Affairs
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Observation
Leaders of the world’s major cities need to get out more to watch the competition and form alliances. With a thin field for its leadership race, is London up to the challenge?
Woman of the world
In our series on foreign coverage of the US presidential elections, we meet Corine Lesnes of ‘Le Monde’. France’s relations with the US have improved with the arrival of President Sarkozy.
Saint Charles
Natural cosmetics are popular in Austria, one of Europe’s top markets. A group of friends in Vienna with a passion for botany are championing local plants in their thriving collection of businesses.
National expression
There are many ways for a nation to build international brand equity. From winning Olympic medals to becoming a travel hub, the options are plentiful but the results are not always guaranteed.
Presenting the nation
A boom in state-funded English news channels aims to transmit a country’s brand alongside the news. We report on these new broadcast empires and ask if it's propaganda disguised as programming.
Trade secret
Once a colonial trading hub, George Town on the Malaysian island of Penang lost out to Hong Kong and Singapore. Now its faded villas and relaxed pace are luring a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Finnish line
The Russia-Finland border was once a Cold War flashpoint. Now, Finns and Russians work together to stop traffickers opening new smuggling routes. Monocle joins the Finnish border guards on patrol.
Out of Africa
While Chinese firms flock to Africa, a quieter phenomenon sees a steady stream of African businessmen moving into China. An estimated 10,000 of them now live and work in Guangzhou.
Africa/Middle East
West Africa wants its money back from France, the UAE's "Poetry Idol" and Japan's aid to Africa.
