Driverless taxis could be operating in London as early as September, according to Waymo, the US driverless car firm. While the UK government plans to change regulations in the second half of 2026 to fully enable driverless taxis, Waymo announced plans for a pilot service to launch in April.
Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood stated, "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 government has not given a specific date for the full regulatory changes.
In other technology news, Tesla reported its first annual revenue drop as the company shifts its focus to artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. According to Tesla, total revenues decreased by 3% in 2025, and profits fell 61% in the last three months of the year. The electric vehicle maker, run by Elon Musk, also announced plans to end production of its Model S and Model X vehicles, repurposing its California manufacturing plant to produce its line of humanoid robots, known as Optimus. In January, China's BYD overtook Tesla as the world's biggest EV maker.
Meanwhile, in Iran, some citizens are regaining internet access after nearly three weeks of an extreme internet shutdown that began on January 8th. The shutdown was widely seen as an attempt to stem the flow of information about a government crackdown on protesters. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the internet was blocked in response to what he described as "terrorist operations." Independent analysis indicates that much of the country is still effectively cut off from the outside world, despite the partial restoration.
In economic news, water bills in England and Wales are set to rise by an average of £2.70 a month starting in April, a year after previous increases. The average annual bill will increase by £33 to £639. Water UK, the industry trade body, said the increases are needed to fund vital upgrades to the system and tackle spillages. One water-only supplier is raising prices by 13%.
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