International Women's Day

Uber's women-only option goes nationwide in the US amid safety concerns

Uber launched a feature Monday to allow both women riders and drivers across the US to be matched with other women for trips, expanding a pilot program aimed at addressing concerns about the safety of its hail-riding platform. The new feature is being rolled out nationwide despite an ongoing class action lawsuit against the policy in California, filed by Uber drivers who argue that it is discriminatory against men. Rival ride-hailing company Lyft is also facing a discrimination lawsuit over a similar offering that it introduced nationwide in 2024. The feature, announced in a blog post, allows women to request a female driver through an option on the app called "Women Drivers." Passengers can opt for another ride if the wait for a woman is too long, and they can also reserve a trip with a woman driver in advance. A third option allows female users to set a preference for a woman driver in their app settings, which would increase the chances of being matched with a female driver, thou

HQs of oppressive 'Prevention Police' of Iran falls on Women's day: Israel

Israel on Sunday claimed that the headquarters of the dreaded Iranian "Prevention Police", infamous for moral policing, has been destroyed. "On International Women's Day, a symbol of oppression falls. The headquarters of Iran's 'Prevention Police', notorious for torturing Iranian women, has been destroyed," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on its X handle. "For years it was a place of fear for Iranian women. Today, it's gone," it added. The death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman, in Iranian police custody in 2022 had sparked widespread protests across the Islamic Republic.

Women shaped my journey, says Gautam Adani on International Women's Day

Marking International Women's Day, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani on Sunday paid tribute to the women who shaped his life and journey, saying the foundations of his success were built on the strength, values and support he drew from family. Writing on LinkedIn, he reflected on the influence of his mother Shantaben Adani, recalling how stories from Indian epics such as the Ramayana during his childhood instilled values of courage, sacrifice and duty. He said he later understood the depth of those lessons when, at the age of 16, he left home for Mumbai to build his own career, recalling the strength it must have taken for his mother to allow him to step into an uncertain future. Adani also acknowledged the role of his wife Priti Adani, who left a career in dentistry to lead the Adani Foundation, which he said now works across 22 states in India in areas including education, healthcare and livelihoods and has touched more than 10 million lives. He praised daughters-in-law Paridhi .

Nearly 4 mn beneficiaries to get ₹9,000 next week: Himanta on Women's Day

Emphasising that women empowerment has been central to Assam's growth story, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday, on the occasion of International Women's Day, said that nearly 40 lakh 'Orunodoi' beneficiaries will receive Rs 9,000 each next week. The consolidated payment comprising grants for four months along with an additional amount will be made on Tuesday, making it a record bank transfer of Rs 3,600 crore on a single day under a government scheme, he claimed. The single-day transfer to women beneficiaries comes as the state gears up for Assembly elections, when the BJP-led government will seek a third straight term. "On March 10 at 10.30 am, 40 lakh Orunodoi families will receive Rs 9,000 each," Sarma said in a Facebook Live. Orunodoi is a flagship poverty alleviation scheme of the current government, under which eligible women beneficiaries receive Rs 1,250 per month. On the occasion, meetings will be held at the local level across the state, and the CM invited the

From planning to safety, women take on key roles at upcoming Noida airport

Women professionals are playing a key role in the development and operational planning of the upcoming Noida International Airport, contributing across leadership, technical and aviation safety functions as the greenfield project prepares to begin passenger operations. The airport, which recently received its aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is expected to begin passenger services within the next one-and-a-half to two months, officials said. Spread across more than 1,300 hectares in its first phase, it has been developed with a single runway and terminal building capable of handling around 12 million passengers annually. Airport authorities noted that the project has enabled the organisation to build a diverse workforce from the ground up, ensuring that women participate not only in leadership roles but also in technical, safety and operational functions critical to running a modern international airport. "From leadership positions to frontli

PM Modi, President Murmu extend greetings on International Women's Day

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said educated and empowered women are the pillars of a progressive nation as she extended greetings on International Women's Day. As 'Nari Shakti' continues to excel across diverse fields and lead with courage, it strengthens the foundations of a more inclusive and prosperous society, she said in a post on X. "On this occasion, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to building a society where every woman has equal opportunities to grow and live with dignity, safety and freedom," Murmu said. Educated and empowered women are the pillars of a progressive nation, the President said. "Together, let us create an environment where the aspirations and achievements of women shape a more equitable future," she added.

Climate change hits women hardest, funding support inadequate: UNGCNI

Climate change has serious impacts from a gender perspective, yet the capital flowing toward supporting women affected by it represents only a small fraction of what is required, a top representative of the United Nations Global Compact Network India (UNGCNI) said. In an interview with PTI Videos, Vaishali Nigam Sinha, president of UNGCNI, emphasised the need to recognise the vital role women play in climate-related disaster management and to reduce the impacts of climate change on their lives through targeted investment. "During climate-related disasters, women are significantly more likely to be affected. It is important to protect and support women when addressing climate-related impacts. However, when we look at the capital flowing toward helping women affected by climate change, it is only a small fraction of what is required -- about 10 per cent," Sinha told PTI. In 2025, a UN women report warned that under a worst-case climate scenario, up to 158.3 million more women and girl

Midlife health: Why women in middle age need recovery more than reinvention

International Women's Day 2026: From perimenopause brain fog to metabolic shifts, here's why women thrive when they prioritise recovery over constant reinvention

Happy International Women's Day 2026: Wishes, messages and quotes to share

The 2026 International Women's Day theme, "Give to Gain," promotes the idea that generous giving can lead to gender equality. The topic highlights the importance of reciprocity and generosity

Women key drivers of national development today: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said women are not only carriers of tradition but also powerful agents of change and are now emerging as key contributors to national development. Women in positions of responsibility should lead the way for others to make it easier for the coming generations to progress, Gupta said at a national conference of women thinkers -- 'Bharati - Nari Se Narayani' -- at Vigyan Bhawan here on the eve of International Women's Day. The chief minister said the empowerment of women in India has gained momentum under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has become a collective responsibility of society. It has moved from the government's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' initiative towards a broader vision of 'Beti Badhao' to encourage women to lead and contribute actively to nation-building, she said. Indian culture has long regarded women as symbols of strength, creation and values. Ancient texts and traditions reflect the respect accorded to

SBI launches $500 million social loan to boost women's economic empowerment

Country's leading lender SBI on Saturday announced the launch of a USD 500 million syndicated social term loan facility, focused exclusively on women empowerment with a greenshoe option, on the eve of International Women's Day. This syndicated transaction is a milestone for SBI and the global ESG financing landscape, for the noble cause of women empowerment, the bank said in a statement. This financing is focused on accelerating social impact and demonstrates SBI's commitment to reduce 'the gender gap' and contributes meaningfully to United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 -- 'Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all Women and Girls'. On the occasion, SBI Chairman C S Setty said, "On this women's day, we are happy to announce that as a responsible organisation, we are deeply committed to fostering women empowerment as a cornerstone of sustainable development." This landmark social loan embodies the bank's dedication to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ...

Datanomics: Women's Day highlights India's long road to equality

The occasion offers a moment to reflect on how close our country truly is to gender parity

International Women's Day 2026: Best gift ideas to make women feel special

International Women's day is a wonderful day to celebrate every woman who inspires, supports, and uplifts us every day. A thoughtful gift can be a meaningful way to show appreciation

International Women's Day 2026: Why this year's Give to Gain theme matters

This year, the International Women's Day 2026 theme is 'Give to Gain'. The IWD's theme promotes cooperation and a giving collaboration to help women and girls advancement

International Women's Day 2026: History, theme, significance & celebrations

International Women's Day 2026, Mar 8, is a day to celebrate gender equality worldwide. The day serves as a celebration of achievements and a call to action for advocacy and empowerment

She Directs Ads brings together India's 1st collective for women directors

On International Women's Day, 59 professionals launched 'She Directs Ads' initiative to celebrate, connect, and create opportunities for women directors

Odisha disbursed Rs 5,024 cr to 10 mn women on Women's Day: Dy CM Pravati

Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida also criticised the opposition, and questioned what work had they done to empower the women

Delhi govt launches Mahila Samriddhi Yojana; Rs 2,500 aid sparks cheers

The announcement of the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, ensuring a monthly allowance of Rs 2,500, turned the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium into a hub of celebration. The rhythmic beats of dhol and nagara filling the air as the International Women's Day programme unfolded in a spectacle of joy and celebration as women welcomed the Rs 2,500 monthly allowance initiative as a vital support with some planned to save it for future while others intended to use it for their children and families. Adding to the festive spirit, women showered flowers on each other as a gesture of warmth and celebration, dancing with joy and singing songs. Slogans of "Mahila Morcha" echoed through the air. Addressing the gathering, BJP National President JP Nadda announced that the Delhi Cabinet had approved an allocation of Rs 5,100 crore for implementing the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana and congratulated Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for the initiative. As he concluded his speech, the stadium erupted with cheers of joy and th

Taliban claim Afghan women's rights protected as UN condemns various bans

The Taliban issued a message on International Women's Day, saying Afghan women live in security with their rights protected, even as the UN condemned ongoing employment and education bans. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, they have barred education for women and girls beyond sixth grade, most employment, and many public spaces. Last August, the Vice and Virtue Ministry published laws that ban women's voices and bare faces outside the home. The Taliban's chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid released a statement on his official X account, without specifically mentioning International Women's Day, which is celebrated on March 8. He said the dignity, honour, and legal rights of women were a priority for the Islamic emirate, the term used by the Taliban to describe their government. Afghan women lived in security, both physically and psychologically, he added. In accordance with Islamic law and the culture and traditions of Afghan society, the fundamental rights of

CAIT, ADSEI come together to empower 500,000 women entrepreneurs in 1 year

The joint initiative by CAIT and ADSEI will integrate with key government schemes such as 'Lakhpati Didi' and other flagship programmes