Driverless cars get green light!

MOTORISTS will not need a driving licence to use driverless cars, it was recently reported, as ministers prepared to allow the first trials on British roads.

This is useful for women with no driving licence, the disabled, the elderly and even children, who could be put in a so-called robocar at home and sent to school without an adult at the wheel.

Transport minister Claire Perry said: there was “no barrier to testing driverless technology on UK roads”. For many, the idea of self-driving cars is like something from a sci-fi movie.The report puts the government on course to fulfil its ambition to make Britain the world centre for self-driving vehicles — and draw in lucrative foreign research investment, saying: “The UK is well-placed to lead the development of driverless technology.”

In the early stages of the trials, there are likely to be safeguards such as a qualified driver on board to override the self-drive system in case of a safety issue. Some vehicles will have a steering wheel or brake pedals. But as the research develops, they will be removed and the vehicles will be fully autonomous.

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WHEN customers arrive at the Aloft hotel in downtown Asheville, US, they are greeted by an adorable dog wearing an ‘Adopt Me’ vest.

It is believed to be one of the first hotels in the world where guests can adopt an animal during their stay. It’s part of an adoption programme run by the hotel and Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue, a local organisation which finds ‘forever homes’ for dogs, cats and other pets that may otherwise be euthanised at a shelter.

Jan Trantham, from Atlanta, adopted a two-year-old Shih Tzu named Jackson after falling in love with the dog when they checked in.

She said: ‘Every time we went somewhere, one of us would say, “Let’s go back to the hotel and see Jackson.”

But it’s not that easy to take one of the dogs home as there are strict adoption standards, including a home visit. The programme has been such a hit that the hotel and pet rescue organisation hope it will become permanent and spread to other locations within the pet-friendly Aloft chain.

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AN obese 100-year-old crocodile has died of overeating after worshippers repeatedly threw it sacrificial goats and chickens.

While visitors to the Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali Shrine in south-western Bangladesh believed feeding the crocodile would bring them good fortune, it brought the crocodile bad fortune, as it died from an obesity-related condition.

The overweight reptile saw an increase in the amount he was getting fed as villagers became desperate in an uncertain economic climate.

“We were aware of the problem but were not sure what to do about it. The legend is that anybody who feeds the hunger of the crocodiles will have their hearts desire fulfilled,” explained keeper Mohammed Sarwar.

“Usually it was just a chicken but more recently people have been offering even more, including goats, believing that big sacrifices meant more chance of a wish being granted.”

The crocodile was in fact one of four. His three crocodile friends also died from overeating, meaning that food that would normally have been divided between the group now went solely to the centenarian reptile, which didn’t help matters.