Thug spared jail time after beating Minicab driver unconscious

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Minicab driver Rob King, 64, was beaten so badly by teenage thug Damian Lewis, 19, that he was barely recognisable.

Taxipoint reported the assault that saw King viciously punched unconscious during the unprovoked attack in the early hours of July, 1, in Sheerness, Kent.

Lewis was given 120 days in jail, suspended for a year.According to the KentOnline, Lewis will have to wear an electronic tag as part of a 9pm to 6am curfew until September 26 and was ordered to pay Mr King, who has not worked since the attack, £500 compensation

He must also pay £115 victim support, £85 prosecution costs and undertake 200 hours unpaid community work.

The suspended sentence came as a shock to members of King's family considering the brutality of the attack, but because Lewis pleaded guilty, a more lenient punishment was handed down to him at Maidstone Magistrates Court.

King is now left to pick up the pieces while his attacker serves out his punishment.

August 09, 2018 at 05:45PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

New York City Council Capped The Number Of Ubers Allowed On City Streets

The New York City Council just passed the bill to cap the number of Uber drivers for 12 months, along with four other bills. An overwhelming majority of the City Council’s 51 council members voted in favor of the bills.

The City’s 12-month pause on new vehicle licenses will threaten one of the few reliable transportation options while doing nothing to fix the subways or ease congestion. We take the Speaker at his word that the pause is not intended to reduce service for New Yorkers and we trust that he will hold the TLC accountable, ensuring that no New Yorker is left stranded. In the meantime, Uber will do whatever it takes to keep up with growing demand and we will not stop working with city and state leaders, including Speaker Johnson, to pass real solutions like comprehensive congestion pricing.

UBER-CONGESTED. The New York City Council is expected to vote on setting a cap on all new Uber vehicles on Wednesday. The bill, if it passes, would halt the issue of any new licenses for any new ride-hailing service drivers for a 12 month period. Several outlets have reported that the City Council is likely to vote in favor of the bill. If the vote goes as predicted, the outcome could be a boon to drivers and, as the New York Times notes, "a major blow" to the ride sharing service.

This is the first of several bills on which the City Council will vote in rapid succession. Others will decide a similar fate for other ride-hail apps like Lyft and Juno; another would establish a minimum pay rate (effectively a minimum wage) that ride-hail companies must pay its drivers operating in NYC.

DECONGESTING NYC. These bills are a response to New York City’s increasingly congested streets, for a number of people, including leaders at the city’s public transportation authority, the MTA, have largely blamed Uber and its ilk. According to Bloomberg, the use of app-based ride services has skyrocketed in the last couple of years -- its drivers now represent "more than half of all for-hire cars on the road" in New York. Meanwhile, the number of iconic yellow cabs is virtually unchanged in the same period of time, thanks to a strict (and costly) medallion system.

By limiting the number of ride-hailing service drivers, the existing drivers would be able to complete more trips, and make more money in the process.

Predictably, Uber is not happy about New York City Council’s plans. "A 12-month pause on new for-hire vehicle licenses will leave New Yorkers stranded while doing nothing to prevent congestion, fix the subways and help struggling taxi medallion owners," an Uber spokesperson told the New York Times.

UBER-WORKED. In bringing this series of bills to the City Council, council-members hope to create a more sustainable job market for ride-hail app drivers. As the number of ride-hail drivers on the roads has risen, many have started to buckle under the economic difficulties of the situation. Most lack benefits like a 401K or health insurance. Low wages are rampant --a new report found that Uber and Lyft drivers in the U.S. only make a median profit (factoring in insurance, maintenance, repairs, and gas) of $8.55 per hour -- which is, in New York City, well below the minimum wage set by the state. The situation has become so grim for some that six taxi drivers have taken their own lives in New York City alone, according to the New York Times.

Despite the tough situation for drivers, Uber has continued to grow. The company had a very healthy first quarter of this year, raking in a $2.46 billion profit, according to the Wall Street Journal. There are rumors that Uber might go public some time next year. A driver cap in the biggest city in the U.S. could put that plan in jeopardy.

A 12-month ban on new licenses isn’t a death knell for the company, not by a long shot. But the cap might buy legislators some more time to study the effect the ride hailing industry has been having on the city, and make sure it’s working for everyone.

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Lovin' the Lanza life: 4-7nts half board from £335pp incl. flights & 4* hotel

Blast away the winter cobwebs of winter with a short sharp shot of sunshine in the Canaries. Jet off to Lanzarote the December, leaving the festive stress behind you, to the 4* Elba Lanzarote Royal Village Resort. Where you can enjoy temperatures in the 20s as well as the half board food available. A short… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Loving it in Lapland: 3nts B&B w/ flights from £361pp - upgrades avail log cabin or igloo

Realise your inner child's dreams this winter with a trip to Lapland. Discover the magic of this winter wonderland with a 3 night trip in peak Northern Lights season. Relax in either a double room at the Wilderness Hotel & Igloos Inari, with breakfast thrown in. Or upgrade to something truly special and sleep in… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All inclusive Moroccan week in winter from £382pp incl. flights, hotel & more - solo from £582

Beat those winter blues and ignore the incoming festive stress with an all inclusive week in north Africa. Get that tan topped up on the Moroccan beaches of Agadir. Go all inclusive for a week at the 4* Club Hotel Riu Tikida Dunas with your favourite shipmate - or solo if that's more your vibe!… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Milan hotel stay in August from £22.50pppn - B&B from £25.50pp (BA flights from £102rtn)

Looking for a summer mini break that won't break the bank? How about setting off to one of the fashion capitals of - if not the Europe - then the world? We have found a super cheap hotel, just outside the centre of Milan. The Milano Gioia hotel provides simple yet comfortable accommodation and the… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Plush Majorca 2019 escape: 5nts from £233pp incl. hotel w/ glass bottom pool, flights & meals

OMG Pirates - check out this incredible, new hotel just opened in Majorca! The plush 4* Calviá Beach The Plaza is located in Magaluf and boasts gorgeous rooms, a rooftop sun deck and even a glass bottom pool bridge - yes you heard that right! Gaze over the surrounding views from this unique feature next… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Bucketlist holiday: Luxury in the Bahamas 7nts from £1,037pp - incl. 4.5* beach-resort & flights

Ahoy mateys! Bahamas is a less frequent entry here on the blog as we very rarely come across great deals. That's about to change RIGHT NOW! We've just spotted some excellent flight rates to paradise and coupled it with with a stay at the top-rated 4.5* Grand Hyatt Baha Mar hotel (with a whooping 50%… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Flash Sale! Direct Los Angeles flights from £300rtn - incl. luggage & meals

Pirates, it's time to start California Dreamin' thanks to this flash sale on direct flights to Los Angeles with Thomas Cook Airlines! For just 24 hours you'll be able to get flights at a superb price. Checked luggage and inflight meals are included - bonus! This deal is valid on flights in September and October… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Comfort DelGro see their stock rise

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It's been a bumpy ride for Comfort Delgro, in the Singaporean financial markets as they languished at second bottom in the list of the worst performing stock.

Roll on seven months, Singapores biggest taxi company now has the best performing stock, partly due to Ubers withdrawal from South-east Asia.

This year the companies stock has risen by around 20% and closed last week at $2.37.

As the Singaporean market begins to stabilise and with Grab as Comfort DelGro's only real competition, the expansion of the company is promising, with their latest venture being an $81 million dollar purchase of an Australian bus company.

August 09, 2018 at 12:04PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Super last minute family all inclusive week in Cape Verde from £683pp incl. flights, bags & more

Now, because the Scottish summer holidays end a little sooner than the English ones, this means, if you can get to a Scottish airport - there are some amazing last minute deals to be had! Meaning that you and the fam can enjoy a week, all inclusive in Cape Verde from less than £700pp! Not… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

New York leads while Mayor of London dithers says minicab union

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New York City Council takes decisive action to control Uber's growth and protect driver worker rights while the Mayor of London continues to dither says private hire union IWGB.

The historic legislation in New York brings a halt to private hire licensing and ensure drivers at firms like Uber earn a living wage.

Legislators estimate that private hire vehicles are occupied only 40% of on the road time in New York City leading to runaway congestion and below minimum wage earnings. On the back of this brave and decisive regulatory action in New York, the IWGB has written to the Mayor of London to demand he swiftly takes similar action in London.

According to the minicab union Sadiq Khan missed a golden opportunity to impose conditions on Uber's provisional licence renewal to mandate worker rights protections but highlight that he can still take action now.

The IWGB also state their disappointment with the Mayor's most recent proposal to make below minimum wage minicab drivers pay the congestion charge which will reduce driver take home pay by £250 per month and result in an 11 extra hours on the road each week to cover these new TfL charges. Operators like Addison Lee have already said they and other operators will simply pass the charge to the driver rather than the consumer or absorb the cost themselves.

The union also objects to TfL's continued refusal to recognise the right of dedicated trade union representation to 114,000 mostly BAME minicab drivers in TfL's stakeholder programme.

Last month the IWGB launched a public campaign demanding the Mayor take action on four key objectives:

to protect the worker rights of London's minicab drivers

to reduce and shift the unfair cost and regulatory burden, including the congestion charge, from private hire drivers to operators and consumersto grant minicab drivers immediate dedicated trade union recognition at TfLto protect private hire drivers from unacceptably high levels of assault and abuse at work

James Farrar, Chair of the IWGB United Private Hire Drivers branch said: “It's time for the Mayor of London to follow New York City's lead and take meaningful action to end the sweatshop conditions long endured by London's minicab drivers. The Mayor needs to find a way to immediately suspend runaway private hire licensing and he must tell firms like Uber and Addison Lee to obey UK employment law if they want to keep operating in London.”

August 09, 2018 at 10:20AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

True luxury: 5* Crete half board holiday 7nts from £496pp - incl. top beach resort & flights

Ahoy mateys! We've laid eyes on the rather stunning Adults Only 5* The Royal Blue Luxury Beach Resort in Panormo in Crete where you will be staying in true style with a selection of pools, 4 restaurants and 4 bars and a spa at your disposal. What's more, the hotel's private bay just a short… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cost of petrol and diesel creep up in July

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July saw the return of rising petrol and diesel prices at the forecourt, with both petrol and diesel edging up by around 1p a litre, new RAC Fuel Watch data shows. Last month saw the continuation of recent ‘see-saw’ pump price changes – while drivers were stung with one of the worst petrol price rises through May 2018, the following month saw average prices fall by around 2p a litre. This began to be reversed in July meanwhile, with a litre of unleaded up by 1.08p (127.72p to 128.8p) in the month and diesel up by 1.03p (130.82p to 131.85p) Data shows that it was supermarkets that increased their prices the most in July, largely cancelling out the price cuts that they introduced just a few weeks earlier in June. The price of an average litre of supermarket unleaded was up 1.64p to 125.34p, while diesel was up 1.62p to 128.88p. Motorway service areas, which tend to charge to the most for fuel, increased the price of a litre of petrol by 1.19p to 146.09p, but left diesel almost unchanged at 148.14p. Across the UK, it now costs drivers on average £70.84 to fill up a 55-litre family-sized petrol car (up 59p on June), and £72.52 for a similar diesel model (up 57p on June). There is a high degree of volatility in wholesale fuel prices at the moment, as a result of the sharply fluctuating oil price which, after starting the month at just under $77 a barrel, fell to $70 on 17 July before recovering again to $74 by the end. A number of factors have contributed to the price changes – while OPEC’s announcement that its member countries will begin pumping more oil had the effect of pushing prices down, these are now being offset by both the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran over its nuclear deal, and with China over trade and the threat of tariffs which can force prices up. RAC spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “July saw a return to rising prices at the UK’s forecourts, following some price cuts in the previous month – the rollercoaster effect of rising and falling prices that drivers will have witnessed in recent months is certainly in full swing. “The volatility of the price of a barrel of oil, and in turn wholesale fuel prices, makes it difficult to determine where prices might go next. The announcement in June by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that its member countries would be increasing oil production could have been a trigger for further price falls, but the complicated disagreements between the United States – another big oil producer – and Iran and China are making prices go the other way. The result is a great deal of uncertainty on what might happen with UK fuel prices in the coming weeks. “Fortunately for UK drivers, the pound remained stable against the US dollar – which is important as fuel, like oil, is traded in dollars. A weakening pound means it costs more for retailers to buy fuel in, which in turn tends to mean higher prices at the pumps. “What is certain however is how much more expensive it is to fill up a car this summer compared to last year. At the end of July 2018 it cost £7.50 (12%) more to fill a 55-litre unleaded fuel tank compared to the same point in 2017, and £8.77 (14%) more to fill an equivalent diesel.”Regional average unleaded pump prices The largest increase in unleaded prices was in Scotland, although it is still on average more expensive to fill up in the South East of England compared to every other part of the UK. The North East remains the cheapest place to buy petrol, and was also the region with one of the smallest price increases through July.

Regional average diesel pump prices Scotland also saw the largest price increases when it came to diesel. The South East is the most expensive place to fill up with the fuel, while the North East ranks as the cheapest place to buy diesel compared to every other part of the UK.

August 09, 2018 at 09:57AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Montenegro half board holiday from £250pp - 4nts 4* hotel with spa & flights

Ahoy there pirates, we have a great getaway in Montenegro up next, staying for 4 nights in a lush 4* spa and wellness hotel. The Montenegro holiday is on a half board basis meaning you will receive 2 meals a day included in the price. Holiday details Travel duration: 4 nights (longer or shorter stays… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Retro themed Ibiza escape in 2019: 6nts from £281pp incl. flights & hotel - solo from £431

Get your early bird hats on Pirates for this 6 night spring time getaway to the island of Ibiza. If you're not a fan of the 'run of the mill' accommodation then you will love the retro surroundings of the Cubanito Ibiza Suites. Decorated in a 1950's American style, this is no ordinary hotel! Don't… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Berlin does it best: 3nts in 5* hotel from £181pp incl. flights

Pirates, head for Germany's cool capital with 3 nights in Berlin from £181pp including the 5* Steigenberger Hotel Berlin & flights. Relax in a 5* hotel with pool & sauna before hitting the town and experiencing the bars, restaurants, sights and clubs that Berlin has to offer. Holiday details Travel duration: 3 nights (longer or… jcrdawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber is struggling in the UK. Can India's Ola do things differently?

India’s largest ride-sharing service, Ola, is coming to Britain. It’s news that will make not just Uber sit up and pay attention.

For Uber, it’s another direct rival. The US company, marred in the UK by controversies and court cases, is trying to rebuild its reputation in UK after after Transport for London (TfL) first withdrew its licence to operate in the city and then put it on notice by only issuing it with a probationary short-term licence.

Now Uber and the UK’s plethora of minicab firms find themselves cautiously eyeing a fresh competitor, and – once again – demand on it playing by the rules.

"Ola says that it is committed to raising safety standards in the UK’s private hire industry from the get go, unlike Uber," says Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association. With Uber’s reputation harmed, "Ola will be hoping to establish itself as a more ethical alternative," adds Lauren Foye, an analyst at Juniper Research.

Cautious about diving straight into London traffic - not least in light of all the issues Uber faced in recent years, the Indian company has chosen South Wales and Greater Manchester as pilot areas. An Ola spokesperson says the decision was based on "positive engagement" with the local authorities. Analysts, however, put it quite bluntly: rather than enter the fray in locations where ride-sharing is being scrutinised from a legal perspective, Ola is looking to get a foothold in areas yet to be significantly disrupted by the gig economy.

So who is Ola? Backed by SoftBank, the company has had its fair share or problems in its native India. There have been reports of drivers engaging in unethical and at times criminal behaviour, while Ola itself has been accused of exploiting its drivers, by first offering incentives to sign up and then cutting earnings later. It’s enough of a track record to make UK consumers wary, says Foye. "To address this, Ola will need to impose stringent checks on its drivers, and could look at features to make customers feel safer, such as panic buttons or CCTV equipment," she adds.

A major challenge to succeed with customers and to hire drivers will be brand recognition. "It is not known," says Yugal Joshi from Everest Group, a research firm. "[It will need] a meaningful marketing blitz around its entry, create incentives for drivers, work with regulators to better understand the constructs, and understand the taxi habits of UK passengers," he adds. What it shouldn’t do is market taxis as an alternative to other modes of transport, as it does in India. Instead, Joshi argues, it should make it essential for British commuters.

That Uber and licensed cabs have to make space for a newcomer isn’t a total surprise – quite the opposite. "The demand for that type of (sharing) mobility is certainly there, and I certainly believe that transportation as a service is going to grow," says Egil Juliussen, an analyst at IHS Markit. Uber, Ola and a few other major ride-sharing players such as Lyft and China’s Didi are just the beginning. The next step will be, inevitably, driverless cars – and that will at least remove the problem of underpaid or unethical and abusive drivers.

Pilot projects using driverless vehicles are growing in number, and Waymo, GM, Uber and Lyft are set to bring them to our streets in just a few years’ time. This, in turn, will make the cost of sharing mobility plummet, driving up demand and slowly but surely killing car ownership. "The peak in terms of car ownership will come very, very soon," Juliussen predicts.

For now, passengers will have to share their cab with a driver – and many UK drivers may soon find themselves working for an Indian firm. The UK, Ola’s spokesperson says, "marks a natural but significant next chapter in our international expansion," – after its expansion into Australia in January this year. The UK, the spokesperson adds, is "crying out for a responsible, new competitive player".

Ola will offer British passengers something different from Uber. And it has grand plans. Greater Manchester and Wales are "only the beginning", the spokesperson adds.

Source : Wired 

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT:

We received this email today from a driver. Name and badge number have been reserved by us.

            

Morning Taxileaks,

   I'm a London Cabby - only found your website this morning - another cabby recommended it. I read the article in TAXI magazine yesterday about sueing Uber, and could not believe what I was reading. Mishcon de Reya, the legal firm that is supposed to be putting the case together, are the most bent legal firm in London !! Private Eye magazine have spent the last decade trying to uncover some of the corruption and cronyism at Mishcon. They are the Establishment cover-up legal firm of choice !!

     As soon as I read the article, I stopped the cab and ran into the Private Eye office (6 Carlisle St Soho) - they said they would dig out some of their more recent articles about Mishcon.

     I assume Uber have already agreed to pay them to lose the case, or Mishcon may already know it's not actually possible to win the case. Either way, it's another stitch-up.

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New York City Council vote in favour of capping Uber drivers

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Today, August, 8, New York City Council passed a bill to cap the number of Uber drivers that operate in the City for 12 months. According to a report in Futurism, an "overwhelming" amount of the City Council members voted in favour of the bill along with four other bills. The bill to halt any new licenses being issued to Uber drivers for the next 12 months came about to combat the increased congestion caused by huge numbers of Uber drivers who have joined the ride-sharing giants. City Council members also believe that capping the amount of drivers working for Uber will increase the amount of trips each driver can make throughout their shift, therefore increasing their potential to make more money. Uber are not happy with the decision though, claiming in the New York Times customers will now be left stranded waiting longer for a driver to pick them up and stress that the new bill will do nothing to fix the subway and help taxi medallion owners. The 12 month bill will now give legislators the opportunity to really analyse the impact of ride-hailing in the city and look to come up with a way of assuring it can work for everyone in the future.

August 08, 2018 at 10:19PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Sardinia late season family/group beach holiday 7nts from £126pp - incl. flights & aparthotel

Ahoy mateys! Sardinia is up next on the horizon and we've found this cheap and cheerful holiday (suitable for families, groups and couples) placing you at Lu Nibareddu Residence in beautiful San Teodoro on the East Coast of the island home to pristine beaches and great wining and dining. Here you have 2 swimming… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT