Affairs
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In the hot seat
Chile’s first female president, Michelle Bachelet, lived in exile for five years after being tortured under Pinochet. Monocle talks to the leader about her term, male chauvinism and the financial crisis.
Oceania
Why did the Samoan cross the road? (It’s all in the name of regional harmony), Australia and New Zealand drop their guards and rock’n’roll rescues aboriginal languages.
Jock tactics
Canadian ice hockey commentator Don Cherry is a beloved anti-hero. At 75, he still enrages and entertains with his signature tough talk and strong opinions, making him a divisive but iconic figure.
Europe
The Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov and his nightclub-bouncer style, why the French are busy making babies and the Italians are busy doing nothing.
Lakeland revival
Bujumbura has the substance to become an African success story. The country’s upcoming elections are a chance to create lasting peace after 15 years of civil war, but corruption could derail the dream.
City-off
This year, two major summits—the G-20 and the COP15 Climate Conference—aim to achieve world-changing goals. Monocle visits Pittsburgh and Copenhagen to see what the host cities have planned.
Defence
The Indian Navy has launched its first domestically developed nuclear submarine, but faces criticism of another procurement programme. Meanwhile, the arms race in the Korean peninsula is heating up.
Should we force it?
As Sweden ends compulsory national service, Finland carries on. We consider the way forward for conscription in modern social democracies as a way to recruit citizens, not just soldiers.
Asia
South Korea employs a German-born TV celebrity for an image overhaul, Shanghai starts “digging for China” and Japan pioneers a less gory method of conducting autopsies. A round-up of stories from across Asia.
Justice for all
LA’s police force is using architecture to improve its public image. We look at its new HQ, an ‘eco’ police station in Australia, and other forces trying to appear more human.
