Affairs Report: A cold summer - Russia

A war erupted in Europe and nobody was ready for it.

Affairs Report: Dream team - USA

As the US presidential elections draw closer, at Monocle we've been turning our attention to who we'd like to see in the Cabinet. From CEOs to hip hop moguls, we've found a team who could change America's image around the world.

Europe Briefing: Election watch - Europe

As the US presidential elections draw closer, at Monocle we've been turning our attention to who we'd like to see in the Cabinet. From CEOs to hip hop moguls, we've found a team who could change America's image around the world.

Europe Briefing: Death by numbers - Italy

Italy has put troops on the streets to calm a panic over crime.

Europe Briefing: Mass appeal - Finland

Finland has a special fondness for progressive priests who engage in such activities as hosting charity galas and writing cook books.

Europe Briefing: Underground books - Sweden

Ever thought of going to the library to borrow a book, but given up because it's such a hassle getting there?

Americas Briefing: Silva jet - Brazil

When establishing Brazil's Workers' Party in the 1980s, now president 'Lula' traversed the vast country by car and bus.

Americas Briefing: Guns down - El Salvador

El Salvador may be changing its violent reputation.

Americas Briefing: Car not decide - USA

Just as electrical transport is gaining a foothold among Americans, some states are pulling the plug.

Asia Briefing: Here's looking at Hu - China

Chinese president Hu Jintao is a stranger and sartorial extravagance or elegant eccentricity, sticking to outfits as conservative as his leadership style.

Asia Briefing: Brand new nation? - The Olympics and China's image

The Games may have gone off without a hitch, but it will take a lot more to turn around China's less than shiny image.

Africa/Middle East Briefing: Power hungry - Different coup, same problems

Postcard from Mauritania

Africa/Middle East Briefing: Green light - Lebanon

Lebanon's Green Party has a new president at its helm - Philippe Skaff, CEO of Grey Advertising (pictured) in the Middle East - and is making its first serious foray into politics ahead of the parliamentary elections that are scheduled for next year.

Africa/Middle East Briefing: Boar wars - Algeria

Algeria's effort to crack down on terrorism has had an unexpected side effect: the wild boar population has soared.

Oceania Briefing: Treasure island - Vanuatu

Australian Federal Police have targeted a number of tax havens around the world, from the Cayman Islands to Vanuatu, in "Operation Wickenby" to recover many millions of dollars in lost tax revenue being hidden by wealthy Australians.

Oceania Briefing: Uneasy listening - New Zealand

The council of the New Zealand town of Hamilton has discovered that the dulcet tones of American crooner Andy Williams are the answer to anti-social behaviour.

Oceania Briefing: Spreading its wings - Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste is to have its own national airline, six years after becoming an independent country.

Oceania Briefing: Q&A Richard Yoweni - West Papua

West Papua was annexed by Indonesia in 1963, but its people are still struggling for independence, a fight that has claimed around 100,000 lives.

Affairs Report: Tanked up - Iraq's military shopping list

Iraq is looking to equip itself with western military arms to fill the looming power vacuum that will be left as the US-led coalition withdraws over the next three years.

Affairs Report: Fighting talk - Army manoeuvres

Army manoeuvres

Affairs Report: Upwardly mobile - Homeland property boom

Amid concerns over rising anti-Semitism around the world, wealthy Jewish people are investing in luxury boltholes in Israel.

Affairs Report: Capital idea - Abuja

Founded 32 years ago, Nigerian capital Abuja was a utopian dream.

Affairs Report: War on truth - Georgia

During the conflict in South Ossetia, western media were given free access by the Georgian government, while on the Russian side, foreign journalists were being either arrested or herded around by the military.

Business Report: Heartland of gold - Kansas City

This month in our series on emerging business hubs, we visit Kansas City, Missouri, where big companies and small start-ups are investing in America's heartland.

Business Report: Back on the radar - Spain

Spanish shipbuilders have seen out the storms and now, thanks to booming global demand, their order books are full.

Business Briefing: Juan for the road - Colombia

Soon Europeans may become acquainted with Juan Valdez, a moustachioed man with a poncho and a mule.

Business Briefing: Fat cheque - Switzerland

As the world gets richer, it gets thicker around the waist - so much so that banks are asking if there's money to be made from fat people.

Business Briefing: Relocation, relocation - Australia

Sydney hopes to take advantage of its location and the credit crunch to rival Hong Kong and Singapore as a global financial hub.

Business Briefing: Maharaja Mecca - India

Cartier, erstwhile outfitter to opulent maharajas, is arriving in India in grand style.

Business Briefing: Address book - Lisbon

Five places to put on your itinerary

Business Briefing: Muscle in Brussels - Zaventem airport

While it waits to play its hand on a potential takeover of UK carrier BMI, Lufthansa is making a move on SN Airholding, the parent of Brussels Airlines.

Business Briefing: High time - China

In the heart of Shanghai's Lujiazui financial district, the new 101-storey Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) is finally opening its doors 11 years after the start of construction.

Business Briefing: Q&A Priya Paul - India

Priya Paul took over the running of the Indian Park Hotels, part of her family's company Apeejay Surrendra Group, in 1990 at the age of 24.

Culture Report: The big Frieze - London

A London October used to be known for falling leaves, drizzle and an uneventful art sales calendar. Auction house Sotheby's saved its strength - and its best lots - for New York's crucial sales in November. But then, in 2003, Frieze arrived.

Culture Report: Auctions explained

Within hours, an auction house's display galleries are transformed into the sale room for the theatre of the auction.

My Working Life: Azteca camera - Washington

To round off our series on the foreign media's coverage of the US presidential campaigns, we talk to Armando Guzman of Mexico's TV Azteca about crossed wires and counter immigration.

Culture Briefing: Art

Monocle on art.

Culture Briefing: Film

Monocle on films.

Culture Briefing: Books

Monocle on books.

Culture Briefing: Music

Monocle on music.

My Working Life: New woman - Moscow

Unlike many other Russian dissidents, veteran broadcaster Irena Lesnevskaya has never considered emigration and, as editor-in-chief since 2007 of opposition weekly news magazine The New Times, has dared to speak out against Kremlin corruption.

Well Stacked: Historic texts - Lahore

"This is a printing house, crossroad of civilisation, refuge of all the arts against the ravages of time, armoury of fearless truth against whispering rumour, incessant trumpet of trade," declares the thick gold lettering on the front window of Ferozsons,

Culture Briefing: Happy talk - Collection meets with success

Fletcher Cowan and Holly Hay present answers to "when or where are you happiest?" in their new book When Fletcher & Hay Met....

Culture Briefing: A word in your ear - Scene and heard

The fidelity of Monocle's culture desk has been unimpeachable since it discovered Aiaiai's Y-Com earphones-cum-iPhone headset.

Design Report: Welcome home - Global

From fashion through to toys, outsourced production lines are closing down and the spotlight is being placed firmly back on local industries and economies.

Q&A: Brad Cloepfil - Architect, Allied Works

Brad Cloepfil is founder and principal at Allied Works Architecture.

Design Briefing: Float my boat - One man's passion

Jan Backman crafts his boats entirely in wood.

Design Briefing: Turning Japanese - Colette's latest makeover

Paris store Colette has always been about innovation.

Fashion Briefing: Alpaca punch - Brothers' Bolivian discovery

"We used to use a lot of cotton and jersey but when we went to Bolivia we got obsessed with alpaca. It is so underrated," says Satoru Inoue, one half of the Japanese brand Inoue Brothers.

Fashion Briefing: Washing line - Aspesi's clean collaboration

Fashion Briefing: Unbeaten tracks - Adventurous menswear at Nomad

Toronto's first stop for a well-cut jacket is tucked away on an unassuming block in the loft district.

Fashion Briefing: Old school style - A Danish classic resurrected

A former drummer in a band is not the most likely candidate to be found at the helm of a luxury leather bag brand, but Dane Piet Breinholm has always done things a bit differently.

Design Report: Heart and sole - Mallorca

It owns 70 stores, supplies countless more, and runs a hotel and a restaurant.

Men's Fashion: Inn for a change - Atami

Sekitei Inn has all the elements of a classic ryokan: traditional architecture, exquisite Japanese gardens with carp-filled ponds and outdoor baths.

Women's Fashion: The outsider - Hamburg

Monocle shifts into autumn and selects a sensible two wheeler, a wardrobe of elegant workwear and a daily circuit from Winterhude to the sunniest spots on and around the Alster.

Fashion Briefing: Made for working - Swedish/American partnership

Swedish fashion house Acne collaborates with Carolina Shoe Company, founded as a division of footwear firm HH Brown in 1963 in Morganton, North Carolina, for autumn/winter.