New York winter break from £413pp - incl. return flights & 4nts in Midtown hotel

January is traditionally the cheapest time of year to visit New York and it looks like 2019 is going to be no exception as we've uncovered a Manhattan mini-break starting from just £413 per person, based on 3 sharing. This cheap holiday to the Big Apple includes direct flights from the UK and 4 nights… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Relax in August with a Tuscan spa break: 4nts B&B from £256pp incl. flights, hotel & breakfast

You know what you need Pirates? A spa break to Tuscany and when you can grab 4 nights B&B in AUGUST for less than £260pp why wouldn't you? Jet off to Italy for a mini break at the 4* Grand Hotel Croce Di Malta, where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of the… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All inclusive Croatia getaway from £269pp - 7nts beachfront hotel & flights

Ahoy pirates, we have come across this great holiday in Croatia under an hours drive from Split staying for 7 nights on an all inclusive board basis which isn't that common in Croatia. You will stay in a beachfront hotel with the cheapest option departing in October, but if you would rather travel sooner there… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Direct flights to Toronto from £249 return: Autumn dates from Dublin, London or Birmingham

Ahoy Pirates, fancy a jaunt across the pond to Canada later this year? Well, with these super cheap flights it's now easier and cheaper then ever! Departing from a number of UK and Irish airports you'll be flying direct to Toronto, the gateway to Niagara Falls, at a great time of year to visit. Flight… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Loch side living: 4* Scottish hotel stay from £38.50pppn incl. breakfast *pet friendly*

Loch and load Pirates with this trip to Scotland's most under rated site of natural beauty, Loch Lomund. Sat beside it's sister Loch, Ard, lies the 4* Macdonald Forest Hills Hotel & Resort. A stunning, traditional accommodation surrounded by nature - perfect for a romantic night or two away. And your four-legged-friend is invited along… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

August all inclusive family Turkey holiday from £589pp - 7nts 4* hotel, flights, bags & transfers

Ahoy mateys! Check out this family all inclusive holiday to Turkey in the August school holidays we have come across, the holiday has great savings and is offered by Thomas Cook. You will stay in a well rated and award winning hotel with flights, hold luggage and return airport transfers included in the price. At… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Thrice as nice: 10nt Thailand, Malaysia & Bali adventure from £649pp incl. flights & 4* hotels

South east Asia is such a magical corner of the world that it can seem quite overwhelming when deciding where to go first. That's why our friends at TourCenter are offering this 10 night multi stop adventure. Discover the delights of Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Bali in this epic exploration. Everything you'll need comes included… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Late Summer in Cuba from £699pp: 7nts all inclusive - incl. direct flights, bags & transfers

Mateys! Finish up summer with a bang with this 7-night all inclusive holiday to Cuba in September from just £699 per person, based on 2 sharing. Saving up to £249 per person, we think you'll go bananas for this late season deal. As well as all meals and drinks, it also includes direct flights, checked… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

BREAKING NEWS : Uber's Brighton Licence Turned Down a By Council

Following the hearing on Monday 23 April, Brighton & Hove City Council’s licensing panel has decided against renewing Uber Britannia Ltd’s Private Hire Operator Licence in the city.

The unanimous decision was taken as the members of the panel were not satisfied that UBL are a ‘fit and proper person’ to hold an operator’s licence under the terms of Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and the council’s licensing objectives.

The panel considered all circumstances relating to the application and the factors operating in Brighton & Hove. This included a number of issues raised by those objecting to the application, which they found to carry very little or no evidential weight.

However, the panel did have significant concerns about the company’s data breach and UBL’s lack of commitment to use only Brighton & Hove licensed drivers in the city. These formed the basis of the decision to not renew the licence.

Chair of the licensing panel, Councillor Jackie O’Quinn, said: “When making Hackney Carriage and Private Hire operator licensing decisions, our priority is the safety of residents and visitors and, due to the data breach and the lack of commitment to using drivers licensed here, we were not satisfied that UBL are a fit and proper person to hold an operator’s licence in the city.

“All Brighton & Hove private hire and Hackney Carriage drivers in the city operate under the same licences and guidelines contained in the Blue Book and undergo the same background checks, whichever company they drive for. In the original application in 2015, UBL gave a firm commitment to adhere to the standards set out in the Blue Book and only to use Brighton & Hove licensed drivers. We do not feel the spirit of this commitment has been kept to. In the panel’s view, large numbers of taxis operating in the city that do not meet our Blue Book standards puts the safety of residents and visitors at potential risk.

“We recognise there are strong feelings on this issue and would like to thank all those who took the time to make submissions to the hearing.”

The hearing was held in public to make the process as open and transparent as possible. As well as representatives from Uber, the panel heard views for and against renewing the licence from interested parties, including residents and the local taxi trade.

If Uber decide to appeal against the decision, their drivers licensed with Brighton & Hove can continue to operate in the city while the appeal is heard. Any appeal must be made to the Magistrates Court in Edward Street, Brighton within 21 days of notification of this decision

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT FROM KENNY ETHERIDGE.

Remember all those who scoffed at us going down to support the Brighton Hackney drivers?

How we proved that a London driver can work the App in Brighton. That the App has no idea until after the job is accepted.

WELL DONE TO ALL THOSE BRIGHTON DRIVERS WHO MADE US WELCOME 

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Breaking News Uber’s Brighton Licence Turned Down By Council

Following the hearing on Monday 23 April, Brighton & Hove City Council’s licensing panel has decided against renewing Uber Britannia Ltd’s Private Hire Operator Licence in the city.

The unanimous decision was taken as the members of the panel were not satisfied that UBL are a ‘fit and proper person’ to hold an operator’s licence under the terms of Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and the council’s licensing objectives.

The panel considered all circumstances relating to the application and the factors operating in Brighton & Hove. This included a number of issues raised by those objecting to the application, which they found to carry very little or no evidential weight.

However, the panel did have significant concerns about the company’s data breach and UBL’s lack of commitment to use only Brighton & Hove licensed drivers in the city. These formed the basis of the decision to not renew the licence.

Chair of the licensing panel, Councillor Jackie O’Quinn, said: “When making Hackney Carriage and Private Hire operator licensing decisions, our priority is the safety of residents and visitors and, due to the data breach and the lack of commitment to using drivers licensed here, we were not satisfied that UBL are a fit and proper person to hold an operator’s licence in the city.

“All Brighton & Hove private hire and Hackney Carriage drivers in the city operate under the same licences and guidelines contained in the Blue Book and undergo the same background checks, whichever company they drive for. In the original application in 2015, UBL gave a firm commitment to adhere to the standards set out in the Blue Book and only to use Brighton & Hove licensed drivers. We do not feel the spirit of this commitment has been kept to. In the panel’s view, large numbers of taxis operating in the city that do not meet our Blue Book standards puts the safety of residents and visitors at potential risk.

“We recognise there are strong feelings on this issue and would like to thank all those who took the time to make submissions to the hearing.”

For more details on the decision, view or download the Uber Britannia Ltd licensing application decision letter 1 May 2018 (PDF 451KB).

The hearing was held in public to make the process as open and transparent as possible. As well as representatives from Uber, the panel heard views for and against renewing the licence from interested parties, including residents and the local taxi trade.

If Uber decide to appeal against the decision, their drivers licensed with Brighton & Hove can continue to operate in the city while the appeal is heard. Any appeal must be made to the Magistrates Court in Edward Street, Brighton within 21 days of notification of this decision.

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Breaking News: Uber renewal refused by Brighton and Hove Council

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It has been revealed that Brighton and Hove Council have refused to renew Uber's operator licence.

There will be more details to follow.

May 01, 2018 at 04:06PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All inclusive 3nt Greek cruise from Athens from £262pp - incl. tips (flights from £94rtn)

Pirates, this cruise is a great way to see many places in Greece in one go at an affordable price - this cruise departs from Athens in Greece, visiting Mykonos, Samos, Patmos, Heraklion and Santorini before heading back to Athens. Flights are not included but we have included an example for you, you would also… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

August getaway: 7nts in Cyprus from £364pp incl. apart hotel & flights - 4 share

Grab a cheeky week this August in Ayia Napa, Cyprus with your mates. Enjoy temperatures in the mid to high 30s - perfect for topping up that tan! You'll be staying at the Green Bungalows Apartments which boasts a great location, within walking distance of both the beach and the bars So what are you… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Extend your summer with a Malaga mini-break: 3nts B&B, flights & funky hotel stay from £272pp

Who says the summer has to end in August? Jet off to Malaga this September and make the most of the late season bargains out there. For 3 nights the4* Barceló Malaga will be your home, only a few minutes walk from the beach, its the ideal place to plonk yourself. Holiday details: Travel duration:… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

WhatsApp’s Founder Jan Koum Quits Facebook, Following Differences Over Privacy.

When Facebook paid $19bn for WhatsApp in 2014, it seemed like an astonishing price for a messaging app that had very little revenue. Four years later, it now has more than a billion users, but still barely makes a cent.

Much of that might be down to Jan Koum, WhatsApp’s founder and, until yesterday, its boss, who has always sought to keep the app independent. Koum announced last night that he was leaving Facebook to collect rare Porsches and play ultimate frisbee.

It has to be one of the better Silicon Valley leaving notes; the question now is what happens to WhatsApp

ENCRYPTED DEPARTURE

Koum did not elaborate on why he was leaving WhatsApp, but the Washington Post reports that his departure is down to clashes with Facebook management over the parent company's apparent attempts to use personal data and weaken encryption.

WhatsApp’s founder, who grew up in Communist Ukraine, has always been a staunch privacy supporter and occasionally a critic of advertising-supported social media, and it seems possible that his philosophy differed from Mark Zuckerberg’s.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR WHATSAPP?

Since buying WhatsApp, Facebook has struggled with the question how to make money from it. An initiative to have businesses pay to communicate through the service has often been mulled, but so far struggled to take off.

Meanwhile the app’s encryption has often been criticised by politicians and police, who say it makes it more difficult to catch criminals. Interestingly, Koum’s departure comes as Russia and Iran both crack down on encrypted app Telegram.

As Facebook itself faces growing political scrutiny, could the company be tempted to weaken WhatsApp’s encryption as a potential bargaining chip

Source : Telegraph.

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Uber to offer free rides to the polls for wheelchair users

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Ride-hailing app Uber will be offering wheelchair users free rides to and from polling stations during next Thursday’s local elections. Uber is teaming up with Whizz-Kidz, a charity which works to improve the lives of disabled children and young people, to help wheelchair users cast their votes.Rides to and from polling stations between 7am and 10pm on Thursday will be free up to £10 on the uberACCESS option which uses fully wheelchair accessible vehicles and currently operates in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds and Liverpool.Existing users of uberACCESS will be given a special code to access the free rides and new users will be sent one by charities such as Whizz-Kidz. Riders will then receive two free rides up to £10.Ruth Owen, Chief Executive of Whizz-Kidz, said:“The outcome of Local Elections can have huge implications for young wheelchair users and the services they access within their local communities. Therefore it is crucial that the barriers that can prevent them from making their voices heard are removed. We’re delighted that our partner Uber are making things easier by providing free uberACCESS rides to polling stations in major cities. We hope Uber’s generous move will inspire many young wheelchair users to get out and vote on May 3.”Tom Elvidge, General Manager of Uber in the UK, said:“We’re proud to offer fully wheelchair accessible vehicles in London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle and Liverpool through Uber ACCESS. We believe that everybody should be able to get to the polls and have their say, so we’re delighted to be working with Whizz-Kidz to offer wheelchair users free trips to and from the polls.”Michael Sani, CEO of Bite the Ballot, said:“At a time when many question how we best strengthen our democracy and ensure greater representation, this beautiful collaboration between Whizz-Kidz and Uber demonstrates the power of cross sector collaboration. Members of our communities with disabilities have been disenfranchised and marginalised for years because of access barriers preventing them the ease of going to the polls and ensuring they are active citizens. This collaboration will support people to ensure they have made their voice and opinions heard without worrying about how to do that.”

May 01, 2018 at 01:16PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Last minute Menorca bargain group getaway from £133pp - 7nts hotel, flights, luggage & transfers

Pirates, we have come across this bargain getaway to the beautiful Balearic Islands, this last minute holiday will see you heading to the island of Menorca for a week in the sun. The holiday is based on 4 sharing so grab your squad and get booking, you can of course holiday as a couple if… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

5* Greece luxury break 4nts from £330pp - incl. Nikki Beach lifestyle hotel, breakfast & flights

Ahoy mateys! We do love our design-led, luxurious accommodation and next up we've laid eyes on this gorgeous escape to Porto Heli in Peloponnes about 2h 50mins drive from Athens airport. You will be staying at the stylish 5* Nikki Beach Resort & Spa, part of the famous Nikki Beach hotel group with luxe… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Super romantic Mauritius escape: 7nts all inclusive from £974pp incl. flights, 4* hotel & more

Arrr Pirates, whether you're looking for that dream honeymoon destination or just after a romantic break with the other ship mate in your life, stop the search now. Jet off to the magical island of Mauritius this summer with this amazing all inclusive deal we've found on our package finder. All other dates are at… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

The GMB union withdraw from Uber relicensing court hearing

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The GMB union has withdrawn from participating in the up and coming court hearing surrounding Uber’s operating licence in London.

The union were due to be part of the hearing but yesterday withdrawn following reassurances from the ride-hailing service about health and safety issues.

In contrast, the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association has submitted an application to extend the list of issues to be raised at the hearing due to start on 25th June.

In a statement made by a GMB spokesperson they said:

“At a hearing on 19th December 2017, the Court granted the GMB Union permission to intervene in the appeal being taken by Uber against TfL‘s decision not to grant it a license to operate in London. GMB was granted permission to intervene on a single issue, namely that Uber’s business model operated to encourage its drivers to work excessive hours, putting public, passenger and driver safety at risk.

“Following the granting of permission, in January 2018, Uber launched its Driver Hours Policy that imposes a cap on the amount of time drivers can be ‘on trip’. In April 2018, Uber confirmed it will develop a feature that stops drivers been offered long journeys when they approach the hours cap, they will maintain the Driver Hours Policy over the course of any licence period as granted; and will continue to encourage with and report to TfL about the implementation of the Drivers Hours Policy.

TfL has confirmed that it will continue to discuss the safety issues raised by the GMB union with Uber and other operators and will consider adopting policies which are aimed at ensuring safe, active, sustainable and efficient transport in London, including policies relating to driver conditions and working hours. It has not ruled out consideration of whether TfL could use regulatory powers to address excessive working hours.

“In light of these change of circumstances,

GMB has decided not to continue with his intervention in the Magistrates Courts. It intends to monitor the implementation of these commitments, aiming to ensure they are rolled out nationwide.”

May 01, 2018 at 10:26AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT