Simulated robot performs realistic acrobatics and other news

The country was too complacent in preparing for a second Covid-19 wave, journalist Barkha Dutt says.

LJ Rich looks at some of the best technology news stories of the week including: Google previews a skin condition diagnosis app, a 3D video chat platform and more at its online I/O event Volocopter unveils an electric aircraft for suburban-to-city commuters A robot learns how to climb stairs without the aid of computer vision…

The EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, says changes the UK wants to make to the Northern Ireland protocol have caused him to lose trust because what is at stake is not goods or trade but peace. The protocol was very precisely negotiated by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson himself less than two years…

Western countries with higher rates of obesity are seeing more deaths from coronavirus than Asian countries with less obesity, the World Obesity Federation’s Dr Olivia Cavalcanti has said. She told BBC World News it was not clear why overweight people were more at risk, but could be due to an inflammatory response of the body….

As climate summit COP26 continues, the world’s most valuable company says it can play a role in the sustainability. Speaking exclusively to the BBC the President of Microsoft, Brad Smith, told BBC Technology correspondent Marc Cieslak that we should still be able to drive and fly to see your families and friends in the future….

Pakistan’s national security adviser has said Western governments’ failure to heed his country’s advice has left Afghanistan in crisis. Moeed Yusuf told BBC News’s Hardtalk programme’s Stephen Sackur about the impact the war in Afghanistan has had on Pakistan and warned the cycle of war would repeat itself without introspection by Western governments. Watch the…