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Picture This: Going Home

Procreative Prenzlauer Berg: Berlin Neighborhood Is a Mecca for Young Families

Berlin's bohemian chic district is a laboratory for family policy. Germany's population is fast graying, but Prenzlauer Berg is the center of the country's new creative class and procreative spirit.

Defusing the Time Bomb?: Germany Reports Hike in Childbirths

The goverment has predicted that Germany's population will shrink radically in the coming decades, but the announcement this week that more babies were born in 2007 than in any year since 2001 comes as good news. Does it mean the country's new family laws are working?

The World from Berlin: A New Arms Race with Russia?

Moscow isn't really afraid of the US missile defense shield. A day after the US signed an important deal with Poland, German commentators say that Russia is merely pining for the good old days of the Soviet Union.

End of the Prague Spring: Western Spies Were Out in the Cold

Forty years ago this Thursday, the Soviet Union ended the so-called Prague Spring with a massive invasion of troops and tanks. Intelligence files from that era show that the largest military operation in Europe since 1945 took the West by surprise.

Spanish Plane Crash Disaster: Number of Victims Rises to 153 as Investigation Proceeds

On Thursday, investigators in Madrid continued to investigate the cause of Spain's worst jet crash since 1983. Meanwhile, forensics experts began the difficult work of determining the identities of badly burned bodies. So far 153 deaths have been confirmed.

Zappa v. Bach: The Legal Battle for Rock Legacy

The Zappa Family Trust may be willing to compromise in its legal battle against the annual Frank Zappa festival Zappanale in northern Germany. And when it comes to battling Bach, the rock legend's heirs have changed course.

Violence on the Rise: German Troops Kill First Person in Afghanistan

Six years into its Afghanistan mission, the German army has killed a person there for the first time. Reports, though, are conflicting. While some speak of a firefight, others say it was an unarmed shepherd. The incident is part of a wider flare-up of violence in the country.

It's Something About Denmark: Why Danes Are the World's Happiest People

Two recent studies found Danes to be the world's happiest people. The new reputation and media attention have led to a national discussion.

Nicholas D. Kristof: China's Rise Goes Beyond Gold Medals

Today, it's the athletic surge that dazzles us, but China will leave a similar footprint in almost every other facet of life.

Missile Shield Fallout: Poland Risks Serious Confrontation with Russia

The Cold War is returning to Poland. Warsaw wants to further tighten ties with Washington and it has used the US missile defense system to do so -- against massive opposition from Moscow. In return, the Poles will now be given Patriot missiles to protect themselves.

Disaster in Spain: Madrid Plane Crash Kills At Least 140

A major plane crash at a Madrid airport on Wednesday has left at least 140 dead according to rescue workers. During takeoff, the Spanair jet bound for the Canary Islands swerved off the end of the runway and broke into flames.

Trans-Atlantic Art Spat: European Heirs Demand New York Museums Return Picassos

The heirs of German-Jewish banker Paul von Mendelssohn-Bartholdy are demanding that New York's most important museums hand over two Picassos. But MoMA and the Guggenheim are fighting back, claiming they are now the rightful owners.

A Clash of Cultures: US and Chinese Superstars Face Off in Beijing

The new superpower of sports encounters the old one, as China's army of state-sponsored athletes faces off against America's milionaire superstars. In this clash of two very different cultures will the American dream prevail?

Spectacular Find in Germany: Dinosaurs May Be Older than First Thought

Traces of a dinosaur found a German quarry suggest the creatures may have been 15 million years older than previously believed.

The World from Berlin: 'NATO Is a Paper Tiger'

A blocked UN resolution, a limited statement by NATO -- the international community has not yet found its voice when it comes to Russia, German commentators write on Wednesday. Moscow, though, may still have a high price to pay.

'What Are the Aims of this War?': French Opposition Demands Rethink of Afghanistan Mission

The death of 10 French soldiers has shocked France. The Socialists are demanding a debate about the Afghanistan mission, but President Sarkozy has defended the Hindu Kush deployment as his party lashed out at the opposition for attempting to politicize a national tragedy.

Wayward Humpback in the Baltic Sea: Greenpeace Prepares to Save 'Bucki'

A wayward humpback whale sighted in recent days along Germany's Baltic coastline still hasn't managed to find his way back to the safety of the North Atlantic. Environmentalists say time is getting critical and that the whale is having trouble nourishing itself.

Bribery Scandal Report: Siemens Close to Deal with US Authorities

Siemens may be close to reaching a settlement with the SEC and the US Justice Department in a €1.3 billion bribery scandal, according to a Wednesday newspaper report. A deal could save the company from being banned from bidding on public contracts in the US.