The World’s Most Powerful Women: May 11

THE BIG STORY

J.K. Rowling campaigns for Suffragette statue

It can't hurt to ask. A posse of powerful British women has asked London's new mayor to erect a statue that would pay tribute to the Suffragettes. The group includes activist Caroline Criado-Perez, who successfully pushed for Jane Austen to appear on the 10 pound note. Criado-Perez says that London's Parliament Square has 11 statues of men—and none of women. She is backed by author J.K. Rowling, actress Emma Watson, and journalist Caitlin Moran, who want the statue to be built near the British Parliament by 2018. The mayor's office said he is interested.Reuters

EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA

Room to fly

Given fears about security, it's not easy being the top exec at an airline these days. But EasyJet CEO Carolyn McCall says that in her experience, after every incident that raises concerns, it takes "a little bit of time and then people start flying again."

Bloomberg

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A tip from the top

Being pushy doesn't always pay. Joyce Banda, Malawi's first female president, who made the "Time" 100 list recently, says women who want to get into politics in Africa should steer clear of the "Western route" of confrontation.

Quartz

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Fog of war

Cecile Jodogne, state secretary of the Brussels region, requested a report on how well emergency services responded to the recent airport bombings in the Belgian capital, ahead of this week's parliamentary hearings on the attacks. What she learned: back-up ambulances didn't come fast enough.

Politico

ASIA-PACIFIC

Honest Abe

Akie Abe, the wife of Japan's prime minister, told the "Tehran Times" that women would have an easier time in the workplace if there were more childcare facilities and flexible working arrangements. Asked whether she could envision Japan with a female prime minister, she replied, "Well, I do not know."

Tehran Times

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One is enough

China recently reversed its ancient one-child policy. But nearly two thirds of the working women in China don't want to have a second child. And 20% don't want kids at all.

Times of India

THE AMERICAS

Dizzy over Dilma

Following the fate of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been making me dizzy. When I last checked, she was asking the Supreme Court to halt the impeachment process. This follows a decision by the acting president of the country's lower house not to cancel the impeachment process, after earlier saying he would.

Wall Street Journal

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Keeping pace

I hear—and write—quite a bit about the gender pay gap, but it turns out that female CEOs actually hold their own compared to their male peers, a new survey says. Of course, women represented just 8% of the group.

Washington Post

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Girls who code

Meet Mariana Costa, who co-founded the startup Laboratoria, which provides coding boot camps and job placement assistance to women in Chile, Mexico, and Peru.

Bloomberg

IN BRIEF

Ivanka expected to take over Trump Organization if her dad becomes president

Coins2Day

Sanders takes West Virginia, extending race with Hillary Clinton

New York Times

Have your say: Who should Hillary Clinton pick as her vice president?

Coins2Day

White House counter terrorism adviser Lisa Monaco visits Belgium to strengthen intel ties

Wall Street Journal

Wisconsin's top court now has five female justices, most of any U.S. State

Chippewa Herald

Let's chuck our high heels

New Yorker

PARTING WORDS

To be able to give the gift of an education is actually an honor. Higher education will help provide perspective, opportunities and learning to a group of kids who really deserve it. I am thrilled to be able to do this.

—Rihanna, who just launched a college scholarship program for residents of Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica or the U.S.