The world is dividing into two halves: those who will not abandon the nine-to-five routine, and those (think Asian nations) willing to make sure they are open for business at all hours. We may not like it – but will East beat West to the contracts, wealth and prestige?

The remote Alaskan outpost of Unalaska boasts the US’s biggest commercial port, thanks to a hugely profitable fishing season. And don’t forget the oil industry and a hit TV series...

Brazil’s third-largest city is well below the international radar compared with Rio and São Paulo. But things are changing in Belo Horizonte, as the economic boom continues to attract major national and foreign investment to the city.

As part of a soft-power drive, the Chinese media is learning to talk a new language. Monocle visits the studio of CNC World, a recently launched 24-hour English-language news channel owned by the state-run agency Xinhua.

Rome’s Zaha Hadid-designed MAXXI museum opened last summer. Now that the critics have left and the public’s taken over, is it working? Or, like a wonky painting on a wall, does it need readjustment?

For over 50 years Kenneth Grange has designed many of the UK’s most recognisable things, from postboxes to taxis. With the UK design and manufacturing industry in decline, he tells Monocle what he thinks needs fixing.

In the first of a new series examining the possible turn of events in future scenarios, Monocle looks at how the reunification of North and South Korea might unfold.

Style leader Sandra Roelofs, brain drain in the Czech Republic and election watch Estonia.

Cricket in the US, a possible Obama challenger, and Argentina's cash crisis

Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang's motorcade and India's embrace of ID cards

Saudi Arabia's highly educated women, the UN pulls out of Chad, and battles over the Nile.

Tuvalu's internet cash-in, NZ reviews its carbon-trading scheme, and Fiji's growing isolationism.

Burmese insurgent armies, Iraq reinforcements and extremism in the Philippines.

Estonian robots, Lebanon's Maxime Chaya and wine sales in South America

This month's books, music and films, plus our culture editor's regular column and an interview with director Trần Anh Hùng.

South America's love of heavy metal, Brazil's Casa Triângulo art gallery and Al Jazeera launches in the Balkans.

This month's books, music and films, plus our culture editor's regular column and an interview with director Trần Anh Hùng.

In praise of buttons, Japanese electric bicycles, the 1950s furniture re-issues and Alain de Botton's latest project

A round-up of the latest store openings, clothing lines and news from Japan, the UK, France, Canada, Italy, the US and Germany.

Hungary’s foreign affairs minister discusses the challenges facing his country’s EU presidency, the importance of an increased role for central Europe and his government’s reputation for media bashing.

The Latvian PM is charged with the salvation of his country’s economy, which is in an even worse condition than most others in Europe. He speaks to Monocle about his plans to turn things around.

While its Middle Eastern neighbours have flashed the cash or succumbed to Islamist influences, Oman has chosen a quieter, more steady path. But if Oman is to increase its international brand, challenges will also need to be met.

From food-loving French taking long lunch breaks to workaholic Japanese businessmen, the world continues to approach office culture in very different ways.

What are the essential elements that make a great manager? In the first of a series profiling the management styles of key figures, Monocle gets an insight from Eva Hamilton, head of Swedish public service broadcaster SVT.

This issue our regular Fairplay series on trade fairs from around the world makes a return. Here we visit the Toys & Games Fair in Hong Kong, the second largest exhibition of its kind in the world, where serious-minded adults get to play at being kids again.

Florence’s Pitti Uomo fair is a benchmark for how the market is shifting – and a chance to spot the big name brands of the future. This season’s event was also a showcase for the city itself and for ‘Brand Italy’.

For many, Paris remains the true home of fashion – and a clutch of well-timed, small-scale trade fairs are giving events like Italy’s Pitti Uomo a run for their money.

A Belgian couple living on Sri Lanka’s southern coast commissioned Japanese architect Tadao Ando to build them a weekend retreat. The concrete edifice he designed is a picture-perfect set-up for the artist and her husband who live there.

Monocle heads to Fukuoka, the main city on Japan’s Kyushu island and famous for its food culture, for our spring menswear dress-up.

Ohori Park, home to the Fukuoka Art Museum, is the backdrop to our carefully curated show of spring womenswear.

A round-up of beautiful and functional objects, including one-man-branded leather wallets and artist-designed backgammon boards.

As the Shinkansen continues to speed north in Japan, operator JR East is also diversifying its retail – with apples.

Basque culinary fireworks in Paris, bed and breakfast by the brightest light on the Oregon coast, a sparkling new Oslo alehouse and a Berlin foodstore sure to set your creative energies ablaze. We bring you this month’s Monocle round-up.

It might have only three turboprop aircraft, but airA!ps is a unique way to drop into South Tyrol, high up in the Italian Alps.

Atelier Charles Schambourg weaves Toile de Cuir leather and was founded by a former secret-service agent who saw an exquisite business opportunity.

Tel Aviv’s Noga is home to a multicultural, creative community. Foreign buyers and modern luxury developments are moving in but it hasn’t lost its original feel. And it’s close to the beach too.

Finalist in the Nariz de Oro sommelier competition, San Sebastián-based Dani Corman is one of Spain’s finest noses. Local and Michelin-starred restaurants call upon his skills when they draw up their wine lists and order from the extensive stock of his distribution firm and shop.

Master of dark comedies and tales of the absurd, Andrey Kurkov is the Ukrainian author of ‘Death And The Penguin’ and ‘A Matter of Death and Life’. For his last meal, he takes us to his local haunt, Jungle Cat, for some traditional Georgian cuisine.

The notion of exile often evokes a more romantic era but for many leaders, a life banished from their homeland still beckons (fancy hosting a despised Tunisian president anyone?).

South Korea used to be sleepy and cautious compared to Asian rivals. But these days it’s causing headaches for business leaders from Singapore to Tokyo. Closer to home, we’re packing up for the our big move.