Universities across the EU and UK are set to introduce metaverse-based courses, where students can attend classes in digital replicas of their campuses. Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, announced the launch of Europe’s first ‘metaversities,’ immersive digital twins of real university campuses. With the help of Meta’s VR partner VictoryXR, students can explore campus grounds, work on projects, and participate in simulations from their VR headsets or PCs, offering a more interactive experience than traditional video calls.
Several institutions are embracing the metaverse: the UK’s University of Leeds started metaverse courses in theater this fall, while Spain’s University of the Basque Country will introduce virtual physiotherapy and anatomy classes by February 2025. In Germany, schools in Hannover will launch immersive classes by the start of the 2025 school year. VictoryXR, which has collaborated with over 130 campuses worldwide, sees these “digital twin” campuses as ideal for field trips, group experiments, and real-time assignments.
Meta has provided VR headsets to educators at numerous universities in the US and UK, including Imperial College London, to encourage innovative teaching in fields such as science and language arts. According to Meta, these metaversities mark a ‘significant leap forward’ in education, creating interactive and engaging learning environments.
BNB Chain has introduced a tokenisation solution to ease entry into web3 for individuals and small businesses. The platform’s one-stop solution supports tokenising real-world assets and company shares, making it easier for users to navigate the web3 ecosystem. The initiative aims to bring tangible assets, such as property and commodities, into the digital sphere by converting them into tradable tokens.
Through partnerships with firms like BitBond and Matrixdock, BNB Chain’s business tokenisation service allows companies to issue their tokens on the blockchain. It is part of a broader effort to remove technical barriers and open up Web3 access to more people. According to BNB Chain, tokenising real-world assets is expected to be a key step in expanding Web3 use cases, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
BNB Chain’s ecosystem has grown to over 4 million users, with more than 4,000 decentralised applications now running on its network. Supporting services such as carbon credits and natural hydrogen tokenisation, the chain aims to diversify its offerings and drive even greater adoption of web3 technology.
Researchers in the UK are exploring how AI could lead to new treatments for children with brain tumours. With around 420 children diagnosed annually, the team at the Cancer Research UK Children’s Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence in Cambridge is focused on improving survival rates, especially for those with the most aggressive forms of the disease, who currently have a low likelihood of survival beyond a year.
Dr Elizabeth Cooper, one of the researchers, noted that children’s brain tumours differ from adult tumours due to the ongoing development of the brain in children, which may explain why treatments like immunotherapy, effective in other cancers, have limited success with brain tumours. Dr Cooper highlighted that the brain has its own unique immune system, but scientists have yet to fully understand how to harness it for treatment.
Led by co-director Prof. Richard Gilbertson, the team is also working to develop new drugs that are less harmful to young patients. With a substantial grant, the centre plans to use AI to build digital models of complex brain tumours. These models will allow the team to conduct virtual trials, aiming to identify more effective and less toxic treatment options than traditional methods like radiotherapy, which can cause severe side effects in children.
The UK government has ordered China-registered Future Technology Devices International Holding Ltd to sell the majority stake—80.2%—in Scottish chipmaker FTDI, citing national security concerns. The government voiced concerns that UK-developed semiconductor technology and intellectual property could be misused if controlled by foreign interests that have been considered potentially harmful.
This directive requires FTDI’s Chinese parent company to follow a set procedure and timeline to complete the sale. The move highlights the UK’s efforts to protect sensitive technology sectors and its vigilance over foreign investments that may impact national security.
Increasingly, governments worldwide are scrutinising tech-related investments, especially in semiconductor industries, due to the strategic importance of chip technologies in national defence, infrastructure, and critical sectors.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has temporarily halted the proposed £762 million acquisition of UK logistics firm Wincanton by American logistics company GXO, citing potential competition risks. This decision follows the CMA’s preliminary investigation, which raised concerns about the merger’s impact on the already competitive contract logistics services sector.
An interim enforcement order (IEO) is now in effect, preventing any integration of the two firms during the review process. The CMA’s phase 1 investigation indicated that the merger could reduce competition in a market valued at £16 billion in the UK, where GXO and Wincanton are key players competing for contracts with major retailers. Naomi Burgoyne, senior director of mergers at the CMA, warned that diminished competition could lead to higher costs for consumers reliant on efficient delivery services.
GXO has five days to propose solutions to address the CMA’s concerns. If the proposals are found inadequate, the regulator will proceed to a more detailed phase two investigation. In response to the CMA’s announcement, a GXO spokesperson stated that they are reviewing the decision and are committed to collaborating with the CMA to achieve a favourable outcome, asserting that the acquisition would benefit logistics customers across the UK and support government initiatives for economic growth.
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has indicated that a proposed merger between Vodafone and Three could proceed, contingent on the companies making commitments to protect consumer prices and enhance the nation’s 5G infrastructure. The regulator, initially concerned that combining the two networks could lead to higher costs and reduced competition, has now concluded that these issues could be mitigated if Vodafone and Three agree to specific remedies.
Vodafone has responded positively to the CMA’s findings, expressing optimism that the proposal offers a clear path to regulatory approval. The telecom giants have emphasised that the merger would benefit both consumers and businesses, with plans to bring advanced 5G access to schools, hospitals, and other vital sectors across the UK.
The CMA’s investigation, which began in January, is now focused on ensuring the merged entity honors price promises on certain data plans for at least three years. Additionally, the companies would be required to maintain existing deals with smaller Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) like Sky Mobile, Lyca, and Lebara. Industry analysts see the CMA’s conditional support as a positive step, potentially leading to a stronger three-player market alongside existing competitors EE and O2.
With public feedback on the proposal open until 12 November, a final decision is expected from the CMA by 7 December.
Clacton County High School in Essex, UK, has issued a warning to parents about a WhatsApp group called ‘Add Everyone,’ which reportedly exposes children to explicit and inappropriate material. In a Facebook post, the school advised parents to ensure their children avoid joining the group, urging them to block and report it if necessary. The warning comes amid rising concern about online safety for young people, though the school noted it had no reports of its students joining the group.
Parents have reacted strongly to the warning, with many sharing experiences of their children being added to groups containing inappropriate content. One parent described it as ‘absolutely disgusting’ and ‘scary’ that young users could be added so easily, while others expressed relief that their children left the group immediately. A similar alert was issued by Clacton Coastal Academy, which posted on social media about explicit content circulating in WhatsApp groups, though it clarified that no students at their academy had reported it.
UK, Essex Police are also investigating reports from the region about unsolicited and potentially illegal content being shared via WhatsApp. Police emphasised that, while WhatsApp can be useful for staying connected, it can also be a channel for unsolicited and abusive material. The police have encouraged parents and students to use online reporting tools to report harmful content and reminded parents to discuss online safety measures with their children.
Coinbase users in the UK and US can now fund their accounts instantly using eligible Visa debit cards, following a recent partnership with Visa. This integration, announced on 29 October, allows customers to deposit funds in real-time through the Visa Direct network, providing flexibility for those looking to quickly respond to crypto market changes.
The new feature is set to simplify access to trading funds by reducing traditional wait times associated with crypto funding. With Visa Direct, Coinbase users can now top up their accounts or make crypto purchases almost instantly, while also benefiting from instant cash-outs to bank accounts, minimising delays on major transactions.
The partnership further underscores Visa’s growing involvement in the crypto sector. Earlier in October, Visa also launched its Tokenized Asset Platform, enabling banks to manage fiat-backed tokens, including stablecoins. BBVA, a major Spanish bank, is set to trial this platform on the Ethereum blockchain in 2025, marking a significant step in Visa’s broader blockchain strategy.
In a landmark case for AI and criminal justice, a UK man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for using AI to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Hugh Nelson, 27, from Bolton, used an app called Daz 3D to turn regular photos of children into exploitative 3D imagery, according to reports. In several cases, he created these images based on photographs provided by individuals who personally knew the children involved.
Nelson sold the AI-generated images on various online forums, reportedly making around £5,000 (roughly $6,494) over an 18-month period. His activities were uncovered when he attempted to sell one of his digital creations to an undercover officer, charging £80 (about $103) per image.
Following his arrest, Nelson faced multiple charges, including encouraging the rape of a child, attempting to incite a minor in sexual acts, and distributing illegal images. This case is significant as it highlights the dark side of AI misuse and underscores the growing need for regulation around technology-enabled abuse.
The UK government is reintroducing its ‘Data (Use and Access) Bill’ to reform data regulations, projecting a £10B economic boost through streamlined data access and use. Aimed at enhancing efficiency in public sectors like healthcare and law enforcement, the bill also proposes expansions for digital identity verification, open-data projects, and digital registries. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle emphasised the potential to free public sector resources and reduce red tape, allowing people to focus on essential services.
The new bill also incorporates measures to improve data access for researchers, particularly on online risks, echoing aspects of the EU’s Digital Services Act. However, digital rights advocates like Open Rights Group have raised concerns, noting that the bill limits public protections against automated decisions by excluding regular personal data from the scope. This could allow organisations to make impactful automated decisions in areas such as employment and immigration without significant human oversight.
As the Bill reintroduces data reforms while retracting controversial proposals from the previous government, it also addresses updates to marketing rules and fines for privacy violations. These include cookie consent changes and stricter guidelines for unsolicited marketing. By adjusting these regulations, the UK government aims to keep pace with evolving digital standards while ensuring economic growth and improved public service delivery.
