Kuwait Elects First Women to Parliament

Kuwaitis have elected the first women ever to become members of Parliament, reports the BBC. US-educated Aseel al-Awadhi and Rola Dashti won seats in regional votes. Former Health Minister Massouma al-Mubarak, who was the first Kuwaiti woman to be appointed to a ministerial post, and Salwa al-Jassar also secured seats. "It's a victory for Kuwaiti women and for Kuwaiti democracy," said Awadhi. Women have only been eligible to vote and run for office since 2005. (More Kuwait stories.)