With the sudden exit from Mogadishu of Islamist insurgents, life in the Somali capital has shifted yet again. Just as war has abated, famine has arrived. Who can fix this ravaged city?

The ins and outs of Mercosur, the speeding up of California's trains, and the other big ballot in America.

As a former radio journalist, Ahmed Abdisalam Adan has faced death threats and seen colleagues killed. Now, he is deputy prime minister in Somalia’s first functioning government since 1991. He tells Monocle about life in…

Struggling nations and cities need to hitch up their skirts, quicken their step and just get on with it. Our editor-in-chief follows up the debates stirred up in this issue.

Our new column from Washington on President Obama's administration, plus baseball-mania in Nicaragua and the Dane who is making NYC more cycle-friendly.

The rebranding benefits of geographical name changes are weighed up in South Australia, plans to harvest storm water for consumption are questioned in the New South Wales city of Orange, and Tokelau announces plans to…

He believes in playing classical music as a way to prevent road rage and he understands that better transport solutions mean a higher quality of life. Meet Peter Ramsauer, Germany’s minister of transportation, construction…

The defence industry is intertwined with politics and nationhood, and Ivor Ichikowitz is a man at the heart of all three in Africa. But don’t call him an arms dealer – he only has the best intentions for the continent, he…

Obama is allocating $8bn for high-speed rail – but much of the expertise will come from Europe. Monocle went on the euro-rails with US transport secretary Ray LaHood as he sought inspiration and contacts. Then on page 76…

The Monocle election watch looks to the Dominican Republic, Mexican Joaquín “Chapo” Guzmán, the world's new most-wanted man, and a Q&A with Claudia Paz y Paz, Attorney general of Guatemala.

The view from Kabul, the Taiwanese president's modest motorcade and health insurance for Tibetan monks.

Bolian president Evo Morales and his penchant for ponchos, Chile and Peru's pointless weapons race and dating for lonely Canadian farmers. Also, in our View from Washington column, we look at one of Barack Obama's many…

Great cities adapt and change like their residents. The process of finding a favourite has been a global undertaking that confirmed and renewed our love of exciting urban centres. The following make up Monocle’s top 25.

What’s the future of the city? Eleven writers – urbanists, authors, academics, architects and Monocle editors – look at the battles and pleasures of metropolitan living. From the empty highways of Detroit to the sewers of…