Alexis Armanet
Ivory hours
From Sydney to New York, the piano bar is the final stop on many a glorious night out. Whether you're after a singalong or a quiet cocktail, we survey the world's best ivory-tinkling venues.
Cutting a dash
Hectic, hot and chaotic, Bangkok is the steamy backdrop for our fashion story. Stay cool on the run across town and take everything the city can throw at you in your stride.Men’s stylistTakeharu SatoWomen’s…
Coast story
Portugal’s second city, Porto, has great architecture and food, but the escapes along its coast truly give it quality-of-life credentials. Pack your trunks and head for the boardwalks.
Ticket to Tangier
Tangier, a crossroad of cultures and long a draw for artists and writers, is the setting for our North African sojourn in linen jackets and hard-working loafers.
Defence
Under the Obama administration, the transatlantic relationship is expected to flourish, improving French-US relations. But it may not be as easy as many expect, as Obama and Sarkozy's top priorities differ.
Expo. 18: Sumo
The ancient art of sumo is under threat from dwindling numbers of homegrown wrestlers and numerous scandals. Can fresh leadership in the Japan Sumo Association clean up the sport and restore its fundamentals?
Paris: global city
Blending diplomacy, urbanism and culture, Paris has become a hothouse for fresh thinking. We explore the city's turnaround and why we've made it our global city of the year.
King for a day
Four years after joining the EU, Slovenia takes on the rotating presidency in 2008. For a country of two million, it's a massive challenge that Prime Minister Janez Janša believes they can meet.
