Photo Essays

Some words are immediately recognisable as having Arabic origins, others not at all. So what is the deal with sugar, sofa and mattress? By Dagmar Breitenbach

Egypt's street artists expressed their dissent on Cairo's walls, as thousands of protesters demanded more democratic rights. By Manasi Gopalakrishnan

"Temple of Refuge" illustrates Iraqi-Kurdish migrant Sartep Namiq's journey to Berlin. It was commissioned with the help of a unique organisation. By Stefan Dege

The ''German Khars'' are a family of craftsmen known in Srinagar for their skills repairing old German-made medical equipment. Their craft has been preserved for decades, but today only one blacksmith continues the work. By Rifat Fareed

In the blockaded Gaza Strip, the Christmas season is giving a boost to a small women’s business that produces pandemic face masks decorated with holiday symbols.

For some Afghans weighed down by decades of war and struggle, a little comfort and distraction can be found in the company of birds. As Mohammad Ismail visited Ka Faroshi bird market in the heart of Kabul's old city in January 2018, war seemed a long way off.

Koshary is probably the most popular street food in Cairo. The Egyptian national dish, which consists of chickpeas, noodles, lentils, rice and tomato sauce, also lends its name to Michael Landeck's Berlin restaurant. By Lena Ganssmann

Pascal Mannaerts travelled to Oman at the end of 2019 in search of portrait subjects for a photo essay on women in the Gulf sultanate. Ruled by the enlightened Qaboos from 1970 to 2020, Oman enjoys a unique reputation among the Arab states – especially regarding the status and opportunities afforded to women.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been at war again over the Nagorno-Karabakh region in the South Caucasus for over a month. Three ceasefires have failed. The conflict is taking its toll on civilians. Julia Hahn reports

You might expect the advent of a long, bleak winter to bring everything to a standstill in Kashmir, but thanks to ingenious portable earthenware heating pots – kangdi – encased in wicker baskets, people can still go about their business. By Sugato Mukherjee