Society
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Africa / Middle East
Malian migration and Uganda's elections. Plus: South Africans head home.
Americas
Barack Obama's presidential motorcade and Montréal's new approach to deradicalisation.
Go ape
With the dreaded Year of the Sheep coming to a close, it's time to celebrate its simian successor. The Year of the Monkey traditionally favours shrewd negotiators and bold action. Here's what's in store.
Strong language
The world's governments would be lost without interpreters. We meet the old hands at the UN headquarters and the students who will help us understand one another in the years ahead.
How to be liked
Soft power is a precious commodity and needs protecting. But even if your nation and its government seem to lose their way, fear not: you can fix this without them.
Making the cut
More than just places for a trim, Istanbul's barbershops are part confessional, part symposium. The men behind the chair train for years, becoming specialists with chat as keen as their razors.
Conchita Wurst: Austria’s new face
Since winning the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, Conchita Wurst has become a global star. Yet she refuses to accept iconic status, remaining happiest when in her home city of Vienna.
Expo 87: The swing of things
In the Brünig Pass, men from all walks of life grapple in an arcadian celebration of traditional Swiss wrestling. Monocle joins the crowd to watch the sawdust fly.
In the slipstream
While Jakarta chokes on pollution, Surabaya, Indonesia’s second city, is taking a fresher route to modernity. Discover why being number two can put you in first place.
Breaking the ice
Having overcome cultural preconceptions, figure skater Zahra Lari is training to become the first athlete from the Gulf to compete in the Winter Olympics, inspiring a new generation of women.
