Berlin is the capital of Germany, the largest economy in Europe. Divided after World War II, the city was reunited in 1989, and since then has become the center of power in Germany.

Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the United States. It is home to the world's most profitable film industry, as well as the largest population of Hispanic residents in the U.S.

Beijing is the capital of China, the most populous country in the world. After a period of communist rule, China relaxed its economic controls in the mid-1990s to allow growth.

Sydney is the largest city in Australia and the center of the country's economic activity. It has a comfortable climate, an ethnically varied population, and is considered one of the best cities in the world in which to live.

The strategic importance of Istanbul's location has made the city one of the longest-inhabited areas in the world. Today it is the largest and most economically dynamic city in Turkey.

The most globalized city in India, Mumbai is also one of the most populous in the world, with more than 21 million residents.

London is a leading business, political, and cultural center, as well as one of the world's four major cities (along with New York City, Tokyo, and Paris). To meet the challenges of the future, the mayor's office has initiated the "London Plan," with the goal of making the metropolis "an exemplary, sustainable world city."

The most densely populated city in North America is the home of the United Nations and a hub of international finance, art, and entertainment. New York is also a powerful symbol of American culture. The city welcomes immigrants, with more than a third of its population foreign born. And it has successfully dealt with crime--it is the safest large city in the U.S. Though devastated by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, its residents continue their strong recovery.

Tokyo, officially "Tokyo Metropolis," is the capital of Japan and the island nation's hub of business, government, education, and mass media. Though Tokyo boasts the largest metropolitan economy in the world, its residents must contend with having the highest cost of living in the world, and one of the most crowded cities. Despite its problems, Tokyo is one of the planet's most important economic centers, and it retains a strong cultural identity.

Noted for its European and indigenous cultural influences, beautiful physical setting, and biological diversity, Cape Town is a major seaport and legislative capital of South Africa. Having endured apartheid for 50 years, with the ruling white population enjoying the privileges of power and wealth, the city is now coming to terms with its past.