Affairs
Page 351
Africa/Middle East
Syrian first lady Adma Al-Assad's outfits; wine-tasting classes for poor South Africans.
Oceania
The French flock to Pacific colony New Caledonia and Asian students shun Australian universities.
Europe
Turkish Military Academy, rebranding Italy and Angela Merkel's official transport of choice.
Failing states
Europe is home to three nations that should be successes but instead are failing badly. Over the following pages, we look at their problems – from corruption to constitutional meltdown.
Med school
Palestinians and Israelis are among the first intake at the new Euro-Mediterranean University, which embodies the ideals of Nicolas Sarkozy’s Mediterranean Union to create a new generation of cooperative leaders.
Asia
China rediscovers the bicycle as oil prices soar while disaffected Japanese youths flirt with communism.
Americas
Bullet-proof training in Colombia, the US's Project Laundry List and plans for new high-speed rail.
Shifting sands
After President Niyazov’s death, his successor promised to open Turkmenistan up. But the gas-rich nation is still an enigma. Monocle entered the country to see what, if anything, has changed.
Summer of the siege
Two years after the war with Israel, another battle raged in Lebanon. As bullets flew, our correspondent recorded the rollercoaster of events from Beirut, where mojitos were still served amidst the crisis.
