Take 5: Women in news

Michele Bachmann

The Republican presidential hopeful courted controversy last week when she claimed that the vaccine against human papillomavirus,which can cause cervical cancer,was a “very dangerous drug” that could lead to “mental retardation”. The claim drew criticism from the medical fraternity and even from Bachmann’s sympathisers on the right,forcing her to backtrack. Doctors and scientists said her remarks risk further reducing the already low take-up rates for the vaccine.

Leila Lopes

Miss Angola,Leila Lopes,was crowned Miss Universe 2011 on Tuesday in Brazil. But her victory has been questioned following allegations that false documents were used to help her get into an earlier pageant,where a win effectively put her into the main competition. A man called Charles Mukano allegedly helped the 25-year-old get to the Miss Angola UK pageant,which only includes Angolan women living in Britain though she reportedly lives in Angola.

Dilma RoussEff

The Brazilian President,just eight months into the job as her country’s first woman leader,is regarded as one of the world’s most powerful women. She only trails German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the women power list compiled by Forbes.This acclaim comes at a time when she is struggling with political infighting in her multi-party coalition government. Much of the upheaval has been caused by allegations of corruption that date back to the previous administration.

Sarah Palin

In The Rogue: Searching for The Real Sarah Palin,a book by Joe McGinniss on the life of the former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin,the writer claims that as a young television reporter,and while she was dating Todd,her husband-to-be,Palin had a one-night stand with Glen Rice,then a rising basketball player and now a leading NBA pro. The book also claims that Palin had used cocaine in the past. CNN reports that the book portrays Palin as an image-obsessed governor who was ill-prepared for the Republican presidential ticket.