Andrew Mueller
Capital punishment
The world’s most powerful cities are often its least interesting. From Brussels to Washington DC, we explore why capital cities can be so dull and what, if anything, can be done about it.
Asia
Bottled water from Korea's "no-man's land", Mickey Mouse lessons in China, and multi-lingual web domains.
The living is easy
Sweden’s second city is fertile soil for small businesses thanks to its history of maritime adventure, the population’s can-do attitude and its intimate size, which helps keep the co-operative spirit alive and well.
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.
Please turn off the lights
Do cities have a sell-by date? If they no longer feel fresh, should we abandon them? It’s happening in Russia. Perhaps the burghers of New Orleans and Detroit should do the same.
From Sofia, with love
Bulgarian songstress Lili Ivanova became her country’s biggest star under the communists. Today she’s just as famous and is revered as a champion of the nation.
Europe
How Sarkozy wings it in Me and My Motorcade, plus Luxembourg goes to the polls and bar room blues hit the UK.
Oceania
Samoa mounts operation healthcare and the truth about those fit Aussies - they are actually too busy on twitter to play sport.
Asia
The King of Bhutan's dashing way with national dress, Korea's scheme to produce more babies, and Japan's downsized family meals.
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.
