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UN discussions over 'killer robots'

There are discussions in Geneva over how to govern the use of lethal autonomous weapons.

There are discussions in Geneva over how to govern the use of lethal autonomous weapons. Some UN member states have called for an all-out ban on so-called 'killer robots', while the US says there should be a code of conduct. We find out more about the debate from Emilia Javorsky, who is director of Scientists Against Inhumane Weapons, and Justin Bronk, research fellow for airpower and military technology at the Royal United Services Institute. Also in the programme, as more and more vehicles become battery powered, demand for lithium, used in battery production, is expected to soar. The Democratic Republic of Congo is thought to have large deposits of lithium, but human rights campaign group Global Witness is warning the country may not benefit from the financial boost the industry could bring, as Paul Donowitz, head of natural resource governance for the organisation explains. Plus, despite claiming many lives each year, some diseases like Leishmaniasis and Sleeping Sickness are classed as neglected, because their treatment is underfunded by the international community. The 主播大秀's Vivienne Nunis investigates whether the funding model for such diseases needs an overhaul.

Today's edition is presented by Rob Young, and produced by Sarah Hawkins and Susan Karanja.

(Picture: A robot from the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. Picture credit: Reuters.)

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27 minutes

Last on

Mon 13 Dec 2021 15:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Mon 13 Dec 2021 15:32GMT