introduces

A PRETTY Italian city has banned riding bikes in certain areas – after the mayor was hit by one.

Como is known for its historic city centre with a Gothic-Renaissance cathedral and alpine backdrop.

But many use bikes to get around the city and now the Mayor of Como, Alessandro Rapinese, is introducing a bike ban in parts of the city after he was hit by an electric bike.

From September, bikes will be banned across around 30 streets.

The bike ban applies to both electric and push bikes.

According to Italian media Ansa, the Mayor said: “People act based on their own experiences and I know what it’s like to be hit by one of these beasts.”

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He added: “In this case, I didn’t even end up in the hospital.

“I was hit by a bike. I gathered information, and that’s where the measure came from.”

The new bike rules are part of a wider traffic plan which will create a Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) to manage tourists better as well as implement stricter rules on vehicles in the city.

Other rules introduced include some vehicles requiring an annual permit and a €3 (£2.60) permit for daily entry to the city.

And tourists staying in hotels can only drive in the city centre if their accommodation has parking.

Deliveries can also only occur between 6am and 11pm.

Locals are outraged with the decision and have pledged to organise a protest on September 12.

Como isn’t the only Italian spot to place restrictions on bikes – Palermo has also restricted bikes in some areas since 2023.

THERE’S no better flight feeling than knowing everyone is onboard your flight and the middle seat next to you is free.

Well, United Airlines is adding a seating option that will guarantee no one sits next to you.

The seats called Economy Plus will be on sale later this year.

Flyers booking these not only get to keep the middle seat free, but the row has comes with extra elbow room too.

The seats also have one custom table from armrest to armrest across the open middle seats – so there’s more space in front of passengers.

United hopes to include the Economy Plus option on its entire fleet of A321XLR planes which also come with three inches of extra legroom.

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The airline expects to be the only one in the US that offers this seating option.

The new perk from United comes after the announcement of United Relax Row.

The Relax Row seats come with a custom-fitted mattress, blankets, extra pillows and a toy for children.

These will be onboard its Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 widebody aircraft and are expected to be available from 2027.

Andrew Nocella, United’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer said: “The XLR is our newest aircraft and not only offers all-aisle access lie-flat seats in United Polaris but now also includes seats in Economy Plus with extra leg and elbow room.

“Our customers are going to love all these new options.”

NEW rules being introduced will make it much easier and more affordable to visit a European country.

In a new deal between the UK and Switzerland, the country is set to introduce automated passport eGates for Brits.

The scheme will allow much faster travel for Brits, and joins a number of other countries in Europe that allow the eGate passage for UK travellers.

The use of eGates is expected to start later this year at Zurich Airport, and then expand to Basel and Geneva airports next year.

UK travellers will still have to follow the new EES rules when visiting Switzerland, which require biometric checks when entering an EU country.

Another major change for Brits will be scrapping of mobile roaming charges between the UK and Switzerland.

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Any Brit heading to Switzerland will be able to use their mobiles without paying additional mobile fees.

This often catches holidaymakers out who assume the country follows the same rules as other countries in Europe.

A start date for this has not been announced yet.

The changes were made in a £5.2billion agreement between the Minister of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin, Peter Kyle and Keir Starmer.

Around 800,000 UK citizens visit Switzerland each year whether that be for its ski resorts, or to see its incredible lake scenery in the summer.

The new deal also means that UK ‘service’ professionals’ can travel to Switzerland visa-free for up to 90 days per year for work.

June 8 (UPI) — Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., introduced a bill Monday that seeks to limit the Department of Defense’s use of artificial intelligence in lethal strikes.

The Human Authority in Lethal Operations Act would establish guardrails and oversight for the use of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons and surveillance systems that use AI. Schiff said the department’s use of AI in recent months shows there is an “urgent need” for the legislation.

“There are good reasons to use AI technology to advance our national security,” Schiff said in a statement. “However — just as with any tool, we cannot depend on technology alone to guide us, particularly when the risks of harm can be fatal. My legislation would protect Americans from unlawful domestic surveillance, ensure that humans in the chain of command exercise responsibility for the use of any lethal technology, and maintain strong ethical protections in the deployment of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons.”

The bill requires the disclosure of designated commanders who give orders to use force that involve autonomous weapons systems and maintain records of the decision-making process, including how targets are selected.

The bill also requires autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems to be put through a review process and prohibits the Pentagon from using AI to surveil people who are doing constitutional activities, such as protesting. The Pentagon would also be barred from purchasing personal data on Americans if doing so would violate the act.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., is preparing a separate bill proposal related to AI use in defense.