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Driverless taxis set to launch in UK as soon as September

BBC News

Waymo, the US driverless car firm, said it hopes to be operating a robotaxi service in London as soon as September this year. The UK government has said it plans to change regulations in the second half of 2026 to enable driverless taxis to operate in the city but has not given a specific date. Waymo said a pilot service will launch in April and Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said: We're supporting Waymo and other operators through our passenger pilots, and pro-innovation regulations to make self-driving cars a reality on British roads. The firm, which is owned by Google-parent Alphabet, showed off a fleet of cars it bought to the UK at London's Transport Museum on Wednesday. Waymo's vehicles are currently being operated by a safety driver, mapping the streets.


Panic on crowded train: Passenger tells BBC of moment of Russian drone strike

BBC News

A Ukrainian soldier has described the moment a passenger train was targeted by Russian drones, killing five people. When a carriage on the train was hit in northeastern Ukraine, passengers threw themselves on the floor in panic and the military officer told them to get out immediately. Without his instruction, issued moments before the carriage burst into flames, many more passengers could have died. The officer, whose army call-sign is Omar, is part of Ukraine's 93rd brigade. He was among the passengers travelling on a route from Chop, on the border with Slovakia, to Barvinkove, the last stop before the front line in eastern Ukraine.


Southwest Airlines Says Bye to Open Seating--and Hello to Boarding Complexity

WIRED

An airline's boarding policy shake-up shows the limits of efficiency. Boarding a Southwest flight is no longer first come, first served. What is the best way to cram people into a tin can in the sky? For five decades, Dallas-based budget airline Southwest made its reputation on its unique open seating policy. Savvy passengers who checked in early got to board early, too, lining up at distinctive silver stanchions to claim first dibs on whichever seat they preferred.


Watch: Drone footage shows scale of one illegal waste dump

BBC News

Hundreds of illegal dumps are operating across England, including at least 11 so-called super sites containing tens of thousands of tonnes of rubbish, a BBC investigation has found. Drone footage showed one of the waste dumps in Over, Gloucestershire. Most sites are in countryside locations, often hidden, and on what should be agricultural land. Police say many are run by organised crime gangs, who are making cash by charging much less than legitimate operators to take and bury waste. How the great outdoors went from an escape from the nine to five to a full-time social media job.


Spat deepens between Elon Musk and Ryanair's O'Leary

BBC News

Elon Musk has suggested he could buy Ryanair and called for its chief executive to be fired amid a deepening spat between the pair. The budget airline on Tuesday branded the Tesla chief executive an idiot, and used the extraordinary row to promote its January sale. Musk and Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary have been trading insults over the past week after O'Leary rejected the idea of using Musk's Starlink technology to provide wi-fi on flights. The two are among the world's most outspoken business chiefs, with Musk the world's richest man with an estimated net worth of $769bn (£573bn), and O'Leary running Europe's busiest airline. A statement on Ryanair's X account on Tuesday evening said: Perhaps Musk needs a break?? Ryanair is launching a Great Idiots seat sale especially for Elon and any other idiots on'X'.


How pilots avoid thunderstorms--and what happens when they can't

Popular Science

How pilots avoid thunderstorms--and what happens when they can't Most commercial planes get struck by lightning a couple times a year. Despite the fears of nervous fliers, radar, routing, and teamwork keep planes safe during storms. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. In the 2023 movie starring Gerard Butler, a commercial aircraft is caught in a terrible storm. The plane shakes and the lights go out.


Uber and Lyft announce plans to trial Chinese robotaxis in UK in 2026

BBC News

Chinese robotaxis could be set to hit UK roads in 2026 as ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft announce partnerships with Baidu to trial the tech. The two companies are hoping to obtain approval from regulators to test the autonomous vehicles in London. Baidu's Apollo Go driverless taxi service already operates in dozens of cities, mostly in China, and has accrued millions of rides without a human behind the wheel. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said the news was another vote of confidence in our plans for self-driving vehicles - but many remain sceptical about their safety. We're planning for self-driving cars to carry passengers for the first time from spring, under our pilot scheme - harnessing this technology safely and responsibly to transform travel, Ms Alexander said in a post on X .


The major UK city that will get driverless trains in 2026

Daily Mail - Science & tech

Inside the former US embassy that's now one of the world's top luxury hotels - with 8 bars and restaurants and suites to book for £26,100 The world's most expensive cities for days out revealed, with London in the top 15 Going beyond the guidebook: Here are 10 must-try cultural and wildlife experiences in Australia's'Garden State' Fairy-tale villages, castle tours and dinner at Austria's oldest winery: These enchanting river cruises will take you to the heart of each picturesque port of call you visit Revealed: The world's best new luxury hotel is in the UK - and it has a huge pool and rooftop bar Travel expert reveals the'science-backed tool' to help overcome fear of flying Eurostar's'snow train' set to return this week for winter Could YOU pass France's new'civic examination' needed to live in the country? Try these sample questions and find out... Airline finds'lost' Boeing 737 a decade after it vanished'If you don't enjoy Benidorm, you've only got yourself to blame': Meet the British couple who have been to the Spanish hotspot more than 100 TIMES The'dangerous' destinations that are actually not scary - and why you should holiday there next Brit who moved to the world's most desirable place to live reveals the soaring unexpected costs of relocating A major UK city is set to get driverless trains next year as part of its rail modernisation project. In 2023, new trains were launched in Glasgow as part of the full-scale upgrade to improve the city's subway after more than 30 years. The renovations have continued and now, the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has announced Unattended Train Operation will be introduced to Glasgow. The modernisation project is in its'final stages,' Time Out reports, and the driverless subway trains are expected to be brought in next year.