You are here: Homepage Sections World dispatch Photo: Morteza Niknahad Photography | Iran“Art and the sea give my life meaning” Iranian photographer Morteza Niknahad zooms in on the lives of the people and the culture of the Strait of Hormuz Interview with Morteza “Nik” Niknahad09/07/2026 Foto: IMAGO / JNA Press Refugee camps | BangladeschSchools were buried under mud Driven from Myanmar, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. Without international aid, a never-ending humanitarian catastrophe looms large By Piyas Biswas09/03/2026 Foto: privat Happiness index | BhutanSo how happy are you? Bhutan doesn't just measure income to see how its citizens are doing. It asks them how long they are on screens and how well they sleep. Karma Ura, a national happiness expert, on why our mood should be a political priority. By Karma Ura08/15/2026The scam factories Cambodia has become a hub for online fraud — often run by trafficked foreign workers forced into the trade By Danielle Keeton-Olsen07/08/2026 Foto: privat Belonging | IndiaFrom the slum to Harvard How does it feel to live between two worlds? The Indian author and scholar Suraj Yengde explains By Suraj Yengde03/24/2026 Foto: Celeste Valero Textiles | Argentina“I worked hard for my happiness” Celeste Valero comes from the Casillas community in Argentina and was supposed to become a teacher and work towards a better life. Instead she opted to follow in her ancestors' footsteps and take up weaving By Celeste Valero02/13/2026 Foto: picture alliance/Jen Goldbeck Racism | CubaThe colours of Havana The ideal of equality underpins Cuba’s socialist state, but skin colour continues to matter By Eileen Sosin Martínez01/06/2026 Foto: Jose Ferrer Books | VenezuelaPublishing as a form of resistance Despite economic hardship and political censorship, Venezuela’s publishers and booksellers are refusing to give up By Hensli Rahn Solorzano12/09/2025 Foto: Documented Media | USAFor people, not for clicks While major media organizations in the United States are under pressure, the nonprofit organisation Documented is giving local journalism a new lease of life By Kai Schnier12/08/2025 Interview Photo: Sarfo Emmanuel Annor Photography | Ghana“I want to show Ghana beyond the stereotypes” Ghanaian photographer Sarfo Emmanuel Annor portrays young people from his community in Koforidua. He talks about trust, the language of colour and his desire to reveal a Ghana that is rarely depicted. Interview with Zuher Jazmati09/25/2026 Photo: Morteza Niknahad Photography | Iran“Art and the sea give my life meaning” Iranian photographer Morteza Niknahad zooms in on the lives of the people and the culture of the Strait of Hormuz Interview with Morteza “Nik” Niknahad09/07/2026 Foto: Ole Witt für KULTURAUSTAUSCH From Exile | Belarus“Any open discussion gets political in Belarus” Exiled in Berlin, curator Anna Chistoserdova continues to push for a free Belarus Interview with Anna Chistoserdova08/06/2026Climate crisis | Global“Climate science is being actively dismantled” After a summer of record heat, why does the climate crisis seem to be slipping down the public agenda? Australian climate communication researcher John Cook explains why people switch off — and what it will take to get people listening again Interview with John Cook06/25/2026 Ramon Espinosa/AP Humanitarian crisis | Cuba“Cubans are being pushed to the limit” Playwright Yunior García Aguilera sounds a warning about Cuba’s humanitarian crisis — and explains what it would take to finally spark political change Interview with Yunior García Aguilera05/20/2026 Foto: Ole Witt für KULTURAUSTAUSCH In exile | Hong Kong“I was threatened with ten years in prison” The activist Ray Wong is fighting for democracy in his homeland Hong Kong from Germany. Interview with Ray Wong Toi-yeung05/03/2026Roma art | Poland“Art and activism belong together“ Textile artist Małgorzata Mirga-Tas made art history in 2022 as the first Romani woman to exhibit at the Venice Biennale. How can Roma narratives be kept alive through art? Interview with Małgorzata Mirga-Tas03/17/2026 Bild: Stable Diffusion Artificial Intelligence | Ethics“AI must serve people“ Father Philip Larrey on the ethical opportunities and dangers of artificial intelligence, the Catholic Church’s stance – and the Pope’s take on AI. Interview with Philip Larrey01/27/2026 Foto: Tony Luong Artificial Intelligence | USA“The culture of Silicon Valley is authoritarian” According to journalist Karen Hao, the companies at the heart of the AI industry are increasingly acting like modern empires. A conversation about the consequences—and what needs to change. Interview with Karen Hao12/09/2025 First person Bild: Daniel Juřena Artificial intelligence | Risks”The terminator is not the worst-case scenario” Mathematician Maurice Chiodo is based at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, where he examines whether artificial intelligence could pose a fundamental threat to humanity. By Maurice Chiodo12/09/2025 Photo: Tong Niu End of the West | ChinaThey continue to dream Unlike in the West, people in the East still believe in the future, says Xiaolu Guo. The author and director, who commutes between Europe and China By Xiaolu Guo05/03/2025 Photo: Urban Think Tank Empowerment South Africa | ReblockingBuilding a house in two days The social organization Ikhayalami is trying to make informal dwelling in South Africa safer and healthier. How do they do it? By Andrea Bolnick01/01/2025 Photo: private Literature | Personal historyLiving words The writer Helon Habila grew up in Nigeria, later moved to the UK and now lives in the USA. In his books he revisits the people, places and politics he has experienced first-hand By Helon Habila12/19/2024 Photo: Ole Witt for KULTURAUSTAUSCH Personal history | North KoreaFleeing North Korea Choi Song Hui served as a loyal soldier in North Korea’s army, but then fled across the border river. She now lives in Seoul where she continues to fight for human rights in her home country By Choi Song Hui11/04/2024 Photo: Gary Doak / Alamy Manifesto | MexicoMy president For the first time in history Mexico voted for a female president. Following Claudia Sheinbaum’s landslide win, the writer Gabriela Jauregui lists her demands for the new Presidenta By Gabriela Jauregui05/29/2024 Photo: Rasmus Berg Indigenous rights | NorwayWind turbines on Saami land Norway spent decades trying to force the Saami to assimilate. The activist Ida Helene Benonisen is fighting for indigenous rights – in the tradition of her forefathers By Ida Helene Benonisen04/03/2024 Portrait: Victor Boyko / Getty Images Personal history | BrazilA new world in every film The Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz has always been drawn to distant horizons. From Brazil via New York, he found his way to Berlin By Karim Aïnouz03/14/2024 Photo: Ole Witt Personal history | Myanmar“I always knew what I wanted” Doctor and author, Ma Thida, spent a long time in prison as a result of fighting for democracy in Myanmar. Regardless, she hopes to return to her country soon By Ma Thida02/26/2024 Books Photo: Amr Attamimi Sunny to partly cloudy The photo book “Photography from Yemen” changes the way we see a country torn apart by civil war. A conversation with editor Ibi Ibrahim By Ibi Ibrahim04/08/2026 Photo: private Literature | Personal historyLiving words The writer Helon Habila grew up in Nigeria, later moved to the UK and now lives in the USA. In his books he revisits the people, places and politics he has experienced first-hand By Helon Habila12/19/2024 Photo: Dirk Skiba Literature l SlovakiaThe seamstress’s story Slovakian author Katarína Kucbelová spent two years visiting the seamstress Iľka in a remote village. Her episodic novel “The Bonnet” talks about tradition and village life, hidden racism and the social exclusion of Roma people Interview with Katarína Kucbelová08/29/2024 Photo: Evening Standard / Hulton Archive / Getty Images Fiction | Great Britain”I want to bring Black female writers into the spotlight“ More than half a century ago, Margaret Busby became Britain’s first black woman publisher, upending the literary scene. Five decades later, her work is far from done Interview with Margaret Busby06/01/2023 Photo: Getty Images Fiction | Hong KongA magical metropolisXi Xi’s novel “My City” takes readers back to Hong Kong in the 1970s. By Thomas Hummitzsch06/01/2023 Photo: John McDonnell / Getty Images Books | InequalityAn invisible hierarchyContemporary society has all but eradicated the caste system, right? Far from it, argues U.S. journalist Isabel Wilkerson By Sieglinde Geisel06/01/2023 Photo: Iqra Shabaz Fiction | USA“Americans blame poverty on the poor” In his debut novel, Jakob Guanzon explores the reality of the “working poor” in the US. An interview about fathers and sons, money troubles and the dangerous legacy of the American Dream Interview with Jakob Guanzon06/01/2023 Photo: C.H. Beck, München World atlasCartology and clichéA new historical world atlas claims to break away from a purely Eurocentric view of the world. It almost succeeds By Birte Förster01/09/2023 Photo: Uendel Galter Fiction | BrazilThe fight of the quilombolasPolitics clashes with everyday life in Brazil, in a story of sisterhood, race and religion. Itamar Vieira Junior’s debut novel thrives on this colourful mix By Michael Ebmeyer01/09/2023 Snapshot Foto: Andrew Esiebo/Panos Pictures Talk of the town | LagosLife stuck in traffic Lagos is Nigeria’s city of opportunity—yet its boom comes at a steep price: housing shortages and endless commutes By Valentine Benjamin08/10/2026 Foto: Aron Klein Cultural life | BulgariaMasks of hide and horn In Bulgaria, elaborate masquerades are used to drive out evil spirits By Milena Lyubenova04/20/2026Survey | TanzaniaClimate change in Tanzania By Deodatus Mfugale05/03/2025 Image: Carlos Merida / David Rumsey Map Collection Archiving maps | GlobalAround the world in digital maps By Sandra Rendgen12/05/2024 Photo: Atikah Zata Flying visit | IndonesiaSpinach or football? Things are getting tight for small farmers in Indonesia’s capital. The rapid growth of the infrastructure makes them fear for their fields By Atikah Zata09/07/2024 Photo: Abigail Varney Flying visit | AustraliaThe hunt for opals in Australia Coober Pedy in the Australian outback is considered the world capital of opals. That does not make it a glamorous place, though By Abigail Varney04/30/2024Media | IranIranians do not trust state television By Omid Rezaee01/26/2024 Photo: Emile Ducke Day trip | RussiaIcy marathon on Lake Baikal Every year at the beginning of March, extreme sports enthusiasts gather on Lake Baikal to take part in the “Winteriade”. Here, the athletes can also try their hand at disciplines such as ice fishing or ice golf By Kai Schnier01/10/2024 Photo: Dario Lehner Pop culture | TurkeyProtest songs from the car radio When screenwriter Cem Kaya reflects on his childhood, he remembers the long car journeys from Germany to Turkey - and the music of the “Aşiks”. On the travelling singers of Anatolia and their links to pop music by immigrant workers in Germany By Cem Kaya12/15/2023 Photo essay Photo: Ziyi Le Generation Z | China“We are a lost generation” For many, China’s megacities symbolise progress and growth. Photographer Ziyi Le turns his lens on the young people who move there in search of work and greater freedom By Ziyi Le09/30/2026 Photo: Sarfo Emmanuel Annor Photography | Ghana“I want to show Ghana beyond the stereotypes” Ghanaian photographer Sarfo Emmanuel Annor portrays young people from his community in Koforidua. He talks about trust, the language of colour and his desire to reveal a Ghana that is rarely depicted. Interview with Zuher Jazmati09/25/2026 Photo: M’hammed Kilito Environment | MoroccoDesert oases under threat Oasis ecosystems are perfectly adapted to the harsh desert environment. Today, many are threatened by drought and mismanagement. Photographer M’hammed Kilito zooms in on the people working to save them Interview with M’hammed Kilito01/25/2024 Photo: Tami Xiang Family | China“Millions of children live apart from their parents” Chinese migrant workers are often denied official residency. Many parents leave their children behind in the villages. Photographer Tami Xiang visited some of them. A conversation Interview with Tami Xiang11/25/2023 Photo: Saurabh Narang Indigenous culture | IndiaKeeping an African identity in contemporary India The Siddi ethnic group migrated to India from East Africa centuries ago. Since then, their communities have cultivated their very own culture By Saurabh Narang11/20/2023 Photo: H. C. Kwok History | TaiwanIn the shadow of the dictator Under the regime of dictator Chiang Kai-Shek, tens of thousands of people were arrested and killed in Taiwan between 1948 and 1987. However, the country has never come to terms with the “White Terror”. Photographer H. C. Kwok wants to change that with his pictures by giving the victims a voice. By Billy HC Kwok06/01/2023 Photo: Antoine Bruy DropoutsBeyond civilisation In search of people who have had enough of big city life, the French photographer Antoine Bruy has traveled through Europe and North America. The result is the visually stunning photo series “Scrublands,” in which he documents people who opt out of society, depicting their everyday lives By Antoine Bruy01/09/2023 Photo: Mustafah Abdulaziz Climate | Photography“Water is like a mirror”Droughts, forest fires, floods: humanity is quietly heading for a climate crisis. With his photo series on water, Mustafah Abdulaziz holds a mirror up to what’s happening. A conversation Interview with Mustafah Abdulaziz07/01/2022 Photo: Natalia Kepesz, from the Niewybuch series Notes and observations | Poland“When photographing, I had to wear protective goggles”Polish photographer Natalia Kepesz travelled to her hometown of Złotoryja in southwestern Poland for her latest works. She also documented a new Polish trend, military summer camps for local children Interview with Natalia Kepesz07/01/2021 Playlist Photo: Mai Sararporn Music | ThailandThe Sound of Khlong Toei The rapper Kasidech Saengjan voices the struggles of people in Thai slums. In this playlist, he gives his personal soundtrack to day-to-day life in Khlong Toei By Kasidech Saengjan01/11/2025 Photo: El Rey de Aragón Pop culture | MexicoThe sound of Mexico Paulina Sotomayor sang in a mariachi band for years, but today she mixes electro with Mexican folk music, cumbia, conga and afrobeats. This is her personal playlist to celebrate female empowerment By Paulina Sotomayor09/07/2024 Foto: Leeor Wild Playlist | Canada & GreenlandThe Sound of the Inuit Raucous vocals, nature-loving lyrics, love songs or simply some proper rock: the Inuit playlist by Canadian musician Elisapie Isaac By Elisapie Isaac03/14/2024 Source: Ole Witt Playlist | MongoliaThe sound of the Gobi Desert Songs about camels, sandstorms and minerals: The Gobi Desert is a rich source of inspiration for the Mongolian music scene. A playlist By Pau Szczap01/06/2024 Photo: Nicolas Datiche / Getty Images Playlist | Taiwan“Heavy metal saved my life”Heavy metal star - and politician - Freddy Lim knows Taiwan's music scene inside out. A conversation about Taiwanese music and the ten songs you need to decipher it Interview with Freddy Lim 06/01/2023 Photo: Julija Goyd Playlist | MinimalismPared-down soundIn music, forgoing excess often stands for minimalist innovation. Rarely has less been so much more than in the nine piano pieces that the musician Malakoff Kowalski handpicked for this playlist By Malakoff Kowalski01/09/2023 Photo: Getty Images Playlist | Afghanistan„I have brought your prophets into the world“Ever since the Taliban returned, music has been banned and it has been forbidden for woman to sing. Yet a number of female Afghan musicians continue their careers in exile. Introducing a selection of famous singers - and and their songs. By Farhot10/01/2022 Opinion Photo: Maciek Kowalewski Viewpoint | CultureI think that we should rethink the value of culture By Juliana Hodkinson05/03/2025 Photo: Jeremy Tauriac Viewpoint | USAWhy do we need poetry right now? Musician, poet and artist Tarriona "Tank" Ball on the unique power of spoken word By Tarriona Tank Ball05/03/2025Opinion | NairobiI think that Fitness should be straightforward again The pressure of social media can quickly become overwhelming. But fitness doesn’t have to be expensive, complicated or perfect By Kylie Kiunguyu04/30/2024 Photo: Ivanna Oksenyuk Talking point | AIHow dangerous is Artificial Intelligence? What is the most threatening about artificial intelligence? Author Rebecca Giblin points out where the dangers lie. A commentary By Rebecca Giblin12/06/2023 Photo: Barbara Zanon / Getty Images Literature | TaiwanSex and politics: Taiwan’s last taboosTaiwan is often portrayed as a model Asian democracy by the West. But how free and open-minded is the country really? Author Li Ang on a question she’s been asking for decades By Li Ang06/01/2023 Photo: Antoine Midant Media | GermanyBeyond the European bubble German media outlets are often indifferent when it comes to reporting from outside Europe. German journalist Mohamed Amjahid has realised that writing about sex helps break down barriers By Mohamed Amjahid06/01/2023 Photo: Taiwan FactCheck Center Media | Taiwan“We’re in the middle of an information war”Manipulated images, cyberattacks and viral fake news: digital disinformation is commonplace in Taiwan. Ho Hui-An of the Taiwan FactCheck Center on fighting against the tide Interview with Ho Hui-An06/01/2023 Photo: DeAgostin / Getty Images Minimalism | InternationalKeeping it simpleWhat makes a building a beautiful structure? Ornamentation on the front? Or is a building beautiful if it houses as many people as possible? Can we separate the aesthetic evaluation of a building from its construction circumstances and the ecological and human price it cost? By Ayelet Gundar-Goshen01/09/2023 Foto: Lam Yik Fei / Getty Images Digital life | TaiwanTears in the matrixIn Taiwan, the digital world is displacing the physical one. Even tradition is migrating to the cloud. Our author sets out in search of a lost era By Chen Hao-Jen01/09/2023 Fiction Women’s rights | MexicoHe said, she said Brutal violence against women is not uncommon in Mexico. The writer Gabriela Jauregui has collected quotes from perpetrators in court, creating a harrowing poem By Gabriela Jauregui09/07/2024Short fiction | WaterThirst, Knowledge and LoveThree new works of short fiction By Ben Okri07/01/2022Short fiction | WaterOn Präsenzer LakeA woman is sitting alone on a bench on a shore in spring, waiting for her lover. A tale about a secret place by the water By Katerina Poladjan07/01/2022Short fiction | Life undergroundIn the stomach of the cityA man from the countryside starts a new life in the tunnels beneath an Indian metropolis. A story. By Shumona Sinha01/07/2022
Photo: Morteza Niknahad Photography | Iran“Art and the sea give my life meaning” Iranian photographer Morteza Niknahad zooms in on the lives of the people and the culture of the Strait of Hormuz Interview with Morteza “Nik” Niknahad09/07/2026
Foto: IMAGO / JNA Press Refugee camps | BangladeschSchools were buried under mud Driven from Myanmar, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. Without international aid, a never-ending humanitarian catastrophe looms large By Piyas Biswas09/03/2026
Foto: privat Happiness index | BhutanSo how happy are you? Bhutan doesn't just measure income to see how its citizens are doing. It asks them how long they are on screens and how well they sleep. Karma Ura, a national happiness expert, on why our mood should be a political priority. By Karma Ura08/15/2026
The scam factories Cambodia has become a hub for online fraud — often run by trafficked foreign workers forced into the trade By Danielle Keeton-Olsen07/08/2026
Foto: privat Belonging | IndiaFrom the slum to Harvard How does it feel to live between two worlds? The Indian author and scholar Suraj Yengde explains By Suraj Yengde03/24/2026
Foto: Celeste Valero Textiles | Argentina“I worked hard for my happiness” Celeste Valero comes from the Casillas community in Argentina and was supposed to become a teacher and work towards a better life. Instead she opted to follow in her ancestors' footsteps and take up weaving By Celeste Valero02/13/2026
Foto: picture alliance/Jen Goldbeck Racism | CubaThe colours of Havana The ideal of equality underpins Cuba’s socialist state, but skin colour continues to matter By Eileen Sosin Martínez01/06/2026
Foto: Jose Ferrer Books | VenezuelaPublishing as a form of resistance Despite economic hardship and political censorship, Venezuela’s publishers and booksellers are refusing to give up By Hensli Rahn Solorzano12/09/2025
Foto: Documented Media | USAFor people, not for clicks While major media organizations in the United States are under pressure, the nonprofit organisation Documented is giving local journalism a new lease of life By Kai Schnier12/08/2025
Photo: Sarfo Emmanuel Annor Photography | Ghana“I want to show Ghana beyond the stereotypes” Ghanaian photographer Sarfo Emmanuel Annor portrays young people from his community in Koforidua. He talks about trust, the language of colour and his desire to reveal a Ghana that is rarely depicted. Interview with Zuher Jazmati09/25/2026
Photo: Morteza Niknahad Photography | Iran“Art and the sea give my life meaning” Iranian photographer Morteza Niknahad zooms in on the lives of the people and the culture of the Strait of Hormuz Interview with Morteza “Nik” Niknahad09/07/2026
Foto: Ole Witt für KULTURAUSTAUSCH From Exile | Belarus“Any open discussion gets political in Belarus” Exiled in Berlin, curator Anna Chistoserdova continues to push for a free Belarus Interview with Anna Chistoserdova08/06/2026
Climate crisis | Global“Climate science is being actively dismantled” After a summer of record heat, why does the climate crisis seem to be slipping down the public agenda? Australian climate communication researcher John Cook explains why people switch off — and what it will take to get people listening again Interview with John Cook06/25/2026
Ramon Espinosa/AP Humanitarian crisis | Cuba“Cubans are being pushed to the limit” Playwright Yunior García Aguilera sounds a warning about Cuba’s humanitarian crisis — and explains what it would take to finally spark political change Interview with Yunior García Aguilera05/20/2026
Foto: Ole Witt für KULTURAUSTAUSCH In exile | Hong Kong“I was threatened with ten years in prison” The activist Ray Wong is fighting for democracy in his homeland Hong Kong from Germany. Interview with Ray Wong Toi-yeung05/03/2026
Roma art | Poland“Art and activism belong together“ Textile artist Małgorzata Mirga-Tas made art history in 2022 as the first Romani woman to exhibit at the Venice Biennale. How can Roma narratives be kept alive through art? Interview with Małgorzata Mirga-Tas03/17/2026
Bild: Stable Diffusion Artificial Intelligence | Ethics“AI must serve people“ Father Philip Larrey on the ethical opportunities and dangers of artificial intelligence, the Catholic Church’s stance – and the Pope’s take on AI. Interview with Philip Larrey01/27/2026
Foto: Tony Luong Artificial Intelligence | USA“The culture of Silicon Valley is authoritarian” According to journalist Karen Hao, the companies at the heart of the AI industry are increasingly acting like modern empires. A conversation about the consequences—and what needs to change. Interview with Karen Hao12/09/2025
Bild: Daniel Juřena Artificial intelligence | Risks”The terminator is not the worst-case scenario” Mathematician Maurice Chiodo is based at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, where he examines whether artificial intelligence could pose a fundamental threat to humanity. By Maurice Chiodo12/09/2025
Photo: Tong Niu End of the West | ChinaThey continue to dream Unlike in the West, people in the East still believe in the future, says Xiaolu Guo. The author and director, who commutes between Europe and China By Xiaolu Guo05/03/2025
Photo: Urban Think Tank Empowerment South Africa | ReblockingBuilding a house in two days The social organization Ikhayalami is trying to make informal dwelling in South Africa safer and healthier. How do they do it? By Andrea Bolnick01/01/2025
Photo: private Literature | Personal historyLiving words The writer Helon Habila grew up in Nigeria, later moved to the UK and now lives in the USA. In his books he revisits the people, places and politics he has experienced first-hand By Helon Habila12/19/2024
Photo: Ole Witt for KULTURAUSTAUSCH Personal history | North KoreaFleeing North Korea Choi Song Hui served as a loyal soldier in North Korea’s army, but then fled across the border river. She now lives in Seoul where she continues to fight for human rights in her home country By Choi Song Hui11/04/2024
Photo: Gary Doak / Alamy Manifesto | MexicoMy president For the first time in history Mexico voted for a female president. Following Claudia Sheinbaum’s landslide win, the writer Gabriela Jauregui lists her demands for the new Presidenta By Gabriela Jauregui05/29/2024
Photo: Rasmus Berg Indigenous rights | NorwayWind turbines on Saami land Norway spent decades trying to force the Saami to assimilate. The activist Ida Helene Benonisen is fighting for indigenous rights – in the tradition of her forefathers By Ida Helene Benonisen04/03/2024
Portrait: Victor Boyko / Getty Images Personal history | BrazilA new world in every film The Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz has always been drawn to distant horizons. From Brazil via New York, he found his way to Berlin By Karim Aïnouz03/14/2024
Photo: Ole Witt Personal history | Myanmar“I always knew what I wanted” Doctor and author, Ma Thida, spent a long time in prison as a result of fighting for democracy in Myanmar. Regardless, she hopes to return to her country soon By Ma Thida02/26/2024
Photo: Amr Attamimi Sunny to partly cloudy The photo book “Photography from Yemen” changes the way we see a country torn apart by civil war. A conversation with editor Ibi Ibrahim By Ibi Ibrahim04/08/2026
Photo: private Literature | Personal historyLiving words The writer Helon Habila grew up in Nigeria, later moved to the UK and now lives in the USA. In his books he revisits the people, places and politics he has experienced first-hand By Helon Habila12/19/2024
Photo: Dirk Skiba Literature l SlovakiaThe seamstress’s story Slovakian author Katarína Kucbelová spent two years visiting the seamstress Iľka in a remote village. Her episodic novel “The Bonnet” talks about tradition and village life, hidden racism and the social exclusion of Roma people Interview with Katarína Kucbelová08/29/2024
Photo: Evening Standard / Hulton Archive / Getty Images Fiction | Great Britain”I want to bring Black female writers into the spotlight“ More than half a century ago, Margaret Busby became Britain’s first black woman publisher, upending the literary scene. Five decades later, her work is far from done Interview with Margaret Busby06/01/2023
Photo: Getty Images Fiction | Hong KongA magical metropolisXi Xi’s novel “My City” takes readers back to Hong Kong in the 1970s. By Thomas Hummitzsch06/01/2023
Photo: John McDonnell / Getty Images Books | InequalityAn invisible hierarchyContemporary society has all but eradicated the caste system, right? Far from it, argues U.S. journalist Isabel Wilkerson By Sieglinde Geisel06/01/2023
Photo: Iqra Shabaz Fiction | USA“Americans blame poverty on the poor” In his debut novel, Jakob Guanzon explores the reality of the “working poor” in the US. An interview about fathers and sons, money troubles and the dangerous legacy of the American Dream Interview with Jakob Guanzon06/01/2023
Photo: C.H. Beck, München World atlasCartology and clichéA new historical world atlas claims to break away from a purely Eurocentric view of the world. It almost succeeds By Birte Förster01/09/2023
Photo: Uendel Galter Fiction | BrazilThe fight of the quilombolasPolitics clashes with everyday life in Brazil, in a story of sisterhood, race and religion. Itamar Vieira Junior’s debut novel thrives on this colourful mix By Michael Ebmeyer01/09/2023
Foto: Andrew Esiebo/Panos Pictures Talk of the town | LagosLife stuck in traffic Lagos is Nigeria’s city of opportunity—yet its boom comes at a steep price: housing shortages and endless commutes By Valentine Benjamin08/10/2026
Foto: Aron Klein Cultural life | BulgariaMasks of hide and horn In Bulgaria, elaborate masquerades are used to drive out evil spirits By Milena Lyubenova04/20/2026
Image: Carlos Merida / David Rumsey Map Collection Archiving maps | GlobalAround the world in digital maps By Sandra Rendgen12/05/2024
Photo: Atikah Zata Flying visit | IndonesiaSpinach or football? Things are getting tight for small farmers in Indonesia’s capital. The rapid growth of the infrastructure makes them fear for their fields By Atikah Zata09/07/2024
Photo: Abigail Varney Flying visit | AustraliaThe hunt for opals in Australia Coober Pedy in the Australian outback is considered the world capital of opals. That does not make it a glamorous place, though By Abigail Varney04/30/2024
Photo: Emile Ducke Day trip | RussiaIcy marathon on Lake Baikal Every year at the beginning of March, extreme sports enthusiasts gather on Lake Baikal to take part in the “Winteriade”. Here, the athletes can also try their hand at disciplines such as ice fishing or ice golf By Kai Schnier01/10/2024
Photo: Dario Lehner Pop culture | TurkeyProtest songs from the car radio When screenwriter Cem Kaya reflects on his childhood, he remembers the long car journeys from Germany to Turkey - and the music of the “Aşiks”. On the travelling singers of Anatolia and their links to pop music by immigrant workers in Germany By Cem Kaya12/15/2023
Photo: Ziyi Le Generation Z | China“We are a lost generation” For many, China’s megacities symbolise progress and growth. Photographer Ziyi Le turns his lens on the young people who move there in search of work and greater freedom By Ziyi Le09/30/2026
Photo: Sarfo Emmanuel Annor Photography | Ghana“I want to show Ghana beyond the stereotypes” Ghanaian photographer Sarfo Emmanuel Annor portrays young people from his community in Koforidua. He talks about trust, the language of colour and his desire to reveal a Ghana that is rarely depicted. Interview with Zuher Jazmati09/25/2026
Photo: M’hammed Kilito Environment | MoroccoDesert oases under threat Oasis ecosystems are perfectly adapted to the harsh desert environment. Today, many are threatened by drought and mismanagement. Photographer M’hammed Kilito zooms in on the people working to save them Interview with M’hammed Kilito01/25/2024
Photo: Tami Xiang Family | China“Millions of children live apart from their parents” Chinese migrant workers are often denied official residency. Many parents leave their children behind in the villages. Photographer Tami Xiang visited some of them. A conversation Interview with Tami Xiang11/25/2023
Photo: Saurabh Narang Indigenous culture | IndiaKeeping an African identity in contemporary India The Siddi ethnic group migrated to India from East Africa centuries ago. Since then, their communities have cultivated their very own culture By Saurabh Narang11/20/2023
Photo: H. C. Kwok History | TaiwanIn the shadow of the dictator Under the regime of dictator Chiang Kai-Shek, tens of thousands of people were arrested and killed in Taiwan between 1948 and 1987. However, the country has never come to terms with the “White Terror”. Photographer H. C. Kwok wants to change that with his pictures by giving the victims a voice. By Billy HC Kwok06/01/2023
Photo: Antoine Bruy DropoutsBeyond civilisation In search of people who have had enough of big city life, the French photographer Antoine Bruy has traveled through Europe and North America. The result is the visually stunning photo series “Scrublands,” in which he documents people who opt out of society, depicting their everyday lives By Antoine Bruy01/09/2023
Photo: Mustafah Abdulaziz Climate | Photography“Water is like a mirror”Droughts, forest fires, floods: humanity is quietly heading for a climate crisis. With his photo series on water, Mustafah Abdulaziz holds a mirror up to what’s happening. A conversation Interview with Mustafah Abdulaziz07/01/2022
Photo: Natalia Kepesz, from the Niewybuch series Notes and observations | Poland“When photographing, I had to wear protective goggles”Polish photographer Natalia Kepesz travelled to her hometown of Złotoryja in southwestern Poland for her latest works. She also documented a new Polish trend, military summer camps for local children Interview with Natalia Kepesz07/01/2021
Photo: Mai Sararporn Music | ThailandThe Sound of Khlong Toei The rapper Kasidech Saengjan voices the struggles of people in Thai slums. In this playlist, he gives his personal soundtrack to day-to-day life in Khlong Toei By Kasidech Saengjan01/11/2025
Photo: El Rey de Aragón Pop culture | MexicoThe sound of Mexico Paulina Sotomayor sang in a mariachi band for years, but today she mixes electro with Mexican folk music, cumbia, conga and afrobeats. This is her personal playlist to celebrate female empowerment By Paulina Sotomayor09/07/2024
Foto: Leeor Wild Playlist | Canada & GreenlandThe Sound of the Inuit Raucous vocals, nature-loving lyrics, love songs or simply some proper rock: the Inuit playlist by Canadian musician Elisapie Isaac By Elisapie Isaac03/14/2024
Source: Ole Witt Playlist | MongoliaThe sound of the Gobi Desert Songs about camels, sandstorms and minerals: The Gobi Desert is a rich source of inspiration for the Mongolian music scene. A playlist By Pau Szczap01/06/2024
Photo: Nicolas Datiche / Getty Images Playlist | Taiwan“Heavy metal saved my life”Heavy metal star - and politician - Freddy Lim knows Taiwan's music scene inside out. A conversation about Taiwanese music and the ten songs you need to decipher it Interview with Freddy Lim 06/01/2023
Photo: Julija Goyd Playlist | MinimalismPared-down soundIn music, forgoing excess often stands for minimalist innovation. Rarely has less been so much more than in the nine piano pieces that the musician Malakoff Kowalski handpicked for this playlist By Malakoff Kowalski01/09/2023
Photo: Getty Images Playlist | Afghanistan„I have brought your prophets into the world“Ever since the Taliban returned, music has been banned and it has been forbidden for woman to sing. Yet a number of female Afghan musicians continue their careers in exile. Introducing a selection of famous singers - and and their songs. By Farhot10/01/2022
Photo: Maciek Kowalewski Viewpoint | CultureI think that we should rethink the value of culture By Juliana Hodkinson05/03/2025
Photo: Jeremy Tauriac Viewpoint | USAWhy do we need poetry right now? Musician, poet and artist Tarriona "Tank" Ball on the unique power of spoken word By Tarriona Tank Ball05/03/2025
Opinion | NairobiI think that Fitness should be straightforward again The pressure of social media can quickly become overwhelming. But fitness doesn’t have to be expensive, complicated or perfect By Kylie Kiunguyu04/30/2024
Photo: Ivanna Oksenyuk Talking point | AIHow dangerous is Artificial Intelligence? What is the most threatening about artificial intelligence? Author Rebecca Giblin points out where the dangers lie. A commentary By Rebecca Giblin12/06/2023
Photo: Barbara Zanon / Getty Images Literature | TaiwanSex and politics: Taiwan’s last taboosTaiwan is often portrayed as a model Asian democracy by the West. But how free and open-minded is the country really? Author Li Ang on a question she’s been asking for decades By Li Ang06/01/2023
Photo: Antoine Midant Media | GermanyBeyond the European bubble German media outlets are often indifferent when it comes to reporting from outside Europe. German journalist Mohamed Amjahid has realised that writing about sex helps break down barriers By Mohamed Amjahid06/01/2023
Photo: Taiwan FactCheck Center Media | Taiwan“We’re in the middle of an information war”Manipulated images, cyberattacks and viral fake news: digital disinformation is commonplace in Taiwan. Ho Hui-An of the Taiwan FactCheck Center on fighting against the tide Interview with Ho Hui-An06/01/2023
Photo: DeAgostin / Getty Images Minimalism | InternationalKeeping it simpleWhat makes a building a beautiful structure? Ornamentation on the front? Or is a building beautiful if it houses as many people as possible? Can we separate the aesthetic evaluation of a building from its construction circumstances and the ecological and human price it cost? By Ayelet Gundar-Goshen01/09/2023
Foto: Lam Yik Fei / Getty Images Digital life | TaiwanTears in the matrixIn Taiwan, the digital world is displacing the physical one. Even tradition is migrating to the cloud. Our author sets out in search of a lost era By Chen Hao-Jen01/09/2023
Women’s rights | MexicoHe said, she said Brutal violence against women is not uncommon in Mexico. The writer Gabriela Jauregui has collected quotes from perpetrators in court, creating a harrowing poem By Gabriela Jauregui09/07/2024
Short fiction | WaterThirst, Knowledge and LoveThree new works of short fiction By Ben Okri07/01/2022
Short fiction | WaterOn Präsenzer LakeA woman is sitting alone on a bench on a shore in spring, waiting for her lover. A tale about a secret place by the water By Katerina Poladjan07/01/2022
Short fiction | Life undergroundIn the stomach of the cityA man from the countryside starts a new life in the tunnels beneath an Indian metropolis. A story. By Shumona Sinha01/07/2022
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