It’s time to go. Walk out the door. There’s a big, inspiring world out there and by getting on a plane or train you might just find the perfect spot for your next venture.

For places of influence and significance, 2014 marks the year diplomacy returns home, the redemption of a former foe, an island upgrade to a military outpost and the next big move in intelligence. Monocle tracks their political importance for the year ahead.

Enduring the sort of political turmoil that inspires movies, Comoros is also burdened with a colonial legacy that is driving thousands to their deaths as they search for a better life. Monocle visits this uneasy paradise to see what the future holds.

A shortage of childcare in Japan has contributed to the low number of working mothers, a problem particularly apparent in Yokohama. Monocle speaks to the woman who has made it her mission to change this – mayor Fumiko Hayashi.

Economy-wise, Houston is bigger than Austria and South Africa, thanks largely to its oil and gas industry. But alongside the energy behemoths, small entrepreneurial businesses are finding a welcoming niche.

Canada’s largest city has recaptured its taste for craft brewing and in the process kindled the spirit of urban regeneration. Monocle finds the independent brewers revitalising this industry and barrelling ahead to take on the big boys.

From film commissioning in Finland to top TV shows in Australia, we offer a round of applause to some select scenes, firms and fairs upping the cultural ante.

Stoke-on-Trent’s identity as the home of the ceramics industry was thought to be a thing of the past. But when we headed to the Staffordshire city we found a vibrant and positive scene and it’s clear the skills haven’t gone anywhere.

When luxury cosmetics brand Three decided to open a shop, spa and restaurant in central Aoyama, it needed a space that would echo its understated image yet stand out from the crowd. We meet the team behind the evolving brand.

The Philippines rebuilds after Typhoon Haiyan, Pakistan tries to get India drinking its beer and Chinese high-speed rail branches out.

Our Melbourne correspondent reports on Australian-Indonesian relations, and the Australian press loses interest in Papua New Guinea.

The French president's motorcade, learning to share in Italy, getting stuck on a train in Bosnia and an interview with Serbia's first deputy prime minister

San José gets its first intercontinental flight, Montréal needs a new bridge and El Salvador gets a new president (maybe). We also talk to the US housing and urban development secretary about rebuilding after hurricane Sandy.

The "new mod" style of Iranian prime minister Hassan Rouhani, and the Democratic Republic of Congo army's first ever victory.

We talk to the head of the Israeli Defense Force about women, religion and recruitment and look at China and Japan's move to streamline their military decision-making.

Meet the Philippines' new ambassador to China and find out why sport is so useful to Canadian diplomats.

Getting geeky in Gaza, selling cheese in China and other news from the business world.

Books, films and music to enrich your life this month.

A magazine shop in a shipping container, an online platform for new brands, bringing Hong Kong's galleries together plus the latest from the art-sales world.

From a menswear shop in Houston to a womenswear label from Budapest, we round up the new and notable in the world of fashion.

New projects and products, an interview with Adelaide design outfit JamFactory and an account of living in a piece of architectural history.

Mauricio Macri shunned his family business to pursue a life in politics. Now mayor of Buenos Aires and a presidential candidate, he reacts to corruption accusations and tells us why running a football club has been his biggest role to date.

LA producer and musician Lo-Fang has impressed us with his soulful debut album, ‘Blue Film’. Here he talks inspiration, creative processes, floor stomps and how he came up with that name.

Illustrator Mohammad Nor Khalid, better known as Lat, finished his first comic book at the age of 13. Since then the cartoonist has captured the hearts and minds of children across Malaysia – not to mention an adult or two.

Starting a new business is about ideas, inspiration and location. We visit a Lisbon neighbourhood pushing small enterprise, the corner of Istanbul that’s ripe for retail, a Mexican tech hub, craft specialists and a clutch of fairs helping to get new ideas moving.

The arrival of the new Museo Jumex in Mexico City sees it sitting side-by-side with an earlier philanthropic art pile, the Museo Soumaya. Is the city big enough for both?

Whether it is an urban hub for artisan furniture-makers, a man-made island opening up as a design destination, a studio nestled in a woodland haven, France’s celebration of all things graphic or Hong Kong’s new claim as the place to buy, Monocle reveals some daring pockets of inspiration.

Food, tourism, wine and coffee: they’ve all been on the menu before. To be successful, the trick is to approach them differently or just do them better – both methods are firmly in evidence in our inspiring round-up of regions and business owners to watch.

This month we bring you an embroidered badge set, a colour-coordinated range of sake, an astronomical children’s book and a hand-cranked coffee grinder that will please the purists.

There is more to Brazil than bustling Samba beats and this west-side neighbourhood has waves of young professionals falling for its intimate charms.

Norikazu Suzuki wants his restaurant to be home to good food and good times.

Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky, famous for his large-format industrial landscapes, invites us to Toronto’s Splendido for an Italian-inspired feast.

Once Queensland’s answer to Las Vegas, the gold coast’s 1950s architecture fell victim to drastic redevelopment. Now there are efforts to revive its fortunes.

Tyler Brûlé hopes 2014 heralds a return to the days of connected air travel run by people who respond to their customers’ needs