Always With Honor
Force for good
Haiti is picking up the pieces – but sooner or later another natural disaster will strike. Here, Monocle looks at the best nations to call in a crisis and tools you need for the…
What a relief
When it comes to disasters, the first few hours are crucial. The better the kit, the greater the chance of saving lives. But is it time for a permanent rapid reaction force?
Oceania
Australians get the hump, Fiji loses its midwives and Aussie males get a bad reputation.
Fashion
Norwegian outerwear firm Norrøna opens its first retail outlet in Oslo and Kitsune pops up in Tokyo.
Asia
Bottled water from Korea's "no-man's land", Mickey Mouse lessons in China, and multi-lingual web domains.
Media
MySpace Music has pioneered interactive pop promos where fans can upload themselves into videos by artists like Florence and the Machine and Alicia Keys. Monocle is hoping to appear in Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'.
Hope, still
Barack Obama may not have brought about as much change as promised, but he himself has changed. He has learnt he will have to fight dirty to get things done.
Defence
Russia turns to French and Dutch shipyards for new warships after admitting its own aren't up to the task, while modesty replaced lavishness at Europe's largest arms fair in London.
Europe
How Greenland's prime minister travels and Swedes grow vegetables vertically. Switzerland debates minarets, while Ukraine's Yulia Tymoshenko's hairstyle holds political power. A look at current European affairs.
Business
A Canadian coffee shop in Kandahar, Chinese internet junkies go cold Turkey, and Jordan gets wired.
