BERLIN

Around 700 taxi drivers gathered in front of the German Transport Ministry in Berlin on Thursday to protest government plans for liberalizing the market for ride-hailing services like Uber.

"No one wants to suppress the taxi industry," Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer said, speaking on a stage erected in front of the ministry. His comments, spoken into a microphone, were drowned out by booing from the crowd.

The protest was triggered by a discussion paper from the ministry that was made public at the beginning of the week.

The document included changes to Germany's Passenger Transportion Act that would, for example, give ride-hail services like Uber better market access by removing a rented vehicle's obligation to return to its point of origin.

Unlike taxis, Uber drivers must currently return to their main location after each trip and are not allowed to wait for customers in the streets.

Addressing the demonstrators, Scheuer said that the paper was only a provisional outline to serve as a basis for discussion. Balancing the interests of the taxi industry is a main priority, Scheuer said, but so is the discussion of new forms of mobility.

https://bit.ly/2E0Hm5a
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 LIVERPOOL

A woman was killed by the same "drug driven" taxi which had dropped her off on her doorstep just seconds earlier.

Much-loved Judith Rogers was tragically struck by a Ford Mondeo private hire cab at around 12.40am this morning, on Lydieth Lea in Netherley.

She suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 60-year-old was with her husband Richie and they were returning home together when the horrific collision took place, right in front of their driveway gates.

Today, stunned neighbours described Mrs Rogers as "a lovely woman who kept herself to herself".

Detectives have arrested the driver of the taxi, aged 30, who took the couple back home.

He was given a roadside test and then detained on suspicion of drug driving.

Two fire crews, and the service's search and rescue team, were alerted at 12.41am, and worked for 42 minutes to retrieve the woman from under the taxi.

Airbags and chock blocks were used by firefighters to lift the Ford Mondeo and prevent the wheels from moving.

Crews left the scene at 1.23am.

Locals said Ms Rogers and her husband often went to nearby Woolton Village, and it is thought they were returning home from a night out together.

One resident said: "From what we've been told, the taxi driver somehow hasn't seen her when she's been getting out the vehicle, and it's hit her.

This morning, husband Richie, who lives at home with his son Colin, was too upset to comment.

Residents said the couple had another child who lived in Australia, who had a grandchild that Mrs Rogers was yet to see.

A tent was today covered the spot on the roadside where the accident happened.

Officers were carrying out door-to-door enquiries on Lydieth Lea.

Today, police launched an appeal for witnesses and asked anyone who saw the accident to get in touch.

A spokesman said: "At around 12.40am, officers were called to reports that a Ford Mondeo had been involved in a collision with a 60-year-old female pedestrian in Lydieth Lea.

"Emergency services attended however the pedestrian was sadly pronounced dead at the scene."

And the force added: "The victim’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers at this time.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/much-loved-mum-killed-drug-15867354
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STOKE

Pervert taxi driver Tawab Khan has been jailed for seven years after being convicted of sexually abusing a young woman in his cab.

The 48-year-old father-of-nine agreed a £10 fare to take his victim home following her night out with friends in Hanley and she sat in the back of the cab.

But he asked her to sit in the front of the taxi before touching her, kissing her face and groping her breasts.

The victim pleaded with him to let her get out of the cab and her ordeal finally came to an end when he eventually stopped near Park Hall.

Now Khan, of Newshaw Walk, Hanley, has been convicted of assault by penetration and two charges of sexual assault following a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court this week.

The court heard the woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - left Hanley at 2.45am.

Prosecutor Tom Kenning told the jury: “She left on her own and looked for a taxi. The first taxi driver she tried said he would charge £15 to take her home but the second taxi, driven by the defendant, agreed to take her for £10.

“She got in the back and he said, ‘You seem like a nice girl’. She said she had left early on her own because she had work in the morning. He said, ‘Why don’t you get in the front'? and she did. She thought he was being pleasant. If she had not had a drink she may have been alerted to what he was intending to do.

“He touched her and tried to kiss her. She said, ‘No, stop’. He continued driving.

“He said, ‘You are a nice girl, you are a beautiful girl'. She became concerned. He grabbed her breasts. It became clear he was not going the most direct route to her home.

“He put his hand on her leg and sexually assaulted her. She repeatedly asked to be let out. He eventually did. She was upset and called the police.”

The court heard police arrested Khan later that morning. He told officers the woman had groped him.

In a victim statement the woman says she has suffered panic attacks and flashbacks since her ordeal and now barely goes out.

Paul Cliff, mitigating, said Khan is a committed community member who is involved in the North Staffordshire volleyball team.

He came to this country from Afghanistan after being targeted by warlords due to him being a successful businessman. Six of his nine children are still financially dependant on him.

Mr Cliff said: “He is well known in the religious community of North Staffordshire.”

The defendant’s taxi licence was suspended following his arrest and he has since worked as a fast-food delivery driver.

Mr Cliff added: “There is no chance of him being able to work as a taxi driver again.”

Khan will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for the rest of his life.

Judge David Fletcher told him: "The one thing anyone should expect when getting into a taxi is that they are safe. On this occasion, this young woman was treated by you in a way that means she was simply not safe. She has been seriously affected psychologically.

“This was a sustained incident. She begged you to let her out of the taxi. She was upset, she was crying, she was frightened.”

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/pervert-taxi-driver-been-jailed-2569187