Affairs Report: Gulf champions - Doha

Qatar may be small, but with a GDP of €46bn it has the money to pull off minor miracles. Its latest plan is to become one of the world's leading sports nations and to host the 2016 Olympic Games.

Oceania Briefing: Island breaks - Pacific

Australia's reputation and influence in the Pacific islands is set for a revival following prime minister Kevin Rudd's renewed interest in the welfare of the region.

Oceania Briefing: Shiny new Penny - Australia

When Labor swept Australia's conservative Liberal Party from power last November, they did it on a promise of "new leadership" and generational change for the country.

Oceania Briefing: View finding - Australia

It is aqua-therapy of sorts.

Asia Briefing: A bridge too far? - Hong Kong

A 36km bridge from Hong Kong to Macau and Zhuhai may tender in the coming months.

Asia Briefing: Re-enter the dragon - Seoul

Imagine if New York's Central Park had been occupied by a foreign army for the past century.

Asia Briefing: School's out - Japan

In its heyday, more than 1,000 children thronged the playground. Today, the corridors of the Yotsuya Hiroba school in central Tokyo are empty.

Affairs Report: National expression - The world

There are many ways for a nation to make a name for itself and build international brand equity, but the results are not always guaranteed.

Affairs Report: Canal plus - Panama

Attracting everyone from US retirees to multinationals, Panama is emerging as Latin America's most vibrant and strategic centre.

Style Leaders: Trail blazer - Germany

Since becoming chancellor of Germany in 2005, the once dowdy Angela Merkel has realised the importance of image and undergone a controlled makeover.

Europe Briefing: Seed of change - Denmark

The Danes have become one of the world's most successful exporters of human sperm.

Affairs Report: So long, Serbia - Pristina

On 17 February the Assembly of Kosovo declared independence and the war-torn state became free from Serbian rule.

Affairs Report: New state symbol - Kosovo

Kosovo's extra-UN recognition symbolises the shift to a new world order where global authority is dispersed among multiple centres of power.

Americas Briefing: Tense trade-off - Canada

China is not happy with Canada.

Americas Briefing: Touchy subject - Mexico City

Mexican women say it is impossible to avoid groping, verbal abuse and lewd looks on Mexico City's overcrowded public transport network.

Americas Briefing: Cuban healing - Miami

Cuban exiles and their offspring in Miami are drawing up a comprehensive blueprint to redevelop Havana.

Africa/Middle East Briefing: Net profits - Tanzania

Africa's first large-scale factory for mosquito nets is about to begin production in the town of Arusha.

Africa/Middle East Briefing: Mine games - Central African Republic

Three countries in Africa - Niger, Namibia and South Africa - produce around 6,500 tonnes of uranium a year.

Africa/Middle East Briefing: Rising sons - Uganda

So, you're a president with rather shaky democratic credentials. Eventually you know you'll have to give up power. The question is: who should be your hand-picked successor?

Affairs Report: Cape crusader - Praia

Nato, the EU, the Chinese, the US, property developers and private jet owners looking to refuel: it seems suddenly everyone wants to be Cape Verde's friend.

Q&A: Street talker - France

Her parents are from Algeria and she has spent her life working for radical campaign groups, but now Fadela Amara is at the heart of government in France.

Business Report: Trade secret - Malaysia

George Town's faded Art Deco villas and relaxed pace of life are luring a new generation of international entrepreneurs.

Perfect Company: The new deli - Hamburg

The ongoing gentrification of Hamburg brings a retail concept that combines local organic produce with slick design.

Business Briefing: Grounds for war - USA

For the past 10 years the preferred coffee-shop chain of US troops in war zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq has been Green Beans Coffee.

Business Briefing: Pressing issues - Barcelona

This year's Mobile World Congress, the mobile phone world's annual gathering in Barcelona, saw a market transformed, post-iPhone.

Business Briefing: To buy or not to buy - Dubai

Dubai property prices continue their meteoric rise, with Cairo-based HC Securities & Investment predicting the city-state will witness "unprecedented" price hikes this year.

Business Report: Gilt trip - Frankfurt, London & Zürich

Key to the secretive trade in gold are the daily bullion flights between the world's leading financial hubs. Welcome aboard Bullion Air.

Fairplay: Hair raising - Atlanta

One of the largest producers of African American haircare products, the Bronner Brothers' legendary trade shows are part circus, part religious meeting.

Brands Explained: Prime mover - Tokyo

Mitsubishi built Tokyo's first office block, in the Marunouchi district, 114 years ago, and the firm is behind the area's current redevelopment into a major financial centre.

Brands Explained: Site seeing - Tokyo

The next phase of Marunouchi's transformation will see the building of Mitsubishi's Marunouchi Park Building, which includes a 34-floor office tower, shops, a rose garden and an art gallery housed in a replica of Mitsubishi's first office building.

Business Briefing: Do not disturb - Zürich

After spending a rumoured €273m on a total overhaul, the Dolder Grand is hoping to cement its reputation as the European elite getaway, 109 years after its first guests checked in.

Business Briefing: Fast track - Japan

Japan has already sold bullet trains to Taiwan and shinkansen technology to China, and is now hoping that Brazil will choose Japanese trains too.

Business Briefing: On the hop - USA

In 2009 north-east American skies will be abuzz with four-seater Eclipse 500s as Pogo Jet launches its on-demand jet charter service.

Culture Briefing: Monocle movies - Conflicting passions

Spring screens.

Culture Briefing: Monocle music - March to a different beat

Dig!!! April's albums.

Culture Briefing: Monocle art - April showers

April showers.

Culture Report: Lucky star - Virginia

America has the vestiges of a patchwork of local media barons. The ones that thrive have managed to mix tradition with cutting-edge technology. The 80-year-old owner of the 'Free Lance-Star' is still a pioneer and the owner of an empire that rivals covet.

Culture Briefing: Monocle books - Our shelf life

Our shelf life.

My Working Life: Woman of the world - Washington

The next correspondent in our series looking at foreign coverage of the US presidential elections is Corine Lesnes of 'Le Monde'. Once frosty, France's relations with the US have improved with the arrival of President Sarkozy.

Culture Report: Presenting the nation - Global

An explosion of state-funded English-language news channels are attempting to transmit not just the news but their country’s brand. From Moscow to Mumbai we report on the new broadcast empires and ask if this is just propaganda disguised as programming.

Well Stacked: Sound bites - Tokyo

Tokyo-based sound designer Eric Nagy mixes found sounds in his tracks for films, commercials and music videos.

Well Stacked: Culture café - Lourmarin

Situated off this Provençal village's main square, Le Thé dans l'Encrier serves as the sole bookshop to 1,100 inhabitants and myriad tourists.

Well Stacked: Nico time - Luxembourg

Nico is the offspring of Luxembourg-based publishing maverick Mike Koedinger's fertile imagination.

Design Briefing: Plaz on - A magical new theatre

The Danish Royal Theatre has just opened its new playhouse in Copenhagen's harbour area.

Design Briefing: Bamboozled - The anti-eco, eco-friendly architect

­­He single-handedly pioneered the use of bamboo in construction, but Colombian architect Simón Vélez won't embrace eco-acolytes who tout the hollow grass as the 21st century's answer to the steel beam.

Fashion: Guest dress - George V, Paris

Founded in 1928, the Four Seasons Hotel George V is about to celebrate its 80th birthday.

Design Report: Socks appeal - Germany

From Lufthansa cabin crew to men about town, more people than ever are keeping their toes warm with Falke’s socks and tights.

Fashion: Life is suite - The Peninsula, Tokyo

‘I won’t really spend much time in my hotel room anyway’ has one translation - your colleague or friend has checked into a room not fit for human habitation.

Design Briefing: Work balance - Hotels and offices, take note

Contract furniture rarely excites, but Arti takes a fresh approach.

Design Briefing: Life-s a squeeze - Architecture for small spaces

This tiny 80 sq m residence Yoyogi, designed by two-year-old practice­ frontofficetokyo, is squeezed into Tokyo's densely built-up Shibuya neighbourhood.

Design Briefing: Pin point - Mexico's new priorities

Young Mexican designers Emiliano Godoy and Alejandro Castro of the Pirwi furniture line have opened the Pin shop in Mexico City's Colonia Roma to showcase environmentally friendly designs.

Design Briefing: Northern highlights - Stockholm fair for Nordic wares

The Stockholm furniture fair may be small compared to others, but it's still one of the best Nordic design showcases.

Q&A: Wiel Arets - Architect

Dutch architect Wiel Arets has designed this stand-out social housing development opposite Pradalongo Park in Madrid.

Design Briefing: Tunnel vision - An admirable memorial

A sensitive design was required for this visitor centre at the Ravensbrück concentration camp memorial site in Germany.

Fashion Briefing: Top glasses - Arty specs from Colab

In an effort to counteract eyewear's mass production and predictability, Australian company Colab has given international artists EBoy, Perks_And_Mini, Geoff McFetridge, Rockin* Jellybean and Neasden Control Centre free rein over their designs.

Fashion Briefing: Light latin - Firm favourites Piombo revamp store

If you have yet to check out Piombo’s relaunched shop in Milan, now could be a good time to do so - and pick up one of its light cotton shirts while you’re there.

Design Report: Going for old - Tokyo

The Japanese love vintage, but the idea of bidding for second-hand furniture is an unfamiliar concept.

Design Report: A study in scarlet - Stockholm

Andreas Ferm and Jani Kristoffersen founded their practice DRD-A in 2003. Soon to relaunch as Guise, they are taking on ever

Design Report: Salone rangers - Milan

Milan's I Saloni - the collective name for the Salone Internazionale del Mobile and its associated offshoots such as Salone Ufficio and SaloneSatellite - are the most important events in the design calendar, with over 2,300 exhibitors and almost 300,000 v

Fashion Briefing: Bangle rock - Hermès gets the hippy shakes

The luxe hippie-gypsy look was everywhere in Milan for autumn/ winter (Gucci, Bally) but Hermès was one season ahead of the game with its silverlined enamel bangles decorated with mandala-esque emblems.

Fashion Briefing: Felt so good - Barbisio caps it all

The Cervo Valley in northern Italy is known for its hat making, even if many factories folded in the 1980s.

Fashion Briefing: True grit - Swedish store gets down to business

When we stumbled across Nitty Gritty in Stockholm, its concept made a big impression.

Fashion Briefing: What a pair - Brits stick together

Giving Monocle a run for our money, Margaret Howell is fast becoming queen of the collaboration.

Fashion Briefing: Shower power - Sophnet has us singing in the rain

Hirofumi Kiyonaga has been producing sophisticated, minimal garments combined with hi-tech materials since 1998 for Japanese brand Sophnet, (an abbreviation of Sophisticated Network).

Fashion Briefing: Totes for all - Moltedo man hits the sack

When he spied macho men hoisting his women’s totes over their shoulders, Gabrielecorto Moltedo decided it was time to launch a men’s line.

Fashion: Stockists, issue 12

Stockists details for issue 12 of Monocle magazine.