Handling a crisis: Keep calm and clarion
For nearly two decades, a pair of business professors at Columbia have looked to Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie for management tips. We compare their advice with real-world case studies at Uber, the Lime bike-rental company and a firm caught up in Russia's war on Ukraine.
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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
I'm saving 10 years on mortgage using app at Tesco and Morrisons
A homeowner is on a mission to be mortgage-free by the time she turns 40 – and is using a shopping app to help her achieve her goal A couple have been using a shopping app to shave a decade off their mortgage. Ellie Boyle is on a mission to be free from her mortgage by the time she hits 40, and has turned to the Sprive app to convert cash rewards from her shopping into overpayments on her mortgage. The 36-year-old and her husband Colin, from Solihull, say they are dedicated to making regular additional payments towards their mortgage. They earn around 50p back from each transaction, which adds up to an extra £40 to £50 a month towards clearing their debt. The Sprive app's bosses say it entices users with cashback incentives when they shop at various retailers, allowing them to funnel these savings straight into mortgage repayments. The couple are determined to slash their mortgage term significantly, contributing roughly £2,000 in overpayments every month. For her grocery runs to Tesco and Morrisons, Ellie makes use of the perks of the app. Colin accrues rewards through his Uber trips to work and back twice daily. Having reaped the benefits of Sprive for about 18 months, Ellie said: "It is nice and easy. All the accounts are all connected, even when buying any of the giftcards through Sprive, all the bank accounts are connected so it's a fairly straightforward process once it's set up." Their drive to eradicate their mortgage stems from a personal cause – Colin suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease. That makes financial stability an essential aspect of their future planning, reports the Manchester Evening News. He works as a maths teacher but, being registered blind, foresees having to give up his role in the foreseeable future. Ellie explained: "That's the main driver for wanting to pay off the mortgage. "It's so we don't have an additional bill round our heads when that time does come. Then we've got a little bit more freedom and flexibility, the only thing we need to support are the bills then and any other outgoings." Ellie and Colin took their first dive into the property market in 2013 with a £145,000 mortgage, later moving homes in 2018 - which saw their mortgage swell to £202,000. They also secured a £35,000 loan to finance a loft conversion. Sprive customers earn cash rewards from brands like Greggs, Amazon, M&S, Caffe Nero,and Airbnb. One Sprive user said by using the app that they managed to reduce their mortgage payments by approximately £2,500 each month, also trimming three years off their mortgage term. The app doesn't stop at helping with savings, the firm says. Sprive users can also get professional advice on remortgaging to secure the best available deals. The app's reach extends to well-known companies such as Deliveroo, Halfords, IKEA and Asda for cash rewards.
Auto Blog
2 days ago
- Auto Blog
Uber's UK Robotaxi Fleet is Ready, But Regulations Hold Keys
Uber U.K.'s self-driving fleet pushed back a year as lawmakers work on regulatory frameworks Uber's CEO has boldly declared that the company is ready to launch its U.K. self-driving fleet, but regulatory hurdles have caused the rideshare service to pump its brakes for now. In 2024, the U.K.'s Department of Transport said that the Automated Vehicles Act would allow autonomous cars to be on roads by 2026. However, current regulations require self-driving vehicles to have a human behind the wheel, and the deadline for details on how autonomous fleets can deploy has been pushed to 2027, Newsweek reports. 0:06 / 0:09 Walmart is selling a 'heavy duty' $89 step ladder for $48, and shoppers say it's 'sturdy and secure' Walmart is selling a 'heavy duty' $89 step ladder for $48, and shoppers say it's 'sturdy and secure' Watch More Last June's general election in the U.K. led to a new government reviewing legislative frameworks on self-driving cars, influencing the change in launch timing. Andrew Macdonald, senior vice president of mobility at Uber, told the BBC: 'We're ready to launch robotaxis in the UK as soon as the regulatory environment is ready for us.' Uber currently offers autonomous rideshare services with companies like Waymo in the U.S. — Source: Getty Macdonald added that Uber is working with 18 automated vehicle tech companies, including Wayve, which is helping launch Nissan's next-generation ProPILOT driver-assist system. In the U.S., Uber runs a self-driving fleet with Waymo, generally considered the world's leading autonomous rideshare service, with plans to deploy thousands of electric ID. Buzz self-driving vans starting next year in Los Angeles. The U.K.'s Department of Transportation is working to release autonomous vehicle legislation in the second half of 2027 while exploring short-term trials and pilot programs for the tech, according to the BBC. While Macdonald noted that Uber is ready to launch its robotaxis in the U.K., he emphasized the brand's commitment to safety by saying, 'One accident is too many.' Waymo reported in late April that its autonomous fleet was involved in 81% fewer injury-causing crashes compared to a human benchmark over tens of millions of miles. Autonomy expert highlights the hurdles governments and companies like Uber face with self-driving tech Dr. Saber Fallah, a professor of safe artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy at the University of Surrey, told Newsweek that the U.K.'s decision to delay regulatory frameworks for self-driving vehicles will help the public get on board with the tech that many still view as risky. 'While the maturity of certain technologies, such as those proposed by Uber, is advancing rapidly, readiness must be judged not just on how well the technology performs in ideal conditions, but also on how consistently and reliably it makes decisions in complex real-world environments. The fundamental challenge lies in bridging the gap between statistical learning and human-level reasoning. Current autonomous vehicle systems often lack the capacity to explain their decisions, adapt meaningfully to unique scenarios, or respond with the nuanced judgment that human drivers routinely demonstrate. True readiness requires systems that offer traceable reasoning, safety assurance, and hybrid validation under diverse conditions. Legally and ethically, certifying decision-making processes that remain unclear to regulators poses significant risks,' Fallah explained. Fallah also cited infrastructure gaps, primarily in digital connectivity and scenario testing, as hindering the progress of autonomous cars. In other words, self-driving vehicles can still experience difficulty communicating with each other and the road infrastructure, and there are limited ways to test all the real-world scenarios the tech might face. Uber headquarters, California — Source: Getty Final thoughts While Fallah raises several valid points on the challenges of commercializing autonomous fleets, he also offers insight into how tech companies and government regulators can overcome these obstacles. Fallah views the key ingredients to self-driving cars' success as emphasizing public assurance, regulation, AI transparency, and human oversight. This industry expert described the U.S. and China as placing less emphasis on assurance and regulation, but China has demonstrated a recent commitment to tighter regulations with actions like banning words like 'smart' and 'autonomous' from vehicle ads.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Glasgow Times
'Don't blame us': Taxis hit back in Glasgow city centre row
A consultation on whether to lift the cap on the provision of taxis and private hire cars has just closed, with some in the nighttime economy, led by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, pushing for more cars to be allowed. They have blamed a lack of availability of taxis and private hire cars as a reason why fewer people are coming to the city centre in the evenings and weekends. READ NEXT:'Breaking point': Glasgow police dealing with hundreds of rapes and sex crimes The cap on taxis just now is 1420 and for private hire cars 3450. The private hire market is at the capacity limit, while there are 1227 taxis operating. Uber also claimed there are thousands of hires going unmet and wants the cap lifted to allow it to put more cars and drivers on the road. (Image: Newsquest) Glasgow Taxis, however, the city's established taxi organisation, has hit back at both claims and said lifting the cap would only see existing drivers struggle to earn a living. In its submission to the council, it pointed to a Chamber of Commerce study that showed overall safety, cleanliness, and the availability of alternative entertainment options affected people's decisions on visiting the city centre. It stated: 'In that survey, 80% of city centre visitors (and 82% of non-visitors) expressed a desire for improved late-night train service, and extended operating hours for trains and buses were the most cited improvement that would encourage more visits.' It added: 'Taxis and Private Hire often fill the gap created by limited late-night public transport, rather than being the first-choice mode for most people leaving the city centre.' READ NEXT:Will the M8 Woodside viaduct repair work be complete next year? (Image: Newsquest) The taxi firm pointed to wider behavioural changes that have led to fewer people visiting the city centre. It said: 'The after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, have changed many individuals' habits. 'There is evidence of an emerging preference for different social patterns. For example, some people now go out earlier and return home before midnight, and a growing portion of, especially younger adults, are abstaining from alcohol-focused nightlife.' On claims of not enough taxis, it said other factors are the cause of any long waits. Glasgow Taxis carried out a rank survey at Gordon Street on four Saturdays this year, January 25, February 1, 15 and 22 between 21.30 and 03:00. It found, across the four nights, the rank handled between 530–570 taxis and 900–1,050 passengers over the roughly five and a half hour observation period. READ NEXT:Does Glasgow have enough taxis and private hire cars? READ NEXT: Uber make the case for more private hire cars in Glasgow The report stated: 'At no time was there an absence of taxis available at or near the rank. 'Even during the periods when a passenger queue formed, there were taxis present on the rank or waiting in the feeder lane on Hope Street. 'The instances of passenger waiting were not due to a lack of taxis in the vicinity, but rather the speed at which those taxis could be processed and loaded.' The report said more cabs would not have made a difference to waiting times. It found delays were due to poor traffic management around the rank, for example, clogged lanes preventing taxis from moving up, delays due to some drivers not accepting card payment - leading passengers to skip the first taxi in line-, fare negotiations between drivers and groups of passengers, and occasional instances of taxi driver misconduct- like leaving the rank out-of-turn. The conclusion reached was: 'Adding more taxis beyond the numbers already in circulation would likely not have increased the number of trips provided in those hours, because the rank and road constraints were the governing factor.' Instead of simply increasing numbers, Glasgow Taxis recommended some steps to improve the service. It wants improved ranks and enforcement of parking and traffic around ranks. It called for mandatory car payment options and taxis to be included in wider public transport improvements It also asked for consideration of night shift only licences to address concerns about specific times. Dougie McPherson, chair of Glasgow Taxis, said: 'We are not in step with some in the city on this issue. 'The struggles I the night time economy are affected by a lot of other factors, like working from home, behavioural changes, people staying in the local areas, city centre parking charges, yet the blame is being laid at the door of the taxi trade.' He said it was 'the path of least resistance' to release the cap and let the provision of cars find its own level. Mr McPherson added: 'It is unsustainable to cater only for peaks.' He said Uber is the only supplier in favour of removing the cap, adding: 'They fight against regulation wherever it exists.' Drivers, he said, were struggling to make a living on the digital platform. Mr McPherson said: 'We are the only city with a cap. That doesn't mean we are wrong to have a cap.' He concluded: 'Late night trains and buses are poor and the underground goes off early. 'To lay this at the door of the taxis and private hires is misguided.' The council's Licensing and Regulatory Committee will now decide whether to keep the cap on the number of vehicles that can be licensed.
