A year ago, the World Economic Forum in Davos imposed a gender quota to increase female participation. But a year later, "just 17% of those gathered from the world's business and political elites are women," writes Jane Martinson at the Guardian. "This is the highest yet in the 40 odd years of the event, up from 16% in 2011 -- and just 9% in 2002. But it still gives a useful guide to the headway women are making at the top." Martinson is concerned that the gender imbalance at Davos may not change any time soon; while there is an advisory board on gender parity in place, "a brief look at the programme today suggests they are swamped by those on more general economic issues."

The Atlantic Cities' Richard Florida recently looked at how women's economic opportunity relates to economic development. "Not surprisingly, the economic and social status of women improves alongside the level of economic development," notes Florida, noting that Scandinavian and Nordic countries are "hands down" the best countries for women, while the U.S. ranks 16th and Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran rank lowest. Also, "nations where women are treated better have higher levels of happiness and subjective well-being."

The recently launched Hawwah Office for Women's Liaison Work is the "first of its kind" in Saudi Arabia, reports ArabNews.com. Staffed by Saudi women, the center will help women in the country with various bureaucratic and paperwork needs. "The presence of women to serve women is significant especially under the rule of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah who enabled Saudi women for the first time to become a partner in the economic, social and cultural development of the society," said Princess Hessah bint Salman, who launched the office last week.

Well-known blogger and feminist activist Ye Haiyan, also known as Liumang Yan (Hooligan Sparrow), decided to provide sexual services to rural peasant workers on January 11 in defense of sex workers' rights after she witnessed a recent raid by police officers in a brothel in Guangxi province. Liu wrote about her day of prostitution on her Sina Weibo account on January 12 and while her posts were removed by Sina employees, Liu has a backup of her writings on Tencent's Qzone personal diary site. Her account illustrates the lives of the lowest strata sex workers in China.

In an effort to increase women's political participation, the nation of Mauritius has instituted a gender quota law. Under the law, at least one-third of candidates in each local election in the country must be women. The Guardian reports that Mauritius' prime minister, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, "said the quota was a legitimate right for women and a big step towards equality. 'We must ensure that the number of women candidates rises considerably,' he said in his new year address." In April, the first local elections will take place with the new law in effect.

"Whether they were at the frontline or at home, Libyan women have played a significant role in the battle to oust former leader Muammer Qaddafi, reports Al Arabiya's Noora Faraj, who notes that Liyan women now have an "unprecedented opportunity to assert their rights." Women in the nation are now starting to head institutions, hold government positions, and generating awareness for their struggles; "[h]owever, there are concerns that Islamist groups who dominate the political dialogue may threaten women's liberties or stifle their rights." Click "read more" to watch an Al Arabiya video report from Libya.

Russia is endowed with some of the greatest stores of natural resources in the world, and yet the demographic crisis that has plagued the country since the fall of the Soviet Union may leave Russia with no youth to defend their homeland. The total life expectancy of Russia is #161 in the world, which places it behind Belarus, North Korea, and Mongolia, whereas Russia's total fertility rate is 196th in the world. Currently there are about 138 million people in Russia and many believe that if that number falls near or below 100 million, Russia will not be able to function as an industrialized nation.

Carmen Naranjo passed away on January 4. She was a writer and a woman engaged in politics in the 60s and 70s, something then uncommon in Latin America. She became Culture and Youth Minister of Costa Rica in 1974, and was the first woman appointed as a member of the Costa Rican Academy of the Spanish Language. Naranjo did not only represent the capacity of women to achieve positions of relevance in a traditional society, she was also a pioneer in her views about culture, literature and writing, and media and communications. She was an early proponent of gender equality in Costa Rica, which today has become law. Today Costa Rica has its first female president: Laura Chinchilla.

Discussing GDP and interest rates is not enough to apprehend the profound changes that Brazilian society has been facing recently. New trends in the social fabric are emerging and citizen media has been keeping track of them. One such example is domestic work. During 2011, the subject came up as a debate around social inclusion, bad work conditions, social hierarchies, gender issues and empowerment. Social inclusion seems to be a key element to many of the changes. Research by Instituto Data Popular has put into perspective the rise of the ‘C Class', “the new middle class.”

Studies have shown that it is often women who are on the frontlines of, and suffer disproportionately from, the impacts of climate change. This is certainly important. But we must remember that women are also a powerful force for finding solutions to climate change across the board, including in areas such as agriculture, sustainable forest management, and energy access. Agriculture, which accounts for approximately 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and is a sector that can be particularly sensitive to climate variability and change, is one key area where women can play a major role. Women also have untapped potential for increasing energy access, which directly relates to climate change.

Women in Iraq often bear the brunt of war. After three wars since 1980, sectarian conflicts and terrorist attacks, many have lost at least one close relative. Women are concerned about their future under the current government. By Iraqi traditions, women are considered the glue that holds society together. They are expected to take care of their families, no matter the difficulties. Women often are the ones taking care of their own families as well as the children of their dead relatives. Human rights activist Sundus Abass says at the same time, religious groups are eroding women's freedoms.

The last U.S. Marine charged in the killings of 24 Iraqi civilians will stand trial this week in one of the most controversial criminal cases of the Iraq War. Jury selection begins Thursday for Marine Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, who faces nine counts of voluntary manslaughter and other charges for his role in the November 2005 killings. The 31-year-old was the leader of a Marine squad that stormed Iraqi homes in the town of Haditha, leaving many Iraqi women and children dead. Attorneys for the Marines say they were searching for those responsible for a roadside bombing that killed a Marine and wounded two others. Prosecutors say they were out to get revenge for the death of their fellow soldier.

Antoinette Mazzaglia knows where to find all of the best food in her adopted city of Florence, Italy, and she's helping fellow Americans find it. After hearing repeated tourist complaints about the local cuisine, the food and wine expert launched Taste Florence four years ago, to give tourists a true taste of the Tuscan capital. She’s been parked in Florence for about a decade. The University of North Carolina graduate spent a semester abroad here, studying Italian culture and cuisine. She fell in love with a Tuscan man and decided to return. But she soon realized that her amore for Florence’s food was stronger than for the fellow.

Officials in Argentina say President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and will undergo surgery January 4. A government spokesman Tuesday said President Fernandez has what is known as a papillary thyroid carcinoma, which was discovered December 22. The spokesman, however, said the cancer has not metastasized. The president will have the operation at Buenos Aires' Hospital Austral and take time off from her duties until late January. The Argentine president is not the only current or former Latin American leader to undergo cancer treatment. This past year, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez underwent surgery in Cuba to remove a cancerous tumor from his pelvic area.

More than 150 women attended an all-female shura in Afghanistan's Shinwar District on Dec. 4, which was hosted by the US Army's Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team, Agribusiness Development Team and the individual district support team's female engagement team. During each shura, the team discussed with the women a variety of topics, including violence against women, women's rights, female education, security and health care, said Maj. Patricia Poindexter. The shuras offer an open forum for women to talk about their concerns with other women. "One of the elder women in Rodat District called us the day after thanking us," said Poindexter.