Der Spiegel

Stinky trains may become a thing of the past in Berlin, where officials are sniff-testing new fragrances to mask the odors of public transit.

For the first time in recorded history, the Northwest and the Northeast passages are free enough of ice to be navigable. Shipping companies welcome this effect of global climate change.

Incidents of violence and vandalism highlight a rising tide of local opposition to teh construction of new mosques in Germany.

"Football Carnivals" are on the rise in Germany, where the community viewing buzz from the 2006 World Cup has hung around and revived itself for the current European Championship.

Cities across the world are rising higher and beefing up their skylines with high-profile skyscrapers. A building boom in emerging global cities has put a new face on the battle for the best skyline.

A massive dam project in Turkey that would flood historic areas and displace 50,000 people is losing international support, as officials in Germany threaten to pull out of the project -- often called a smaller version of China's Three Gorges Dam.

The planning process has taken a little longer than expected for a Chinese investor looking to create Germany's first Chinatown.

Efforts to improve Europe's network of high-speed rail systems may also result in loosened border crossing rules.

One German planner's influence has been seen in projects across the world. Now he's refocusing his eyes on his home country.

Many Japanese cities are in decline, and people there are counting on the new prime minister to put a stop to it.

Six social housing projects built in 1920s Berlin by such architects as Walter Gropius and Bruno Taut are being considered for preservation as UNESCO sites.

More and more Italian cities are getting on board the "Slow City" movement, from the big to the tiny.

In Germany, the governor of Bavaria has announced that financing has been secured for a 23-mile mag-lev train from downtown Munich to its international airport. But others say the funding is less-than secure.

The mayor of a small German city is fighting depopulation by paying young women to move in.

A small town in Germany has begun removing all road signs, traffic signals, and sidewalks in a counter-intuitive -- but proven -- attempt to reduce traffic accidents.

The "Celtic Tiger" of Dublin has experienced a quick turnaround from one of the poorest European countries to one of the most successful.

Der Spiegel interviews urban researcher Charles Landry about how cities can harness their creative classes and stay competitive in the global market.

Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, has been widely celebrated in recent years as one of the most historic and, at the same time, most thoroughly high-tech cities in Eastern Europe.

With large investments made in refurbishing and emphasizing its waterfront in recent years, Barcelona has set off on a path towards rejuvenation -- bringing in many foreigners and a surge of young, creative professionals.

Many world cities are undergoing successful rebirths, but many see the smaller so-called "second cities" as the true hubs for long-term economic success.