The World’s Most Powerful Women: August 24

Working women in Britain have taken a one-two punch this week. A day after a report by Citizens Advice showed that British women who take maternity leave face an increasing amount of discrimination, another study revealed that there’s been little progress on the gender pay gap.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies found that the pay gap between men and women with high qualifications has stayed the same for 20 years. Women who’ve earned degrees make 20% less than men with the same qualifications. In addition, the study showed that the gap between the sexes gets bigger once women have children. To narrow the discrepancy, the U.K. government has introduced new rules, such as one that forces companies with at least 250 employees to publish pay differences between the sexes.

But together, this week’s reports highlight the challenge that PM Theresa May faces following her pledge to oversee a Britain that works “for every one of us.” May, who mentioned the gender pay gap in her very first statement as prime minister, can’t get on this one fast enough.

@laurascohn

EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA

The burkini ban bump
There's something to report from the "any publicity is good publicity" department. It turns out that the banning of the burkini in France has been good news for those who make the full-body swimsuits. Aheda Zanetti, who has the trademark on the "burkini" name, says the ban's brouhaha has sparked sales of the suit from women who aren't Muslim but who want to completely shield their bodies from the sun.
Guardian

Tackling trolls

Sometimes it seems like the online abuse of women will never stop. Michelle Marie, a black British woman running the @Ireland Twitter account, has been attacked on the social network for her race and appearance. She posted a statement on Twitter saying she experienced "racism, sexism, fat-phobia and homophobia to a degree I have never known," but later tweeted that the hate spewers "may try to bring me down, but I will simply rise again, stronger than ever." Bravo.

Mashable

THE AMERICAS

More drama at Fox News

There's a new development in the sexual harassment drama at Fox News. Andrea Tantaros, a former anchor at the network, has charged in a lawsuit that she was punished for speaking up about sexual harassment by ex-CEO Roger Ailes. Her suit says the network is "steeped in intimidation, indecency and misogyny." The network declined to comment.

New York Times

Melania's suit

Melania Trump is taking legal action against the Daily Mail for what her lawyer Charles Harder says are "false and defamatory statements about her supposedly having been an 'escort' in the 1990s." Harder, who represented Hulk Hogan in his winning lawsuit against Gawker, said the site's claims are "100% false, highly damaging to her reputation, and personally hurtful."

Politico

Jennifer Lawrence's two-peat

For the second year in a row, Jennifer Lawrence leads the Forbes annual ranking of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses, with $46 million in earnings. Lawrence is followed by Melissa McCarthy ($33 million), Scarlett Johansson ($25 million) and Jennifer Aniston ($21 million).

Forbes

ASIA-PACIFIC

Is a burkini just a burkini?

The mayor of Cannes should read this piece. In Australia, the full-body bathing suit known as the burkini is seen as a way to include Muslim women into secular society. That's a sharp contrast to the view in Cannes and other French towns, which have banned the burkini because there, it's considered a sign that Muslims have yet to integrate.

Politico

Taking home glory

The two athletes from India who won medals at the Rio Olympics were women, yet the country ranks very low worldwide when it comes to female workforce participation. This piece argues that the wins by wrestler Sakshi Malik and badminton player PV Sindhu at the Games contain the key message that India "must unlock its female potential" for the country to "truly soar."

Financial Times