Monocle’s foreign editor meets the man in charge of transforming Malaysia’s economy. Encouraging competitiveness, creating jobs, helping the poor and enabling democracy are his three main challenges.
As editor of ‘The Zimbabwe Independent’, Trevor Ncube became all too familiar with the consequences of criticising the government. Now based in South Africa, where around 35 per cent of people live in poverty, he has plans…
Democracy was supposed to transform journalism in Burma with Myanmar Radio and Television acting as a public-service broadcaster. The reality, however, is a media that’s hardly changed at all.
The capital of Newfoundland and Labrador blossomed during its oil boom but it will need all the fierce optimism born of a harsh past to weather the slump.
Around the world, some countries look beyond military might to exert a more nuanced influence. In our fourth annual soft power survey, we take the pulse of these subtle superpowers and ask if soft can thrive in hard times…
Izmir in western Turkey was reshaped in the 18th and 19th centuries by European settlers who built railways and founded banks and newspapers. Many fled or were killed after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, but the few rem…
Londoners overwhelmingly want to remain in the EU. So what would happen if they did just that? We take a look at how the UK’s capital could make it a reality.
Faced with the curses and blessings of gentrification, Porto’s mayor is renovating derelict buildings in the historic centre to create social housing and ensure the city does not lose its flair.
Iraq tries to lure tourists with its unique attractions, including the option of a romantic night in Saddam Hussein’s palace. In Lebanon, a Jewish landmark gets restored and in Botswana, the presidential elections get under…
While its Middle Eastern neighbours have flashed the cash or succumbed to Islamist influences, Oman has chosen a quieter, more steady path. But if Oman is to increase its international brand, challenges will also need to…
As the finance minister in Zimbabwe’s government of national unity, Tendai Biti is trying to repair the economic damage inflicted by the Mugabe regime. He likens it to drowning in a sewer but is confident he can make a…
It is a tiny Muslim nation in one of the world’s most politically hostile regions. But Djibouti is also in the perfect position to keep tabs on Islamist militants. That’s why the US army is here and, thanks to a hearts- and…
OK, so the Olympics were a soft-power triumph for the UK. But now what? Over the following pages we explore how Britain can harness that post-games optimism and meet some of the people who can help the country do just that…
Life expectancy in Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe is 34 for women and 37 for men. Inflation is out of control; food, water and fuel are in short supply and corruption is rife. Elections are planned for March, but no one thinks…