Photo Essays

War and violence seem a long way off in the Ka Faroshi bird market in the heart of Kabul's old city. For some Afghans weighed down by decades of conflict, a little comfort and distraction can be found in the company of birds. Impressions by Mohammad Ismail

Once a year Indonesia's Vesparados descend on East Java in their hundreds. There they pay homage to the iconic brand and test their own limits – in terms of both speed and the craziest scooter conversions. By Sven Toniges and Bernd Kling

The "Flower Men" – descendants of the ancient Tihama and Asir tribes – live a near autonomous existence in the foothills of the Halaba mountains that straddle the Saudi Arabian-Yemeni border. Taking orders from neither government, their lives are ordered according to the dictates of tribal law. By Eric Lafforgue

It is three in the morning and the Armenian Orthodox cleric Artak Tadevosyan distributes incense through the corridors of the Jerusalem Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the place where Christians believe Jesus Christ was crucified and buried. Impressions of Ammar Awad and Corinna Kern

Imad Alarnab was a star chef in Syria until he had to flee the war-stricken country. Now based in London, heʹs introduced locals to Syrian food, using the profits to help people back home. Marianna Karakoulaki reports

Jesus, born a Jew, spent his days in the region now known as Israel. He was born in Bethlehem and lived by the Sea of Galilee. Christians believe that he was crucified at Golgotha outside Jerusalem – only to rise from the dead three days later

The United Arab Emirates is known for its oil production and extravagant architectural projects. However, many are unaware that Dubai exports camel milk and chocolate. By Michael Marek

The people in the remote Toraja region on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi are predominantly Christians, but they are sticking to the old animistic traditions of their ancestors. This also includes the fact that death does not mean the end of a human being. By Darren Whiteside

With fighting around Damascus having ceased, everyday life is slowly returning to the Syrian capital. While the people there enjoy a touch of normality, life in the immediate surroundings could hardly be more different. By Rahel Klein and Marko Djurica

A city of some 20 million people combining charm and squalor, Cairo may soon witness an exodus by well-heeled residents, state employees and foreign embassies to the New Administrative Capital. By Hamza Hemdawi