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Squishmallows, dentures, and an ‘I Heart Hot Dads’ bag: Uber has found thousands of items left in robotaxis

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For the past 10 years, Uber’s annual Lost & Found Index has provided a rather quirky anthropological snapshot of its riders — and even a few insights into society. The annual catalogue of millions of forgotten items ranges from mundane modern-day tools such as smartphones and laptops, to more eyebrow-raising objects like live fish, an ankle monitor, a toboggan, a package of live butterflies, and a single Louboutin shoe.

This year, Uber is using the report to highlight the same old problem of lost items with a new twist: robotaxis. Thousands of items (it’s a bit too new for millions) were left behind in robotaxis on Uber’s ride-hailing network in the past year, the company said Tuesday. There were the usual suspects of phones, keys, wallets, passports, and headphones, along with a few items that strayed into the who-is-this-rider category: a set of dentures, an “I Heart Hot Dads” bag, and a blue hat that reads “Emotional Support Human.”

Beyond this entertaining list lies a business opportunity, if a minor one. Even in a future of robot taxis, someone still has to return the things passengers leave behind.

Uber has spent the past several years locking up dozens of partnerships with autonomous vehicle (AV) technology companies. But it really wasn’t until March 2025, when the “Waymo on Uber” robotaxi service launched in Austin, that the commercial wheels on its AV business started turning. Since then, Uber and Waymo have also started a robotaxi service in Atlanta. Uber has added other AV companies to its app in the past year, including Motional in Las Vegas and Avride in Dallas, although these still have human safety operators behind the wheel.

That Uber has already logged thousands of lost items in just 12 months gives some sense of just how many robotaxi rides have been completed on its app. The underlying message here is that Uber’s existing network is already set up to reunite riders with their lost items, including a 15-pound yo-yo, one large black marble duck, a Squishmallow, and a Charli XCX poster.

When an Uber rider forgets belongings in a robotaxi, the process for recovering them is similar to any other Uber ride: open the app, click the activity tab, select the trip during which the item was lost, and contact customer support. Riders are then able to message, chat, or call a support agent. If the item is located, they have two options: pay $15 for an Uber Courier driver to provide same-day local delivery, or pick up the belonging in person from an AV depot, where the vehicles are stored and serviced.

Uber Courier is a rebrand of Uber Connect, which launched in 2020 and allowed users to send packages and personal items between local addresses. But Uber says there is more to its robotaxi support network than repurposing existing services.

“With tens of millions of lost items reported on Uber each year, we’ve spent the last decade building systems that help riders quickly and seamlessly reunite with their belongings,” Amy Satrom, global head of autonomous support at Uber, said in a statement. “As autonomous rides continue to scale on Uber, we’re bringing that same expertise to AVs — combining our fleet operations, support teams, and hybrid network to make getting a lost item back simple, even when there’s no driver behind the wheel.”

In February, the company announced Uber Autonomous Solutions, a new business division that conveys its bigger ambitions around driverless tech. The division provides companies with a suite of services that handle all the tasks associated with operating a robotaxi, self-driving truck, or sidewalk delivery robot business, including software and support services.

And Uber clearly means to make AVs a major revenue driver. The company plans to offer robotaxi rides through its app in as many as 15 cities globally by the end of the year and has said it intends to be the largest facilitator of AV trips in the world by 2029.

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Super Falcons Goalkeeper Nnadozie Emerges as Save Queen in England, Edges Chelsea’s Hampton 

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Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has capped a remarkable debut season in England by finishing as the goalkeeper with the highest save percentage in the 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League.

READ ALSO: Chiamaka Nnadozie Has Spectacular Quality, Says Brighton Veteran Nikita Parris

The Brighton & Hove Albion shot-stopper recorded an impressive 74.7 per cent save rate, narrowly beating Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton, who finished with 74.6 per cent, while Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce placed third on 73.6 per cent.

Nnadozie, who joined Brighton from Paris FC on a free transfer in July 2025, quickly established herself as one of the league’s finest goalkeepers.

Across 19 league appearances, the 24-year-old faced 83 shots on target and denied 62 of them, underlining her consistency in one of Europe’s most competitive women’s leagues.

The Nigerian international also kept six clean sheets and prevented an estimated 3.3 goals, with her performances playing a key role in Brighton’s competitive campaign.

Earlier in the season, Nnadozie won the WSL Save of the Month award following a spectacular fingertip stop against Liverpool. That effort also earned her a nomination for the league’s Save of the Season honour.

Beyond her individual accolades, the former Paris FC goalkeeper was instrumental in Brighton’s historic run to their first-ever Women’s FA Cup final.

Although the Seagulls narrowly lost to Manchester City at Wembley, Nnadozie produced another standout display with six crucial saves.

Her impressive campaign also saw her finish joint-fourth in the WSL clean sheets chart, further cementing her reputation as one of England’s elite goalkeepers.

The outstanding season adds to an already glittering year for the Super Falcons star, who was crowned CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for a record third consecutive time and finished fourth in the race for the Yashin Trophy.

Nnadozie has now switched her focus to international duty after linking up with the Super Falcons in Morocco ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where Nigeria will be chasing a record-extending 11th continental title.

With her confidence soaring after a stellar maiden season in England, the Brighton goalkeeper will be expected to play a pivotal role in the Falcons’ quest for African glory.

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Senate Passes Bill Establishing Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science in Jos

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The Senate has approved a bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology in Jos, Plateau State, a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and expanding the country’s capacity for disease diagnosis, research and medical laboratory training.

The bill received the endorsement of the upper chamber during plenary after lawmakers considered and adopted it at the Committee of the Whole. Its passage marks another step in efforts to improve healthcare education and develop a stronger workforce for Nigeria’s health sector.

The proposed institution is expected to focus on the training of medical laboratory scientists and other healthcare professionals, while also serving as a centre for biomedical research, innovation and advanced diagnostic studies.

Lawmakers said the university would help address gaps in healthcare delivery and support efforts to improve disease surveillance across the country.

Leading debate on the legislation, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele urged senators to support the measure, describing it as one of several important bills designed to strengthen key sectors of the economy. The bill was eventually approved alongside amendments to other legislations considered by the Senate.

The development has been welcomed by stakeholders in the medical laboratory profession, who described it as a major boost for healthcare development in Nigeria.

Reacting to the passage of the bill, the Provost and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, Prof. Sunday Etukudoh, said the decision would have a lasting impact on the nation’s health security and scientific advancement.

“COVID-19 stripped us bare and whispered a truth we must never forget: A nation that cannot diagnose cannot defend itself,” he said.

Etukudoh said the proposed university would play a vital role in building local expertise, strengthening research efforts and producing professionals capable of meeting the growing demands of the healthcare sector.

“This is not bureaucracy. It is prophecy. Today, Nigeria has taken a bold step toward strengthening its health security, scientific independence and the future of medical laboratory education,” he stated.

He also called on the Federal Government to ensure the institution becomes operational without unnecessary delays, stressing that the university would contribute significantly to the country’s healthcare future.

“I call on the Federal Government to prioritise this university. Nigeria’s health security hangs on it. Nigeria’s youth’s destiny hangs on it. Nigeria’s scientific independence hangs on it,” he said.

According to him, the institution already possesses significant infrastructure required for a university environment. He noted that the permanent site contains modern academic facilities, including lecture halls, administrative buildings, an electronic library and advanced diagnostic and research laboratories.

Despite the progress recorded in infrastructure development, the provost expressed concern over the absence of student accommodation facilities. He urged authorities to address the challenge to ensure a smooth transition into a full-fledged university.

“We have built the classrooms of a university. We have raised the laboratories of a university. What remains is to build the home of a university. A university without hostels is a body without a heart,” he added.

Etukudoh further encouraged students and young professionals in the medical field to embrace emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, noting that innovation would continue to shape the future of healthcare and medical diagnostics around the world.

The proposed university is expected to emerge from the existing Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology in Jos. The institution traces its roots to a training unit established in 1954 under Nigeria’s Hospital Services before attaining federal college status in 2006.

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