Thailand elects first female prime minister
A big first happened in Thailand over the weekend: After a few years of unrest and unhappiness with the country’s military-backed government, the people of Thailand have elected their first ever female prime minister. Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the head of the Pheu Thai party, was elected on Sunday. She holds a Master’s Degree from Kentucky State University, and prior to becoming the Pheu Thai party’s leader, she worked for many years in marketing and business. Read more over at New York Mag.
Guardian lists worst countries for women
A recent Reuters survey revealed that Afghanistan is the worst country in the world for women to live, based on its high levels of targeted violence against female public officials and extreme poverty. Also within the top five, in descending order, were the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, India and Somalia, all which appeared on the list due to maternal mortality rates, sexual violence, and religious practices that are harmful to women. Here at STF, we truly believe this news and the dismal conditions in these countries are all the more reason to work toward increasing the quality of education for women—you can read more about the survey and the state of these countries in the Guardian.
South Sudan Set to Declare Independence July 9
On July 9, the Republic of South Sudan will declare itself an independent country, after a decades-long civil war. Get the quick facts from Reuters here, and check back this week for more in-depth coverage on the Aspire blog.
