Stars and strikes: was America’s ship-bomb illegal?

What It Covers

The US faces legal scrutiny over September 2 Caribbean boat strike that killed survivors, while biotech firms pursue controversial embryo gene editing and Japanese women challenge sumo wrestling's gender ban.

Key Questions Answered

• •Maritime War Crimes: US military's double-tap strike killing boat survivors violates laws of armed conflict principle of hors de combat, which prohibits targeting shipwrecked persons. Pentagon's own manual explicitly lists firing on shipwrecked as illegal order commanders must refuse.
• •CRISPR Safety Concerns: Embryo gene editing at single-cell stage costs $5 per embryo versus $2 million for adult stem cell therapy, but standard CRISPR breaks DNA double helix creating unpredictable mutations. Newer base editing methods show promise for safer alternatives.
• •Defense Secretary Accountability: Secretary Hegseth fired senior military lawyers believing legal constraints caused US campaign failures, creating environment where Admiral Bradley ordered controversial strikes. Senate Armed Services Committee Republicans including Roger Wicker now investigating potential violations requiring testimony.
• •Gender Exclusion Economics: Japan's sumo association maintains religious ban on women entering dohyo ring despite hundreds competing as amateurs. Female wrestlers abandon sport after university graduation due to lack of professional track, while Prime Minister Takeichi uses male proxy for award ceremonies.