Tawakel Karman (Arabic: توكل كرمان ‎)  (born 7 February 1979) became the international public face of the 2011 Yemeni uprising that is part of the Arab Spring uprisings.

She has been called by Yemenis the "Iron Woman" and "Mother of the Revolution." She is a co-recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, the first Yemeni, the first Arab woman, and the second Muslim woman to win a Nobel Prize. 

Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright talks bluntly about politics and diplomacy, making the case that women's issues deserve a place at the center of foreign policy.

Far from being a "soft" issue, she says, women's issues are often the very hardest ones, dealing directly with life and death. A frank and funny Q&A with Pat Mitchell from the Paley Center.

Susan notes: this story is part of The Female Factor, a year-long series of investigative stories, articles, and mulit-media reports by the International Herald Tribune.

The series includes an international forum where women around the world share their views on topical issues - definitely worth a visit.

This video story from Al Jazeera and reported in Maktoob Business about Malalai Joya, an Afghan woman with major attitude: