Entrance of the world - London

What makes London so international? The article, "Paris-on-Thames" describes that French goes to London for aspiring a sense of intentionality and freedom.

French influx to London began notably in the 1990s as the city boomed with Britain's economy. French consulate estimates that there are 400,000 people citizens of France. This would be largest minority in the city and the number of influx doesn't seem to shrink.

Why French going to London? Because of high-paid work, lower taxes, and the opportunity of raising bilingual child. French bankers gain these benefits. And there are another reasons for French youngsters to go there. They are fleeing rigid social conventions, hierarchical corporate culture and a sense of distance from the global swirl of people and ideas. They see London as a place of freedom connecting to globalisation. However it's not guarantee to find decent jobs.They go there to improve English and to experience something new.

Anyway KK Outlet may give you something new, because it is in London and hybrid space.

Beyond being cluster - Italy

Being in a cluster looks correct approach for taking advantages but in Italy a cluster of silk firm is failing because of globalisation; more open trade and better transport links. Globalisation let Italy think harder about the shape of future clusters.

An article of The Economist, "Clusters flustered", explains that being cluster is not good enough to compete with foreign products.

According to Michael Porter, a management guru, clusters have benefits. They help productivity, boost innovation, and encourage new firms. Firms' geographical proximity, their close competition with each other and the growth of specialised suppliers and production networks around them make a winning combination.

However globalisation made this doubtful. In fact, firms start diversifying their moves to guard from cheaper foreign products. A firm such as Giacomini, a brass valves, connectors and manifolds maker, is producing not only brass but also electronic controls, heating system, and air conditioning system. Another firm Zucchetti, a tapmaker, tries to design smart products and defend its brand to compete with cheaper products. These approaches mean that the advantage of clusters looks less powerful.

French approach of Afrincan art - Paris

You would look at objects from Benin and Togo without labels explaining their details at the exhibition of "Vodun: African voodoo" in Paris. Fondation Cartier is featuring the collection of Jacques Kerchache, a French explorer and collector, of voodoo statuary.

In this article, the curator of this show Leanne Sacramone explains that Kerchache wanted people to be confronted with the power of objects. He hoped that people don't look at them with exotic interest.

There is also a major exhibition of Dogon sculpture at the Musée du quai Branly in Paris. For a while Paris is the hub of traditional African art and in the future African art may centre on Paris. 

Spreading contemporary art - Karachi

A exhibition was showing an artistic rebellion in Pakistan. In the 1980s of military dictatorship, Pakistani artists had to work secretly in hidden places. The article says Pakistan contemporary art is now open to public and expresses Pakistan's turbulence.

This exhibition, "The Rising Tide: New Directions in Art from Pakistan 1990-2010" took place in Karachi, made an impression in Pakistan, including paintings, sculptures, videos, and photographs.

Pakistan's art has been exclusive, but the curator of the exhibition, Naiza Khan, was decided to open contemporary art to a Pakistan public. To do so she brought back important Pakistani works from Dubai and Hong Kong and invited contributions from two young Pakistani artists who work in Australia.

The offering of the many works deal with death and violence, but Ms Khan has been careful not to overstate the violence. She looks into the conditions of a country struggling to resist a complicated internal war and then, deals with demographics, land usage and history when she choose the art.

The exhibition may prove that Pakistan is getting more public to the rest of the world.