In a disturbing instance, a 30-year-old female architect in Bengaluru jumped off a moving Rapido bike to escape the&nbsp;driver who tried to sexually harass her and take her to the wrong location.&nbsp;

The woman booked a Rapido bike on the evening of April 21 and the driver picked her up at at 11:10 p.m. The rider, who allegedly grabbed her phone under the pretence of confirming the one-time password (OTP), instead of going in the intended direction, began moving in the opposite direction.

According to police, despite the woman raising an alarm and instructing the driver to comply with directions, he remained silent, as reported by India Today.

The woman then took her phone back from the rider and noticed he was intoxicated. In retaliation, the rider snatched the phone back&nbsp;and increased the speed.&nbsp;The rider also allegedly groped her, according to reports.

The woman told officials that she had to jump from the moving motorbike to save herself. The footage was captured by roadside CCTV cameras.

Disclaimer:&nbsp;This video may&nbsp;contain&nbsp;graphic images&nbsp;disturbing to some viewers.&nbsp;Viewer discretion&nbsp;is advised

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“In our division, this is the first case. Our commissioner called on all cab aggregators, bike taxi services, and food delivery partners to discuss the safety of women and citizens,” DCP Northeast, Laxmi Prasad, said, as per India Today.

Deepak, the accused, has been arrested by police. He has been placed in judicial custody.

A case has been registered under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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<h2>Journalist molested in Uber auto last month</h2>

Just last month, the chairperson&nbsp;of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), Swati Maliwal, stated that a notice has been sent to Uber India and the Delhi Police in connection with the molestation of a female journalist in an Uber taxi in Delhi.

Maliwal in a tweet said, "Notice has been issued to Uber India and Delhi Police over the unfortunate incident of molestation of a female journalist in an Uber Auto in Delhi. Information has also been sought about the steps taken by Uber for the safety of women."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-netizens-and-politicians-slam-german-magazine-for-racist-cartoon-586357">Indian netizens and politicians slam German magazine for 'racist' cartoon</a>

Speaking to ANI, the victim woman said, "I was going to my friend's place in Malviya Nagar and I got into an auto from NFC. I booked the auto via Uber. I was alone in the auto. Since I was listening to music, initially I did not understand what was happening. After some time I realised that the auto driver was staring at me in the left side mirror. My breasts were visible in the mirror and he was looking at me. I became uncomfortable and shifted towards my right. However, he changed his position and started looking at me in the right-side mirror."&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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In a disturbing instance, a 30-year-old female architect in Bengaluru jumped off a moving Rapido bike to escape the driver who tried to sexually harass her and take her to the wrong location.

In a disturbing instance, a 30-year-old female architect in Bengaluru jumped off a moving Rapido bike to escape the driver who tried to sexually harass her and take her to the wrong location. The woman booked a Rapido bike on the evening of April 21 and the driver picked her up at at 11:10 p.m. The rider, who allegedly grabbed her phone under the pretence of confirming the one-time password (OTP), instead of going in the intended direction, began moving in the opposite direction. According to police, despite the woman raising an alarm and instructing the driver to comply with directions, he remained silent, as reported by India Today. The woman then took her phone back from the rider and noticed he was intoxicated. In retaliation, the rider snatched the phone back and increased the speed. The rider also allegedly groped her, according to reports. The woman told officials that she had to jump from the moving motorbike to save herself. The footage was captured by roadside CCTV cameras. Disclaimer: This video may contain graphic images disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised #WATCH| Bengaluru, Karnataka: Woman jumps off a moving motorbike after the rapido driver allegedly tried to grope her & snatched her phone On 21st April, woman booked a bike to Indiranagar, driver allegedly took her phone on pretext of checking OTP & started driving towards… pic.twitter.com/bPvdoILMQ2 — ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2023 × “In our division, this is the first case. Our commissioner called on all cab aggregators, bike taxi services, and food delivery partners to discuss the safety of women and citizens,” DCP Northeast, Laxmi Prasad, said, as per India Today. Deepak, the accused, has been arrested by police. He has been placed in judicial custody. A case has been registered under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). ALSO READ | 'Person who produces sperm': US school deletes 'male', 'female' terms from reproductive system lessons Journalist molested in Uber auto last month Just last month, the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), Swati Maliwal, stated that a notice has been sent to Uber India and the Delhi Police in connection with the molestation of a female journalist in an Uber taxi in Delhi. Maliwal in a tweet said, "Notice has been issued to Uber India and Delhi Police over the unfortunate incident of molestation of a female journalist in an Uber Auto in Delhi. Information has also been sought about the steps taken by Uber for the safety of women." ALSO READ | Indian netizens and politicians slam German magazine for 'racist' cartoon Speaking to ANI, the victim woman said, "I was going to my friend's place in Malviya Nagar and I got into an auto from NFC. I booked the auto via Uber. I was alone in the auto. Since I was listening to music, initially I did not understand what was happening. After some time I realised that the auto driver was staring at me in the left side mirror. My breasts were visible in the mirror and he was looking at me. I became uncomfortable and shifted towards my right. However, he changed his position and started looking at me in the right-side mirror." WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Shocking! Bengaluru woman jumps off moving Rapido bike after driver gropes her; video surfaces

In the first major move under its new CEO David Risher, US ride-hailing giant Lyft is all set for a significant job cut.&nbsp;

While the company has not disclosed the exact number of affected employees, a&nbsp;Wall Street Journal report&nbsp;indicates that the cuts could impact around 30 percent&nbsp;of Lyft's workforce, equivalent to more than 4,000 employees. According to the US daily, the layoffs could cut Lyft's costs in half.

The decision comes only weeks after Lyft's newly appointed CEO announced that the company was not for sale, disappointing some investors who had hoped that the departure of the company's founders would pave the way for a purchase, which had propelled the stock upwards last month.

Lyft And Its Struggle To Stay Afloat&nbsp;

Lyft&nbsp;Inc. is a company that provides and manages an online social rideshare community platform. It gives users access to a network of shared bikes and scooters for shorter rides, first- and last-mile legs of multimodal trips, and information about nearby public transit lines and Lyft Rentals to help them plan any trip. Marcus Cohn, John Zimmer, Rajat Suri, Matt van Horn, and Logan Green created the company in 2007, and it is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Lyft has faced challenges recently, including increased competition from rivals such as Uber, regulatory hurdles, and financial pressures. The COVID-19 pandemic has also significantly impacted the ride-hailing industry, with ride demand declining as people stayed home and limited their travel due to lockdowns and social distancing measures. In November, the company had let off 683 employees, or 13 percent&nbsp;of its workforce.&nbsp;

Following the epidemic lows, Uber and Lyft have been involved in a struggle for market dominance. According to Reuters, investors are concerned that Lyft's price cuts to prevent being a distant second in the North American ride-sharing industry could crimp its profitability. Lyft's stock declined approximately 11 percent&nbsp;this year, compared to Uber's price rise of 27.5 percent. According to the most recent company report, Uber's global footprint and more diverse industries gives&nbsp;it an advantage over US-focused Lyft.

The job cuts at Lyft is in line with the broader trend of cost-cutting measures in the ride-hailing industry, as companies face increasing pressures to demonstrate profitability and sustainable growth. Many ride-hailing companies have been exploring various strategies, including reducing the workforce, optimizing operations, and diversifying revenue streams, to navigate the challenges in the industry and improve their financial performance.

To address the challenge of safety post-COVID, many ride-hailing companies like Lyft and Uber have also introduced safety measures to gain customer’s trust amid rising urban mobility and declining car ownership, as reported by FATbit Technologies.

In the first major move under its new CEO David Risher, US ride-hailing giant Lyft is all set for a significant job cut. While the company has not disclosed the exact number of affected employees, a Wall Street Journal report indicates that the cuts could impact around 30 percent of Lyft's workforce, equivalent to more than 4,000 employees.

In the first major move under its new CEO David Risher, US ride-hailing giant Lyft is all set for a significant job cut. While the company has not disclosed the exact number of affected employees, a Wall Street Journal report indicates that the cuts could impact around 30 percent of Lyft's workforce, equivalent to more than 4,000 employees. According to the US daily, the layoffs could cut Lyft's costs in half. The decision comes only weeks after Lyft's newly appointed CEO announced that the company was not for sale, disappointing some investors who had hoped that the departure of the company's founders would pave the way for a purchase, which had propelled the stock upwards last month. Lyft And Its Struggle To Stay Afloat Lyft Inc. is a company that provides and manages an online social rideshare community platform. It gives users access to a network of shared bikes and scooters for shorter rides, first- and last-mile legs of multimodal trips, and information about nearby public transit lines and Lyft Rentals to help them plan any trip. Marcus Cohn, John Zimmer, Rajat Suri, Matt van Horn, and Logan Green created the company in 2007, and it is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Lyft has faced challenges recently, including increased competition from rivals such as Uber, regulatory hurdles, and financial pressures. The COVID-19 pandemic has also significantly impacted the ride-hailing industry, with ride demand declining as people stayed home and limited their travel due to lockdowns and social distancing measures. In November, the company had let off 683 employees, or 13 percent of its workforce. Following the epidemic lows, Uber and Lyft have been involved in a struggle for market dominance. According to Reuters, investors are concerned that Lyft's price cuts to prevent being a distant second in the North American ride-sharing industry could crimp its profitability. Lyft's stock declined approximately 11 percent this year, compared to Uber's price rise of 27.5 percent. According to the most recent company report, Uber's global footprint and more diverse industries gives it an advantage over US-focused Lyft. The job cuts at Lyft is in line with the broader trend of cost-cutting measures in the ride-hailing industry, as companies face increasing pressures to demonstrate profitability and sustainable growth. Many ride-hailing companies have been exploring various strategies, including reducing the workforce, optimizing operations, and diversifying revenue streams, to navigate the challenges in the industry and improve their financial performance. To address the challenge of safety post-COVID, many ride-hailing companies like Lyft and Uber have also introduced safety measures to gain customer’s trust amid rising urban mobility and declining car ownership, as reported by FATbit Technologies.

US taxi service Lyft set to cut jobs in new CEO’s first major move

An Australian court fined Uber Technologies Inc A$21 million ($14 million) on Wednesday for threatening cancellation fees it never charged and overstating fare estimates on some rides.&nbsp;The penalty was less than a regulator wanted.&nbsp;The Australian arm of the US&nbsp;ride-sharing app broke consumer law by misleading customers with warnings they would be charged for cancelling some rides from 2017 to 2021 and by using an inaccurate software algorithm to estimate fares for a taxi service it offered until August 2020, the Federal Court ruled. 
 
Uber said in a post on its website that it apologised to Australians "for the mistakes we made, and we have since proactively made changes to our platform based on the concerns raised with us".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/pepsico-to-lay-off-hundreds-of-employees-from-its-headquarters-report-540655">PepsiCo to lay off hundreds of employees from its headquarters: Report</a>

Judge Michael Hugh O'Bryan said in a written ruling that by supplying inaccurate information on its smartphone app, Uber "would be expected to lead a proportion of consumers to alter their decision and not proceed with the cancellation and perhaps deter future cancellations", while distorting demand for its service. 
 
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which brought the case against Uber, and the tech firm had already agreed on a fine of A$26 million, but O'Bryan told the court the evidence provided by both sides was "grossly inadequate", leaving him to speculate on the harm to consumers.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-airline-industry-to-report-billions-in-losses-this-year-may-return-to-profit-in-2023-iata-540639">Global airline industry to report billions in losses this year; may return to profit in 2023: IATA</a>

The evidence supplied suggested less than 0.5 per cent of Uber customers had gone ahead with a trip due to concern about cancellation fees. The UberTaxi algorithm overshot the fare estimate 89 per cent of the time, but less than 1 per cent&nbsp;of total Uber rides used that service, the judge said.

ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said in a statement that the fine "clearly signals to businesses that misleading consumers about the cost of a product or service is a serious matter which can attract substantial penalties".

The judge had made clear that the lower penalty "should not be understood as any reduction in the court's resolve to impose penalties appropriate to ... deterring contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law", Cass-Gottlieb added.

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An Australian court fined Uber Technologies Inc A$21 million ($14 million) on Wednesday for threatening cancellation fees it never charged and overstating fare estimates on some rides.

An Australian court fined Uber Technologies Inc A$21 million ($14 million) on Wednesday for threatening cancellation fees it never charged and overstating fare estimates on some rides. The penalty was less than a regulator wanted. The Australian arm of the US ride-sharing app broke consumer law by misleading customers with warnings they would be charged for cancelling some rides from 2017 to 2021 and by using an inaccurate software algorithm to estimate fares for a taxi service it offered until August 2020, the Federal Court ruled. Uber said in a post on its website that it apologised to Australians "for the mistakes we made, and we have since proactively made changes to our platform based on the concerns raised with us". Also read | PepsiCo to lay off hundreds of employees from its headquarters: Report Judge Michael Hugh O'Bryan said in a written ruling that by supplying inaccurate information on its smartphone app, Uber "would be expected to lead a proportion of consumers to alter their decision and not proceed with the cancellation and perhaps deter future cancellations", while distorting demand for its service. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which brought the case against Uber, and the tech firm had already agreed on a fine of A$26 million, but O'Bryan told the court the evidence provided by both sides was "grossly inadequate", leaving him to speculate on the harm to consumers. Also read | Global airline industry to report billions in losses this year; may return to profit in 2023: IATA The evidence supplied suggested less than 0.5 per cent of Uber customers had gone ahead with a trip due to concern about cancellation fees. The UberTaxi algorithm overshot the fare estimate 89 per cent of the time, but less than 1 per cent of total Uber rides used that service, the judge said. ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said in a statement that the fine "clearly signals to businesses that misleading consumers about the cost of a product or service is a serious matter which can attract substantial penalties". The judge had made clear that the lower penalty "should not be understood as any reduction in the court's resolve to impose penalties appropriate to ... deterring contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law", Cass-Gottlieb added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australian court fines Uber $14 million for misleading estimated fares and cancellation fees threat

Uber drivers are employees rather than independent contractors and are entitled to greater workers' rights, a Dutch court ruled on Monday.

It is the latest court victory for unions fighting for the rights of workers in the gig economy after a similar decision in Britain.

The Amsterdam District Court sided with the Federation of Dutch Trade Unions, which had argued that Uber drivers are in fact employees of a taxi company and should be granted the same pay and benefits as other workers in the sector.

Uber said it will appeal against the decision and "has no plans to employ drivers in the Netherlands".

"We are disappointed with this decision because we know that the overwhelming majority of drivers wish to remain independent," Maurits Schönfeld, Uber's general manager for northern Europe, said. "Drivers don’t want to give up their freedom to choose if, when and where to work."

The court found that drivers who transport passengers via the Uber app are covered by the collective labour agreement for taxi transportation.

"The legal relationship between Uber and these drivers meets all the characteristics of an employment contract," the ruling said.

The FNV hailed the decision as a "huge victory for drivers," who will now receive higher pay and benefits.

"Due to the judge's ruling, the Uber drivers are now automatically employed by Uber," said Zakaria Boufangacha, FNV's deputy chairman. "As a result, they will receive more wages and more rights in the event of dismissal or illness, for example."

Uber drivers are in some cases entitled to back pay, the court said.

The judges also ordered Uber to pay a fine of 50,000 euros ($58,940) for failing to implement the terms of the labour agreement for taxi drivers.

In March, Uber said it would improve workers' rights, including the minimum wage, for all of its more than 70,000 British drivers after it lost a Supreme Court case in February.

Uber drivers are employees rather than independent contractors and are entitled to greater workers' rights, a Dutch court ruled on Monday. It is the latest court victory for unions fighting for the rights of workers in the gig economy after a similar decision in Britain.

Uber drivers are employees rather than independent contractors and are entitled to greater workers' rights, a Dutch court ruled on Monday. It is the latest court victory for unions fighting for the rights of workers in the gig economy after a similar decision in Britain. The Amsterdam District Court sided with the Federation of Dutch Trade Unions, which had argued that Uber drivers are in fact employees of a taxi company and should be granted the same pay and benefits as other workers in the sector. Uber said it will appeal against the decision and "has no plans to employ drivers in the Netherlands". "We are disappointed with this decision because we know that the overwhelming majority of drivers wish to remain independent," Maurits Schönfeld, Uber's general manager for northern Europe, said. "Drivers don’t want to give up their freedom to choose if, when and where to work." The court found that drivers who transport passengers via the Uber app are covered by the collective labour agreement for taxi transportation. "The legal relationship between Uber and these drivers meets all the characteristics of an employment contract," the ruling said. The FNV hailed the decision as a "huge victory for drivers," who will now receive higher pay and benefits. "Due to the judge's ruling, the Uber drivers are now automatically employed by Uber," said Zakaria Boufangacha, FNV's deputy chairman. "As a result, they will receive more wages and more rights in the event of dismissal or illness, for example." Uber drivers are in some cases entitled to back pay, the court said. The judges also ordered Uber to pay a fine of 50,000 euros ($58,940) for failing to implement the terms of the labour agreement for taxi drivers. In March, Uber said it would improve workers' rights, including the minimum wage, for all of its more than 70,000 British drivers after it lost a Supreme Court case in February.

Uber must classify drivers as employees, not contractors: Dutch court 

Uber will sell off its air transport unit to flying taxi maker Joby Aviation, the company said, as it streamlines operations to navigate a ride-share market scuttled by the pandemic.

The deal will see Joby acquire Uber expertise and software, and able to offer its all-electric, vertical take-off and landing passenger aircraft on the ride-hailing giant's app.

While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, they include Uber investing $75 million into Santa Cruz-based Joby, which has said it hopes to have its flying taxis in operation as early as 2023.&nbsp;

The sale of Uber Elevate -- dedicated to electric aircraft and delivery drones -- to Joby will "accelerate the path to market" for flying taxis, Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said in a joint release Tuesday.

Founded in 2009, Joby Aviation is developing a four-passenger electric aircraft that takes off and lands vertically, like a helicopter, though it has multiple rotors.

The firm envisions the aircraft as a mode of commercial transport, rather than for sale to individuals, with its pilots ferrying commuters around.

Uber said it had already invested $50 million in Joby during a fundraising round early this year.

News of the sale came shortly after Uber announced an agreement to sell its autonomous car division to Amazon and Hyundai-backed Aurora in a deal that gives it a 26 percent stake in the startup developing self-driving technology.

As part of the deal, Uber will invest $400 million in Aurora to merge the teams from both firms seeking to advance the technology for driverless ride-hailing.

The companies expect the self-driving technology to be initially put to use for long-haul trucking.

Khosrowshahi will also join the Aurora board of directors as part of the deal. The merged firm will work on the technology to be known as Aurora Driver.

Last month Uber reported that it lost $1.1 billion in the recently ended quarter as the pandemic walloped its ride-hailing business, while boosting its food delivery service.

Uber will sell off its air transport unit to flying taxi maker Joby Aviation, the company said, as it streamlines operations to navigate a ride-share market scuttled by the pandemic.

Uber will sell off its air transport unit to flying taxi maker Joby Aviation, the company said, as it streamlines operations to navigate a ride-share market scuttled by the pandemic. The deal will see Joby acquire Uber expertise and software, and able to offer its all-electric, vertical take-off and landing passenger aircraft on the ride-hailing giant's app. While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, they include Uber investing $75 million into Santa Cruz-based Joby, which has said it hopes to have its flying taxis in operation as early as 2023. The sale of Uber Elevate -- dedicated to electric aircraft and delivery drones -- to Joby will "accelerate the path to market" for flying taxis, Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said in a joint release Tuesday. Founded in 2009, Joby Aviation is developing a four-passenger electric aircraft that takes off and lands vertically, like a helicopter, though it has multiple rotors. The firm envisions the aircraft as a mode of commercial transport, rather than for sale to individuals, with its pilots ferrying commuters around. Uber said it had already invested $50 million in Joby during a fundraising round early this year. News of the sale came shortly after Uber announced an agreement to sell its autonomous car division to Amazon and Hyundai-backed Aurora in a deal that gives it a 26 percent stake in the startup developing self-driving technology. As part of the deal, Uber will invest $400 million in Aurora to merge the teams from both firms seeking to advance the technology for driverless ride-hailing. The companies expect the self-driving technology to be initially put to use for long-haul trucking. Khosrowshahi will also join the Aurora board of directors as part of the deal. The merged firm will work on the technology to be known as Aurora Driver. Last month Uber reported that it lost $1.1 billion in the recently ended quarter as the pandemic walloped its ride-hailing business, while boosting its food delivery service.

Uber to sell air taxi unit to Joby Aviation

Checking her blind spot, Fatima Dzhambulatova changes lanes on a busy avenue in Chechnya's capital Grozny. In this Muslim republic of Russia, she is spearheading a women-<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-launches-taxi-service-with-women-drivers-12350">only taxi service</a>.

At the wheel of a white sedan bearing the bright purple logo "Mekhkari", the name of the service launched this spring, the 49-year-old taxi driver explains the appeal of women drivers in the conservative region.&nbsp;

Some clients have husbands who won't allow them into a car with another man, she says, while some believe women are safer drivers, and others simply prefer riding with a member of the same sex.

In the sparse office of Mekhkari, which means "girls" in Chechen, founder Madina Tsakaeva said she got the idea after realising she preferred to ride with female drivers, who were hard to find.

"It was very rare for our city," she said. "So we did a survey on social media about what people thought of the idea of a women-only taxi."

The project eventually got financial backing, the amount of which has not been made public, from the Emirates-based Zayed Fund for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which opened a Grozny chapter in 2017. So far, Mekhkari has five drivers and a fleet of five cars.

Into the driving seat&nbsp;

Libkan Bazayeva, the coordinator of Grozny-based women's rights organisation Women For Development, said that the idea for a women-only taxi service in Chechnya had been a long time coming.

"In the Soviet era, you could count the number of women who drove, on one hand, the whole republic knew them and their entire life story," she said.

That started to change about a decade ago.&nbsp;

In 2008, Women For Development organised free driving courses for about 100 women, half of whom began driving in Grozny.

Traffic policemen in the city of 270,000 were shocked, Bazayeva said, but the campaign proved "infectious" and women behind the wheel are now common.

Feel Safer

The Zayed fund stressed the value for conservative Muslims of the female-only taxi company, which only takes bookings for women passengers or women travelling with children.

The service "will be very convenient from the point of view of religious norms and traditions," the fund said on its Instagram account in late March, when it made the decision to approve the funding.

After the end of two separatist wars with the Russian government, Chechnya has in recent years seen a resurgence of Islam, encouraged by its leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has governed the North Caucasus region with an iron fist since 2007.

But it's not only conservative Islamic traditions that compel women in Grozny to use the service: passengers say that they also appreciate what they describe as a less aggressive style of driving.

"Men drive more erratically, women are more careful. I feel safer with a woman," 29-year-old Kheda Yusaeva said, from the back seat of Dzhambulatova's taxi.

Another reason women might prefer the service is to avoid conflict with their husbands overriding with a male stranger, Bazayeva said, adding that she knew of cases where a man had beaten his wife simply for having a taxi driver's phone number saved in her address book.

&nbsp; Huge step forward

"The appearance of women drivers in the sphere of this male-dominated profession is a huge step forward, a big accomplishment in a male world," Bazayeva said.

She also said that she believed the initiative was "symbolic" of women's participation in the country's economic life, in a society where their rights are limited.

Tsarnaev now has plans to add 15 more cars and is even considering expanding to offer deliveries and other services to homes of women who cannot leave the house.

When Mekhkari first sought to recruit female drivers, there was no shortage of experienced applicants, Tsarnaev said.

Dzhambulatova said that most of the men she had come across on the job had been positive, complimenting the car, gesturing with a thumbs-up and asking for the taxi's number -- for their wives.

"This is a desirable job for me, and I'm very interested in chatting with my clients, I get some very interesting women," the driver said, before adding: "I like being behind the wheel."

Checking her blind spot, Fatima Dzhambulatova changes lanes on a busy avenue in Chechnya's capital Grozny. In this Muslim republic of Russia, she is spearheading a women-only taxi service.

Checking her blind spot, Fatima Dzhambulatova changes lanes on a busy avenue in Chechnya's capital Grozny. In this Muslim republic of Russia, she is spearheading a women-only taxi service. At the wheel of a white sedan bearing the bright purple logo "Mekhkari", the name of the service launched this spring, the 49-year-old taxi driver explains the appeal of women drivers in the conservative region. Some clients have husbands who won't allow them into a car with another man, she says, while some believe women are safer drivers, and others simply prefer riding with a member of the same sex. In the sparse office of Mekhkari, which means "girls" in Chechen, founder Madina Tsakaeva said she got the idea after realising she preferred to ride with female drivers, who were hard to find. "It was very rare for our city," she said. "So we did a survey on social media about what people thought of the idea of a women-only taxi." The project eventually got financial backing, the amount of which has not been made public, from the Emirates-based Zayed Fund for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which opened a Grozny chapter in 2017. So far, Mekhkari has five drivers and a fleet of five cars. Into the driving seat Libkan Bazayeva, the coordinator of Grozny-based women's rights organisation Women For Development, said that the idea for a women-only taxi service in Chechnya had been a long time coming. "In the Soviet era, you could count the number of women who drove, on one hand, the whole republic knew them and their entire life story," she said. That started to change about a decade ago. In 2008, Women For Development organised free driving courses for about 100 women, half of whom began driving in Grozny. Traffic policemen in the city of 270,000 were shocked, Bazayeva said, but the campaign proved "infectious" and women behind the wheel are now common. Feel Safer The Zayed fund stressed the value for conservative Muslims of the female-only taxi company, which only takes bookings for women passengers or women travelling with children. The service "will be very convenient from the point of view of religious norms and traditions," the fund said on its Instagram account in late March, when it made the decision to approve the funding. After the end of two separatist wars with the Russian government, Chechnya has in recent years seen a resurgence of Islam, encouraged by its leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has governed the North Caucasus region with an iron fist since 2007. But it's not only conservative Islamic traditions that compel women in Grozny to use the service: passengers say that they also appreciate what they describe as a less aggressive style of driving. "Men drive more erratically, women are more careful. I feel safer with a woman," 29-year-old Kheda Yusaeva said, from the back seat of Dzhambulatova's taxi. Another reason women might prefer the service is to avoid conflict with their husbands overriding with a male stranger, Bazayeva said, adding that she knew of cases where a man had beaten his wife simply for having a taxi driver's phone number saved in her address book. Huge step forward "The appearance of women drivers in the sphere of this male-dominated profession is a huge step forward, a big accomplishment in a male world," Bazayeva said. She also said that she believed the initiative was "symbolic" of women's participation in the country's economic life, in a society where their rights are limited. Tsarnaev now has plans to add 15 more cars and is even considering expanding to offer deliveries and other services to homes of women who cannot leave the house. When Mekhkari first sought to recruit female drivers, there was no shortage of experienced applicants, Tsarnaev said. Dzhambulatova said that most of the men she had come across on the job had been positive, complimenting the car, gesturing with a thumbs-up and asking for the taxi's number -- for their wives. "This is a desirable job for me, and I'm very interested in chatting with my clients, I get some very interesting women," the driver said, before adding: "I like being behind the wheel."

Chechen women go places with female-only taxi service

International ride-hailing service Uber said it was suspending its taxi service in the northern Spanish city of Barcelona after local authorities passed a regulation which would limit how they operate in the city.

Uber has operated in Barcelona via its UberX service which uses professional, licensed drivers, since March of last year.

"The new restrictions approved by the Catalan Government leave us with no choice but to suspend UberX while we assess our future in Barcelona. We are committed to being a long term partner to Spanish cities and hope to work with the Catalan Government and the City Council on fair regulation for all," an Uber spokesman said.

The local Catalan government has decreed that ride-hailing services can only pick up passengers after a delay of at least 15 minutes from the time of being booked.

The new regulation came after pressure from taxi drivers, which have held many strikes in Barcelona and remain on strike in the Spanish capital Madrid.

International ride-hailing service Uber said it was suspending its taxi service in the northern Spanish city of Barcelona after local authorities passed a regulation which would limit how they operate in the city.

International ride-hailing service Uber said it was suspending its taxi service in the northern Spanish city of Barcelona after local authorities passed a regulation which would limit how they operate in the city. Uber has operated in Barcelona via its UberX service which uses professional, licensed drivers, since March of last year. "The new restrictions approved by the Catalan Government leave us with no choice but to suspend UberX while we assess our future in Barcelona. We are committed to being a long term partner to Spanish cities and hope to work with the Catalan Government and the City Council on fair regulation for all," an Uber spokesman said. The local Catalan government has decreed that ride-hailing services can only pick up passengers after a delay of at least 15 minutes from the time of being booked. The new regulation came after pressure from taxi drivers, which have held many strikes in Barcelona and remain on strike in the Spanish capital Madrid.

Uber suspends taxi service in Barcelona after new regulation

Drivers of cab aggregators Uber and Ola have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from the midnight of March 18.

The strike is expected to be observed in key cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune among other cities.

&quot;Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs. They have invested Rs 5-7 lakh (500,000 - 700,000), and were expecting to make Rs 1.5 lakh (150,000) a month but are unable to even make half of this, owing to the mismanagement by these companies,&quot; said Sanjay Naik of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena, who is organising the strike.

Ola had cut driver incentives based on the number of trips completed by as much as 20-40% in Delhi as compared to the previous year, according to a report. Even Uber had tweaked its incentives model to reward drivers bases on earnings and not on the number of trips, said the report.

Drivers who were earlier attracted to these app-based cabs for their high pay are now the ones protesting.

While taxi-hailing companies offered loan-guarantee letters to drivers through the Mudra scheme and that too without any verification, they are defaulting on repayment now as their costs are not covered.

In Mumbai alone, there are over 45,000 cabs on these aggregators but due to the slump in business, there has been a fall of 20 per cent in the number of cabs running on these platforms in the city.

The strike is expected to be observed in key cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune among other cities

Drivers of cab aggregators Uber and Ola have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from the midnight of March 18. The strike is expected to be observed in key cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune among other cities. "Ola and Uber had given big assurances to the drivers, but today they are unable to cover their costs. They have invested Rs 5-7 lakh (500,000 - 700,000), and were expecting to make Rs 1.5 lakh (150,000) a month but are unable to even make half of this, owing to the mismanagement by these companies," said Sanjay Naik of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahatuk Sena, who is organising the strike. Ola had cut driver incentives based on the number of trips completed by as much as 20-40% in Delhi as compared to the previous year, according to a report. Even Uber had tweaked its incentives model to reward drivers bases on earnings and not on the number of trips, said the report. Drivers who were earlier attracted to these app-based cabs for their high pay are now the ones protesting. While taxi-hailing companies offered loan-guarantee letters to drivers through the Mudra scheme and that too without any verification, they are defaulting on repayment now as their costs are not covered. In Mumbai alone, there are over 45,000 cabs on these aggregators but due to the slump in business, there has been a fall of 20 per cent in the number of cabs running on these platforms in the city.

Ola, Uber drivers might go off roads from tonight

Ride-hailing service Uber will suspend its operations in Hungary due to government legislation that makes it impossible for it to operate, the company said on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;We will be suspending Uber X in Budapest effective on July 24,&quot; Rob Khazzam, general manager for Uber in central Europe, said in an interview. 
 
&quot;Unfortunately, the logic of legislative developments that have unfolded in Hungary over the last 18 months have led us to this difficult decision.&quot; 
 
In June, Hungary&#39;s parliament, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbans right-wing Fidesz party has a strong majority, passed legislation with the aim of curbing the activities of Uber. 
 
The move followed months of protests by taxi drivers and bans on some Uber services in other countries. 
 
The new law, which comes into force this month, will permit the Hungarian national communications authority to block internet access to &quot;illegal dispatcher services&quot;. 
 
Taxi drivers in Hungary have demanded Uber be outlawed and its smartphone app blocked as they say its drivers breach regulations other taxis firms must adhere to. 
 
Uber says more than 160,000 people use its services in Budapest, but now its 1,200 drivers risk losing their driving licences for up to 3 years despite being professionally licensed and tax compliant. 
 
&quot;It is not a ban. Uber has not been banned in Budapest, it is simply a forced suspension, we have been left no other alternative by the authorities in Hungary in response to these developments,&quot; Khazzam said. 
 
Khazzam said Uber hoped to be back in Hungary. 
 
(Reuters)

After protests by taxi drivers, the new law will permit Hungarian authority to block internet access to 'illegal dispatcher service'

Ride-hailing service Uber will suspend its operations in Hungary due to government legislation that makes it impossible for it to operate, the company said on Wednesday. "We will be suspending Uber X in Budapest effective on July 24," Rob Khazzam, general manager for Uber in central Europe, said in an interview. "Unfortunately, the logic of legislative developments that have unfolded in Hungary over the last 18 months have led us to this difficult decision." In June, Hungary's parliament, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbans right-wing Fidesz party has a strong majority, passed legislation with the aim of curbing the activities of Uber. The move followed months of protests by taxi drivers and bans on some Uber services in other countries. The new law, which comes into force this month, will permit the Hungarian national communications authority to block internet access to "illegal dispatcher services". Taxi drivers in Hungary have demanded Uber be outlawed and its smartphone app blocked as they say its drivers breach regulations other taxis firms must adhere to. Uber says more than 160,000 people use its services in Budapest, but now its 1,200 drivers risk losing their driving licences for up to 3 years despite being professionally licensed and tax compliant. "It is not a ban. Uber has not been banned in Budapest, it is simply a forced suspension, we have been left no other alternative by the authorities in Hungary in response to these developments," Khazzam said. Khazzam said Uber hoped to be back in Hungary. (Reuters)

Uber to suspend operations in Hungary due to govt legislation

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