Affairs
What to expect from Japan’s next likely, ‘punk rock’ prime minister, Sanae Takaichi
Japan's newly elected leader of the ruling LDP party is primed to be the country’s next - and first female - Prime Minister, redefining national ambition as permanent overtime.
Opinion
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Get the word out: Barcelona is back. But where has it been?
How do you measure a city’s mood? Lately, in Barcelona – arguably one of Spain’s most emotional metropolises – there is much chatter about the city being “Back!” Bold pronouncements such as these prompt…
Bad news for Russian submarines: Starmer is a savvy salesman
The agreement under which the UK will supply Norway with at least five warships over the coming decade gives every appearance of being a win-win outcome. Type 26 frigates will significantly reinforce the ability…
Throwing shade: The dark secret of cities that know how to stay cool
It’s Labor Day in the US and many are bidding so long to summer with a long weekend spent outside the city. Reflecting on the past few months, it occurred to me that the…
Dutch coalition collapse leaves politics all at sea as Schoof seeks a new course
As tall ships sailed into Amsterdam, Dutch politics ran aground: the shock resignation of NSC ministers has left prime minister Dick Schoof’s fragile cabinet in crisis and Europe questioning the Netherlands’ reliability.
Belém is not without its charms – but who in their right mind would host COP here?
Belém is perched on the northern coast of Brazil, where the Amazon meets the Atlantic, it is a city of unique customs, colours, flavours and fragrances. Ringed by forest and wide, meandering rivers, this…
Welcome to Poveglia: Venice’s locals-only island
Some cities suffering the consequences of mass tourism have begun concealing and cordoning off small, tucked-away pockets for locals to enjoy without tourists. Amsterdam has its hidden swimming spots shared only via word-of-mouth, and…
How can today’s military recruitment strategies win over a generation that won’t fight?
With global defence forces struggling to fill their ranks, Monocle explores the bold, surprising and sometimes strange tactics being used to recruit Gen Z.
Step inside the Swiss lab where pretend patients find real solutions to hospital design
At Switzerland’s Centre for Design and Health in Nidau, doctors and architects role-play hospital scenarios using full-scale simulations - catching costly design mistakes and creating patient-focused spaces before construction begins.
Can Penn Station be beautiful again, without becoming a political battleground?
Some want to “Make America Beautiful Again” by restoring Penn Station’s original grandeur. Others see that as a political red flag. The fight over a train station reveals deeper divisions.
Ditch the treadmill and take this happiness prescription to extend your life
Swedish professor Fredrik Nyström believes happiness boosts longevity. Can walking a dog or tinkering with a car be healthier than hours at the gym? It’s a controversial theory, but one he champions.
