Here's a news article synthesizing the provided BBC sources:
EU Adds Iran's Revolutionary Guards to 'Terrorist List' Amidst International Developments
The European Union added Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its terrorist list in response to Tehran's crackdown on protesters, according to BBC World News. The decision, announced recently, places the IRGC on the same level as jihadist groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, stated that "repression cannot go unanswered." Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the EU decision as a "stunt" and a "major strategic mistake," according to BBC World News. Human rights groups estimate that thousands of protesters were killed by security forces, including the IRGC, during weeks of unrest in December.
In other international news, heavy gunfire and explosions were heard near the international airport outside Niamey, Niger, according to BBC World News. The blasts occurred in the early hours of Thursday, with eyewitness accounts and videos showing air defence systems engaging unidentified projectiles. Reports indicated the situation later calmed down, with an official stating it was under control, though no further details were provided. The cause of the blasts and potential casualties remain unclear, and there has been no official statement from the military government.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Waymo, the US driverless car firm, hopes to launch a robotaxi service in London as early as September, according to BBC Technology. The UK government plans to change regulations in the second half of 2026 to enable driverless taxis, though a specific date has not been set. A pilot service is scheduled 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."
In business news, Paul Patterson, the European boss of Fujitsu, the company at the heart of the Post Office Horizon scandal, is set to step down in March, according to BBC Business News. Patterson, 60, will become non-executive chairman of Fujitsu's UK business and will "continue managing the company's response" to the inquiry into the scandal. The announcement is part of a long-planned transition, and Patterson is expected to remain with the company until the inquiry process is complete.
Also in the UK, ministers have rejected calls for compensation for women affected by changes to the state pension age, according to BBC Business News. The government reconsidered the case after a new document came to light but concluded that no compensation should be paid. Campaigners, including the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group, argue that 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were not properly informed of the rise in their state pension age. Angela Madden, who leads the Waspi campaign, said the decision demonstrated "utter contempt" for those affected.
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