Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Electric light railway tracks soar over Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, a rare example of mass transit infrastructure on a continent ruled by ramshackle, diesel-spewing buses. But despite government promises, the roads below are still clogged with traffic 14 months after the light rail system’s opening, …
Read More »Pressure mounts on Uber and CEO after missteps
Washington, United States | AFP | After a series of embarrassing revelations, ridesharing giant Uber faces challenges in keeping growth on track, with top executive Travis Kalanick likely to face pressure to give up some control. Analysts say Uber’s rocky past month — marred by disclosures about a culture of …
Read More »Secret Uber software steers drivers from stings
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Uber on Friday acknowledged the use of a secret software program to steer drivers away from trouble, including sting operations by local authorities to catch lawbreakers. In the latest in a streak of damaging news for the ridesharing giant, Uber came forward about …
Read More »Dubai aims to launch hover-taxi by July
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | Dubai has tested a Chinese prototype of a self-driving hover-taxi, its transport authority said on Monday, with the aim of introducing the aerial vehicle in the emirate by July. The test of the one-man electric vehicle comes as the city state in the …
Read More »VIDEO: ‘Uganda Airlines’ name registered by private company
VIDEO: The country’s proposed new national carrier will not be called Uganda Airlines. As the country finalizes plans to revive the national carrier, it now emerges that government will have to get another brand name under which to operate.It has now emerged that the brand name that was owned by the …
Read More »Volkswagen moves into Kenya, Rwanda in Africa expansion
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Volkswagen on Wednesday opened a new assembly plant in Kenya and launched plans for a ride-sharing service in Rwanda as it seeks to take advantage of surging car demand in Africa. The German car manufacturer’s move into East Africa comes just weeks after it signed …
Read More »Siemens snaps up US software firm for $4.5 billion
Berlin, Germany | AFP | German industrial giant Siemens on Monday said it would buy US software firm Mentor Graphics for $4.5 billion, building out its offer to high-tech manufacturing industries. Oregon-based Mentor employs more than 5,700 people and produces software used to design electronics products, especially integrated circuits. The …
Read More »Uber hits road with overhauled smartphone app
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Uber on Wednesday began rolling out an overhauled smartphone application that uses artificial intelligence in a bid to speed up and improve the ride-sharing experience. The update is the first major overhaul for the popular application since 2012 and aims to simplify usage …
Read More »Uber lays out vision for flying commuter transit
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Uber on Thursday laid out a vision for on-demand aircraft that can whisk commuters to home or work in a fraction of the time it would take on the road. The ride-sharing giant assessed the feasibility of what it called “vertical take-off and …
Read More »SPE TAXI: Making city transport easier
INTERVIEW: Mark Karamira is the CEO of Spe Taxi Cab service. He spoke to Agnes E. Nantaba about his management philosophy and Uganda’s transport industry challenges. What are the key elements in your management philosophy as a manager? Leadership, people, responsibility, resources and their appropriation are key elements and backed …
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