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Uber has begun operating autonomous vehicles in London using self-driving technology from UK startup Wayve, marking the city's first commercial robotaxi service. The cars, currently Ford Mustang Mach-Es with plans to add Nissan Leafs, still carry safety drivers who monitor but don't control the vehicles, and riders can opt in via the Uber app when booking UberX, Comfort, or Electric trips.
The Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) confirmed it moved gold worth more than 10 billion euros away from vaults in New York and Ottawa between March and August, sending most of it to the Bank of England in London while some was also routed through its Zeist facility. The move reduced New York's share of Dutch reserves from 31.3 percent to about 18.5 percent, with a similar cut in Ottawa's holdings.
A new interactive site analyzes 50 European cities, from London to Athens, ranking neighborhoods on factors like dining, nightlife, healthcare access, transit and parks. Each city page includes a livability score, a walking guide, and a street-level map showing what amenities sit within a 10-minute walk of any given area.
Shein Global Holdings finally went public via a Hong Kong listing after previous attempts to list in New York and London fell through. Shares dropped as much as 9% in early trading before clawing back to roughly their IPO price by the end of the session.
Sony's latest wearable air conditioner, the $260 Reon Pocket Pro Plus, uses the Peltier effect to chill a metal plate against the neck and upper spine, cooling blood flow near the surface of the skin. The new model cools two degrees Celsius more than its predecessor, a 20 percent performance jump, and ships with an adjustable exhaust attachment for different clothing styles.
A new service called Pause pairs London professionals for weekly 45-minute one-on-one coffee conversations based on neighbourhood proximity, aiming to strip away small talk and agendas. The launch, shared as a Show HN post, also outlines related offerings including skill-swap matches between people with complementary expertise and a curated list of quiet cowork spots in independent cafes.
Surgeons at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London used an AI-powered video analysis system during a real operation to remove a pituitary tumor from patient Rhys Hibbert. The software, developed by UCL researcher Dr. Sophia Bano using footage from hundreds of past surgeries, color-coded critical nerves and blood vessels in real time to guide the surgical team. Hibbert, who faced possible blindness from the 11mm tumor, recovered quickly and has since returned to work.
A Bloomberg report finds recruiters increasingly relying on networking, referrals and live skills tests to sift through job applicants because AI tools have made resumes and cover letters look uniformly polished. London Business School's Zoe McLoughlin says knowing someone at a company before applying has become essential rather than optional. Meanwhile, nearly 84% of entry-level finance candidates surveyed by AmplifyME admit to using AI to prepare applications or interview answers.
A commentary piece argues that companies scaling successfully with AI focus on cutting out repetitive, friction-heavy work rather than layering on more software or hiring more staff. It uses the redesign of the London Underground map—which ditched geographic accuracy for clarity of purpose—as an analogy for how businesses should simplify processes instead of overcomplicating them with new tools.
Researchers from the Zoological Society of London used underwater microphones and AI software to track blast fishing near Indonesia's Spermonde Archipelago, detecting over 3,500 explosions in 3,600 hours of recordings. They estimate more than 8,000 underwater detonations occur annually in the region, as fishers use homemade explosives to stun and kill fish for local markets.
Researchers running UCL's chemistry department fellowship support scheme have published guidance drawn from helping more than 40 early-career researchers win independent fellowships. The advice covers assessing whether a candidate's track record fits a target fellowship, shaping a competitive research proposal, and choosing the right host institution. The authors stress that early planning during a PhD and postdoc, including mapping publication milestones, is critical to building a strong application.