Photo Essays

Each year, thousands of people travel to the Turkish city of Konya to attend a week-long series of events and ceremonies that mark the death of the 13th-century Islamic poet, scholar and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi. By Francisco Seco

Scores of people have been killed and injured in the unrest. Now, embattled President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has asked a Russian-led military alliance for help. By Philip Boell

Their exhausting escape from the Taliban took them from Kabul to Qatar, though European cities and U.S. military bases. But now this Afghan family has finally arrived in a small Kentucky city known for receiving refugees. By Kevin Mertens, with material from Reuters

The height of geological eccentricity, Cappadocia, set amid the plains of Anatolia in central Turkey, combines fantastical topography with fascinating remnants of human history. By Sugato Mukherjee

The stunning coastal city of Saint-Louis is at greater risk from rising sea levels than any other in Africa. A rich architectural heritage and traditional coastal livelihoods are vanishing under the growing tide. By Joost Bastmeijer

Persian culture is in the spotlight in an exhibition at the James Simon Gallery in Berlin. The artefacts feature unexpected multicultural influences. By Christine Lehnen

The aim of "The Walk" theatre project is to draw attention to the fate of unaccompanied minors – and takes a 3.5-metre doll, intended to represent a Syrian refugee girl, across Europe. By Claudia Dehn

On the Indonesian island of Java, one librarian has started a mobile library, lending books to children in exchange for plastic rubbish. The idea is that they will learn to take pride in their environment and read more at the same time. By Julie Huehnken

China to the east, Russia to the north, Afghanistan to the south: in this geopolitical environment, Kyrgyzstan, which has been independent since 1991, is attempting to make progress – and is finding the going tough. By Marcel Fuerstenau

Hisham's Palace in the West Bank was recently renovated and is now opening to the public. Palestinians hope it will draw tourists. By Sarah Hucal