The Conversation

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How does the law measure what motivates someone to commit a crime? This question has been at the centre of a high-profile murder trial that has just concluded on the Danish island of Bornholm. The case has divided public opinion all over Denmark, and beyond. In the early hours of June 23 2020, brothers Mads and Magnus Møller drove into the woods with their friend Phillip Mbuji Johansen. The latter thought they were going out for an evening drinking. And, indeed, on the way to the woods, the group stopped to buy beer and vodka – paid for by Johansen. But the brothers intended to “rough Phillip up a bit” as payback for what they characterised as a sexual assaultContinue Reading

Why so many Syrian women get divorced when they move to western countries

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Syrian refugees in Passau, Germany: many of those seeking refuge are from more conservative rural regions where divorce is stigmatised. Jazzmany via Shutterstock A couple of years ago, I saw a discussion on Facebook of the impact of migration on Arab families. The mainly male writers were arguing that leaving the protection of the homeland has destroyed the fabric of Syrian families and society in the diaspora. They believed it had led Syrian women towards inhiraf or “deviation from the true path” as more of them were seeking divorce. While this phenomenon has been disparaged among Syrians, it has been celebrated by some western commentators. They saw it as part of the western mission to “save Arab (and Muslim) women”Continue Reading

Three scientists on what we learned from the Arecibo radio telescope

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Large radio telescope dish in Arecibo national observatory. Shutterstock/photospirit Astronomers are mourning the loss of the world’s second largest radio telescope in Puerto Rico. The US National Science Foundation said the Arecibo telescope’s 900-tonne instrument platform fell onto a reflector dish some 450ft (137 metres) below – just weeks after it was announced that the telescope would be dismantled due to safety fears. It was a sad and dramatic end for this magnificent telescope (once famously scaled by James Bond) which was the largest in the world until 2019. It has given so much to humanity from the start of its observations in 1963 and we all have reasons to be grateful and to celebrate. We are three scientists fromContinue Reading

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The ODI series between South Africa and England has been postponed.© ICC/Twitter The One-day International series between South Africa and England has been postponed, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a release Monday. The postponement effectively ends England’s tour of South Africa with only one-half of the scheduled fixtures completed. “Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have agreed to postpone the remaining matches in the current men’s ODI Series. The decision was taken jointly by the two Boards to ensure the mental and physical health and welfare of players from both teams,” read the ECB release. The first ODI scheduled for Sunday, December 6 was postponed last Friday after one SouthContinue Reading

Sexism in the military: more women needed in senior roles to force cultural change

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This is not the first time that sexual harassment and abuse in the UK Armed Forces has been the subject of inquiry John Gomez/Shutterstock The challenges faced by women in the UK Armed Forces are being considered by the country’s Defence Select Committee, which has launched an inquiry examining issues from recruitment to transition. As a significant part of this inquiry, servicewomen will be invited to give testimony of their experiences during military service to MPs, for the first time. While not the sole focus of the inquiry, media interest has centred on the platform this may provide for complaints of sexual harassment and abuse by servicewomen. It is not the first time that sexual harassment and abuse in theContinue Reading

Editing the DNA of human embryos could be used to protect us from future pandemics

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We could edit our genes to make us more resistance to viruses. Natali_ Mis/Shutterstock Hollywood blockbusters such as X-men, Gattaca and Jurassic World have explored the intriguing concept of “germline genome editing” – a biomolecular technique that can alter the DNA of sperm, eggs or embryos. If you remove a gene that causes a certain disease in an embryo, not only will the baby be free of the disease when born – so will its descendants. The technique is, however, controversial – we can’t be sure how a child with an altered genome will develop over a lifetime. But with the COVID-19 pandemic showing just how vulnerable human beings are to disease, is it time to consider moving ahead withContinue Reading

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India vs Australia: Virat Kohli lead India to a series-clinching win in the second T20I.© AFP India skipper Virat Kohli set a new captaincy record in Australia after the visitors won the second T20I in Sydney to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing three-match series. Kohli became the first Indian captain and the second overall after South Africa’s Faf du Plessis to register series wins in all three formats of the game in Australia. Under Kohli’s captaincy, India won their first-ever Test series on Australian soil on their last tour Down Under in 2018-19 and won the One-day International series as well on that tour. The T20I series, though, was tied 1-1, but after winning the second T20IContinue Reading

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ISL 2020-21: A brace from Igor Angulo ensured Juan Ferrando recorded his first win as FC Goa head coach.© Instagram FC Goa bagged their first win in the Indian Super League (ISL) Season 7 as they defeated Kerala Blasters 3-1 at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday. A brace from Igor Angulo (30”, 90”) and one from Jorge Ortiz Mendoza (52”) ensured Juan Ferrando picked up his first win as Goa head coach. Vincente Gomez (90”) scored a consolation goal for Kerala. Ferrando made two changes to the side that was held by NorthEast United as James Donachie and Alexander Jesuraj were included. Nishu Kumar, Gomez and Nongdamba Naorem returned to the starting eleven for Kerala. The first big chance forContinue Reading

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Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif on Sunday said that in-form all-rounder Hardik Pandya should stay back in Australia for the upcoming Test series. Pandya played a match-winning knock of 42* off 22 balls in India’s six-wicket win over Australia in the second T20I at Sydney Cricket Ground, which gave the visitors an unassailable 2-0 win in the three-game series. His innings was studded with two sixes and three fours. Taking to Twitter, Kaif wrote, “@hardikpandya7, with an average of nearly 90, has emerged as India”s go to batsman in white-ball cricket, behind @imVkohli. Time is ripe for Hardik to be added to the Test squad, in this red hot form worth holding him back in Australia.” .@hardikpandya7, with an averageContinue Reading