

"From Messenger to Manager"

Genetic engineering: Molecular biologists have discovered an astonishingly simple way of switching off disease-related genes: by mimicking a natural process in the cell. Start-up companies are already exploiting the new technology - a new biotechnology boom has erupted. Rarely has any new development moved this quickly from the cell cultures of the laboratory to the business plans of start-ups and the brochures of banks: the first US scientists coined the term "RNA interference" just five years ago. How can simple RNA silence unwanted genes? It destroys or blocks other RNA molecules which are actually meant to carry the genetic information to the protein factory as messengers. This kind of blockade becomes necessary, for example, when a virus has infected a cell in the body and smuggled its own genetic information into it.

"Handed on a Platter"

Wildlife: Rubbish dumps are securing the survival of many animal species - household waste is almost as nutritious as dog food. But as a habitat, dumps also hold certain risks. Researchers world-wide are investigating this culinary trend among animals. They have found that 70 bird species depend on rubbish for part of their diet; while 50 mammals regard rubbish as being handed to them on a platter. White storks in Germany or Turkey, marabous in Uganda, and white-backed vultures in India feast on sausage scraps.

"Anything Is Conceivable"

History: Did the Vikings reach the American interior before Columbus? The famous rune stone from Kensington is now to be examined to establish its authenticity.

"Flirting in a Flying Boat"

Internet: The latest generation of on-line games boasts wellness paradises for people seeking contact, and building grounds for pioneers. There is nothing to be won there - only a second life.

"Half a Brain"

Spectacles: Dario Fo, the winner of the Nobel prize for literature, is presenting his latest theatrical prank in Rome - a vicious attack on Silvio Berlusconi. As the writer points out, censorship is on the rise in Italy. Numerous well-known comedians and cabaret artists have been prevented from appearing on RAI, the state television network, because Berlusconi disliked them.

"The Naked Malingerer"

Photography: In an exhibition in Kassel, France's star philosopher Jean Baudrillard displays his brilliance as a photographer - and can be seen rather scantily dressed in some of the pictures. Some of the pictures are indeed a success - provided you have a predilection for eeriness. The man who rails against making life overly aesthetic sees things from an almost emotional angle.

"In the Service of Their Clan"

Soccer: In the German premier league they are wildly acclaimed stars, in their Brazilian home they are honoured as benefactors. Frequently coming from the poorest backgrounds, professional soccer players such as Ailton often support their entire clan - many a town would look very different without the money sent from Europe.