Ever the globetrotter, our editor in chief is at it again – but where is he this month? Well, he’s surrounded by sun, surgery and more than a few cacti, so it shouldn’t take you long to guess.

We fork out for a fantastically big bento and then walk it off with the help of Karl Marx. Jane Goodall, meanwhile, gets down to (monkey) business and shares a few cheeky anecdotes.

Once you’ve spotted one you can’t stop – there’s one on a Brooklyn warehouse roof, another in an alpine meadow. Sinister and mean, these plastic owls have become a global design success by doing one thing well: scaring the crap out of other birds.

When you get arrested in Saudi or into a scrap in Iraq, one company hopes you’ll call.

From their New Jersey farm, a former big-city couple have become enthusiastic advocates of water buffalo produce and discovered a lucrative business model in the process.

Excellence is the norm at Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service – just ask its controller.

At every opportunity the chairman of Christie’s UK makes a bid for relaxation at his country retreat.

A high-speed victory, a strong vision for women in politics and some horse-trading too helped spark Jacinda-mania. But there’s one person who remains a sceptic: the Kiwi PM.

As New Caledonians get ready for a referendum that will decide their relationship with France, not all of the Pacific archipelago’s inhabitants are on the same page.

Zimbabwe has a new leader who’s talking reform and wooing foreign investment. Is the rhetoric enough to reverse the country’s economic crash and restore international relations?

The unlikely rise of Rob Ford’s brother in Ontario and female representation in the Lebanese parliament.

Promoting the Spanish tongue, Finnish education models and the Nobel Peace prize winner whose women’s movement helped end Liberia’s civil war.

Historical narratives in Poland, fighter-jet revenue in Sweden and the US marines branch into radio.

Busan’s industrial waterfront gets a makeover and Portland looks to integrate nature.

Happiness is up, stability is back but political divisions and crime concerns cloud Dutch skies.

The world’s most popular language-learning tool uses our own innate competitiveness – and a passive-aggressive owl – to keep users motivated.

The Vipp pedal bin went from one-off gift to global bestseller; the inventor’s daughter explains.

A storied Portuguese ceramics brand has been rescued from oblivion – with some vivid results.

One of the world’s youngest CEOs has set about refreshing the culture at luggage label Rimowa, bringing in new working practices, new talent and new business ideas.

Food styling and cork smartphones.

A sense of community is part of the business model for these urban real-estate developments.

Each year the Côte d’Azur hosts the property summit Mipim. We sat down with five influential players.

What does it take to breathe life into a neglected district in a long-lasting and meaningful way? We look in on an area in Amsterdam that is doing it right.

From Europe to Asia and the US, large-scale urban-regeneration projects promise to transform entire city neighbourhoods. We plot the progress of five favourites.

Are co-living spaces the answer to loneliness? Reza Merchant’s Collective in London’s Old Oak has proved a hit and now he’s primed to make his social experiment a global endeavour.

Ahead of unveiling a new artwork for Photo London, the artist – and world’s finest set designer – Es Devlin talks inspiration, hating doors and dreaming of a world in miniature.

Camera designer Alessandro Gibellini is developing a rare but lucrative business in modern large-format models.

Pop-up gallery Black Box Projects is heading to Photo London. Meet the team and, opposite, see what other galleries have planned.

Kamasi Washington used to be called a lot of things but now he’s called the saviour of jazz. We meet the saxophonist, bandleader and producer at the vanguard of a brave new musical world.

From furnishings and fixtures to full refurbishments, we celebrate 50 winning design innovations.

What does it take to be a great designer? Is fussing over furniture distribution crucial to the success of your brand? These issues – and more – are tackled in conversation with three industry heroes.

Midgard, a lighting company revered for its functional design and beloved by the Bauhaus, has been given a new lease of life by a couple of mid-century devotees.

A monument to Brazilian modernism, this former department store has been transformed into a flexible community building that is revitalising São Paulo.

The Palace of Serbia is a vivid reminder of the region’s past and a testament to its mid-century modern design credentials.

When Sandy Cavill’s parents asked him to renovate their Brisbane home he tackled the project with a respect for the past, the city and nature – and his mum and dad, of course.

The 1960s was a golden era for West Coast architecture. One of the overlooked heroes of the period was Ed Killingsworth, best known for his work with hotels in later life but something of a maverick of modest mid-century housing. His towering doors and expanses of glass remain a treasure of the Long Beach experience.

How to start your own food or drink business: come up with a recipe, find the ingredients, get yourself in the kitchen and voilà. Here are three delectable examples.

Rare champagne in a snug space in Riga and a recipe for baked feta with honey and dill dressing.

The esteemed writer and essayist on the importance of cooking, going head to head with his galley’s labour union and the practical pleasures of chopping onions.

Fashion brands are taking ownership of their supply chains and keeping an eye on the animals that provide their materials. We meet the menagerie contributing to the world’s wardrobes.

Ever innovative in its approach to stock, shops and staff, Pauw has now diversified to dominate Dutch high-fashion retail.

An Armani fashion-and-furniture flagship, monogrammed French sandals and national style stereotypes.

Be it a smart or casual affair, it’s time to replenish your wardrobe as spring makes a welcome return.

From Charlie Chaplin to General Douglas MacArthur many guests have fallen for the charms of the Hotel New Grand. We visit a Yokohama symbol of solidarity.

We get a tour of a box-fresh – and very welcome – new hotel opening in sunny Sydney.

An architectural revival in Hong Kong, a breath of fresh air in Beirut; a hideaway in Porto and a forest retreat in New Jersey: just some of our finds that are both off the beaten track and resolutely on the mark.

The gritty French port city combines tradition and modernism, making for a thrilling mediterranean mix of old and new.

A French bag brand in Mexico City, a touch of Paris in Singapore, the smartest reads for your tote and charming accessories for the home.

EarlyMade eschews the hard sell in favour of a retail experience and helps to connect buyers visiting Portugal’s well-knit textile traders.

Where to sleep, eat and shop this month.