Kenya's capital experiments with giving workers menstrual leave

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — It started with a casual lunch conversation between a county governor and his cabinet ministers about a colleague's menstrual pain. The discussion led to a first in Kenya: The right for female employees to take menstrual leave.

Kenya Menstrual Leave

The new policy took effect in December 2025. It grants county government employees in the capital, Nairobi, two days off every month to deal with the pain and discomfort of menstruation, with the aim of improving productivity and well-being.

Governor Johnson Sakaja told The Associated Press that Kenya's national government has expressed interest in how it goes, and other county governors have as well.

"Your biggest asset is your staff," said Sakaja, who shepherded the new practice and oversees a government where more than half of the 18,000 employees are women. "It starts with dignifying your own staff, for them to feel that they're respected and dignified."

Women in leading roles

There has been little public objection. Critics have said the policy could discourage employers from hiring more women, but Sakaja disagreed, saying he believes that women perform better than men when they are supported.

Women currently lead the Nairobi county government's business and health portfolios.

"A lot of labor policies were written many years ago by men," the governor said. "Women's rights are not anti-productivity. They are an input that creates productivity. It's actually an investment in your workforce."

He said there would be no financial impact, as the county has more than one person for each role.

"It will not be a train smash if three or four people in a department are not there for a day or two," he said.

Japan was the first

Japan adopted a menstrual leave policy in 1947. The latest was Spain in 2023. Other countries include Indonesia and South Korea.

In Africa, only Zambia has nationwide menstrual leave policy. It allows female workers to take one day per month without having to provide a note from a health care provider.

Advocates say such policies recognize menstruation as a legitimate workplace health issue.

"The feedback we have gotten, especially from the staff that work in public service management, is that it's very refreshing. And when they come back, they are able to work even better," said Nairobi County Human Resource Manager Janet Opiata.

At least 12 women from her department, including a senior director, benefited from the leave in February, Opiata said.

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The policy is a "no-questions-asked, no-forms-filled" arrangement and offers paid leave alongside the usual sick and annual paid leave enshrined in labor law. Nairobi has implemented the policy using a cabinet decree and an internal memo from the human resource office.

Stigma remains a barrier

Marion Kapuya, a 25-year-old revenue officer with the county, said the policy has already made a difference.

"Working with pain or discomfort can lead to mistakes or low productivity," she said. "When you take the break and you are relieved from the pain, your performance will be top-notch."

She added that stigma remains a significant barrier in many workplaces.

"Before I get to a point of saying, 'Excuse me, sir, I am on my period and I don't feel okay,' it is so hard," she said.

The Nairobi county governor said he received feedback that even with the policy, it could be embarrassing telling a manager that days off were for menstrual leave.

A Nairobi private-sector worker, Christine Akinyi, called two days a great start but said it should be increased to four days. She also expressed concern, however.

"People will prefer to employ more men because they don't have these sick leaves," she said.

Vomiting or severe headaches

A Nairobi-based gynecologist, Eunice Cheserem, said severe menstrual pain is common in 50% of the women she sees at her clinic. Kenya does not have national data on menstrual pain.

"If a woman gets severe menstrual pain, she actually ceases to be functional. Some will get vomiting, severe headaches, they vomit everything, they have diarrhea, they have very terrible cramps," she said. "Some respond to conventional analgesics, but very many need very, very strong analgesics for them even to be able to function."

Cheserem said the new menstrual leave in Nairobi county offers needed rest and a chance for women to take care of themselves.

For more on Africa and development:https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

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March 18, 2026

Kenya's capital experiments with giving workers menstrual leave

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — It started with a casual lunch conversation between a county governor and his cabinet ministers abo...

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Afghans search for loved ones at Kabul rehab centre bombed by Pakistan

By Mohammad Yunus Yawar

KABUL, March 18 (Reuters) - Families and friends of people who were under treatment at a rehab centre in the Afghan capital Kabul searched for their loved ones on Wednesday, two days after it was bombed by Pakistan in the deadliest incident in the months ‌long conflict between the neighbours.

The Afghan Taliban government has said that more than 400 people were killed and 265 wounded in the air strike ‌that took place on Monday night, just as people and staff at the centre were praying, days before the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Pakistan rejected the claim, saying it had "precisely targeted military ​installations and terrorist support infrastructure" - a sharp escalation that has further worsened relations between the Islamic neighbours at a time when the neighbourhood has also become unstable due to the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.

On Wednesday, relatives of people who were at the drug rehabilitation centre gathered at the site looking for their loved ones who were among the hundreds recovering there.

Many said they did not know whether their relatives were alive or dead, or if they had been moved elsewhere.

"We came here looking for our patient, he is missing," said ‌Mazar, 50, who gave only one name. "We came to find ⁠out whether he is well, alive, or what has happened to him."

The relative, Mazar said, had been admitted at the centre for the second time and there was no information about him. "We checked the lists, but his name was not in the list of ⁠the living. Maybe he is injured or has been killed," he said.

MOST BODIES YET TO BE HANDED OVER

Another man who did not want to be named said he had come in search of his relative on Tuesday but was not allowed to enter the centre.

"We did not find his body, nor was he among the wounded, and his name is not ​on ​the list of survivors," he said. "We have come again today for more information."

A Reuters witness at ​the scene saw smoke still smouldering from parts of the compound ‌as firefighters continued to douse small fires, about 36 hours after the bombing. Pieces of furniture, mattresses and clothing lay scattered among the debris.

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The Afghan interior ministry said funerals of some those killed at the centre would take place later on Wednesday.

"Some of the bodies were not identifiable and are currently at the forensic department. Some bodies were intact and were handed over to their families," interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qanie said. "Others were completely destroyed, collected almost like pieces of flesh."

Najibullah Farooqi, head of Afghanistan's legal medicine directorate, said bodies were being pulled out of the debris as late as Tuesday night and were being handed over to families.

"Some bodies have been handed over ‌after their identities were confirmed. However, a large number of bodies still remain with us," he ​said.

DISPUTE OVER TARGET OF AIR STRIKE

Afghanistan and Pakistan have fiercely contested and disputed the target of ​the air strike.

Afghan authorities said the attack had clearly targeted a well-known rehabilitation ​centre, a former NATO military base named Camp Phoenix that had been converted into a civilian facility about a decade ago.

Pakistan has ‌said it hit Camp Phoenix, a "military terrorist ammunition and equipment storage ​site" and that secondary detonations that were ​visible after the strikes clearly indicated the presence of large ammunition depots there.

The EU, UN agencies and international aid groups have said civilian and medical facilities should not be targeted during a conflict and called for immediate de-escalation.

The conflict between the allies turned foes began last year after Pakistan accused Afghanistan ​of sheltering and backing militants carrying out attacks across Pakistan, ‌a charge denied by the Afghan Taliban government.

The conflict had ebbed amid efforts by friendly countries including China to mediate, but flared again with ​Pakistan directly targeting the Afghan Taliban last month and not just locations of Pakistani Taliban militants Islamabad says are across the border.

(Reporting by ​Mohammad Yunus Yawar; Writing by Tanvi Mehta and YP Rajesh; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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March 18, 2026

Afghans search for loved ones at Kabul rehab centre bombed by Pakistan

By Mohammad Yunus Yawar KABUL, March 18 (Reuters) - Families and friends of people who were under treatment at...

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An NFLPA exec resigned during a scandal. Now, he'll lead the organization.

TheNFL Players Association(NFLPA) has found its new leader.

On March 17, theNFLPAannounced that its board of player representatives electedJC Tretterto be its next executive director.

Tretter is a former NFL offensive lineman, playing eight seasons across stints with theGreen Bay PackersandCleveland Browns. He also previously served as the NFLPA's player president from 2020 to 2024 and its Chief Strategy Officer starting in 2024, following his retirement from the NFL.

"I'm grateful for the trust my fellow players have placed in me," Tretter said in a statement, "and I'm going to reward that trust with my fullest commitment to these players and chart a new course for our union."

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OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)

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" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears)

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OT Tytus Howard:Traded to Cleveland Browns(previous team: Houston Texans)

Tretter is the permanent replacement for former NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell.

Howell resigned last Julyafter multiple scandals, including an ESPN report revealing his involvement as a paid, part-time consultant for The Carlyle Group – a private equity group seeking minority ownership in NFL franchises – which represented a conflict of interest for his job as the players union's top executive.

Days after Howell's resignation, Tretter – then serving as the NFLPA's Chief Strategy Officer – also resigned amid the scandals, which included a confidentiality agreement the NFLPA made with the NFL toconceal grievance findings, and removed himself from consideration to replace Howell.

Tretter told CBS Sports after he resigned from his previous executive position: "I have no interest in being (executive director). I have no interest in being considered; I've let the executive committee know that. I'm also going to leave the NFLPA in the coming days because I don't have anything left to give the organization."

LLOYD HOWELL:Former NFLPA exec charged union for strip club visits

David White, formerly the national executive director of SAG-AFTRA,replaced Howell as interim executive directorof the NFLPA in August after Howell's and Tretter's resignations.

Tretter beat out White and another finalist – American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti – for the permanent executive director job in the NFLPA's most recent election.

"We are proud to welcome JC Tretter as our new executive director and confident in the leadership that he will bring to our union," the board of player representatives wrote in a statement March 17. "We conducted a thorough, deliberate search to identify the right long-term leader to deliver sustained, meaningful progress for our members.

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"JC earned the trust of our Board and demonstrated a clear commitment to serving this membership."

NFLPA CONTROVERSIES:What to know about Lloyd Howell, JC Tretter resignations

JC Tretter involved in scandals in previous NFLPA role

In September 2023, the NFL filed a grievance against the NFLPA stemming from comments Tretter made months prior, when he alluded that faking injuries was a way for a player to avoid fines in contract negotiation holdouts.

Said Tretter at the time: "I think we've seen issues — now, I don't think anybody would say they were fake injuries, but we've seen players who didn't want to be where they currently are, have injuries that made them unable to practice and play, but you're not able to get fined, and you're not able to be punished for not reporting. So there are issues like that. I don't think I'm allowed to ever recommend that, at least publicly, but I think each player needs to find a way to build up leverage to try to get a fair deal. And that's really what all these guys are looking for, is to be compensated fairly."

3. Arizona Cardinals – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 4. Tennessee Titans – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 5. New York Giants – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 6. Cleveland Browns – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 7. Washington Commanders – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 8. New Orleans Saints – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 11. Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 14. Las Vegas Raiders (from Baltimore Ravens) – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 17. Detroit Lions – Spencer Fano, OT/G, Utah

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 19. Carolina Panthers – Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 22. Los Angeles Chargers – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 23. Philadelphia Eagles – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 25. Chicago Bears – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 26. Buffalo Bills – T.J. Parker, DE/OLB, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 28. Houston Texans – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams) – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 31. New England Patriots – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 32. Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

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The NFL won the case, which was decided by a non-injury grievance arbitrator, according to reporting from Pablo Torre of "Pablo Torre Finds Out" and Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.

In a statement to Pro Football Talk, the league wrote, "The Arbitrator upheld the Management Council's grievance in its entirety and found that Mr. Tretter's statements violated the CBA by improperly encouraging players to fake injury."

The statement went on to clarify that the NFL did not allege any specific player faked an injury – that the league's issue was with Tretter and the union potentially encouraging the behavior.

FAKE INJURY GRIEVANCE:NFL, NFLPA covered up grievance ruling

Tretter was also in an executive position with the NFLPA when the union, according to ESPN reporting, made a confidentiality agreement with the NFL tokeep private the findings of a grievancefiled by the players union.

The NFLPA's grievance, filed in 2022, alleged that team owners were colluding to keep player salaries down. Last year, arbitrator Christopher Droney concluded that there was no evidence of collusion, though he did find evidence the league encouraged its owners toengage in collusion.

The details of Droney's ruling did not emerge until six months later, when "Pablo Torre Finds Out" published the 61-page document from the arbitrator.

After his resignation last July, Tretter denied knowing about the findings of the NFLPA's grievance case in an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show." He also stated that he had no discussions about the case in the time between its filing in 2022 and the arbitrator's report from 2025.

"Just not part of my job," Tretter said at the time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:JC Tretter elected NFLPA executive director months after resigning

byNeo

in

March 17, 2026

An NFLPA exec resigned during a scandal. Now, he'll lead the organization.

TheNFL Players Association(NFLPA) has found its new leader. On March 17, theNFLPAannounced that its board of p...

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Thunder's Alex Caruso receives technical foul for using shoe to block shot in win over Magic

After going undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2016, Alex Caruso spent the early part of his pro career doing everything he could to carve out a role for himself in the NBA.

Eventually, he became one of the league's most tenacious defenders. Now a two-time NBA All-Defensive Team honoree, Caruso has proven he'll do whatever it takes on that end of the floor.

The 32-year-old wing took that sentence to another level Tuesday, and it humorously cost him.

When Caruso's left sneaker came off in the second quarter of a113-108 road winover the Orlando Magic, he picked it up and got creative on defense.

[Enter Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem now for your shot at $50K]

Playing help defense in the paint, Caruso swiped his lost shoe at the left hand of Magic forward Tristan da Silva, who was going up for a layup.

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Caruso made contact with the ball, and it came loose, ricocheting off da Silva's arm and flying out of bounds.

Except, rather than resulting in an Orlando turnover, the play wound up with Caruso receiving a technical foul and the Magic being awarded the two points da Silva could have scored otherwise, plus the subsequent free throw due to Caruso being T'd up.

That sequence assisted Orlando's comeback effort. The Magic drew within one point of the Thunder by halftime. Then they pulled in front early in the third quarter.

But the Thunder stormed back andsecured their spot in this year's playoffs. Oklahoma City is the first team during the 2025-26 campaign to punch its ticket to the postseason.

Mark Daigneault's team has won nine games in a row and is now 54-15. The Thunder are gunning for their second straight NBA title.

Reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with 40 points Tuesday. As for Caruso, he finished with just two points but also eight rebounds and two steals — and one innovative technical foul that raised eyebrows in Orlando and everywhere online.

byNeo

in

March 17, 2026

Thunder's Alex Caruso receives technical foul for using shoe to block shot in win over Magic

After going undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2016, Alex Caruso spent the early part of his pro career doing everything h...

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