There are countries that are simply too big to have one time zone, while others have always been a bit eccentric in their time-keeping. But for some, such as New Zealand, enterprising minds are trying to turn time to their economic advantage.

The World Cup is a million different stories in one. As the tournament gets under way this month, Monocle looks at how players, coaches, companies and fans from all over the globe have been getting ready.

Napoleon sold off Louisiana in 1803 but the French government is busier than ever promoting Gallic culture in the former colonial state. Latest move: funding a new school and getting the headlines from Paris on the local radio stations.

From a Nigerian newspaper to a Swiss software firm, we shine the light on 20 companies whose great ideas and products are about to go global.

Zozotown has over two million visitors to its virtual boulevard of shops, populated by the best international fashion brands. Monocle visits the firm’s HQ to witness the future of e-commerce.

As the summer festival season approaches we visited the factories of three musical instrument makers who are world leaders for their attention to craft and superior sound quality.

Two new workplaces on the city’s waterfront, with cafés, gyms and roofdecks for lounging, show that new work styles are possible even in hardworking Japan.

The Milan Furniture Fair may be over but that’s really just the beginning. Manufacturers, buyers, designers and journalists the world over are now ruminating on what they’ve seen, whom they’ve met and, above all, what the future of design will look like. For our part, we’ve reduced the week’s contents and focused on 10 key products from Salone 2010, each of which sheds light on what’s happening in design right now and what the next year will look like.

India’s new elite is investing in architecture that eases gently into its surroundings by using local building traditions and even a bit of ancient science. A weekend retreat from Mumbai, by Bijoy Jain, shows the trend at its modest best.

Relations between Poland and Russia thaw, the new get-out-of-jail card for pious prisoners in Georgia, plus Malta's version of the World Cup - for nations that don't exist.

The Malaysian PM's motorcade, Japan's special town for pensioners, and how the Haitian earthquake became a chance for Taiwan to make its mark.

Socialist shopping in Venezuela, new rules for airbrushing ads in Brazil, and our column from Washington.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and his "man of the desert" style, plus the unlikely new sport in the UAE - ice hockey.

New Zealanders' blasé attitude to living on top of a massive fault line, plus how Fiji's leader has dealt with his ex-convict brother-in-law - by appointing him to a top rugby position.

NATO notices the Cold War is over and devises a new navy strategy. The US Army eyes the phone app market and in Ukraine, Russia is allowed to train its jet pilots.

Turkey looks to squeeze its rivals and dominate the apricot market, the New York hotel industry gets some overdue good news, and we talk to Italian winemaker Walter Massa about the return of some forgotten grapes.

Munich's Galerie Zink, Artinfo.cn goes to China, Christie's Pop Memorabilia sale and a Warhol prints exhibition in Denmark.

Robert Bound's column on artists selling out, est books including Bret Easton Ellis's new novel, plus reviews of non-mainstream films.

A wooden radio handmade in Indonesia, a simple Greek island getaway, and furniture designer Jens Risom experiences a revival in New York.

Buyer's picks for summer, Monocle favourite United Arrows's first shop is revamped and J.Crew's new collaboration.

After suffering exile and imprisonment under the previous dictatorship, President Mohamed Nasheed brought democracy to the Maldives in 2008. But can this British-educated leader keep his nation afloat?

Takeshi Kitano AKA “Beat Takeshi” is a big-league comedian and film director who emerged from working-class roots and rose to fame with his TV programmes and gangster films. This year, he’s published his autobiography.

The foolery of Kenyan politics provides an irresistible subject for comedy, one that Gado, a newspaper cartoonist, has based his career on. And now for the second TV series of his new controversial project, ‘The XYZ Show’.

While newspaper groups try to figure out how to survive in digital form, one firm believes that print’s future is just fine if you know that feel and fold – and how a paper is fixed together – are key to a satisfying read.

Hebraica is a Jewish members’ sports club with some of the best facilities in São Paulo. With picturesque grounds, cafés and pool, it’s the perfect place to spend a day testing out the latest sportswear.

Portugal’s City of the Seven Hills, with its winding old backstreets and relaxing beach clubs, provides a blissful backdrop for our early summer fashion shoot. It’s time for the sandals and sunglasses.

Our finds this month include an easy-to-assemble flatpack range, a tiny pocket camera and an updated perfume classic.

Our favourites from around the world this month include a sushi spot in London, a lovers’ retreat in Greece and a Taipei hotel full of Warhol and Dalí originals. We also profile Norwegian airline Widerøe.

Widerøe is green in both livery and ethos, thanks to its successful carbon offset scheme – just one reason why its customers seem to love the carrier so much.

For the novice gardeners among you, ease your way in by starting with a compact window box. From begonia blooms to cascading bacopa, it will be a colourful addition to your doorstep or window ledge.

This parkside district in Spain’s fourth city is a perfect place for a second home thanks to its excellent transport links, abundance of sunshine and famous cocktail bars. If that wasn’t enough, there are plenty of old-world townhouse apartments – often with roof terraces – available at great prices.

Eccentric Michelin-starred chef Pierre Wind takes Monocle on a gastro-tour of Scheveningen, The Hague’s seaside neighbourhood, showing us where he buys the best oysters and juicy ham for his dog.

When he’s covering the world’s most dangerous conflict zones, from Afghanistan to Iraq and back again, celebrated war correspondent and author John Simpson frequently daydreams about fish and chips. He chooses London’s J Sheekey for his ‘last meal’.

The Ecole Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne has risen from being a regional art school to become one of the leading design academies in Europe over the last 15 years. This is largely down to ECAL’s innovative and energetic head, Pierre Keller, who believes passionately in his students and uses his knack for securing sponsorship and funding to get them working with some of the world’s leading creative companies.

When the ash cleared it was apparent there were far worse places to have been stranded than Hong Kong, with its can-do attitude and impeccable service. The experiences of Monocle staff during the airspace shutdown vindicate our decision to open our new Asia bureau there, writes Tyler Brûlé.