On millionaires’ row in Herat, elaborate palaces are being built by businessmen who have made fortunes from exploiting the needs of the new Afghanistan – or selling heroin. A heady mix of Iranian, Italian and Gulf influences, the houses have created a new school of design: Narcotecture. But many are worried the ancient city will soon be lost in the blur of development.

Independent from the Soviet Union since 1991, and finally emerging from years of corruption, oil-rich Azerbaijan is now planning a diplomatic campaign to change its image. But to fill its new embassies – 16 so far this year alone – it needs a new generation of officials. Welcome to the ambassador academy.

The vexed quest to design and new currency symbol of Kazakhstan.

Robert Mugabe still misses Savile Row.

Canada's diamond rush and South America's wished-for folding money.

Moscow says goodbye to brutalism and the twentysomethings running Georgia.

Sydney's waterless car wash and America's "Year of the Pacific".

Across Europe, villages and towns are being abandoned as people move to the cities – or other richer countries. It is a problem that Spain knows only too well. In its Soria region, there are now 492 empty villages and others that will die with the last residents. Can the country’s ghost towns ever be reborn?

During the Putin years the process of democratisation in Russia has stalled, with worrying human-rights violations. But a barely heard opposition is fighting back. Led by chess master Garry Kasparov, advised by activist Marina Litvinovich, can they call the Kremlin into check?

The financial spotlight has been shining bright on China’s big eastern cities, but as investors notice the wealth of opportunity and resources in the remote western region, the city of Urumqi is about to take centre stage.

Living on Wall Street and the rise of theRussian technopark.

Founded in 1925, Copenhagen Airport – or CPH – is one of the best designed and most efficient in Europe. The airport is the largest in Scandinavia and the hub for carrier SAS. Here, we look at all the companies needed to tend to an aircraft and send it on its way.

Havaianas flip-flops are the unofficial national shoe of Brazil. Since 1962, textile manufacturer São Paulo Alpargatas has made Havaianas that are worn by almost every Brazilian – from school children to celebrities. Last year, the company sold 162 million pairs. This month, the company will open an office and showroom in New York, its first outside Brazil.

Pinkberry yoghurt is one of those American franchise ideas – think soup, coffee and juice bars – that seem so obvious, you want to kick yourself for not having bought in at the beginning. The growth of the franchise has been explosive, from one Los Angeles store in January 2005 to 16 today, plus three in New York (five more by the end of summer) and, soon, six in London.

Portland’s annual Maine Boatbuilders Show attracts an unusual mix of salty dogs, day-tripping families and wealthy customers, who fly in on their private jets to inspect the sloops, schooners, kayaks, ketches and yawls – and possibly put in an order or two.

The great patissiers have met their match in Sadaharu Aoki. With three shops in Paris and three in Tokyo, he puts a Japanese twist on classic French pastries. His commitment to craft, design and the best of two cultures, makes his business our perfect company this month.

Two-thirds of US freight is moved by road and the haulage industry is booming. While the truckers may not get to see their families as often as they would like, driving is one industry that offers well-paid jobs with great benefits, even if you haven’t got a college education.

Thanks to its commitment to a lightning-fast wireless future, South Korea has become a laboratory for mixing pop culture with big business, blurring the line between bands and brands. Is this the media model for things to come?

The perfect listening post in Milan.

Hippies invade the Whitney Museum: and Dengue Fever put Khmer music on the map.

After studying architecture, Robert Cowper worked his way up from a draughtsman to become an art director on the sets of big-budget films. Monocle met him on the set of The Bourne Ultimatum in the week that the director requested reshoots – and some massive New York roofscapes.

They never make it on to most magazine’s “Best Hotel” lists, but Japan’s simple, pared-down ryokan are setting new standards in service and design. The Fuyija, remodelled by architect Kengo Kuma, looks set to introduce a western audience to the pleasures of the traditional Japanese inn.

A Swiss gym, a Japanese shop, a German house and a Swedish school.

How to look comfortable and feel good this summer.

With record numbers attending Milan’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile, its reputation as the most important design fair was confirmed again. Shuttling across the city, Monocle caught up with the key industry players to get an insight into the state of the market, discover the latest products and report on up-and-coming trends. Swarms of buyers, designers, clients and press descended on this year’s Milan furniture fair to do business. Unfazed by the crush, Monocle sent its team of journalists to report on the event (visit monocle.com for our filmed dispatches). We visited the firms featured in our preview, discovering a host of new wonders on the way. “It’s been years since we last saw such a Salone,” said Carlo Giorgetti, president of Italian furniture giant Giorgetti of the event. His stand was so busy that access was restricted at peak times.

Once a year, the top watchmakers gather in Basel to reveal their newest creations – and the world comes to buy. Monocle was there to discover the leading trends and take the pulse of the market.

Ten years ago, Australian Shane Williams invented a vest to cool down football players and improve their performance on the field. Today his simple invention is helping commandos in sun-baked Iraq, burn victims, heart patients and thoroughbred horses.

A new brew from Carlsberg and a must-have propelling pencil.

If you're going to work at home, do it in style.

With over half a century of craftsmanship under his belt, Mohamed Abdel Zaher has transformed his family-run book-binding business into a modern enterprise, retaining all of its character and charm.

Tenerife has always had a bad rep (and some worse “reps”), but Monocle is a big fan of Santa Cruz, the tourist-free northern capital. While the package hordes party hearty in Playa de las Americas, leave the southern badlands behind and snap up a Modernist property in the verdant north.

Milton Glaser is best known for creating the I <3 NY logo, but his 50-year career has included much more. He founded New York magazine, and has designed record covers, posters, restaurant interiors, packaging and, most recently, a college curriculum. Glaser chose to eat dim sum in New York’s Chinatown for his notional last meal.

For many of us it’s a case of not being able to see the forest for the trees. For Italy it was more not being able to spot the opportunity for the chairs at this year’s Milan furniture fair.

Since the 1970s, Mykonos has been on the list of summer destinations for the sun-seeking elite and gay party boys. Today it is smarter than ever, with new five-star hotels, a seasonal Nobu and berths for the grandest yachts. Out of sight, however, there are other visitors: workers from Albania and Poland.