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Sweden moves step closer to naming first woman prime minister

The Today Online reported according to Reuters, Sweden's finance minister, Magdalena Andersson, moved a step closer to becoming its first woman premier on Thursday when the ruling Social Democrat party elected her as its leader.
She will need the approval of a fragmented parliament to take over as prime minister from Stefan Lofven, who wants to step aside before national elections due in September 2022.
Lofven's minority coalition has barely survived since coming to power in 2014 and Andersson's path to Sagerska House, the official residence of the prime minister, is uncertain.
She must win backing from both current coalition partners the Green Party as well as the Left and Centre parties, from outside the alliance.

Neighbouring Norway got its first female leader 40 years ago. Sweden's failure to follow suit has grated with many in a country that prides itself on leading the world in gender equality and which has a self-described "feminist" foreign policy.
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If appointed, Andersson will face tough budget negotiations later this year and need to reverse a deficit in polls if she is to extend her premiership beyond next September.
The 54-year-old will become prime minister if a majority in parliament does not reject her in a confirmation vote, probably later this month.
Support from the Centre and Left parties is not a given. The Centre Party wants changes to rules over forestry rights and building regulations in exchange for its support. Those policies are opposed by the Greens.
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The Left wants a say in policy while the Centre Party wants them excluded.
A vote against Andersson could lead to a snap election or to Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson becoming prime minister.
His centre-right bloc is backed by the Sweden Democrats, a populist, anti-immigration party the Greens, Left and Centre want to prevent form having an influence in government policy.
Source: todayonline
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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