Finnish line
The Russia-Finland border was once the focus of Cold War hostility. Now the Finns and Russians are working together to stop people and drug traffickers opening up new smuggling routes. Monocle goes on patrol with the Finnish border guards.Out of Africa
Chinese firms, from copper mining giants to small private businesses, have been flocking to Africa, investing €4.3bn last year. But a quieter phenomenon is the steady stream of African businessmen moving into China, 10,000 of them now live in Guangzhou.
Europe briefing
Why Norway is going Dutch, vodka and the Russian elections, plus the French mayor who could teach Sarkozy a lessonAmericas briefing
The Paraguay priest running for president, and a Style Leaders special on the Republican party's presidential candidates.Asia briefing
Japanese mobile phone "sommeliers", plus the ghost tower of Bangkok.Africa/Middle East briefing
West Africa wants its money back from France, the UAE's "Poetry Idol" and Japan's aid to Africa.Oceania briefing
Boeing flies into Australia, plus re-imagining Syndey.Business briefing
Eau de Credit Suisse, this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and why Lada lives on.Deli vision
In 1948, Francesco Armandola opened the doors to his eponymous delicatessen in Milan. Located in via della Spiga, it catered to a clientele eager to forget the lean war years. Since 2005, his son Giorgio has been in charge, and while he’s introduced a website where customers can order online, he adheres to the same philosophy when it comes to selecting the food sold in his shop: provenance and family-run firms first.Smooth landing
Plans for a Terminal 5 at Heathrow were unveiled in 1993. Fifteen years and €5.6bn later, the largest single-span structure in the UK is ready. In Singapore, meanwhile, the new T3 at Changi has also opened its departure gates. Monocle bench tests both.Culture briefing
Music: Vampire Weekend and Chris Bathgate. Film: 3:10 to Yuma and Battle of Haditha. Art: A New York art cpp[ and exhibition picks. Books: JG Ballard's autobiography, Granta and Madam President.Design briefing
Our report from this year's Köln furniture fair, a Danish art gallery and Finnish design grandee Yrjö Kukkapuro.Fashion briefing
Monocle enjoys São Paulo fashion week Tomorrowland collaborates with Belgian designer Jean-Paul Knott, plus Prada platforms, Incotex trunks and Banana Republic comes to London.
The flight watch
When it comes to protecting the world's travel hubs, police are increasingly relying on some unlikely weapons; Matthew the plane-spotter and Graham the farmer. Monocle reports from Gatwick on the very local response to te global terror threat.Maltese crossing
Malta, the Mediterranean island with a population of 400,000, is booming thanks to EU membership and its adoption of the euro. It’s also perfectly poised to exploit renewed trade with Gaddafi’s Libya.Spot the shopper
China’s booming economy has triggered a luxury-mall boom. Packed with the best brands, they lack just one thing: shoppers with money. While some companies have found success, many more could soon be packing up and heading home.Ancestral spirits
It’s used by Chinese businessmen to toast every new deal but until now the bai jiu market has been a home concern – perhaps because it smells like a mix of unwashed toes, petrol and goats’ cheese and has a flavour to match. However LVMH and Diageo are now developing a taste for it.Film stars
The global camera market has switched from film to digital with lightning speed. In Japan, 94m digital cameras were produced last year, compared to 800,000 film cameras. However, an army of die-hard fans is keeping the film format alive.Mix in the right circles
Four enthusiastic Swedes believe that the future of music doesn’t have to end in …Pod. Their Pacemaker – a palm-sized DJ system that promises fresh new pastures of musical discovery, pitch-perfect audio quality and instant party epiphany – aims to change the way people listen to and love their music.Sure footed
The people at Bontoni shoes like to take things slowly, producing just eight pairs of shoes a day. Their dedication is helping Montegranaro, Italy’s shoe town, take changes to the global footwear market in its stride.Love box
In a city with 21,500 karaoke bars, exclusive members club Amour is in a different league. Founded by Parisian club impresario and graffiti artist André and with interiors by Marc Newson, it is luring a well-heeled international crowd on to its gold vinyl banquettes.Pitti boys
It may not grab the headlines like the catwalk shows but Florence’s Pitti Uomo fair is where big deals are made and clothes we might actually wear are previewed. This year the event saw new interest from eastern Europe and, for the first time, showcased womenswear.
Tough nut to crack
Although the European nut market was worth over €8bn in 2007, consumption there is peanuts compared to the Middle East. But Al Rifai, the Lebanese ‘Rolls-Royce of nut companies’, is expanding into Europe’s underdeveloped market from a new Swedish HQ.Do not disturb
One year on and we’ve raided enough hotel minibars to sink a Stena Liner. We think it’s time for the hospitality industry to take stock on the stock take.
Make ours an analogue: Monocle on the great digital resistance movement. Plus a security check on airport perimeter defences.
Issue 11
March 2008
The Leader
Affairs
Finnish line
The Russia-Finland border was once the focus of Cold War hostility. Now the Finns and Russians are working together to stop people and drug traffickers opening up new smuggling routes. Monocle goes on patrol with the Finnish border guards.Out of Africa
Chinese firms, from copper mining giants to small private businesses, have been flocking to Africa, investing €4.3bn last year. But a quieter phenomenon is the steady stream of African businessmen moving into China, 10,000 of them now live in Guangzhou.
Briefing
Europe briefing
Why Norway is going Dutch, vodka and the Russian elections, plus the French mayor who could teach Sarkozy a lessonAmericas briefing
The Paraguay priest running for president, and a Style Leaders special on the Republican party's presidential candidates.Asia briefing
Japanese mobile phone "sommeliers", plus the ghost tower of Bangkok.Africa/Middle East briefing
West Africa wants its money back from France, the UAE's "Poetry Idol" and Japan's aid to Africa.Oceania briefing
Boeing flies into Australia, plus re-imagining Syndey.Business briefing
Eau de Credit Suisse, this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and why Lada lives on.Deli vision
In 1948, Francesco Armandola opened the doors to his eponymous delicatessen in Milan. Located in via della Spiga, it catered to a clientele eager to forget the lean war years. Since 2005, his son Giorgio has been in charge, and while he’s introduced a website where customers can order online, he adheres to the same philosophy when it comes to selecting the food sold in his shop: provenance and family-run firms first.Smooth landing
Plans for a Terminal 5 at Heathrow were unveiled in 1993. Fifteen years and €5.6bn later, the largest single-span structure in the UK is ready. In Singapore, meanwhile, the new T3 at Changi has also opened its departure gates. Monocle bench tests both.Culture briefing
Music: Vampire Weekend and Chris Bathgate. Film: 3:10 to Yuma and Battle of Haditha. Art: A New York art cpp[ and exhibition picks. Books: JG Ballard's autobiography, Granta and Madam President.Design briefing
Our report from this year's Köln furniture fair, a Danish art gallery and Finnish design grandee Yrjö Kukkapuro.Fashion briefing
Monocle enjoys São Paulo fashion week Tomorrowland collaborates with Belgian designer Jean-Paul Knott, plus Prada platforms, Incotex trunks and Banana Republic comes to London.
Letter from
Report
The flight watch
When it comes to protecting the world's travel hubs, police are increasingly relying on some unlikely weapons; Matthew the plane-spotter and Graham the farmer. Monocle reports from Gatwick on the very local response to te global terror threat.Maltese crossing
Malta, the Mediterranean island with a population of 400,000, is booming thanks to EU membership and its adoption of the euro. It’s also perfectly poised to exploit renewed trade with Gaddafi’s Libya.Spot the shopper
China’s booming economy has triggered a luxury-mall boom. Packed with the best brands, they lack just one thing: shoppers with money. While some companies have found success, many more could soon be packing up and heading home.Ancestral spirits
It’s used by Chinese businessmen to toast every new deal but until now the bai jiu market has been a home concern – perhaps because it smells like a mix of unwashed toes, petrol and goats’ cheese and has a flavour to match. However LVMH and Diageo are now developing a taste for it.Film stars
The global camera market has switched from film to digital with lightning speed. In Japan, 94m digital cameras were produced last year, compared to 800,000 film cameras. However, an army of die-hard fans is keeping the film format alive.Mix in the right circles
Four enthusiastic Swedes believe that the future of music doesn’t have to end in …Pod. Their Pacemaker – a palm-sized DJ system that promises fresh new pastures of musical discovery, pitch-perfect audio quality and instant party epiphany – aims to change the way people listen to and love their music.Sure footed
The people at Bontoni shoes like to take things slowly, producing just eight pairs of shoes a day. Their dedication is helping Montegranaro, Italy’s shoe town, take changes to the global footwear market in its stride.Love box
In a city with 21,500 karaoke bars, exclusive members club Amour is in a different league. Founded by Parisian club impresario and graffiti artist André and with interiors by Marc Newson, it is luring a well-heeled international crowd on to its gold vinyl banquettes.Pitti boys
It may not grab the headlines like the catwalk shows but Florence’s Pitti Uomo fair is where big deals are made and clothes we might actually wear are previewed. This year the event saw new interest from eastern Europe and, for the first time, showcased womenswear.
Q&A
The perfect...
Tough nut to crack
Although the European nut market was worth over €8bn in 2007, consumption there is peanuts compared to the Middle East. But Al Rifai, the Lebanese ‘Rolls-Royce of nut companies’, is expanding into Europe’s underdeveloped market from a new Swedish HQ.Do not disturb
One year on and we’ve raided enough hotel minibars to sink a Stena Liner. We think it’s time for the hospitality industry to take stock on the stock take.
On the shelf
From their own correspondent
Press baron
Business
Inventory
Specialist
Property prospectus
My Last Meal
Expo
End point
