---
title: "Indian state moves to debunk black magic, and other stories – our morning round-up"
date: "2013-12-17T08:24:37+00:00"
modified: "2013-12-17T08:24:37+00:00"
url: "https://newhumanist.org.uk/2013/12/17/indian-state-moves-to-debunk-black-magic-and-other-stories-our-morning-round-up/"
post_id: 6065
categories: ["Uncategorised"]
---

# Indian state moves to debunk black magic, and other stories – our morning round-up

[Indian state moves to debunk black magic](http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/16/indian-state-passes-black-magic-law)

Politicians in western India have passed a bill aimed at debunking black magic and prosecuting religious charlatans after the death of activist Narendra Dabholkar, who campaigned for nearly two decades for the legislation. The anti-superstition legislation allows police to investigate religious fraud, extremism and human sacrifice. (Guardian)

[EU offers ‘unprecedented’ aid to help Israeli-Palestinian talks](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/16/us-palestinians-israel-eu-idUSBRE9BF1BC20131216)

The European Union promised Israel and the Palestinians better access to European markets and “unprecedented” political and economic aid as an incentive to push them into resolving their decades-old conflict. To support a deal, the EU would offer closer cultural and scientific links and trade and investment support, EU foreign ministers said in a statement on Monday. (Reuters)

[Pope replaces conservative U.S. cardinal on influential Vatican committee](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/17/world/europe/pope-replaces-conservative-us-cardinal-on-influential-vatican-committee.html?_r=0)

Pope Francis moved on Monday against a conservative American cardinal who has been an outspoken critic of abortion and same-sex marriage, by replacing him on a powerful Vatican committee with another American who is less identified with the culture wars within the Roman Catholic Church. (Washington Post)

[Ukraine leader ‘seeks loans’ in Russia amid pro-EU rallies](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25411118)

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is to discuss closer co-operation with Russia, as protests continue in Ukraine over his move not to sign an EU deal. But pro-EU protesters in Ukraine fear Mr Yanukovych may sign an accord tying Kiev to the Russian-led Customs Union.His U-turn on the EU association deal last month sparked mass protests. (BBC)

[Old bone dates human hand evolution](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25398642)

The discovery of an ancient bone at a burial site in Kenya puts the origin of human hand dexterity more than half a million years earlier than previously thought. In all ways, the bone – a well-preserved metacarpal that connects to the index finger – resembles that of modern man, PNAS journal reports. It is the earliest fossilised evidence of when humans developed a strong enough grip to start using tools. (BBC)