Human Rights

11 Aug 2018; AFP: Politicians and public servants have been linked to the murder of high-profile Brazilian lawmaker and black rights activist Marielle Franco, Brazil's security minister Raul Jungmann said late Friday.

Jungmann, who said the murder may be politically motivated, would not reveal any names at this time because doing so could "hinder progress in the investigation."

Nevertheless "I do not have the slightest doubt that there is nothing that prevents us denouncing them, all of them," Jungmann told reporters.

New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) The Supreme Court today expressed serious concern over recent cases of rape and sexual abuse of women at shelter homes in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and asked when these horrific incidents would stop.

The apex court's observation came while hearing a matter relating to sexual abuse of children at orphanages.

Jabalpur, Aug 9 (PTI): The Madhya Pradesh High Court has upheld a lower court's order awarding death sentence to a man for raping and killing a four-year-old girl, observing that "humanity is more in danger in the hands of persons like the convict".

Describing the offence as an act of "extreme depravity" and taking note of the rise in crimes against minor girls, the court said in such cases, an extreme punishment would deter other criminals.

Bengaluru, Aug 9 (PTI): The SIT probing the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh today arrested a 37-year old hotelier from Belagavi on charges of harbouring two key accused in the case, police said.

Bharat Kurne, a resident of Sambhaji Gali in Belagavi, had 'harboured' the mastermind of the crime Amol Kaleand sharp shooter Parashuram Waghmare, an official of the Special Investigation Team said.

With this, the total number of suspects arrested in the case has risen to 12.

New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI): A group of activists held a meet at the Jantar Mantar today, demanding justice for the victims of hate crimes.

They demanded immediate implementation of the July 17 Supreme Court directives to prevent vigilantism and compensation for victims of hate crime.

The activists also sought prosecution of political and public figures who through action or speech support vigilantism.

NAGASAKI, Japan, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a world free of nuclear weapons when meeting with representatives of atomic bombing victims here on Wednesday.

"When we see a lack of commitment to (nuclear) disarmament, to amplify the voice of the surviving victims becomes more and more important," Guterres told representatives of the atomic bombing victims.

He said that the UN would make joint efforts with these victims of atomic bombing to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

A pregnant mother and her baby were killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza overnight Wednesday.

Enas Khammash, 23, and her 18-month daughter Bayan and a Hamas fighter were killed by Israeli air strikes in Jafarawi. 12 others have been injured.

Jalandhar (PB), Aug 8 (PTI) A Class 8 Dalit student attempted suicide in Punjab's Jalandhar after he was allegedly tricked into drinking urine by his classmates and his teacher slapped him for complaining about it, police said today.

The teacher, Shriki Sharma, has been booked yesterday for allegedly assaulting and using casteist slurs against the 12-year-old boy. The student is hospitalised with multiple fractures after he jumped from the roof of his house following the incident in a private school last Friday, a police officer said.

Mumbai, Aug 8 (PTI) Actor Kangana Ranaut today said it is a sad state of affair that people in the country are being lynched in the name of cows, even as she stressed the need to protect the animal.

There have been several incidents of lynching in the country on suspicions of either cow smuggling or consuming beef.

7 Aug 2018; DW: In the past few years, the media industry in India has expanded tremendously. But at the same time, corporate and political influences on journalists have also increased. Murali Krishnan reports from New Delhi.