Quickies

Global Quickies: Superpowers for Girls, Superior Babies, and Not Enough Outrage

IRELAND
“Irish police have halted an investigation of Stephen Fry for blasphemy because the Garda Síochána could not find enough people to be outraged over the actor’s anti-God remarks on Irish TV.”

NIGERIA
“The recent release of 82 schoolgirls — kidnapped by Boko Haram in Chibok in north-eastern Nigeria — has been greeted with huge relief. But the young women are now confronted with the challenges of getting back into family and community life.” (Autoplay video)

THE NETHERLANDS
“A 12-year-old boy from North Holland with cancer has the right to refuse chemotherapy, a Dutch court ruled on Friday. […]He had undergone six weeks of daily radiation treatment last year, after the tumour had been successfully removed, but said he wanted to have alternative therapies instead of chemotherapy due to its side effects. The boy’s parents are divorced, and while his mother believes in alternative therapies, his father went to court to try to persuade judges to rule that David should have further medical care against his will.”

RWANDA
“A Rwandese businesswoman who at 35 declared that she will be challenging the strong man of Rwanda President Paul Kagame had a rude shock welcome on her presidential bid. Diane Shima Rwigara on Friday woke up to nude photos of herself leaked and being shared on social media.”

INDIA
“A Hindu nationalist group claims to have produced some 450 “superior babies” through Indian medicine, planetary configuration and specific diet. Health experts say the initiative is manipulative.”

PORTUGAL
“The death of a young Portuguese girl at the hands of measles has highlighted the danger to those who are not vaccinated against the disease, as it continues to spread across many parts of Europe. […] She was not vaccinated against the disease due to allergic conditions on the advice of a doctor.”

ETHIOPIA
“Three young Ethiopian girls use their superpowers to stop harmful practices against girls in rural areas and to promote access to school. That is the story behind “Tibeb Girls,” a new animated series developed in Ethiopia.”

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
“Two young transgender citizens of the United Arab Emirates, born as women, are making an unprecedented case to be recognised as men, their lawyer said on Thursday.”

Featured image: Tibeb Girls form Whiz Kid Workshop

Daniela

Born and raised in Mexico City, Daniela has finally decided to abdicate her post as an armchair skeptic and start doing some skeptical activism. She is currently living in Spain after having lived in the US, Brazil and Italy. You can also find her blogging in Spanish at esceptica.org.

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