Women are more likely to work in either very rich or very poor countries than in middle-income ones, according to new ILO data. This International Women\u2019s Day, we look at the <\/span>countries with the highest female labour force participation<\/span><\/a> \u2014 from North Korea and Madagascar to Iceland and New Zealand \u2014 and what those numbers reveal about work, policy and survival.<\/span><\/p>\n \nWomen are upskilling fast, but India\u2019s workforce gap remains<\/b> India Inc still has very few women CEOs<\/b><\/p>\n Women may be increasingly visible in India\u2019s workforce, but the corner office remains elusive. Data from Primeinfobase shows that only about 5% of NSE-listed companies have a woman serving as MD or CEO, and many of those <\/span>leaders come from promoter families rather than professional management ranks<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n From home kitchens to restaurant leadership: Women reshaping hospitality<\/b><\/p>\n In many Indian homes, cooking has long been seen as a woman\u2019s responsibility, yet professional kitchens have historically been dominated by men. As more women step into roles as chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality founders, that dynamic is slowly shifting. This Women\u2019s Day, we look at the barriers women have faced in the industry, and how changing ideas around leadership, storytelling and social media are opening new paths in the culinary world.<\/span><\/p>\n Jessie Buckley\u2019s year: The performance powering the Oscar race<\/b><\/p>\n With a career built on risk rather than predictability, <\/span>Jessie Buckley<\/span><\/a> has quietly become one of the most formidable actors of her generation. Her searing turn in Chloe Zhao\u2019s <\/span>Hamnet<\/span><\/i> \u2014 already rewarded with a BAFTA, Golden Globe, SAG Award and Critics Choice win \u2014 now places her firmly at the centre of this year\u2019s Oscar race. A look at the performance and the career that brought her here.<\/span><\/p>\n The business of better health<\/b><\/p>\n Protein powders, collagen blends, probiotics and immunity boosters are no longer niche products tucked away in pharmacies. In urban India, <\/span>supplements have become a mainstream part of everyday health spending<\/span><\/a>. With the country\u2019s nutraceutical market now estimated at over $4 billion and growing rapidly through e-commerce-led brands, the shift reflects a broader behavioural change: consumers are increasingly investing in preventive health, tracking biomarkers and managing wellness long before illness enters the picture.<\/span><\/p>\n India\u2019s creator economy goes hyperlocal<\/b><\/p>\n India\u2019s creator economy is <\/span>no longer concentrated in a handful of metros<\/span><\/a>. New data mapping over 56,000 verified creators across more than 10,000 pincodes shows rising creator clusters in cities such as Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Meerut and Bhopal. As digital platforms reduce reliance on traditional media gatekeepers, creators are increasingly building careers rooted in local communities \u2014 influencing neighbourhood markets, shaping regional trends and monetising through a mix of brand partnerships, subscriptions and local commerce.<\/span><\/p>\n The social media debate<\/b><\/p>\n Governments across the world are increasingly questioning how young people engage with social media. <\/span>Australia<\/span><\/a> became the first country to ban access for users under 16 in late 2025, and the ripple effects are now spreading. <\/span>Indonesia<\/span><\/a> has announced similar restrictions, while Indian states such as <\/span>Karnataka<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Andhra Pradesh<\/span><\/a> are exploring age-based limits. In Europe, countries including <\/span>Norway<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Germany <\/span><\/a>are debating tighter controls, and <\/span>Britain<\/span><\/a> has begun consulting parents and children on whether under-16s should be barred from social media altogether, alongside possible restrictions on gaming platforms and AI chatbots.<\/span><\/p>\n Travel watch: West Asia airspace disruptions<\/b><\/p>\n Air travel across parts of West Asia remains in flux after regional airspaces were closed following the escalation of tensions triggered by US\u2013Israel strikes on Iran. In recent days, airlines and airports have begun cautiously restoring operations, with limited repatriation flights and select routes gradually returning. Israel has started reopening its airspace, while carriers such as <\/span>Emirates<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>IndiGo and Akasa Air<\/span><\/a> are resuming or adjusting services as conditions permit. For travellers, the picture remains fluid, with reroutes, suspended routes and reduced schedules continuing across several Middle East corridors as airlines assess safety and rebuild operations.<\/span><\/p>\n Chasing sakura: Japan\u2019s cherry blossom forecast<\/b><\/p>\n Spring in Japan is defined by the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms, and the 2026 <\/span>sakura forecast<\/span><\/a> offers travellers a guide to catching the bloom at its best. From early blossoms in Okinawa to peak viewing across Japan in late March and April, and even May blooms in Hokkaido, the season unfolds gradually across the country, turning parks, temples and mountain landscapes into pastel pink panoramas.<\/span><\/p>\n A bibliophile\u2019s world tour<\/b><\/p>\n From a former tango-era theatre in Buenos Aires to a flood-proof bookstore in Venice, some bookshops are destinations in their own right. This visual tour explores <\/span>eight of the world\u2019s most iconic bookstores<\/span><\/a> \u2014 including Paris\u2019s legendary Shakespeare and Company, New York\u2019s enduring Strand, and Porto\u2019s ornate Livraria Lello \u2014 each offering a glimpse into literary history, architecture and the enduring romance of reading.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
More women in India are entering skill pipelines, tech programmes and formal employment channels, but the overall <\/span>workforce gap remains<\/span><\/a> stubborn. Women now make up 28.1% of India\u2019s workforce and 26% of learners in technology programmes, yet hold just 18% of leadership roles and a smaller share of organised jobs. New data from LinkedIn, Quess Corp and Masai shows a generation preparing for the future of work, even as structural barriers continue to shape outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.cnbctv18.com\/uploads\/2026\/02\/cheery-blossom-2026-02-b7fcbce0a9b0d3283b2333d1c846755a.jpg?im=Resize,width=640,height=360,aspect=fit,type=normal\")
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