A new smartphone app in Indonesia aimed at facilitating male polygamy has drawn condemnation from gender rights activists and triggered a renewed debate about the practice in the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

German actress Stephanie Stumph during a film production in India (2012).

A few months ago, a white South African friend of mine went to India. She asked me how I would feel if she wore a sari (traditional dress for many Indian women) there. I was somewhat indifferent and wondered why she was asking me since I was not even in India. Since she was there, why shouldn’t she wear a sari, I thought. People from other cultures have worn it for years and I’m always pleasantly surprised by how much more welcome they are in Indian circles when they do wear traditional dress.

Where does a woman’s worth lie? In her brains? In her heart? In her soul?

Between her legs. Some would claim! Society has long wanted to  control women’s sexuality in the name of culture and religion.

As a journalist, you sometimes spend an inordinate amount of time chasing stories.

No actually, let me rephrase that: you spend an inordinate amount of time chasing people whose quotes will hopefully flesh out the story for which your editor is breathing down your neck.

Credit: Tim Steele (photographer) Copyright: Felicia Yap

Imagine a society divided not according to wealth or education, but on its capacity to remember. Humans are either lowly Monos (those who remember only yesterday) or enviable Duos (who can also remember the day before). The only connection to the past is an iDiary (hello Apple!) in which people record and keep track of all notable events – or at least, their version of them.

Romanian photographer Mihaela Noroc quit her job and set out to travel the world in search of female beauty. For her ‘Atlas of Beauty’ she portrays women from different cultures.