NewsBytes

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, winning recognition as a woman “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.” The former opposition presidential candidate was lauded for being a “key, unifying figure" in the once deeply divided opposition to President Nicolas Maduro's government, said Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee. “In the past year, Ms Machado has been forced to live in hiding," Watne Frydnes said. Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.” He told the AP that the committee was able to reach Machado just before the announcement and “it came as a surprise.” Machado's ally, Edmundo Gonzalez, who lives in exile in Spain, posted a short video of himself speaking by phone with Machado. Machado, who turned 58 this week, was set to run against Maduro, but the government disqualified her. Gonzalez, who had never run for office before, took her place. The lead-up to the election saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests and human rights violations.

Rajnath pitches for co-development of military hardware by India, Australia

India and Australia stand at a "pivotal juncture" to re-position their defence relations and work towards a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday. In an address at a roundtable in Sydney, Singh invited Australian business leaders to "collaborate and innovate" with India to build advanced platforms and develop cutting-edge technologies and play the role of enablers of peace and security in the region. The defence minister is on a two-day trip to Australia. India welcomes Australian companies to co-develop and co-produce high-end systems, including propulsion technologies, autonomous underwater vehicles, flight simulators, and advanced materials, he said. Singh also welcomed Australia's proposal for a reciprocal provision of defence articles and services agreement.

75% of Indian professionals hide mental-health leave over 'incapable' stigma: Report

Nearly three out of four Indian professionals (75 per cent) surveyed still hesitate to be transparent about taking time off for mental health reasons, fearing being perceived as 'incapable', a report said on Friday. Most Indian professionals, nearly 75 per cent, still hesitate to be transparent about taking leave for mental health reasons, according to a report by Naukri. The top fear is being viewed as incapable, a concern shared by 31 per cent of the respondents, followed by 27 per cent worrying about judgment from colleagues, while 21 per cent fear being dismissed as someone who makes excuses, the report revealed. Another 21 per cent of the professionals interviewed believed it could impact their career growth, it added. The report by Naukri is based on inputs from 19,650 job seekers across 80 industries. Further, the report found that close to half (45 per cent) said they would simply mark it as a general sick leave.

AI disruption reshaping jobs in India's $245 bn technology

Artificial intelligence disruption is already reshaping jobs in India's $245 billion technology and CX (Customer Experience) sectors, and without swift action, routine roles like quality assurance engineers and support agents risk rapid redundancy, Niti Aayog said on Friday. The Aayog, in a report titled 'Roadmap for Job Creation in the AI Economy', said while India's tech services sector faces the threat of significant job displacements by 2031, it also has the opportunity to create up to 4 million new jobs over the next five years. With the right skilling, reskilling, and innovation pathways, India could emerge as a global hub for AI-first roles -- from Ethical AI Specialists and AI Trainers to Sentiment Analysts and AI DevOps Engineers, it added. To turn disruption into opportunity, Niti Aayog recommended the launch of a National AI Talent Mission, a bold, nationally coordinated effort to transform India into the AI workforce capital of the world.