Stillbirth cases rising in five Karnataka districts, urban areas worst affected
Dharwad: Five districts of Karnataka are witnessing an increase in stillbirths, with government data showing higher rates in urban areas compared to rural regions.
According to the Health Department, the state’s overall stillbirth rate is 3.41 per cent (per 1,000 births), but some districts are reporting figures as high as 9.30 per cent. Haveri has recorded the highest rate, followed by Dharwad, Chamarajanagar, Gadag and Mysuru reported the Deccan Herald.
Data shows a worrying trend in districts such as Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Ballari and Davangere. These districts earlier had negligible rates but are now reporting a surge in the past three to four years.
In 2020, Karnataka registered 9.33 lakh births, of which 3.31 per cent were stillbirths. Of these, 2.11 per cent were from rural areas and 5.24 per cent from urban areas. In 2024-25, with 9.91 lakh births, the state recorded 3,244 stillbirths, of which 0.19 per cent were in rural areas and 7.28 per cent in urban centres.
The report cited causes including slow fetal growth, breathing problems during delivery, birth-related stress, strenuous work during pregnancy, accidents and medical terminations. Lifestyle factors such as obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and delay in reaching hospitals also contributed to the risk, doctors said.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said district health officers in affected areas have been asked to submit detailed reports and awareness drives are being conducted to educate women. Dharwad DHO S M Honakeri said a special team has been formed to study the cases and findings will be shared with the government within a month.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
