According to recent ILO data, women are more likely to be employed in extremely wealthy or impoverished countries compared to middle-income nations. This International Women’s Day, we examine the countries that boast the highest female labor force participation — ranging from North Korea and Madagascar to Iceland and New Zealand — and what these figures indicate about employment, policy, and survival.
Women are rapidly advancing skills, yet India’s workforce gap persists
In India, more women are entering skill development programs, tech initiatives, and formal job markets, but the overall disparity in workforce participation continues. Women now represent 28.1% of India’s workforce and 26% of participants in technology training, yet occupy only 18% of leadership positions and a smaller proportion of formal jobs. Recent data from LinkedIn, Quess Corp, and Masai shows a generation gearing up for the forthcoming labor landscape, despite ongoing structural challenges.
Corporate India still lacks female CEOs
While women are becoming more visible in India’s workforce, the executive suite remains elusive. Research from Primeinfobase reveals that merely about 5% of NSE-listed firms have a woman serving as MD or CEO, with many of these leaders stemming from promoter families rather than professional management backgrounds.
From domestic kitchens to culinary leadership: Women transforming hospitality
Traditionally, cooking has been regarded as a woman’s duty in many Indian households, while professional kitchens have been primarily male-dominated. However, as more women embrace roles as chefs, restaurateurs, and founders in the hospitality sector, this paradigm is gradually changing. This Women’s Day, we explore the obstacles women have faced in this field and how evolving perceptions of leadership, storytelling, and social media are paving new avenues in the culinary landscape.
Jessie Buckley’s remarkable year: The performance shaping the Oscar race
Building her career on bold choices rather than predictability, Jessie Buckley has quietly established herself as one of the leading actors of her generation. Her gripping performance in Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet, which has earned her a BAFTA, Golden Globe, SAG Award, and Critics Choice win, now positions her centrally in this year’s Oscar race. Here’s a closer look at the performance and the journey that led her here.
The business of improved health
Protein powders, collagen mixes, probiotics, and immunity boosters are no longer niche items concealed in pharmacies. In urban India, supplements are becoming an integral part of everyday health expenditures. With the country’s nutraceutical market surpassing $4 billion and expanding swiftly through e-commerce-driven brands, this change signifies a broader behavioral shift: consumers are progressively prioritizing preventive health, monitoring biomarkers, and managing wellness long before illness arises.
India’s creator economy goes local
India’s creator economy is no longer limited to a few metropolitan areas. New data tracking over 56,000 verified creators across more than 10,000 pincodes indicates emerging creator hubs in cities like Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Meerut, and Bhopal. As digital platforms diminish dependence on traditional media gatekeepers, creators are increasingly establishing careers rooted in local communities — influencing local markets, setting regional trends, and monetizing through a blend of brand partnerships, subscriptions, and local commerce.
The social media discourse
Governments globally are increasingly scrutinizing how youth engage with social media. Australia became the first nation to restrict access for users under 16 in late 2025, with similar initiatives now gaining traction. Indonesia has introduced comparable measures, while Indian states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are considering age restrictions. In Europe, nations such as Norway and Germany are debating tighter regulations, while Britain is consulting parents and children on whether under-16s should be entirely prohibited from social media, alongside potential restrictions on gaming platforms and AI chatbots.
Travel update: West Asia airspace disruptions
Air travel in certain parts of West Asia remains uncertain following the closure of regional airspaces due to escalating tensions from US–Israel strikes on Iran. In recent days, airlines and airports have tentatively begun restoring services, with limited repatriation flights and select routes gradually resuming. Israel has started reopening its airspace, while airlines like Emirates, IndiGo, and Akasa Air are resuming or modifying services as conditions allow. For travelers, the situation remains dynamic, with reroutes, suspended routes, and reduced schedules ongoing across several Middle East corridors as airlines evaluate safety and restore operations.
Chasing sakura: Japan’s cherry blossom forecast
In Japan, spring is characterized by the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms, and the 2026 sakura forecast serves as a guide for travelers eager to witness the bloom at its peak. With early blossoms in Okinawa to peak viewing across Japan in late March and April, and even May blooms in Hokkaido, the season unfolds progressively throughout the nation, transforming parks, temples, and mountain vistas into soft pink landscapes.
A bibliophile’s global journey
From a former tango-era theatre in Buenos Aires to a flood-resistant bookstore in Venice, certain bookshops are destinations in their own right. This visual journey explores eight of the world’s most celebrated bookstores — including famous spots like Paris’s Shakespeare and Company, New York’s enduring Strand, and Porto’s ornate Livraria Lello — each offering a glimpse into literary history, architectural beauty, and the timeless allure of reading.
