Here’s your wrap of news for the week gone by: A group of more than 4,000 women's rights activists, groups and citizens have written an open letter to the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, demanding his resignation for the recent statements he made while hearing two different cases in the Supreme Court - asking a rape accused to marry the minor victim and justifying marital rape. Earlier, while hearing an anticipatory bail plea of a government employee accused of sexually assaulting a school-going girl repeatedly, Bobde had asked whether the accused was ready to marry the girl and said that he should have thought of the consequences before seducing and sexually assaulting her. Freedom House on Wednesday downgraded India from free to partly free, voicing fear that the world's largest democracy was descending into authoritarianism. The democracy research institute, which is independent but receives US funding, pointed to mob violence against Muslims, intimidation of journalists and rising judicial interference since BJP won power in 2014. Freedom House also pointed to the way Covid-19 lockdown was ordered by the Centre in which massive numbers of workers were obliged to walk across the country to their villages. Labour activist Shiv Kumar, who is an associate of fellow Dalit labour activist Nodeep Kaur has got bail from a local court in Sonipat district of Haryana in all three cases registered against him. While in two cases, he was granted Bail on Wednesday, in the third case, he was granted bail on Thursday, Live Law reported. Shiv Kumar is the president of Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, and he was arrested on January 16, days after the arrest of Nodeep Kaur. Working women in India have been impacted more by the covid-19 pandemic than their global counterparts and battle the strongest gender bias across the Asia Pacific countries, fighting for both equal pay and opportunity, according to the LinkedIn Opportunity Index 2021. The report focuses on the way women perceive opportunities and how the gender gap is further slowing down career progress for working women in India amid the pandemic. 22% working women in India said their companies exhibit a favourable bias towards men at work, compared to the regional average of 16%. In India, 85% of working women claim to have missed out on a raise, promotion, or work offer because of their gender, compared to the regional average of 60% A recent study found that a type of venom secreted by honeybees can cure breast cancer. The study was conducted by the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Australia. Scientists have discovered that this venom acts as a toxin towards a range of tumours, including those generally found in melanoma, lung, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers. The research found that Melittin, a component found in the bee venom is in fact the reason the venom is effective against cancer. Although the research has not concluded yet since the appropriate dosage of the toxin is also to be understood. ------------------------------------------------------ Follow Feminism In India: Website: https://www.feminisminindia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feminisminindia Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/feminisminindia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feminismini... Telegram: https://t.me/feminisminindia Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cjuLbv
