Canada opened its borders to people of all nationalities in the 1960s, provided they had the right qualifications. The German government is discussing whether this could be a model for them. But critics say Canada’s often idealized immigration system is classist and encourages exploitation.

An international icon for her acting, singing and style: in 1939, Marlene Dietrich became a US citizen and took a clear stand against the Nazi dictatorship in her homeland. 80 years later, German performer Ute Lemper, likewise world famous and living in New York, has dedicated a production to Dietrich – inspired by a phone call from the legend herself.

Amidst film stars and hipsters at the Union Square Greenmarket in downtown Manhattan, an elderly lady bends down into garbage bags to sort other people’s waste. Who is this woman with a Dutch queen’s name and a German accent? And what does she hope to achieve in a city that likes nothing more than to buy and to throw away?

The city that never sleeps had an old dancing ban in place, from 1926 – until the current mayor overturned it. We visit some night owls as they ­celebrate their first summer of freedom.

When lawyer Kate Dowing announced that she would move out of Silicon Valley due to the exorbitant housing prices, the story went viral. It emphasized what many Bay Area residents know all too well: If you come to this affluent area for other reasons than working for a major tech company, life will be very expensive. Here are some ideas to make it work nevertheless.