Photo Essays

Saudi Arabia has surprised the world with a reform of its criminal law. Flogging and the death penalty for minors have been abolished. But for many imprisoned activists, this does not mean the all-clear. By Diana Hodali

Whatever you believe, faith can help in troubled times. But what happens when mosques close, when places of worship no longer offer a place to go? During the fasting month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world have found ways of coping with the situation. By Marko Langer

Four hours north of Juba, cattle dictate the pace of life. Yet the daily life of the Mundari ethnic group is also marked by Southern Sudan's war and ethnic conflicts. Yet what about the aspirations of the young? By Eric Lafforgue

The province of Badakhshan in the northeast of Afghanistan is one of the most scenic and rich in natural resources. Marian Brehmer visited the region on the border to Tajikistan.

What was long feared has now become reality: the COVID-19 pandemic has reached the closed-off Gaza Strip. It's a race against time to head off the outbreak and stop a catastrophe. By Diana Hodali

Allegations of homosexuality: a good one and a half years ago, 57 men were temporarily arrested in Lagos. They are still awaiting the court's verdict. By Reuters photographer Temilade Adelaja.

Countries such as Kuwait and Israel have instituted virtual lockdowns in the face of COVID-19, while religious gatherings have been limited at a time of year ripe with ritual. Others have been slower to act. By Tom Allinson

Directors from Iran face strict state restrictions, but they nevertheless manage to bypass them with creativity. These 10 filmmakers' works have received international critical acclaim despite the obstacles. By Elizabeth Grenier

The battle for Idlib is likely to be the last, bloody conflict in the Syrian war. Refugees are fleeing the city in droves. By Diana Hodali

High walls around the neighbourhoods of Pakistan’s embattled Hazara community in the southwestern city of Quetta are designed to protect them from extremist militants, but also serve as a constant reminder of the threat they face. By Gul Yousufzai and Akthar Soomro