Kieran Lawrence looks at autonomous weapons and the effect they could have on modern warfare
Continuing a series on world leaders, Miles Deverson takes a look at Angela Merkel
Ben Bland examines the fallout from the Iowa caucuses and looks forward to the New Hampshire primaries.
In the first of a series on world leaders, Miles Deverson takes a look at Nicholas Sarkozy
The Yorker is here to help you support that breezy lifestyle while managing to keep on top of current affairs taking place across the world, just in case you’re caught in sticky a situation where general knowledge might come in handy this summer.
Read on for a brief update on the world, compiled into an easy read!
US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has condemned the attack on the ten medical aid team members by the Taliban last Thursday. The Taliban, who have stepped forward to claim responsibility, said that the victims were shot because they were preaching Christianity. According to Clinton, the US is “heartbroken by the loss of these heroic, generous people”. The victims included six Americans, two Afghans, one Briton and one German.
Meanwhile, the tension between North Korea and South Korea continues with both sides taking turns to attack. South Korea denounced the firing of artillery from North Korea on Monday, describing it as a violation of their cease-fire. North Korea fired about 110 rounds late Monday afternoon; minutes after South Korea concluded five days of large-scale naval drills in response to the deadly sinking of the Cheonan warship, suspected to be of the doing of North Korea.
The relationship between the two countries does not seem salvageable as both remain on edge with the other.
Over in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has not put the ban on Blackberry services in the country as planned. The country was due to ban all Blackberry services on August 6, but the country’s regulators have said they will not do so, yet.
According to the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), there have been positive developments between them and the device manufacturers Research in Motion (RIM). Saudi Arabia, along with a few other countries had become concerned that the Blackberry services, which could not be regulated by the country’s government, could be used in terrorist activities.
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor’s war crimes trial was thrust into media limelight last week when British model Naomi Campbell appeared in court to testify. The model was questioned about diamonds that had allegedly been given to her by Taylor in 1997. Campbell denied being aware of the worth of the gift.
The courtroom situation turned tense when contradicting testimonies were given by Campbell’s former agent Carole White and actress Mia Farrow. According to White, Campbell was fully aware of the nature and value of the diamonds given to her by Taylor.
Prosecutors are hoping to tie Taylor to the “blood diamond” trade that had fuelled the Sierra Leone civil war, which ended in 2002. However, Taylor’s defence lawyer Courtenay Griffiths described the three women’s court appearances as a “cheap publicity stunt”. Taylor is charged with 11 counts of war crimes, all of which he denies.
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