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Global Quickies: Exoskeletons, Pastafarians, and No Psychic Pandas

(Just two World Cup-related links, I promise.)

BRAZIL
A Brazilian paraplegic made the first kick of the World Cup using a robotic exoskeleton. It was cool, but they had promised much more.

 

CHINA
Panda cubs at an enclosure in China have been forbidden from predicting the scores of the football World Cup.

 

MALAYSIA
Seventeen transgender women were arrested in Malaysia for allegedly violating the law against “men posing as women.” They were fined about US $300 and sentenced to seven days in a male prison (6 months if they can’t pay the fine), where they’ll be at risk of violence.

 

MEXICO
Scientists have mapped the genetic relationships between Mexico’s indigenous groups and discovered a stunning amount of diversity. This knowledge could help determine disease risk and influence diagnostics in these populations.

 

SAUDI ARABIA
In the “cradle of Islam,” a growing number of people are quietly declaring themselves nonbelievers.

 

AUSTRIA
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster was denied official recognition as a religion.

 

Featured Image: The no-longer-psychic Panda cubs from Chengdu

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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One Comment

  1. re Malaysian Transgendered Women. Back in the late 70’s the transgendered were largely ignored by society and Government. But modern Malaysia now takes a much harder Islamic line on all things, such that homosexuality and transgendered peoples have to live more secretive lives, especially if they happen to me Muslims.

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