russia
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Europe
The style of Russia's new first lady, and the not-so private lives of Finland's politicians.
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.
Europe
Why Norway is going Dutch, vodka and the Russian elections, plus the French mayor who could teach Sarkozy a lesson
Power struggle
Sakhalin, in Russia’s far east, is a short hop from Japan, its former ruler. Marooned during the Soviet era, the region has seen little investment or spoils from its own huge oil reserves.
Business
Anyone in Russia's far east wanting to fly to the US must travel across Eurasia. But a Russian airline plans to launch the first trans-Pacific route to the States this summer.
High energy
In our circumpolar tour, we visit Murmansk. After the USSR's collapse, the city declined. But now the promise of Arctic riches from energy and new sea routes is sparking a revival.
Business
After a decade-long struggle and a recent court victory over its trademark, Starbucks has opened its first café in Russia. The company remains tight-lipped about future expansion plans beyond its initial Moscow outpost.
Final frontier
The Tajik-Afghan border is one of the world's most dangerous, central to the heroin trade. Can it be tamed? The US, EU and China are trying to help – but why?
Power dressing
High-profile security lapses have damaged Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency. To fix its PR, it launched a hunt for Miss Atom. But can a beauty contest overturn an ugly reputation?
Top of the world
Amid rising Arctic tensions, Monocle's tour of the High North stops in Greenland to reflect on a lost opportunity by Canada to assert its influence and shape the region's future.
