BERN, SWITZERLAND

Taxi drivers from all over Switzerland have been demonstrating in the capital Bern against “unfair competition” from the ride-sharing service Uber. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)

The demonstration was organised by Switzerland's largest single trade union, Unia, and the national taxi trade union. Following a demonstration at Bern’s football stadium, there was a procession of taxis through the city, before a petition was handed over to the government.

The unions have accused Uber of undercutting fare prices, lacking adequate insurance cover, and failing to enforce the type of quality controls that standard taxi firms are subjected to.

Uber drivers have been complaining as well. Some told Swiss public television, SRF, that they can hardly survive on their incomes because of what is known as 'wage dumping', where foreign workers are paid less than the standard Swiss wage for the same job.

Uber differs from other taxi firms in that it allows riders to order and pay for its services through smartphones. It does not own cars or employ drivers, but connects passengers and vehicles via its app.

In Geneva the service was banned at the end of March 2015 because it was said to violate cantonal taxi regulations. Drivers there now face stiff fines. The unions want similar bans in other cantons.

Uber has faced protests by regular taxi drivers across the globe, and has been hit with many legal challenges. It says it offers much-needed competition for the taxi industry. Uber slashed fares by up to 20% recently in Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne.

http://goo.gl/sCNjVT
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 CANADA

 Looming era of Uber hits Vancouver's taxi industry hard

Even before ride-hailing giant Uber has gained a foothold in B.C., it has fundamentally shifted the economics of the taxi industry, causing a precipitous plunge in the value of taxi licences.

On Tuesday, the Vancouver Taxi Association and Yellow Cab Co. acknowledged that licences that once commanded nearly a million dollars each have little value because of the uncertainty Uber has created in the marketplace.

Moreover, they expect that when ridesharing is eventually permitted in B.C. there will be a defection of taxi drivers to Uber and similar companies, a phenomenon experienced in many other jurisdictions.

At the same time, Peter Fassbender, the minister responsible for TransLink, says he’s closely watching events in Alberta.

On Monday, Alberta Transportation Minister Brian Mason rejected Uber’s request that its drivers not be required to have Class 4 commercial licences. Mason also insisted they will need to pass criminal record checks.

Alberta also won’t have insurance regulations in place before July 1. Uber responded by suspending its Edmonton operations until that time, even though Edmonton has a bylaw allowing it to operate.

Fassbender and Transportation Minister Todd Stone have said they want to modernize B.C.’s passenger transportation industry before allowing Uber and other car-hire operators to move into B.C., which remains the largest jurisdiction in North America without such services.

They have also said they won’t tolerate Uber’s methods in other jurisdictions, where it launched illegally and used public pressure to force changes to transportation laws.

http://goo.gl/ZqMvUF

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 KENT

 Police appeal to identify taxi driver after A2 crash leaves one man dead and nine injured

A Gravesend man has died following this morning's crash on the A2 near Dartford.

The man, in his 40s, was driving a Nissan Micra which was involved in a collision with a taxi and three other cars in the early hours. 

Seven people were also injured in the crash, one seriously, and were taken to both Darent Valley Hospital and Medway Maritime Hospital, with police left hunting a taxi driver who left the scene.

Officers were called to the coast-bound carriageway between Leyton Cross and junction 2 of the M25 at 5.10am, to a report of a crash involving a Nissan Micra and a taxi.

When they arrived, crews realised a further three vehicles had collided.

Police are asking people to come forward with information and are also appealing for the occupants of 'a light coloured flat bed van' to get in contact with them.

It is believed they may have important information on the collision.

Insp Martin Stevens from the serious collision investigation unit said: "We know that were a number of vehicles travelling along this stretch of road at the time and I am now appealing to anyone who saw what happened and have yet to speak to police.

http://goo.gl/VvkBdW
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 WALSALL

 A Walsall taxi driver has appeared in court accused of trying to get a teenage passenger to expose herself to him.

Walsall Magistrates Court heard that the 14-year-old girl was a passenger in a taxi being driven by Amjad Khan, aged 35, when he began questioning her.

Khan, of Durham Place, Walsall, denies causing or inciting a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity between August 1, 2014 and October 18, 2014 in Walsall.

http://goo.gl/paHP3v

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 HULL

 A TAXI driver has told of the terrifying moment he stopped a man dragging a woman into a cemetery in west Hull.

Black cab driver Peter Nilsson heard the woman shouting "Help, he's trying to rape me" as he rushed to her rescue in the early hours of Saturday, close to a cemetery in Sculcoates Lane.

Mr Nilsson said: "I saw the man dragging her into the graveyard.

"I dialled 999 immediately and put my foot down to get closer to them.

"As I got nearer, I could hear her screaming 'Help! He's trying to rape me! He's trying to rape me!'.

"The police told me to stay in the car, but I couldn't do that. I had to help her."

Mr Nilsson got out of his car and ran to where he could hear the woman screaming.

"I shouted out and asked the man what the hell he was doing," said Mr Nilsson.

"He turned and ran. He had the lady's bag. I tried to chase him but I couldn't catch him. I'm 44 and 14st after all, and he was really quick.

"I'd say he was in his late twenties to early thirties and wasn't English."

Mr Nilsson stayed with the woman until the police arrived at the scene.

"The police arrived really quickly and were really good," he said. "The woman seemed really shook up and kept saying 'thank you' to me, but I was just in the right place at the right time.

"I dread to think what could have happened if I was not there.

"I got a bit emotional thinking about it afterwards."

Mr Nilsson was working a night shift and had dropped off a couple in Sculcoates Lane when he noticed the man and woman at about 1.30am.

He said: "I don't want to take any credit for what I have done. I am just glad I was there at the right time.

"I know the guy only stole her handbag, but it could have been so much worse.

"A woman was raped in this area not long ago."

Alec Lowther, 21, admitted raping, assaulting and robbing a woman after pushing her over a wall into the St Mary's Churchyard, which runs between Air Street and Bank Street, near Sculcoates Lane, on September 20 last year.

Lowther beat the woman so severely she lost consciousness and was left partially sighted in one eye.

When she came round, he had fled, after also stealing her mobile phone and £163.15 in cash.

Lowther, of no fixed address, admitted three counts of rape, inflicting grievous bodily harm, and robbery when he appeared at Hull Crown Court last month.

He is due to be sentenced next month.

Humberside Police confirmed they were called to the Sculcoates Lane area on Saturday morning, but said they had not received a formal complaint from the woman.

A force spokesman said: "Police were called by a taxi driver at 1.48am on February 27 reporting concerns for a woman being taken into a cemetery by a man in Sculcoates Lane, Hull.

"By 1.52am officers were in attendance and spoke to the woman, who alleged that the man had stolen her bank card.

"The man was no longer in the area and, despite numerous searches, he was not located.

"The woman was not hurt and no formal complaint has been received."

Anyone with information should call Humberside Police on 101.

http://goo.gl/YBkD3L

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