Opener: Disastrous Response

No one can expect things to run smoothly when the world rushes to help victims of disaster in the most troubled corners of the globe.

Affairs Report: Peace Station

The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration, aka the Peace Palace, houses a crack team striving to resolve international disputes and bring about world peace.

Affairs Report: Force for good

Monocle looks at the best nations to call in a crisis and tools you need for the job.

: What a relief

When it comes to disasters, the first few hours make all the difference to rescue and relief efforts.

Affairs Report: Ready for this?

Affairs Report: Dream team

Israel’s National Search and Rescue Unit, made up entirely of volunteers, is always one of the first teams to arrive in major disasters, including the earthquake in Haiti.

Affairs Report: Ivory power

Côte d’Ivoire are seen as Africa’s best chance for World Cup glory.

Americas Briefing: View from Washington

America may have cleaned up its policy on adopting foreign children but there is still a major problem with supply and demand.

Americas Briefing: Party planning

Canadians have begun thinking about how to mark their sesquicentennial.

Asia Briefing: New boy's toys

When the world’s biggest car manufacturer is a Japanese national treasure, the country’s prime minister has only one choice, to ride in a Toyota.

Asia Briefing: Brain exchange

China and Taiwan may not get on but the flow of people between the island and the mainland is on the up.

Asia Briefing: Virtual justice

Delhi High Court has created the first paperless courtroom in India.

Europe Briefing: Sickly Swedes

Swedes are known for taking more sick leave than most, but recently, they seem to be getting fitter.

Europe Briefing: Picking a fight

Two sets of national elections later this year and a millennium-old mutual antipathy are proving a toxic combination for Slovakia and neighbouring Hungary.

Europe Briefing: Toulouse to win

Toulouse is set to overtake Lyon in the next 10 years as France’s third-largest city.

Europe Briefing: Power drive

It’s already shown the world how to get people to share bikes; now, by the end of the year, Paris is planning to do the same with cars.

Oceania Briefing: Profits and saints

For any town that has produced a significant religious figure, the consequences can indeed be a blessing.

Africa/Middle East Briefing: Gut reaction

Uganda's police officers have apparently been enjoying their food a bit too much.

Africa/Middle East Briefing: Dress for success

Even if nothing else seems to be changing for the best in the Middle East, at least Tzipi Livni's makeover in the last two years has brought a breath of fresh air to the region.

Oceania Briefing: Fast learners

It seems that Australian students are forsaking the surf and sunshine for pen and paper this year.

Oceania Briefing: What's the state?

French Polynesia may have just given birth to the world's youngest nation – the self-declared Republic of Pakumotu.

Oceania Briefing: Remote control

With Guantánamo set to close and the expansion of its Guam base causing upset, the US may look to another "G" as a military outpost: Goat Island.

Defence Briefing: Robot remorse

A senior academic in the US has developed a prototype "ethical adaptor" software application that could make machines feel guilt.

Defence Briefing: It's plane to see

Russia is moving to upgrade its fleet of strategic bombers.

Defence Briefing: Sub plot

Vietnam has signalled its intention to become a regional maritime player.

Defence Briefing: Path breakers

Peru has embarked on a three-year programme worth in the region of $850m (€585m) to upgrade the capabilities of its special forces

Affairs Report: Lost and Found

Thanks to a strong leader, oil discoveries, new direct flights to Europe and a prime-time drama set in St John’s, it’s boom time for this Canadian province, leading everyone from Norwegian engineers to New York art directors to relocate here.

Business Report: No dilly Dalian

Offering an alternative lifestyle to Shanghai and Beijing, Dalian is a vibrant student city with an easier pace of life.

Business Briefing: Taking notes

Zimbabwe has become the numismatist's dream country.

Business Briefing: Cheer money

Suicide levels in the Japanese city of Kurihara have dropped by 18 per cent in two years thanks to "hope loans".

Business Briefing: Broadband stand

Rwanda is launching Africa's first city-wide wi-fi hotspot in its capital, Kigali.

Business Briefing: Fizz-free zone

Why Coke is definitely not it in Indonesia.

Business Report: Braking the mould

Mitsuoka makes models based on classic cars and it works unlike most other automakers in that every car is handmade in its workshop in Toyama.

Business Report: Beurre necessity

Monocle looks at what makes Echiré a better butter.

Business Report: The butter way

It is perhaps fitting that the world's only dedicated Echiré butter shop should be in a city where exclusivity, quality and gastronomy are highly regarded: Tokyo.

Culture Report: Loud and proud

As vocal political battles rage on over the country's democratisation, Monocle speaks to Turkey's media stars about the role newspapers have in shaping the nation.

Culture Briefing: Devil in the detail

The Bavarian Opera's Max Joseph magazine has hit its stride with its fourth instalment.

Culture Briefing: Cardboard hero

After her M Publication put the IQ back into fashion magazines, Kimberly Lloyd's latest box of tricks is just that – a magazine deconstructed into words, pictures and ads and presented in cardboard.

Culture Briefing: Film fusion

Films, food and photography form an unlikely fusion at Cinema Amigo in smalltown Zushi, just south of Tokyo.

Culture Briefing: Grow, my baby

The Indian daily 'Mint' proves newspapers can thrive in 2010.

Q&A: Q&A: Jeff Rabin and Michael Plummer

Q&A with Jeff Rabin and Michael Plummer, the founders of Artvest.

Culture Briefing: Well hung

When Canadian William Wells launched Townhouse as Egypt's first independent art space in 1998, Cairo's public art was very much in the hands of state-monopolised museums, grand galleries and austere auction houses.

Culture Briefing: Sale: London

Another instalment in Phillips's increasingly interesting calendar of "themed" sales, "Sex" will include a roster of prints and photography all representing the role a spot of sauce has had in modern and contemporary art.

Culture Report: Little prints

Starting on a shoestring, Benjamin Sommerhalder moved from making his own magazine to building up a small publishing house with a gallery and shop space.

Culture Briefing: Czar czar galore

Can a czar czar clear up our czar epidemic?

Culture Briefing: Music

Monocle music.

Culture Briefing: Film

Monocle film.

Culture Briefing: Books

Monocle books.

Culture Briefing: Art

Monocle art.

Design Report: All grown up

It used to be known for its trashy urban landscape but now Brisbane is showing the world that this 1980s child has come of age.

Design Briefing: Vote winner

Architecture in Brussels.

Design Briefing: Carving out a niche

Tools for Working Wood

Design Briefing: Very handsome

A highlight from IMM Köln.

Design Briefing: Child's play

A new Zaragoza kindergarten.

Design Briefing: In with the old

Japanese housing.

Design Briefing: Future vintage

Clothing company The Stronghold.

Design Briefing: Ward robes

Former Harper’s Bazaar editor Melanie Ward has launched a womenswear range.

Design Briefing: To dye for

Designer Yuki Matsuda founded Hermosa Beach-based brand Yuketen in 1989 inspired by American footwear and heritage.

Design Briefing: Can you kick it?

Japanese designer Hiroshi Takahashi and his High Bridge company have reinvented the boot with the Weaver Moccasin.

Design Briefing: Buyer's picks

Opened last year in Munich, in the premises his father used for 30 years as a design atelier, Harvest is owned by 26-year-old Philip Stole.

Design Briefing: Raining champ

Gloverall recently launched a tailor-made coat for the city's most notorious commodity, its rain.

Design Briefing: Sole brother

Pedro García III is continuing to expand its men's footwear collection.

Design Briefing: Short story

Parisian sportswear brand Ron Dorff was launched by Swede Claus Lindorff and Frenchman Jérôme Touron this month.

Q&A: Q&A: Henrik Lindberg

Q&A with Henrik Lindberg.

Fashion: Pitti Party

Buyers braved the cold to make it to this season’s Pitti Uomo menswear show, with numbers up on last year.

Design Report: It's that time again

There was a sense of optimism at this year's Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie as Swiss watchmakers predicted a return to sunnier economic climes and unveiled a host of high-end timepieces to underline their bullishness.

Design Report: Nature's Teachings

Dai Nippon Printing's new training centre, by architect Kenya Ishihara, was designed to inspire its employees.

Design Report: Law of Attraction

Law firms aren't usually known for innovative interior design but there is nothing stuffy about this Stockholm office.