The World’s Most Powerful Women: June 23

I thought talk about the ugly anti-immigrant political rhetoric surrounding today’s Brexit vote by politicians and business leaders would silence the hate-spewers on Twitter. Sadly, I was wrong.

Yvette Cooper, a Labour member of Parliament who backs Britain staying in the EU, received a tweet threatening to kill her children and grandchildren from someone who said he or she had received her campaign emails. Cooper retweeted the threat, and said on Twitter, “This has to stop.” Both the police and the social network are on the case, she said, repeating, “Time to stop the hatred.”

Ironically, Cooper, who had increased her security after the recent heartbreaking killing of fellow MP Jo Cox, is part of a group of MPs who launched a campaign earlier this year to fight online abuse against women. Here’s to hoping that effort pays off. Soon.

EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA

Gaming in Lebanon
A group of women in the Middle East is shaking up the tech and games sector in the region. Lara Noujaim, who left Lebanon for the U.S. to get an MBA and a job at Google, returned home recently to join the gaming industry. She says being a woman in the male-dominated field hasn't been a problem.
Guardian

A Parisian push-back

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is taking on Amazon. Hidalgo, the city's first female mayor, says the company's new PrimeNow express delivery service will hurt local businesses and increase pollution.

Fortune

First, Brexit. Then Frexit?

With all the attention on today's Brexit vote, it's worth noting that Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right National Front party, has pledged to hold a similar vote in her country. But a "Frexit" vote is less likely to occur since the latest polls show Le Pen would lose the second round of next year's presidential election.

Reuters

THE AMERICAS

White House war of words

The battle for the White House is getting even more personal. Donald Trump attacked Hillary Clinton, calling her a "world-class liar" and saying she "may be the most corrupt person ever to seek the presidency." In response, Clinton implied his speech was intended to divert attention from his campaign platform, saying, "he has no real strategy for creating jobs--just a string of empty promises."

New York Times

Where women rule

What do you think is the best place in the world for female entrepreneurs? Hint: it's not the Bay Area.

Fortune

Boosting a career site

A New York career site startup whose users are mostly women just got a big burst of funding. The Muse—co-founded by Kathryn Minshew, Alex Cavoulacos and Melissa McCreery—has raised $16 million in VC funding.

Tech Crunch

Ladies of Hollywood

Check out The Hollywood Reporter's new list of the entertainment industry's most powerful players. It's mostly men, but also includes a number of women you know—Amy Schumer, Melissa McCarthy, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lawrence—plus some top female execs you may not.

The Hollywood Reporter

ASIA-PACIFIC

A disturbing report in Australia

Recruits for the Australian Defence Force were forced to undergo "ritualized practices" of abuse designed "to break in and humiliate new entrants," lawyer Angus Stewart told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. This piece, describing what was said during the inquiry examining the conduct of cadets in Sydney, is upsetting.

Sydney Morning Herald

Where women aren't

An editorial in the Indian publication Live Mint makes an interesting point about why women are leaving the workforce. It says a rise in family incomes has made more women stay at home and be less willing to work. But isn't working about more than making money?

Live Mint