India’s highest court has rejected a petition seeking mandatory menstrual leave for working women and female students, saying such a policy could unintentionally reduce women’s employment opportunities.

A two-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant at the Supreme Court of India said introducing compulsory menstrual leave could discourage employers from hiring women.

The judges warned that if the court mandated such a rule, “no-one will hire women,” adding that it might also lead young women to believe they were “not at par” with their male colleagues and could ultimately be harmful to their professional growth.

The court made the remarks while hearing a petition filed by lawyer Shailendra Mani Tripathi, who had called for a nationwide menstrual leave policy.

According to legal website LiveLaw, Tripathi had argued that working women should receive two to three days of leave each month to help manage menstrual pain and related health issues.

However, the judges said such a mandate could reinforce gender stereotypes and make employers in the private sector hesitant to recruit women.

They suggested that if such a policy were to be introduced, it should be developed by the government after consultation with stakeholders rather than imposed by the court.

The decision has once again reignited debate across India, where the topic of menstrual leave has long divided opinion.

Some supporters agree with the court’s view, arguing that additional leave specifically for women could create workplace inequality or discourage companies from hiring female employees.

Others say time off during painful periods would improve women’s health and dignity at work.

In many parts of India, menstruation still carries social stigma, with some women discouraged from entering temples or participating in certain activities during their periods.

Supporters of menstrual leave policies point out that several countries have already adopted similar measures, including Spain, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia.

Some Indian states have also introduced limited policies. Bihar and Odisha allow two days of menstrual leave per month for government employees, while Kerala offers similar provisions for university and industrial training institute staff.

Last year, the southern state of Karnataka approved a law granting one day of menstrual leave each month for women employees.

In recent years, several private companies across India have also adopted menstrual leave policies for their female staff, reflecting a gradual shift in workplace practices.

All six crew members aboard a US military refuelling aircraft have been confirmed dead after the plane crashed in western Iraq, according to the United States Central Command (Centcom).

The US military initially reported that four of the crew had been found dead, but later confirmed that all six personnel aboard the aircraft had died. Officials said there was no evidence that either hostile or friendly fire caused the crash involving the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker on Thursday.

The tanker aircraft had been taking part in ongoing US operations linked to the conflict with Iran. It was one of two aircraft involved in the mission, while the second plane landed safely.

Centcom said the crash occurred at about 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT) and that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has been launched.

Following the crash, a search and rescue operation was carried out to locate the remaining crew members who were initially unaccounted for.

The US military said the identities of the deceased personnel would be withheld for 24 hours to allow time for their families to be notified.

During a news conference on Friday, Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the aircraft had gone down while the crew were on a combat mission.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth paid tribute to the crew, describing them as “American heroes” and saying their sacrifice would strengthen the resolve of the mission.

The KC-135 typically operates with a crew that includes a pilot, co-pilot and a boom operator responsible for controlling the aircraft’s refuelling arm used to supply fuel to other planes mid-flight.

Centcom said the crash occurred in friendly airspace. However, the region of western Iraq where the aircraft went down is known to host pro-Iranian militia groups. Iran’s military later claimed on state television that an allied group had targeted the aircraft with a missile.

The crash increases the official US military death toll in the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which began two weeks ago, to 13.

The US military has now lost at least four aircraft during the conflict.

Earlier this month, three McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighter jets were shot down in what officials described as an apparent friendly-fire incident over Kuwait. All six crew members aboard those aircraft were able to eject safely.

The KC-135 Stratotanker, manufactured by Boeing in the 1950s and early 1960s, has long been a cornerstone of the US military’s aerial refuelling fleet, enabling combat aircraft to conduct extended missions without needing to land.

The race to replace former Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is heading to a runoff after no candidate secured a majority in Tuesday’s special election.

Republican candidate Clay Fuller, who received the backing of US President Donald Trump, is projected to face Democrat Shawn Harris in the runoff to represent Georgia’s 14th congressional district.

The two candidates emerged from a crowded field of 17 contenders competing for the seat.

Trump gave Fuller his “complete and total endorsement” in a post on Truth Social and reiterated his support during a rally in Rome, Georgia last month.

Tuesday’s vote is being seen as an early test of Trump’s political influence ahead of the upcoming 2026 United States midterm elections scheduled for November.

Speaking on election night, Fuller credited Trump for his strong showing.

“For those of you who questioned how important Donald J Trump is to this country, to Georgia 14, and the state of Georgia, you see what this man means to this community, what he means to the people in this country, and what he means to the MAGA movement,” said Fuller, a former district attorney.

The runoff election between Fuller and Harris is scheduled for 7 April.

The winner will serve out the remainder of Greene’s congressional term, which ends in January. However, the victor will immediately need to begin campaigning again to secure a full term during the November midterms.

Harris finished with the highest vote total on Tuesday night, likely benefiting from a split among Republican voters across the large number of GOP candidates in the race.

In the runoff, Harris will face only Fuller, who is expected to consolidate Republican support.

By Wednesday morning, Trump had already moved to rally support behind Fuller.

“Clay Fuller is going to be a fantastic Congressman in representing the Great State of Georgia,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Now we have to be careful and finish it off. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”

Democrats have also begun mobilising support for Harris. Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg congratulated him in a message posted on X.