U.S. authorities seek extradition of ex-Uber driver hiding in Canada accused of raping teenage passenger

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According to a report released in CTVnews, a former Uber driver fled to Quebec while he was being investigated for a sexual assault on a 19-year-old female passenger in October last year. U.S. authorities are now seeking to extradite the suspect back to America where he will face charges of rape. Ben Azaza, 38, originally from Tunisia and lived in San Francisco, failed to show up to a meeting in March with detectives who were looking into the allegations of rape. Azaza is suspected of picking up the alleged victim from a party and had non consensual sexual intercourse with the 19-year-old woman who was intoxicated. Prosecutors say that the alleged victim woke up in Azaza's bed the following morning. Azaza had denied having sex with the woman, claiming he had allowed her, on her request, to sleep in his car for the night and then he let her in his house the next morning for breakfast and to call for someone to pick her up. Azaza had told authorities that he no longer worked for ride-hailing app Uber and that he would cooperate with investigators to provide a DNA swab, but did not show up. A warrant was issued in June for his arrest on a rape charge. Authorities in Montreal were able to detain Azaza in July after he had filed a complaint about the theft of his identification papers and they noticed an outstanding warrant. According to reports, Azaza is considered an imminent flight risk and U.S. authorities are pressing for extradition. The concern is Canada may send him to his birthplace of Tunisia where the U.S. has no extradition treaty.

August 15, 2018 at 07:22PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Super chic Ibiza break in 2019 from £271pp incl. flights & beachfront hotel w/ outdoor cinema

OK Pirates, hold the presses because we have found - what we think could be - one of the funkiest hotels in Ibiza! The 4* Santos Ibiza Suites lies right next to the beach and - in 2019 - will be your Balearic base for 4 nights. The accommodation is split into chic mini apartments,… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

All inclusive Tunisia getaway from £335pp - 7nts hotel w. aquapark, flights, luggage & transfers

Ahoy pirates, Tunisia is getting more and more popular so take a look at this awesome all inclusive getaway in Tunisia we have come across. Thomas Cook are offering £100 off the total price of holidays over £700 departing from 21st August through to the end of September - bargain! There are a choice of… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

No Man's Fort private island stay from £174.50pp - incl. breakfast, dinner & transfers

Arrr pirates! The luxurious No Man's Fort, a hotel situated on it's very own private island in the Solent outside Portsmouth, is right up our street. Originally a fort to fend off invaders, the hotel boasts top-amenities including no less than 5 bars, a spa, rooftop hot tubs, a cabaret club, casino and first class… Castaway_Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Play nice in Nashville: Flights from £244 return

Pirates, check out a true slice of Americana with a trip to Tennesse's capital, Nashville, from only £244 return. Get some good ol' Southern cooking, check out some country music, or even take a trip to Dollywood with these bargain flights. Flight details Flights with British Airways/Finnair (operated by American Airlines) Departures from Dublin Example… Bosun-Dawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Funky group B&B stay in Split: 4nts from £298pp incl. flights & hotel w/ private spa bath

Grab your favourite shipmates and head out to the historic city of Split, Croatia. For the duration of your 4 night trip you'll be staying in the funky Jupiter Luxury Hotel. This 4* accommodation is a little out of the norm with it's unique decor and rooftop hot tub. You and your mates will be… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

London Mayor again asks government for power to cap minicab numbers

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The Mayor of London has asked Government for powers to cap the number of private hire drivers working in the capital following from similar action taken in New York City. In a letter sent today to the transport secretary Chris Grayling, Sadiq Khan again asks for powers to place a cap as the increasing number of minicabs, working for firms like Uber, leave “many drivers struggling to make enough money to support themselves and their families.”The Mayor, who also chairs and oversees regulators Transport for London, also highlights the increase in private hire drivers from 60,000 in 2011 to over 110,000 at present. In the letter obtained by TaxiPoint, the London Mayor writes:

“I am determined to create a vibrant taxi and private hire market in the capital, with space for all providers to flourish. However, as we have previously discussed, the huge increase in private hire drivers on London’s roads in recent years is causing increased congestion, polluting our air and leaving many drivers struggling to make enough money to support themselves and their families.“In 2011 there were around 60,000 private hire drivers in London. This has now risen to more than 110,000 actively licensed drivers – a massive increase over this period. This rise in numbers is unsustainable and urgent action is needed to address it.“Last week New York - which is facing similar problems with the significant increase in private hire vehicles on their roads - took the necessary step of instituting a year-long cap on app-based private hire companies. Unlike New York, I don’t have the power to cap the number of private hire vehicles in London.“I am writing to again urge the Government to grant me that power as the Mayor of London - alongside appropriate restrictions on cross-border hiring, to enable Londoners, like New Yorkers, to breathe better air and live in a less congested city.I know the Department for Transport has instigated a Task and Finish Group on private hire regulation which is due to report shortly. I urge you to publish this report as quickly as possible and act on its recommendations – including introducing any primary legislation that is required.”

August 15, 2018 at 04:18PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

4* Madrid hotel in the heart of town w/ rooftop pool & spa from £44pp/pn - (Flights from £44rtn)

My, my Madrid! Pirates, we've laid eyes on the stylish 4* Catalonia Gran Via slap bang in the heart of town boasting a slew of chic facilities including a small heated roof-top pool with sweeping views of the city, and a spa section. (There is also an option to upgrade your room to one with… Castaway_Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Make a move to Marrakech: 3nts winter escape from £141pp incl. hotel, breakfast & flights

Pirates, make a winter escape to Marrakech from £141pp including the 3* Riad Safa, breakfast & flights. The Riad has an incredible score on TripAdvisor. Morocco is perfect for a winter break, with temperatures in the balmy 20's even in December. Secure today with a deposit from only £35pp. Holiday details Travel duration: 3 nights… Bosun-Dawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Are we your favourite? 2018 British Travel Awards - Vote for a chance to win 1 of 50 prizes

Pirates! We've been nominated for the Best Online Travel Deals Provider at the British Travel Awards 2018, the travel industry's 'Oscars'. We are super excited but WE NEED YOUR HELP as it's you, the voting public, that gets the final say on who wins, so we'd be a very happy pirate crew if you'd cast… Captain_Niamh POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

London taxi meters set to start at £3 following tariff changes

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Changes to the taxi fares and tariffs in London will see the capital’s taxi service start their meters at £3 come October 2018.

The increase from £2.60 has now been approved by regulators Transport for London and due to come into effect on Saturday 6 October 2018.

Passengers making a mess of the taxi will also see an increase of £20 as the soiling charge rises from £40 to £60.

Other changes approved include:

Increasing Tariff 1 by 0.6 per centIncreasing Tariff 2 by 0.6 per centExtending the fuel charge arrangements until the next taxi fares and tariffs updateIncreasing by 50 pence the fixed fares for shared taxis from Euston Station (with the exception of the Euston Station to Lords Cricket Ground fare)

The following were also approved:The regulator announced a freezing of Tariff 3 and the rate for journeys over six miles (sometimes referred to as Tariff 4).

Ongoing work and research is being conducted to look at fixed and capped fare schemes to and from Heathrow Airport.

August 15, 2018 at 01:14PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Happy holidays in Halkidiki from £195pp - 7nts great rated hotel, breakfast & flights

Ahoy there pirates, if you are still looking for that bargain getaway then you have stumbled onto the right place. We have found this awesome holiday in Halkidiki for under £200 per person. The weather should be reaching a cosy 19° at this time of year which will be a welcome escape from the October… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Quebec Is Giving $250 Million In Taxpayer Money To Taxi Drivers Who Have Lost Business Because Of Uber

However, the money is not coming from Uber, the money will be paid to the drivers and Taxi companies direct from public funds.

Ride-sharing companies have quickly come to dominate the taxi market all over the world and have devastated the legitimate licensed taxi trades in many cities.  

Uber has made its services ubiquitous on Saturday nights flooding cities with cars, causing congestion, especially in Montreal, where a young population and booming nightlife have come to rely on ride-shares.

Montreal taxi drivers, have bemoaned this massive change in the industry. The taxi industry has tried repeatedly to get Uber banned from the city. Drivers have staged protests and pursued court cases but to no avail. Uber is her to stay.

For that reason the provincial government of Quebec has decided to offer compensation to taxi drivers whose business has suffered because of Uber.

A whopping total of $250 million in public funds is expected to go to drivers who have seen the value of their permits plummet from hundreds of thousands of dollars to just a few tens of thousands. 

More information is forthcoming from the government.

Many were quick to point out that, like it or not, this is just how capitalism works. New technologies, industries, and markets replace obsolete services. Workers in older industries have to adapt to changing times.

But instead of investing heavily in a transition to the new industry, the government is handing them cash to make up for the declining value of permits. Only $44 million will go toward improving taxi companies to help them compete in changing times.

Taxi drivers deserve secure livelihoods. But is this the best use of public funds? 

Lump sums will not help those drivers in the long term

Source : MTL blog.

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New Tarif Update : Changes Due To Come Into Effect Saturday 6 October 2018

Tariff Update today:

Tariff email from Darren Crowson (TFL) 

Dear All,

Changes to the taxi fares and tariffs have now been approved and the changes are due to come into effect on Saturday 6 October 2018.

The changes approved were:

 *   Increasing the minimum fare from £2.60 to £3.00

 *   Increasing Tariff 1 by 0.6 per cent

 *   Increasing Tariff 2 by 0.6 per cent

 *   Extending the fuel charge arrangements until the next taxi fares and tariffs update

 *   Increasing by 50 pence the fixed fares for shared taxis from Euston Station (with the exception of the Euston Station to Lords Cricket Ground fare)

 *   Increasing the soiling charge from £40.00 to £60.00

The following were also approved:

 *   Freezing Tariff 3

 *   Freezing the tariff rate for journeys over six miles (sometimes referred to as Tariff 4)

 *   Further work and research being conducted to look at fixed and capped fare schemes to and from Heathrow Airport

 *   Adding fares for six passengers sharing to the shared taxi conversion table

·        Requiring all card payment devices approved for use in taxis to accept American Express as well as Visa and MasterCard

Some items discussed when we met or which were included in the consultation document were not taken forward and I'll run through what changed, what wasn't approved or consulted on, and the details of the new tariffs when we meet on Thursday 30 August 2018.

Information for the taximeter companies is now being finalised and I'll send you a copy of this as soon as it is ready.

If you have any questions let me know and I'll either respond by email or collate these and then run through them when we meet.

Regards

Darren Crowson

Policy Manager

Transport for London - Taxi and Private Hire

3rd Floor (3G2), 230 Blackfriars Road

London

SE1 8NW

Tel: 020 3054 2945 (internal 82945)

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Big Apple Bargains: New York flights from £264rtn - incl. Black Friday & Christmas

Jet off to New York for the most magical time of the year pirates - Black Friday! If you'd like to shop til you drop, our Flights Finder has some bargain fares to get you out there. In case you prefer more festive cheer in your Big Apple break, there are plenty of December dates… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Direct flights to Southeast Asia from £362 return: Non-stop to Hainan - 'the edge of the world'

The Southeast Asian island of Hainan -- located between Vietnam and the Philippines -- is known as the 'edge of the world' and 'Chinese Hawaii'. We reckon it's set to become one of the hottest destinations of 2019; so much so that China Southern Airlines has launched direct flights between London and Sanya, the island's… Niamh_UK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

2nt Berlin Christmas Markets break from £95pp - incl. flights & funky hotel

Nobody does Christmas Markets quite like the Germans, so combine a cool city break with some festive cheer with this Berlin getaway! You'll be staying at The Quentin Design Hotel, a super chic property that is walking distance from the boutique stores of the KuDamm. The Christmas Markets of Berlin begin towards the end of… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxe 5* Madeira winter family escape 4nts from £193pp - incl. flights, spa hotel & breakfast

Ahoy mateys! Escape the dreary winter weather with a luxurious stay on the beautiful Portuguese island of Madeira a paradise for nature lovers with great trekking, surfing and whale watching on offer. But don't worry, as you'll be staying at the 5* Pestana Grand Ocean Resort & Hotel you can also just choose to… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Ten out of Tenerife: 7nts holiday from £294pp - incl. top-rated aparthotel & flights

Ahoy mateys! We'e spotted the top-rated Santa Barbara Golf & Ocean Club By Diamond Resorts in Tenerife in popular San Miguel de Abona on the south coast. Here you will be staying on a self-catering basis with a selection of great facilities at your disposal, along with with a number of golf courses nearby. We… Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Electro-magnetic radiation health concerns surrounding the electric taxi put to bed

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Electromagnetic radiation is all around us, generated by electricity cables, radio and television signals, microwave ovens and mobile phones to name just a few.

Like any product, all new vehicles have to meet strict regulations around radiation levels in order to be sold in Europe. The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) oversee these tests in the UK and the LEVC TX cab passed more than comfortably. In fact, to reassure drivers who spend long hours behind the wheel, the TX has also been independently tested against the guidelines set out by the recognised experts in this field, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). These stringent guidelines are aimed at ensuring protection of users against all adverse health effects as a result of occupational (i.e. frequent long-term) exposure to electric and magnetic fields.

These tests were carried out in a special enclosure. The vehicle is driven on a 'rolling road' at 25mph while radiation of different types is measured in more than 60 areas inside the vehicle. The highest recorded reading was just 8.5% of the safe limit prescribed by the guidelines, recorded on the passenger compartment floor area, with the highest measurement inside the driver's compartment only 2.6%.

An LEVC spokesperson said “While electro-magnetic radiation poses no health risk to TX drivers, passengers or other road users, poor air quality has a significant impact – which is why we have developed eCity technology and made the transition to a zero emissions capable taxi.”

August 15, 2018 at 08:21AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT