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Europe briefing

We take a look at Silivo Berlusconi's motorcade, and some surprising differences between the Finns and the Swedes.
Americas briefing

Monocle's view from Washington column discovers White House technology is far from trailblazing. Plus, a crack-down on cattle rustling in Brazil, eco wrangles in El Salvador, and urban chicken farming.
Asia briefing

North Korea's election (no great surprises expected), Malaysia's big river clean-up, and mixed feelings over Tokyo's plans to spruce up the Kabukicho district
Africa/Middle East briefing

A fitness centre in Iraq? Entrepreneurial folly or viable business adventure? Ibrahim Abdullatif has no doubts: “Iraqi Kurdistan is the place to invest,” says the 31-year-old businessman who has opened the Fitness Health Centre in his home town, Dohuk, near the Turkish border.
Oceania briefing

Syndey's new take on speed dating - it involves tightrope-walking and clowning - plus witchcraft in Papua New Guinea, and political isolation in Fuji.
Defence briefing

The conventional wisdom is that under the Obama administration, the transatlantic relationship will flourish anew, along with a substantial improvement of French-US relations. On 3 April, the 60th Anniversary Summit of Nato on the French-German border at Strasbourg and Kehl is slated to be the crowning point of the new rapprochement. It would be hard not to improve on George W Bush’s abysmal legacy; furthermore, Obama and Sarkozy appear to get along well, personally and politically. However, it is not going to be as easy as many expect, and for a simple reason: what is most important for Obama is not what is most important for Sarkozy.
Business briefing

Why vineyards could be a wise investment, the pioneering Japanese store Lawson, and a Q&A with the president of the Geneva Motor Show.
Culture briefing

Film: A war-time Danish thriller and Pete Postlewaite in a climate change drama-doc. Books: A Bosnian refugee's memoir of being a teenager in Britain and a troubled love story played out in rural Dorset, plus a true account of the "Monster of Florence". Art: Retrospective of Andreas Gursky in Stockholm and Buckminster Fuller in Chicago. Music: Swedish synth-pop, English sing-songwriter scattiness and American folk aristocracy. Column: Culture editor Robert Bound writes the first in a series of arts musings. This month: can culture console in a time of crisis?
Architecture/design briefing

Japanese architect Yasuhiro Yamashita talks us through his aluminium housing project, plus a new landmark in Ljubljana and the traditional Japanese washi paper finding new markets.
Fashion briefing

The new shoemaker with old-fashioned values, hand-embroidered dresses from Mexico and Peru, a new take on desert boots, and Adidas's latest diffusion.

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D

Womenswear / Global

Intelligent fashion

The transition from winter to spring wardrobe should be a reasonable and seamless exercise. But the stripping of layers can throw up all kinds of insecurities. Monocle creates six looks for easy seasonal switch.

Edited by: Takeharu Sato

Photography: Daniel Riera

Dress by René Lezard, socks by Falke, shoes by Church’s, watch by Georg Jensen, diary by Smythson

Jacket by Gucci, waistcoat and shirt by Uniqlo, scarf by Liberty of London, glasses by Lindberg

Coat by Prada, cardigan and blouse by Thomas Pink, trousers by Incotex, shoes by Margaret Howell, watch by Georg Jensen, bag by Delvaux

Jacket by Montedoro, shirt by Boss Black, trousers by Fay, scarf by N100, boots by Hermès, bag by Louis Vuitton

Jacket by Bottega Veneta, shirt by Glanshirt, trousers by Incotex, belt by Boss Black

Dress by Yves Saint Laurent, necklace by De Beers, shoes by Boss Black

Model
Taisia Melnyk

Hair
Nathalie Malbert

Make-up
Michelle Campbell

Photographer’s assistant
Marc Regas

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15

Live

Schedule

00:0001:00

Global Music

Happy new world

Little Britain

Premier league

Europe briefing

Americas briefing

Asia briefing

Africa/Middle East briefing

Oceania briefing

Defence briefing

Business briefing

Culture briefing

Architecture/design briefing

Fashion briefing

Lords of the skies

Show the world

The next Shanghai

Two-wheel deal

Market force

Friends eclectic

Show must go on

Watch word

Travel briefing

Standard raiser

Make it better

Intelligent fashion

Inventory No. 21

Good buy to Berlin

Light bulb moment

El Korba, Heliopolis

Muna Abu Sulayman

Expo 21: Trading places

Observation

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