Zelenskyy's Chief of Staff says allies 'confirm positive signals' from Washington
"Our partners confirmed positive signals from the White House regarding firm actions against the Russian Federation — particularly on sanctions targeting Russian oil and secondary tariffs following the end of the 10-day deadline set by President Donald Trump," Andriy Yermak wrote on X.
He added that he also discussed preparations for a "historic" bilateral security deal between Kyiv and Washington, backed financially by European allies.
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Economic Times
21 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Lyft ditches humans! Self-driving shuttles to battle Uber & Waymo by 2026
Synopsis Lyft robotaxi launch 2026 marks a bold move by the ride-sharing giant as it partners with Holon to bring self-driving electric shuttles to U.S. cities. These futuristic vehicles, powered by Mobileye's Level 4 autonomy, are set to hit roads in late 2026—beginning in Dallas and Atlanta. Lyft's shift from a human-only model to full autonomy signals growing competition with Uber, Waymo, and Tesla in the robotaxi race. With sleek design, zero emissions, and smart partnerships, Lyft aims to change the future of urban travel, making it smarter, safer, and more sustainable for riders across the country. Lyft is officially diving into the robotaxi race, leaving behind its 'human-only' ride model and stepping into the world of fully autonomous vehicles. In a bold move, the company has announced it will launch self-driving electric shuttles by 2026, taking direct aim at rivals like Uber, Waymo, and Tesla. Partnering with Holon and powered by Mobileye's advanced autonomy tech, Lyft plans to reshape the future of urban travel — safer, smarter, and completely driverless. Lyft is officially stepping into the fast-growing robotaxi race, unveiling plans to launch fully autonomous electric shuttles in late 2026. This marks a major shift from its previous 'human-only' ride strategy. Teaming up with Holon, a cutting-edge mobility company spun out of Benteler Group, Lyft aims to challenge big players like Uber with Waymo, Tesla, and Cruise in the future of self-driving transportation. Lyft's 2026 rollout will see electric, driverless Holon Urban shuttles hit select U.S. streets. These futuristic vehicles will be fully integrated into the Lyft app, giving riders the choice to ride in an autonomous vehicle for short urban trips — especially in airports, downtown corridors, and transit hubs. With the support of Mobileye's Level 4 autonomy technology and Japanese partner Marubeni, Lyft is betting big on a driverless future. After years of distancing itself from autonomous vehicle development, Lyft is now re-entering the space with a smart, low-risk strategy. Instead of building its own driverless cars, Lyft is collaborating with partners like Holon, Mobileye, and Marubeni SmartFleet. Their joint plan? To roll out Level 4 electric autonomous shuttles that can operate without a human driver in controlled environments. Holon's self-driving shuttle — designed by Italian auto legend Pininfarina — will carry up to 15 passengers, reach speeds of up to 37 mph, and operate on fixed routes in cities. These all-electric vehicles will prioritize accessibility, low emissions, and urban efficiency — fitting Lyft's vision of safer, cleaner mobility. This pivot is a major reversal for Lyft. Back in 2021, it sold its in-house autonomous vehicle division to Toyota's Woven Planet and publicly committed to focusing on human drivers. But as competition heats up in the robotaxi space, Lyft is changing gears. By partnering with autonomous leaders and outsourcing vehicle development and fleet management, Lyft is adopting an 'asset-light' strategy — letting it scale faster while avoiding the high costs of owning or building AV fleets. The new shuttles will be operated by fleet partners like Marubeni, while Lyft handles the app, routing, and rider experience. Lyft's move comes as Uber rapidly expands its robotaxi network through Waymo, now available in cities like Phoenix, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami. Riders can book driverless rides directly through the Uber app in some cities — a major milestone in robotaxi adoption. Waymo, owned by Alphabet (Google's parent company), is considered the current industry leader, running over 250,000 rides weekly and scaling fast. Meanwhile, Tesla is pushing its own robotaxi service in Austin, using its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, with plans to launch dedicated robotaxi vehicles in 2026. The Holon Urban Shuttle, which Lyft plans to deploy, is designed with both tech and style in mind. With zero emissions, spacious interiors, and AI-powered sensors, it promises a smooth, safe, and comfortable ride for passengers. Its Level 4 autonomy allows it to operate entirely without human intervention in geofenced areas. These shuttles will initially serve airports and busy urban hubs where traffic flow is predictable — ideal for early robotaxi deployment. With safety top-of-mind, the shuttles are built using Mobileye's advanced autonomous driving system, which includes a 360-degree vision system, AI decision-making, and constant monitoring. Lyft's robotaxi rollout is expected to begin with Atlanta as the first test city in mid-2025, followed by Dallas and other major metros in 2026. In Atlanta, Lyft is already testing autonomous vehicles from May Mobility, and the company has launched a 'Driver Autonomous Forum' to involve human drivers in its transition plans. In Dallas, Lyft plans to deploy the Holon shuttles in partnership with Marubeni, serving areas like airports, corporate campuses, and entertainment districts. These deployments will help Lyft test public acceptance, fine-tune its services, and gradually expand. While Waymo is leading the robotaxi race, it hasn't been without issues. The company has faced public pushback, with San Francisco residents protesting the presence of self-driving cars by placing cones on their hoods. Some vehicles have been reported to stall or block traffic in unusual scenarios, raising questions about readiness. Still, Waymo continues to expand and improve, with its latest fleet using fifth-generation Jaguar I-PACE vehicles and mapping new cities like Tokyo, San Antonio, and Washington D.C. Tesla is expected to reveal its dedicated robotaxi vehicle later in 2026, but so far, its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software still requires a safety driver in most jurisdictions. While CEO Elon Musk claims Tesla's AI will eventually power fully autonomous driving, regulators remain cautious, especially after several high-profile crashes. Still, Tesla's plan to operate a network of FSD-powered robotaxis remains central to its future — and could disrupt the rideshare industry if it gains regulatory approval. Lyft's entry into the robotaxi market is both strategic and timely. By teaming up with global partners like Holon, Mobileye, and Marubeni, Lyft avoids the massive investment risks that Uber, Tesla, and Waymo face — while still competing for market share in autonomous mobility. As public awareness and trust in self-driving technology grows, Lyft could emerge as a flexible, app-based platform for multiple autonomous providers. Its 2026 launch of Holon electric shuttles is a critical step in that direction — and signals a major new chapter in the robotaxi race. Q1. When will Lyft launch its robotaxi service in the U.S.? Lyft's robotaxi launch with Holon is set for late 2026. Q2. What is Holon and how is it part of Lyft's robotaxi plan? Holon is Lyft's shuttle partner providing self-driving electric vehicles for the 2026 rollout.
Mint
23 minutes ago
- Mint
Cornell Close to White House Settlement of Up to $100 Million
(Bloomberg) -- The White House is eyeing a settlement of as much as $100 million in negotiations with Cornell University about an agreement that would reinstate hundreds of millions of dollars in frozen federal research funding, according to people familiar with the matter. A deal could be announced as soon as next week, said the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are private. One of the issues still under discussion is whether the pact would call for a resolution monitor to supervise how Cornell is carrying out changes required by the US — an arrangement accepted by Columbia University in a landmark $221 million deal last month. An agreement would make Cornell the latest Ivy League school to settle with President Donald Trump as the White House probes US colleges over allegations they mishandled antisemitic incidents on campus after the October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel and the Jewish state's retaliatory response in Gaza. Brown University announced a $50 million deal with the government this week. Cornell declined to comment. The Cornell terms are still under discussion and subject to change. One of the people familiar with the talks characterized $100 million as the maximum, while another described it as within the range of $100 million. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said that additional settlements with universities are likely to use the Columbia agreement as a roadmap. That deal included a cash fine for civil-rights violations and a wide set of policy changes. In addition to mounting probes of antisemitism on campus, the administration has also pushed colleges to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs and criticized them for political bias against conservatives. The government agreed to restore funding to the University of Pennsylvania after the school reached a deal limiting the participation of transgender athletes in sports. The broad-based push for change has fueled concerns that the government is impinging on academic freedom and seeking to use the universities to advance its own viewpoints and agenda. Harvard University, the primary target of the Trump's pressure campaign, has filed two lawsuits challenging the government's efforts to freeze research funding and block international student enrollment. But the funding freeze has been taking a toll. Cornell warned in June that the pullback of US funding would force it to adopt 'financial austerity in all areas.' Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said at the time that job cuts would likely be required, in addition to restrictions on discretionary spending and hiring. Cornell's $10.7 billion endowment is one of the smaller funds in the Ivy League. --With assistance from Janet Lorin. More stories like this are available on
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Shashi Tharoor's cryptic reply on Rahul Gandhi 'endorsing' Trump's 'dead economy' jibe: ‘He has…'
Shashi Tharoor responded with a cryptic reply after he was questioned about Rahul Gandhi agreeing with Donald Trump's 'dead economy' jibe stating that the Lok Sabha LoP 'has his reasons for saying so.' 'I don't want to comment on what my party leader has said. He has his reasons for saying so. My concern is that our relationship with the US, as a strategic and economic partnership, is important for us. We are exporting around 90 billion worth of goods to America. We can't be in a position to lose that or have it diminish significantly... We must wish our negotiators strength to get a fair deal for India... We should also be talking to other regions for exporting our we could make up for some of what we might lose in the US... We have to support our negotiators,' Shashi Tharoor told reporters. A day after imposing 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports to the US, Donald Trump had referred to India and Russia as 'dead economies' and said 'I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care." (This is a developing story. Keep checking for more updates)
