Shoko Kawata, Japan's youngest female mayor, has ignited a national discussion by taking maternity leave, a move unprecedented for an incumbent mayor. The decision highlights Japan's struggle with gender equality and outdated work culture, prompting calls for systemic support for working parents.
Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) faces criticism for inadequate maternity facilities and infrastructure, with reports of overcrowding, broken equipment, and substandard care, prompting calls for federal funding for a new hospital.
A previously unpublished report from 2016 detailed serious concerns about workload, staffing, and culture within Nottingham's maternity services, days before baby Harriet Hawkins was stillborn. The review, seen by the BBC, interviewed 49 staff members and highlighted issues like staff shortages, inappropriate behavior, and senior staff belittling juniors, raising questions about whether warning signs were acted upon.
A Gurugram couple suspects a child swap at a Greater Kailash IVF clinic after a DNA test revealed neither parent was biologically related to one of their newborn twins. They allege authorities have been slow to act, leading to a court-ordered FIR that was later stayed.
Group health insurance often falls short in adequate maternity coverage, with outdated limits and structures leading to significant out-of-pocket expenses for employees, despite waiving maternity waiting periods.
An NHS trust has agreed to pay £28m in damages to the family of a six-year-old girl left brain-damaged at birth due to "catastrophic, life-changing injuries". The trust admitted mistakes in monitoring the baby's heart rate during labour.
Polish Olympians participating in the "Mamy Olimpijki" maternity support program have not received promised financial aid, with some facing tax liabilities due to payments being made in cryptocurrency tokens by Zondacrypto. Athlete Julia Walczyk-Klimaszyk claims the program was used to improve Zondacrypto's image.
Shoko Kawata, mayor of Yawata, Kyoto, will be Japan's first incumbent mayor to take maternity leave, highlighting the country's lack of legal framework for elected officials' parental leave.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat can participate in the Asian Games selection trials, criticizing the Wrestling Federation of India's policy for unfairly excluding athletes returning from maternity leave.
Kyoto Prefecture's Yawata Mayor Shoko Kawata (35) will take maternity leave this summer, becoming the first sitting female mayor in Japan to do so. Nagakute Mayor Yumi Sato (48), a fellow female leader, expressed full support for Kawata's "challenge" to promote measures for declining birthrates and women's advancement.
The Delhi High Court questioned the Wrestling Federation of India's decision to declare Vinesh Phogat ineligible for domestic competitions, suggesting rules might have been changed to target her after her maternity break. The court urged the government to form an expert panel to assess her fitness for the Asian Games trials.
Delhi High Court questioned the Wrestling Federation of India's decision to declare Vinesh Phogat 'ineligible' after her maternity break, suggesting rules may have been changed to target her. The court urged the Centre to form an expert panel for her fitness evaluation ahead of Asian Games trials.
Claire Emslie has been recalled by Scotland for their Women's World Cup qualifiers against Israel, five months after giving birth. Christy Grimshaw also receives her first call-up under Melissa Andreatta.
Michelle Welsh, Labour MP for Sherwood Forest, has been appointed as the UK government's first maternity adviser. Her personal experience with a failing maternity service at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, which is subject to a major independent inquiry, fuels her determination to improve care for mothers and babies.
More than 100 maternity staff are suing the Mid and South Essex NHS Trust over alleged exposure to hazardous levels of nitrous oxide at Basildon Hospital between 2018 and 2023. Staff reported symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, and 'brain fog', with one internal report finding exposure levels up to 30 times the legal limit.
Couple whose baby was stillborn in hospital hope maternity review will lead to improvements.
A couple whose baby was stillborn in hospital hope a maternity review will lead to improvements.
Russian missiles and drones struck Odesa overnight, damaging a maternity hospital and several schools in the historic centre, destroying buildings and causing widespread power cuts. Air defences intercepted most of the 40+ attack vehicles. A drone also hit a merchant vessel flying the Saint Kitts and Nevis flag near the port entrance, sparking a fire but causing no injuries among the 22 crew. President Zelenskyy condemned the attack as deliberate targeting of civilians and called for stronger Western air defence support.
A lawsuit has been filed against MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) and his company alleging a toxic workplace culture. The complaint claims the company lacked a standard employee handbook and instead distributed one titled 'How to Succeed In MrBeast Production' that included problematic directives such as 'No Does Not Mean No' and 'The Amount of hours you work is irrelevant,' while instructing staff to allow talent to engage in inappropriate behavior.
