Stories from 17 January 2017
Princess Leia's Hairdo Didn't Come From a Galaxy Far, Far Away
Weeks after the tragic death of beloved actress Carrie Fisher, the Internet is digging up the Mexican origins of Princess Leia's iconic hairdo.
Writing to ‘Dismantle the Silence’ Surrounding Sexual Exploitation of Poor Young Women in Jamaica
"...for the first time, Jamaican women see their stories of sexual assault and questions of self-worth being tackled on the page without it demonizing them or portraying them as caricatures."
Trinidad & Tobago's First Female Murder for 2017 Is a Schoolgirl, Deepening Fears About Gender-Based Violence
"I don't know what worries me more, the unending spate of violent crime fed by an abysmal detection rate or the lack of ideas by law enforcement and government..."
Dissent and Solidarity: When Iran Mourns One of the Fathers of Its Revolution
Massive crowds gathered in Tehran on January 10 for the funeral of Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who led a paradoxical career as a revolutionary and figure of moderation.
#SaveArash: Jailed Iranian Activist Arash Sadeghi is Fighting for Human Rights — And His Life
Arash Sadeghi was on hunger strike from 23 October 2016 until January 3, 2017. He remains alive and conscious, according to close contacts of his family.
Russians Are Hacking Your Beloved Fairy Tales. (LOL.)
It's not for everyone, but if you’ve got Russian and English under your belt, and you don’t mind a little obscenity, you’re liable to fall in love with this meme.
Day of Mourning in Kyrgyzstan After Cargo Plane Crashes, Killing Dozens
The dead are mostly local Kyrgyz from a nearby village, and some of the stories are harrowing.