Police Warn Striking Cabbies Of Legal Action Amid Airport Blockade Nagpur: A group of app-based cab drivers, who have been on strike for four days, continue to block airport pick-up and drop services, prompting the police to issue warnings about potential legal consequences. The strike, which began as a protest against fare rates and the inclusion of bike riders in ride-sharing platforms, has disrupted airport operations. Police authorities have summoned union leaders and emphasized that any formal complaint alleging the forced stopping of vehicles could lead to legal action against the striking drivers. However, no such complaints have been filed so far, according to a senior police official. The drivers, affiliated with the Taxi Chalak Malak Kruti Samiti union, are demanding higher fare rates from aggregators like Ola and Uber, as well as the removal of bike riders from the app. They argue that bike riders, who are not required to follow RTO rules, are undermining the business of cab drivers. The union chose the airport as a protest site, hoping to draw attention from the government and aggregators by causing inconvenience to flyers. Despite the strike, the police have arranged a meeting between union representatives and district collector Kumar Ashirwad. Deepak Sane, a member of the Kruti Samiti, stated that the district collector has promised a second round of discussions. However, Sane emphasized that representatives from the aggregators must also be present for a resolution. "The final decision lies with the companies, not the government," he added. The union’s tactics involve urging other cabbies to drop passengers near Pride Hotel instead of proceeding to the airport terminal. Sane clarified that drivers who refuse to comply are not being stopped, and exceptions are made for families with children.#nagpur #uber #kumar_ashirwad #taxi_chalak_malak_kruti_samiti #ola
Maura Higgins’ Outlook On Single Life Is So Refreshing Queen Maura strikes again Maura Higgins always says the quiet part out loud—and that’s why we will continue to be obsessed with her. Fresh off The Traitors US and consistently styling up a storm on the red carpet, Maura has come a long way from her Longford roots… and from the concept of needing a partner to feel secure. The presenter and social star has been linked to a few guys over the years, but over the past 12 months or so, she has been embracing single life. Enthusiastically so. “I don’t want to bring just anyone into my energy. It wasn’t even a plan to be celibate. I didn’t put a timeline on it,” she told Cosmopolitan. “I just had terrible exes and needed a break. I wanted to focus on me, my career, and my energy. Now that it’s been over a year, I don’t even think of men. I’m not saying I’m not open [to a relationship], but I’m not checking my DMs to see who’s in there. I’m not searching for it.” Nor should she be. There are so many great things about being in a relationship… but there are countless positives to being single too. The independence, the stacked social calendar, and, if you’re Maura Higgins, the fact that your career is growing exponentially as you continue to break into the US market. Maura didn’t just come second on the most recent season of The Traitors US—she also served consistent looks on the show, ensuring every single viewer (and brand) was aware of her status as a fashion icon. Since then, she has launched a new campaign with Uber all about the necessity of an Irish exit, interviewed Zendaya and R-Patz at the premiere for upcoming film The Drama, and of course, nabbed herself that Birkin bag.#zendaya #uber #maura_higgins #the_traitors_us #r_patz
Uber Expands Autonomous Vehicle Ambitions with Rivian Partnership Uber is making significant strides in its autonomous vehicle (AV) initiatives through a new partnership with Rivian, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer. The deal involves an initial $300 million investment from Uber and the purchase of 10,000 fully autonomous R2 robotaxis, with an option to acquire up to 40,000 more starting in 2030. These vehicles will be exclusively available on Uber’s platform and are set for a planned rollout in San Francisco and Miami by 2028. This partnership marks a pivotal moment for Uber, which previously sold off its in-house AV development unit, Uber ATG, in 2020. Despite this, the company has maintained a strategic focus on AVs, forming partnerships with numerous technology firms across delivery, drones, trucking, and robotaxis. Recent collaborations include agreements with Chinese companies to deploy robotaxis in Europe and the Middle East, as well as partnerships with startups like the U.K.-based Wayve. The Rivian deal, however, stands out as Uber’s first agreement where it acts as both the developer of the self-driving system and the vehicle manufacturer. While the total deal could reach up to $1.25 billion, Uber’s initial financial commitment is relatively modest. The risk, however, is heavily skewed toward Rivian, which has yet to begin production of the R2 SUV or test a self-driving system tailored for robotaxis. Compounding the challenge, Rivian’s Georgia factory, where the vehicles are intended to be built, is still under construction. Rivian has already made sacrifices to pursue this project, including abandoning its 2027 profitability goal due to the high costs of its autonomy efforts. This underscores the significant financial and technical hurdles involved in scaling autonomous vehicle technology.#miami #san_francisco #uber #rivian #rivian_r2_robotaxi
