Women

Beira’s Place in Edinburgh, founded by the author, says claim was ‘deeply offensive’ as it considers legal actionAmnesty International UK has referred itself to the charity regulator over a report it published that described a sexual violence support centre founded by JK Rowling as “anti-rights”.The UK branch of the global human rights charity listed Beira’s Place in Edinburgh among more than 100 organisations it said were part of an anti-rights movement. Continue reading...

• The Socialist Women's Union of Korea, affiliated with the ruling Workers' Party, concluded its Eighth Congress in Pyongyang on July 15 after a five-year hiatus. • During the two-day event, the organization revised its internal rules, reviewed the work of the Seventh Central Committee, and reelected Jon Hyang-sun as chair. • The congress focused on pledging a stronger ideological campaign to align the nation's women with the state's political goals.

• The USWNT is preparing for its 2026 schedule, which includes the SheBelieves Cup and critical qualifying fixtures for the 2027 Women's World Cup. • Under the leadership of head coach Emma Hayes, the team has entered a new era focused on returning to a title-winning level of performance. • This period serves as a vital development phase for a young generation of players to ensure the squad is competitive for the next major global tournament.

Former transport secretary said she was one of several victims of ‘sexist and unpleasant’ press briefsLouise Haigh has accused Keir Starmer’s allies of briefing “consistently and viciously” against her after she resigned as transport secretary as she spoke openly about her departure from the cabinet in 2024 and her reasons for backing Andy Burnham.Talking to the BBC’s Nick Robinson, she said she had been a victim of a “cabal of men mistreating women”, who also targeted her cabinet colleagues Lisa Nandy, Bridget Phillipson and Angela Rayner, as well as Starmer’s former chief of staff Sue Gray. Continue reading...

Two women who alleged they were raped by Tyrion Davis in Suffolk had to testify at an invasive court martial on a US baseMinutes after fleeing the home of an American airman, Rebecca called 999 in tears to report that he had raped her. She recalls vomiting at a police station in Suffolk as she described being repeatedly and violently attacked.Officers took her to a sexual assault referral centre for an intimate examination. There, a nurse measured and photographed her injuries, including bruises and bite marks on her neck. Continue reading...

Those with high levels of vocational training, including tradespeople, are least exposed to AI displacement, according to government reviewGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastArtificial intelligence has yet to cause widespread job losses but the federal government has warned that telemarketers, advertising staff and accountants are among the occupations “most exposed” to being replaced by the technology.According to a first-of-its-kind national report, people in the more exposed occupations are more likely to be women and have university qualifications. Continue reading...

• A Brookfield survey reveals that 83% of high-net-worth (HNW) women in Asia now hold alternative assets, surpassing the 73% of HNW men. • The study focused on 275 investors from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, each possessing at least US$2.5 million in household investable assets. • These results indicate that wealthy women in the region currently hold stronger investment convictions regarding alternative asset classes than their male counterparts.

• The 2026 Women's Under-19 EURO semi-finals are scheduled for Tuesday, featuring matchups between defending champions Spain and Sweden in Zenica, and Germany against Austria in Sarajevo. • Sweden enters the semi-finals after a strong group stage performance, including a 1-0 win over Poland and a 5-0 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina, though they suffered a 0-2 loss to Germany. • This marks the first time Sweden has qualified for the tournament in consecutive years since their last title win in 2015, with Filippa Andersson Widén leading as the finals' top scorer.

The programme, aimed at keeping 1m girls in school across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, withdrawn after aid cutsA leading higher education programme, aimed at keeping 1 million girls in school across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, has been axed by the British government just two years after it was announced.The scheme, Strengthening higher education for female empowerment (SHEFE), which was unveiled with some fanfare two years ago by the outgoing Conservative government, had a £45m budget to increase access to higher education for 1 million students worldwide. It has now had its tender withdrawn, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Guardian analysis exposes evidence of racial inequalities in pain relief offered across healthcare‘The epidural failed and no one believed me’How the ethnicity pain gap follows people from birth to deathWomen from Black and Asian backgrounds are less likely than their white counterparts to receive an epidural while giving birth, research has revealed.The findings, based on data collected from more than 2.7 million births in the UK, prompted experts to raise the alarm about an “ethnicity pain gap” that means people of colour are more likely to be deprived of adequate pain relief within medical settings. Continue reading...

• The UK reached a record milestone in 2026 with 80 tech unicorns, collectively valued at £242 billion. • Despite the growth, a significant gender gap persists, as only 8 out of 136 founders (approximately 6%) are women. • This disparity highlights a systemic inequality within Britain's booming startup ecosystem regarding founder representation and funding access.

• UN agencies warn that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East could result in economic losses totaling 194 billion USD for Arab States. • The report highlights a significant risk to the labor market, specifically threatening the jobs and economic stability of women in the region. • This financial strain underscores the severe socio-economic instability caused by regional conflict, potentially reversing years of development gains.

Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome is underdiagnosed and inconsistenly managed, according to NiceUp to 4 million women with irregular periods should be investigated for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, according to new NHS guidance.PMOS, previously known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, is believed to affect up to 13% of reproductive age women, the World Health Organization estimates. Continue reading...

Justices voted to overturn judgements issued by lower courts in favor of trans students who sued after being barred from competing in West Virginia and IdahoUS supreme court decisions – live updatesThe US supreme court has upheld laws in two conservative states excluding transgender girls and women from competing in female sports in a far-reaching ruling certain to impact trans rights throughout the US.The court’s nine justices voted to overturn previous judgements issued by lower courts in favor of two trans students who had sued after being barred from competing in West Virginia and Idaho respectively. Continue reading...

• Bangladesh women won the toss and elected to bat first in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 match against South Africa. • The high-stakes encounter is taking place on Sunday, June 28, at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground in London. • This decision sets the tactical tone for a crucial game that could significantly impact both teams' standings in the tournament.

Trial begins of Simon Levy, who denies killing Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins and attacking third womanA man murder​ed two women and left a third for dead in a series of predatory sexual attacks over an eight-month period​, a jury has been told.Simon Levy, 40,​ denies killing Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, on 17 March 2025 in south-east London​ and Sheryl Wilkins, 39, on 24 August 2025 in Tottenham, north London. He also denies attacking a third women, aged 35 at the time, on 21 January 2025, also in Tottenham. Continue reading...

About 31 in every 1,000 facing haemorrhage or severe tears, NHS figures show, in trend described as ‘national crisis’How a Romford maternity ward was able to turn the tide after a ‘requires improvement’ ratingWomen in England are at their highest risk of suffering a serious injury while giving birth since records began in 2020, NHS figures show.The rate of women sustaining the most serious type of tear during childbirth rose to 31.1 in every 1,000 in January, February and March – the highest since monitoring began in 2020. Continue reading...

• The Indian Women’s “A” team has advanced to the semifinals of the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championship, currently taking place at the Taj Cidade de Goa in Panaji. • The squad, featuring players such as Varalakshmi Periasamy, Sumathi Iyer, and Ameeta Raythatha, secured third place in the overall rankings to earn their spot. • This achievement highlights India's competitive standing in the regional bridge circuit and keeps the team in contention for the championship title.

• India B has surged to the top of the Seniors table at the Asia Cup Bridge tournament held in Panaji, with Bangladesh B currently holding fourth place at 146.47 VPs. • In the Mixed division, China A (152.68 VPs), China B (152.05 VPs), and Hong Kong China A (140.37 VPs) have officially qualified for the semifinals. • The competition remains volatile for the final Mixed division spot, with Singapore (115.14 VPs), Thailand (111.21 VPs), India A (110.85 VPs), and Australia B (104.97 VPs) all in contention.

As temperatures soar across Europe, cities are struggling to adapt, further exacerbating socioeconomic divisions The heatwave afflicting western Europe is the worst ever, with the combination of heat and humidity fuelled by the climate crisis making scores of cities feel unliveable. While for some the adverse impacts amount to disturbed sleep and sticky days in the home office, low-income families are often worse affected by cities’ lack of adequate adaptation measures, with women at the sharp end.“[It] throws a grenade into every vulnerability you already have,” says Asad Rehman, chief executive of Friends of the Earth, pointing out that vulnerable or marginalised groups often bear the brunt of climate crisis-based hardship globally. Continue reading...

• The EU has sparked outrage among Afghan women by initiating talks with the Taliban, signaling a shift in how the bloc balances security concerns against human rights. • This diplomatic engagement occurs amidst a broader climate of rising anti-immigration rhetoric across Europe. • Separately, France's health ministry confirmed the country's first case of Ebola in a doctor who recently returned from a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

• Women are emerging as a primary growth driver for Asia's live music industry, significantly influencing both attendance and spending across the concert ecosystem. • A study by The Collective, the advisory arm of THE·TEAM, found that 91% of women surveyed in China, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong are willing to increase their spending on live music. • This spending growth is contingent on brands providing experiences that are more seamless, immersive, and rewarding for female attendees.

• A drone strike in the Sudanese city of El Obeid hit an empty fuel tanker parked near a school on Tuesday, resulting in injuries to students. • The United Nations reported on Wednesday that ongoing fighting in the city continues to endanger civilians and cause significant damage to local infrastructure. • This incident highlights the escalating risks to non-combatants and educational facilities amidst the broader Sudanese conflict.

In today’s newsletter: Amid rising anti‑immigration rhetoric across Europe, the decision to engage with the Taliban signals a profound shift in how the EU balances security and human rightsGood morning. It’s a slap in the face. That’s the phrase I kept hearing – in furious overnight messages, in blazing opinion columns – as Afghan women responded to the meeting between EU officials and the Taliban that took place in Brussels on Tuesday.The talks, to discuss how to scale up the deportation of Afghan migrants, were met with widespread outrage, and disbelief that Europe would countenance offering legitimacy to a regime that affords a bird better protections than a woman.World news | Venezuela’s interim leader has declared a state of emergency after the country was struck by two powerful earthquakes that collapsed dozens of buildings and killed at least 32 people, with experts warning the death toll could rise significantly.Heatwave | The UK has broken its all-time temperature record for June and France has recorded its hottest day ever for the second day running, as a heatwave affecting more than 90 million people sweeps across swathes of Europe.UK politics | Donald Trump has labelled Andy Burnham “extremely liberal”, in his first public comments about the former Greater Manchester mayor since he emerged as the frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer.Europe news | The first case of Ebola has been confirmed in France, the country’s health ministry has said, in a doctor who had returned from a humanitarian mission to an area affected by the outbreak in the DRC.UK news | A little-known system in which US military personnel are tried through a court martial for alleged crimes committed in the UK is under growing scrutiny. Continue reading...

• Olivia Rodrigo has announced the lineup for "Daisy Chain Fields," an all-women charity music festival featuring a collection of her "heroes and friends." • The event will showcase high-profile performers, including Stevie Nicks and Chappell Roan, as part of the curated roster. • All proceeds from the festival will be donated to various charitable organizations that advocate for the rights and well-being of women and girls.

• South Africa Women defeated India Women in the 5th T20I of the 2026 tour, posting a total of 155/6. • India Women struggled in their chase, ending the match at 132/8 after 20 overs. • Richa Ghosh was a key contributor for India with 25 runs off 15 balls, though the team fell short of the target.

• A new Hollywood diversity report reveals a significant decline in the representation of women and people of color within streaming films during 2025. • Despite the release of specific titles like Netflix's 'KPop Demon Hunters,' the overall trend shows a "nose dive" in inclusive casting and storytelling. • This regression is critical as it signals a reversal in the industry's previous efforts to broaden representation for marginalized groups on digital platforms.

• England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland have learned their opponents for the Women's World Cup play-offs to secure a spot in the tournament in Brazil. • Key matchups include the Republic of Ireland facing 100th-ranked Kazakhstan, while Wales will compete against Albania. • The play-offs are structured in two stages, with round one fixtures scheduled for October 7-13 and round two taking place from November 26 to December 5.