Six In The Morning Wednesday 16 June 2021

 

Disagreements, low expectations as Biden, Putin meet in Geneva

The leaders are meeting in Geneva for a highly anticipated summit, but in a sign of strained ties, the talks are not expected to include any shared meals or a joint news conference.

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are holding their first meeting since Biden took office with wide disagreements likely and expectations low for any breakthroughs.

The pair exchanged a brief handshake in front of reporters on Wednesday in Geneva, before entering a stately lakeside villa for talks.

Indigenous Canadians win right to use original names after forced assimilation

Government seeks to atone for historical abuses as new policy comes after discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves

Leyland Cecco in Toronto

Wed 16 Jun 2021 11.00 BST

Indigenous people in Canada who were forced to use European names on official documents can now apply to restore their original names, in a new policy unveiled as the country’s government seeks to atone for historical abuses.

“For far too long, Canada’s colonial legacy has disrupted Indigenous peoples’ Indigenous naming practices and family connections from being recognized,” Marc Miller, minister of Indigenous services, said in a statement, adding that the new policy would allow residents to reclaim “the dignity of their Indigenous names”.

The announcement comes as the country grapples with the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school, which has brought renewed focus to the country’s grim colonial past.

COVID hits Ecuador doctors who delayed wedding to treat sick

They were a pair of young doctors in love who put off marriage to save lives

Via AP news wire

They were a pair of young doctors in love who put off marriage to save lives.

As the pandemic raged in Ecuador last year, they posted a social media photo of themselves dressed in biohazard suits kissing and holding a sign saying: “Today was to be our wedding day, but instead…”

David Vallejo and Mavelin Bonilla’s decision to postpone their May 23, 2020, wedding to treat COVID-19 patients at a large public hospital in southern Quito moved many people in Ecuador and beyond.

COVID: What has India learned from the second wave?

Experts fear that, amid a slow vaccination drive and easing restrictions, the appearance of new variants could spur a devastating third wave. The country is still struggling with a severe shortage in medical supplies.

Despite a decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases and the easing of restrictions in India, experts are warning that the country still has a long way to go to effectively prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

In response to the devastation seen in April and May, many states have started expanding their health infrastructure to ensure availability of essential equipment, drugs and ICU beds. 

Many Iranians plan to boycott vote for a president without power

Following the end of President Hassan Rouhani’s two terms in office, Iran goes to the polls on June 18 to elect a new president. But in a country where the Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guards hold more political, social and economic power than the president, many Iranians are boycotting the vote and demanding fundamental changes to the system.

Come June 18, Shahin Mohammadi* is certain she won’t be making her way to a polling station in her first-ever election boycott. "I've always voted, in every election, but this time I won't be voting,” said the 42-year-old Tehran resident in a phone interview with FRANCE 24. "President after president, I go from disappointment to disappointment, and the country’s economic situation does not stop deteriorating. Why should I make the effort to go to the polls if the person I elect does nothing?”

Dismayed by President Hassan Rouhani’s two terms in power, many Iranians this year have publicly stated that they intend to boycott the June 18 presidential election. On social media, the hashtag “There’s no way I will vote” was trending in the lead-up to the 2021 presidential election, with several Iranians voicing a long list of grievances.

This swarm of robots gets smarter the more it works

Words by Stephanie Bailey, video by Zahra Jamshed

Updated 0728 GMT (1528 HKT) June 16, 2021

In a Hong Kong warehouse, a swarm of autonomous robots works 24/7. They're not just working hard, they're working smart; as they operate, they get better at their job.

The Autonomous Mobile Robots were developed by Chinese startup Geek+. As they move around the warehouse they're guided by QR codes on the floor, and using AI they are able to make their own decisions, including what direction to travel and what route to take to their destination.