Steve Bloomfield
Special envoys
As embassies struggle to retain a foothold in a diversifying (and cost-cutting) world, the role of the diplomat is changing beyond recognition. We meet the next generation.
Europe
The view from London after the recent riots, plus why Portugal wants more pensioners, and Switzerland's impending election.
Expo 45: Rome
Rome’s citizens will tell you that too many things just don’t work in their city. But it still maintains an enviable quality of life with its markets, piazzas and architectural surprises.
Expo 45: Casablanca
You won’t see many tourists in Morocco’s largest city, and infrastructure is lacking. But despite its crumbling mix of ancient and modern architecture, the locals adore Casablanca’s undeniable, if faded, glamour.
Eye on the prize
A strengthening economy and new confidence have made Turkey a diplomatic rising star. As revolts play out across the Middle East, everyone wants the ear of the country’s ambitious foreign minister.
Great mover
Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen is a celebrity in Norway. A young pin-up for the game, he’s modelled for a denim label and, with his busy social life, is a far cry from the lonely…
Fighting talk
Al Jazeera became the must-watch news channel for unrest in the Middle East. But it is also a potent soft power weapon for its owner, the Emir of Qatar. Monocle visits its Doha HQ.
True crime fighter
Brankica Stankovic presents Serbia’s hard-hitting investigative TV show ‘Insajder’. In a country where the media shies away from controversy, she represents a fresh voice – but her work comes at a cost.
Doha
As a wave of uprisings and revolutions have swept across North Africa and the Middle East, one news channel has been at the heart of the action. From Egypt to Libya, Al Jazeera’s reporting…
One is not amused
Ahead of April’s royal wedding, Monocle’s second essay in our Scenarios series looks at the possibility of Britain becoming a republic and its impact on both state coffers and Brand Britain.
