Weekly News

Here's a new feature to run each weekend, a weekly round-up of world taxi news. Whilst not comprehensive, it will cover various items I find of interest...

You may remember the case of the Sydney cabbie, Youbert Hormozi killed in February 2006. Yesterday the two accussed teenage girls faced court for sentencing submissions. Hormozi’s daughter Melina, mentioned in my funeral report, had difficulty accepting one girl's apology. In other Aussie news Sydney network, Lime Taxis present their high-tech integrated mapping and security features in their cabs.

In Ghana a cabbie died after a passenger became restless...the passenger was a cow. Also in Africa, Angolan 'taxi drivers are often seen doing dangerous manoeuvres, playing loud and obscene music, as well as neglecting the servicing of their cars..' Can't believe that.

Fijian authorities are having trouble monitoring cabbies playing CD and cassette music who dodge paying royalties to the Fijian Performing Rights Assoc. Yep, it's true. 

Over in Barbados, West Indies the World Cricket Cup is failing to prove the bonanza promised for cabbies due to stringent policing by officials. In the lead up to the 2008 Olympics Beijing authorities are cracking down on cabbies, banning red hair(?); spitting; rudeness; scamming; garlic odours; and 'chavscum' earings.

Speaking of England, in particular the Midlands, the amount of attacks against cabbies in that region is phenomenal. Incidents reported there rival those across the whole of the US. Meanwhile, New York taxi penalties are outlined for transgressing drivers.

We interrupt this bulletin for a good news story - a retired couple, and their cats, complete a 2,400 mile taxi trip across America.

Besides the standard shootings and stabbings of US cabbies, a topical issue involving St Paul-Minneapolis Muslim cabbies is back in the news after they're ordered to carry dogs. Yet across the border in Canada the same issue is, unsurprisingly, being dogged.

London's famous black taxis have fallen foul of European environmental correctness and look to be doomed. Not before another fare increase though. Whilst an English taxi driver killed a passenger by crushing him against a car, a court has heard.

And no surprise that a cabbie news package includes reports of a sexual nature. This week a Boston cabbie is acquitted of sexual assault. Also 'Naked Shock For Taxi Driver'.

Finally, a new Night Cabbie pens a tough column from somewhere in Oregon, I think.