The art of persuasion

As war rages in Europe and tensions rise across the Asia-Pacific region, diplomacy’s long-established pillars are being tested. In the following, we speak to some of the world’s top diplomats to gauge where their profession is heading.
Sisters in arms

Stateless Kurds have endured centuries of persecution across the Middle East. Now, Iran’s strict application of sharia law is driving Kurdish women to fight for their freedom.
Best in stores

Who has that special touch when it comes to service, atmosphere and products? We pick the winning stores and shopkeepers around the world.
Fine print

Gerhard Steidl has crafted a company in his exacting image – and now he’s expanding his one-street empire with an eye to the future.
Back on solid ground

Art and music have been a driving force behind the cultural and literal recovery of the earthquake-struck Italian city that is reopening to the world.
Thinking big

From a reappraisal of a pop artist sidelined for her feminist views to a new film challenging the norms of the western, this month’s cultural selection is full of work that will challenge and entertain.
Top of the class

It’s not just what you learn; it’s also where you learn it. From a school that’s open to the elements to a curvaceous nursery, architecture can help to give children a head start in life. We visit three educational institutions with designs that pass with flying colours.
Natural Wonders

As designers seek to lower environmental impact, new eco-friendly materials are coming into play. How do they stack up?
Style Directory

The beginning of autumn is synonymous with a wardrobe refresh. To help you in the endeavour, we have scoured fashion runways and designers’ studios around the world, from Laguna Beach and Tokyo to Milan and Singapore, to find best-in-class products and the most promising new names to help you rethink your staples and statement pieces.
Northern lights

How do you convince Norwegians raised to be suspicious of ‘luxury’ to embrace the joys of high-end fashion? We ask the experts.
In the hot seat

Three very different fashion and lifestyle firms are finding that the physical world still matters, whether it’s the materials used for bedding, a shop that fosters community or the potential of lab-grown diamonds. We speak to their decision-makers about what’s on the horizon.
Close encounters

Luxury fashion brand Mytheresa uses global get-togethers to charm its army of VIP customers.

Inventory: Tech corner / Global

Dream machines

Our technology round-up features a handy battery pack and a compact flip phone.

Writer: David Phelan

Galaxy Z Flip5

Samsung

If you don’t want something that folds out from phone to a device closer to a tablet, Samsung’s latest might appeal: it folds in half to become much more pocketable. This model comes with a glorious external display that is so versatile that you often don’t need to unfold it at all. You can also use it for photography, so that your subject can see themselves as you’re snapping them. It folds completely flat to prevent dirt getting in and the crease that you see when the screen is unfolded (a issue that dogs many folding phones) is only visible when the screen is off.
samsung.com

BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger

Belkin

The USB-C socket of this versatile battery pack lets you connect an iPhone or other smartphone to charge by cable, and the white circle wirelessly charges the Apple Watch and second-generation AirPods Pro. It’s the first battery pack that fast-charges the Watch too, from flat to 80 per cent in 45 minutes, and is powerful enough to charge the Watch and a smartphone at the same time. All from a sleek, lightweight battery so portable that it’ll become indispensable.
belkin.com

Studio Pro headphones

Beats by Dr Dre

Beats by Dr Dre (the Apple brand that isn’t AirPods) has launched a tremendous new pair of over-ear headphones. AirPods are designed to work with Apple hardware but Beats, magnanimously, work equally well with an Android as an iPhone. They include seamless pairing, better findability if you lose them and great audio. Battery life is strong at up to 40 hours (24 with noise-cancelling turned on). Unlike Apple AirPods Max, these headphones come with a 3.5mm cable and are more keenly priced too.
apple.com

HT-AX7 compact theatre system

Sony

This is a remarkable portable sound system that makes the audio from a smartphone or tablet more exciting. It comes in the form of a squat lozenge with a circular speaker at either end. Held in place magnetically, these can be undocked and placed behind the listener to work as satellite speakers. The effect is highly immersive, with Sony software making it feel as though the audio is coming from every direction – even overhead. You can adjust the volume and the distribution of the sound using the buttons on the main speaker or through the Sony app. The audio output is big and powerful from the main unit and the extra units add a spectacular 3D effect. The battery lasts as long as 30 hours; a 10-minute recharge is enough for a couple of hours.
sony.com

All hands on deck

The Opener

Show on the road

Ahead of his time

Melting pot

October

Defence

Pride and prejudice

Business

Culture

Design

The art of persuasion

Sisters in arms

Best in stores

Fine print

Back on solid ground

Thinking big

Top of the class

Natural Wonders

Style Directory

Northern lights

In the hot seat

Close encounters

Shore up

In good taste

Inner space

Neutral beauty

Eat, sleep, repeat

Dream machines

Style for the ages

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