Going on Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and a religious obligation for Muslims - provided they have the means. For those in northwest Syria, while many dream of going on the spiritual journey, poverty and politics are debilitating barriers.
The Turkish opposition was defeated in the run-off, with candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu failing to unseat long-time ruler Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will rule the country for another five years. But the president is hardly the winner. By Ayse Karabat
Turkey's presidential run-off between Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kemal Kilicdaroglu takes place on 28 May. Why were so many surprised by the initial outcome? And why the opposition's sudden political shift to the right? Political scientist Berk Esen talks to Ceyda Nurtsch
Turkey’s autocratic president and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) are likely to retain power, despite rampant corruption and economic mismanagement. That's good news for other right-wing populists, but very bad news for Turkey's cratering economy. By Daron Acemoglu