In a year characterised by a chest-beating world leader with land-grabbing tendencies, what lessons can be taken from the 25th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s collapse?

Bonn served as Germany’s provisional capital for 50 years during the Cold War while Berlin was split in two. With government affairs still divided between these two cities, being a civil servant who links the two is all about going the distance.

Quarter of a century has passed since the Berlin Wall fell. Free of Soviet rule, Central and Eastern Europe have been transformed but democracy in the former Communist countries remains a work in progress.

Tunisia’s presidential elections next month mark a democratic milestone in a region forcefully fragmented by the Arab Spring. Although there is a long way to go, it is hoped that the results might show the way for the nation’s troubled neighbours.

As Japanese firms look to India for expansion, one Rajasthani town has evolved into a thriving expat business district for would-be investors.

The romance of the rails captures the imagination but travellers still demand efficiency and comfort on the move. Monocle visits industry fair InnoTrans for the latest technologies and innovations keeping the transport on track.

Following a spell of financial turbulence things are looking up for Finnair, with plans for an airport expansion, a fleet makeover and a focus on promoting the national brand. Monocle heads to the airline’s headquarters to see the team in action.

A flurry of promising start-ups in innovative spaces has created a buzz in Rotterdam. Monocle visits the sprawling port where disused sites have been redeveloped and meets the entrepreneurs making the most of the opportunities.

Takara Belmont has been making barber and dentist chairs for nearly a century. It is clear from the meticulous attention to detail given to each product why the company is Japan’s dominant salon-equipment supplier.

France’s artistic reach in the US is in the hands of charismatic cultural counsellor Antonin Baudry. As part of a busy calendar the diplomat and authoris building a bookshop in France’s New York embassy; we popped in to have a word.

Warsaw-based design studio Thisispaper was born out of an idea to promote lasting and well-crafted design in Poland. Monocle meets the team.

In the first of a new series Monocle tours great culture spaces for inspiration. Here, alternative gallery The Mistake Room leads by example as it raises the bar for global art outreach.

The second outing of our new series takes us to Istanbul, a city undergoing rapid change that is transforming the media landscape. Monocle explores the city and its multiple media offerings that are influencing the nation.

Toronto’s newest cultural landmark is the Aga Khan Museum, dedicated to collecting art and artefacts from throughout the Islamic world. A serene and inclusive site, it aims to educate and unite visitors of all faiths.

The usability of workwear coupled with craft expertise from one of France’s oldest trunk makers was the inspiration for L/Uniform, a new luggage range start-up aiming to prove that practical can also be beautiful.

The Biennale des Antiquaires is where the world’s top jewellers dazzle crowds with their most extravagant one-off creations – pieces that often take years to create. And in a buoyant market fuelled by the timeless desire for sparkly things there really is no rush.

Filling a house is a daunting task. But with Tokyo and Stockholm each boasting a street peppered with high-end homeware gems it can be a journey of discovery.

King Felipe VI of Spain's dress sense, voting in Romania and interview with a Paris-based NGO's president.

View from the campaign trail as the US looks to midterm elections, plus why Puerto Rico is losing residents.

Aeromexico ramps up its flights to Tokyo and Japan struggles with an outbreak of dengue fever.

The Somalian president's motorcade of choice, plus the imprisoned bloggers in Ethiopia.

Australia's G20 agenda, controversy over uranium sales to India and a healthcare crisis in Niue.

What the arrival of US naval forces in the Philippines' Oyster Bay would mean to locals.

We shine the spotlight on the newly appointed Norwegian ambassador to France.

Mobile-phone usage in Asia Pacific, beetroot in Greenland and "postie bikes" in Melbourne.

Take a seat - in a David Collin lounge chair.

Upcoming televisual treats in the US and wireless speakers that will appease sonic connoisseurs.

The renowned Belgian designer making it big in Japan and some choice winter warmers.

While the US and Europe were forging ahead with mid-century industrial design, the New Zealand approach – spearheaded by Gifford Jackson – was leaving behind an equally game-changing legacy.

Having established her cakes and pastries as Singapore’s favourite teatime treat, Bengawan Solo’s founder Anastasia Liew is keen to pass her legacy on to her son. But not before he has perfected the bakery’s 100-strong product line.

This month we bring you combs from Chicago, lighting from London and kitchenware from Kyoto. Plus a few new tipples for the drinks cabinet.

This month’s best in global travel includes an idyllic hotel in a former palace, a Polish shop showcasing the works of local artists and designers and a retro barbershop in Mexico City.

A fresh generation is falling in love with Mokotow’s modernist architecture and community spirit, giving it a visible sense of vibrancy in the process.

Skilled craftsmen and quality products are to thank for UK scissor-maker Ernest Wright & Son’s century-long survival.

The idea behind Model Milk is simple: comfort food made using high-quality produce.

Famed for his bewitching prose, Gay Talese pioneered New Journalism in the 1960s. Yet despite the avant-garde nature of his work he opts for classic dishes that combine sophistication and simplicity.

Russia’s military involvement in Ukraine has irked the West but how has local life been affected along the other Baltic borders? Monocle tours the Russian-speaking hinterlands of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for lessons in identity and nationhood.

The places where we buy magazines are changing – some for the better, some for the worse. Editor in chief Tyler Brûlé has a manifesto for those shops needing to read up.