Elections

See Her Elected, an initiative aimed at getting more women from rural Ireland into politics, has said the impending general election is a "golden opportunity" to increase female participation in local councils.

New research and analysis of recent local election results - carried out by See Her Elected - found a significant electoral advantage for sitting councillors, regardless of gender.

ISLAMABAD: The gender gap in registered voters in Pakistan has narrowed significantly, now standing at less than 10 million, according to the latest data. This is a notable achievement, considering the country’s historical disparities in voter registration.

The city of Shiroi, located in the northwestern part of Chiba Prefecture and known for its sprawling commuter towns, is home to one of the few female-majority local assemblies in Japan. Of the 18 assembly members, 10 are women. During the general questions session held last month, four of the five speakers on the first day were women. One was Atsuko Odagawa, 57, who broadly addressed the issue of making information more accessible to people with disabilities, focusing on "creating a community where anyone can understand and live comfortably."

There were back-to-back firsts for women in Maritime politics over the last few days.

New Brunswick Liberal Leader Susan Holt will become the first woman to be the province’s premier. During her victory speech Monday night, Holt thanked those who paved the way for her.

ODAWARA, Kanagawa

A record number of women are running in Japan’s general election this month, although they still account for less than a quarter of candidates, local media said Wednesday.

New Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is seeking to shore up his mandate in the October 27 vote by retaining a majority for the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party.