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Mother booted off ride share app for her unusual name

A young Sydney mother has been booted off popular ride sharing app Uber, after they deemed her birth name too inappropriate. Swastika Chandra's first name means good luck and prosperity in her native Sanskrit language, and holds a lot of cultural significance and connection to her Hindu heritage. However, to global transport app Uber, her name was deemed too offensive to be let on the platform, as they said her name violates their terms and conditions. The 35-year-old grew up in Fiji, where she says her name was commonly heard in classrooms throughout her childhood. "It is a very common name. I personally know four or five other girls with the same name," she told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/uber-bans-sydney-woman-from-using-service-because-of-her-first-name/2771dd1f-b9fd-4ba6-8045-671145bc0c02" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. "In school, we had two or three other girls with the same name. It means good luck. It means good things for me." Chandra didn't run into any issues using her name on her birth certificate, Australian citizenship paperwork, her health care card or her driver's licence. However, last October Uber banned her account, claiming her name was a violation of their terms of use due to its appropriation by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party and neo-Nazis. Coinciding with the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Uber brought in new guidelines on words that could be offensive - including swastika. Inadvertently caught up in the middle of a policy which had the best of intentions, Chandra was told she would have to change her name to get back on the app. "I was putting in an order for food one afternoon and went to the payment stage and this pop-up came up saying, 'Your first name is in violation and you need to change your name on the app'," she explained. Chandra has a deep understanding of her name's very troubling double meaning, but she says the community needs to know the word's origins. "They don't know that the Hindus used it for thousands of years before Hitler used it in the wrong way," she said. "A bit of education, I think, is needed. I'm very proud of my name. I believe in the good that comes with it and I'm not changing it for anyone." Five months later, Uber has backed down from their decision and allowed her to rejoin the app, although it took intervention from Australia's peak Hindu body, The Hindu Council, support from the Jewish community and the NSW attorney-general to make it happen. The Jewish Board of Deputies also backed Chandra's fight, telling A Current Affair: "There is a difference between Ms Chandra innocently using her name and the deployment of a sinister symbol." The young mum has a message for all the other young girls who might have a different name to others, saying "Don't let the past be a stepping stone for your future." "Be proud of your name. It's your identity - it's who you are." Image credits: A Current Affair

Legal

Uber driver shares touching moment with grieving passenger

A young Uber driver has shared the emotional interaction he had with a grieving mother. James Bade, a 23-year-old from Sydney, shares clips from his best Uber driving moments on his TikTok, capturing honest moments with his passengers. Bade's latest video has moved his followers to tears, as he drove around an older couple who broke down in tears at the end of their journey. James captioned his video, "This job makes me cry sometimes,” as the video shows the elderly woman telling James, “You know what? Look after yourself.” Her voice broke as she said, "You're a champion." The couple then left the car, before the woman began tapping frantically on James' window as he winds it down. <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7279295029410057480&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40jamesbadeofficial%2Fvideo%2F7279295029410057480&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2F7648b1db68b747d38845e102a8a6ef9e_1694842956%3Fx-expires%3D1695945600%26x-signature%3DCvk%252FeflE7E2aY%252Fv15VOGr7IwGr4%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> “I lost my son last year,” she tells him through tears. “And you remind me so much of my son.” Bade unbuckles his seatbelt and hugs the woman through the window as she cries. The woman, still sobbing, holds Mr Bade for a moment, telling him to “take care”. “The world will take you wherever you want to go,” she tells him. The comments section was flooded with emotional messages, showing that the interaction obviously touched his followers. “You can tell she has so much love and nowhere for it to go,” one wrote. “Actually crying … how lovely,” said another. Another added, “This is just beautiful … you can just tell in her voice that she needed that so much.” Sadly, not every one of James' passengers are as lovely, as he recently made headlines after a rude passenger <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/uber-driver-shocked-by-elderly-passenger-s-intrusive-questions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">talked down to him</a> over his career choice and high school exam results. Image credits: TikTok

Caring

Uber driver shocked by elderly passenger's intrusive questions

A young Aussie Uber driver has shared the moment he was grilled by an elderly female passenger with a line of very judgemental questions. James Bade, 23, regularly uploads dash-cam footage to social media from his Uber journeys with colourful characters. In a video he posted on Wednesday, Bade picks up an elderly female passenger, who quickly begins quizzing him about his schooling and career. The woman asks Bade what his Year 12 ATAR rank was, before judging his answer. "What was your score like at the end of the year?" the woman asked. "Uhh, not great," Bade awkwardly responded. The passenger then pressed further, asking if his mark was "70? 80?", with Bade stated he got "65". "You did s***", the woman bluntly said. "Yeah, but that's okay," Bade said, to which the passenger responded, "No, it's not okay. It's s***." Bade, who appeared momentarily stunned by the woman's brash assertions about his school results, told her that he gave his final tests "a good go", with the passenger saying, "You did not." <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7277944950711438599&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40jamesbadeofficial%2Fvideo%2F7277944950711438599&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2F65176828c7d846a09f542b7a8ccae59d_1694528612%3Fx-expires%3D1694826000%26x-signature%3DJ1LS93ofX1akA%252F3OHw4mxLNRhyI%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> Later on in the drive, she began questioning the young man about his career aspirations. Bade mentioned that he was "doing real estate for a few years" that gave him "some opportunities" but that he was happy being an Uber driver in the meantime. "Oh, God. Well you've gotta sort of get it together," the elderly passenger said. "It is together!" the young driver hit back. "I'm always chatting to new people and they're giving me new ideas for different things." The woman responded, "No it's not, my idea is to get it together." Bade posted the interaction to his TikTok account, as the video has quickly accumulated hundreds of thousands of views. Viewers were quick to praise Bade's patience with the elderly passenger, while slamming the woman's judgement of Bade's personal life decisions and her condescending attitude. "Nothing like an elderly alcoholic telling another person to get it together," one person commented. Another wrote, "I'm so sorry you had to deal with that...she's using your services and simultaneously looking down on it. It's insane. A job is a job." "You're so patient and calm with her, I would have kicked her out. Who gives her the right to judge?" added another. Image credits: TikTok

Travel Trouble

Ben Fordham's surprising new side hustle

Ben Fordham has shared that he has joined the large group of Aussies who have picked up a side hustle as the cost of living crisis continues. The 2GB radio host has signed up to be an Uber driver, with his first passenger leaving him a generous tip. Speaking to business and financial commentator Peter Switzer during the Money Report on Thursday morning, Fordham confirmed he'd taken his "first passenger in an Uber." "Wen was her name, lovely lady," he said. "I picked her up not far from 2GB and dropped her to work and she gave me five stars and, Switz, she gave me a $3 tip." "Mate, you're killing it," Switzer said. "That's like a 10 per cent rise for you." "It's so good, you just switch it on and go, 'Alright, I've got an hour to kill here, I may as well make a bit of money'," Fordham explained. He explained he decided to sign up for the gig following the record number of Australians who have taken up second jobs to help cope with inflation and growing cost of living pressures. It was during the start of the Covid pandemic that Fordham first told Switzer he planned to "get a side hustle" along with everyone else. "And I said I was going to become an Uber driver, and guess what I've done this week?" "You're kidding," Switzer reacted. Switzer, who used to work as a school teacher during a period of high interest rates, said he was also forced to take on additional work to make ends meet, creating a cleaning business and working at the local RSL where he "pulled beers." "So I'm not surprised to see this surge in jobs," he said. "In America, I reckon more than half of American workers have what they call a side hustle ... a second job, so lots of people are responding to inflation, responding to higher interest rates and looking for more and more jobs." Image credits: 2GB <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="OUTBRAIN" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" data-src="//honey.nine.com.au/latest/ben-fordham-new-side-hustle-uber-driving/c4f4d011-05f7-4879-b8af-93bc562144b8" data-widget-id="AR_8" data-external-id="556949cd9bf11d9567563f6b5d247e16"> </div> </div>

Money & Banking

Missing Uber driver found dead after week-long search

Two teenage boys, 17 and 18, have been charged over the alleged murder of an Uber driver who went missing about a week ago. The driver, Scott Cabrie, 47, was found dead near a boat ramp on Power House road, Howard, on Queensland’s Fraser Coast, 280km north of Brisbane, at around 11:30 am on Sunday. Queensland police allege Mr Cabrie was killed during a rideshare trip in his blue Nissan X-Trail. Investigations led detectives to issue a search warrant at an address in Pacific Haven where a 17-year-old male was taken into custody. The 17-year-old was additionally charged with one count each of murder, robbery and deprivation of liberty. The teen was refused bail and will appear before Hervey Bay Children’s Court on Monday. On the same day, at around 6:25pm, officers issued a warrant to another Hervey Bay address, where they arrested an 18-year-old man from Sunshine Acres. The 18-year-old has been charged with one count each of murder, the unlawful use of a vehicle, arson, armed robbery and deprivation of liberty. He was also refused bail and will appear in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Monday. Mr Cabrie’s vehicle had been found burnt out near Wieland road at Pacific Haven on Tuesday, February 7, three days before he was reported missing. A search operation with officers, water police, SES volunteers and drone technology was launched in the area and surrounds. On Sunday morning, February 12, the body believed to be Mr Cabrie was discovered near a boat ramp, but the cause of death is yet to be revealed. The police are currently looking into the movements of a blue 2017 Nissan X-trail with Queensland registration 675YF on Torbanlea Piallba Road between 11 pm and midnight on Monday, February 6. Authorities have appealed to anyone who may have relevant information or dashcam footage to come forward. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding Mr Cabrie’s death are still ongoing. Image credit: Facebook

News

25 craziest things Aussies have left behind in an Uber

There’s nothing worse than leaving behind the love of your life’s number in the back of an Uber, but that’s not the only thing Aussies have left behind this year. "From a Harry Styles concert ticket to a taxidermied cat, Aussies have really outdone themselves when it comes to forgetfulness this year," Hoa Nguyen, Head of Rider Operations at Uber ANZ said. Uber’s annual lost and found index has revealed that Perth is the most forgetful city in Australia for a second year in a row, and Brisbane is the most organised. Although some Aussies lost their chance to meet the love of their life, others are blinded by love, to the point that they’ve left behind wedding bands, wedding dresses and marriage certificates. But not all is lost, Nguyen has said that there are steps you can take if this has happened to you. "The important thing to remember is that we do have a process if you suddenly realise you've left your phone, wallet or Harry Potter wand in your driver's car, head to the app for help and follow the prompts to retrieve your items,” Nguyen said. Here are the 25 most 'unique' lost items: <ol> <li dir="ltr"> A girl's number on a piece of paper who "might be the love of my life" </li> <li dir="ltr"> Wedding dress </li> <li dir="ltr"> Adult toys </li> <li dir="ltr"> Rabbit's medication </li> <li dir="ltr"> Harry Styles concert ticket </li> <li dir="ltr"> Olympic gold medal </li> <li dir="ltr"> Taxidermy cat </li> <li dir="ltr"> Segway scooter </li> <li dir="ltr"> A painting of Marilyn Monroe </li> <li dir="ltr"> Harry Potter wand </li> <li dir="ltr"> Nduja (sausage paste) </li> <li dir="ltr"> False teeth </li> <li dir="ltr"> Cockpit trainer poster </li> <li dir="ltr"> Wedding band </li> <li dir="ltr"> Cattle whip </li> <li dir="ltr"> Chainsaw </li> <li dir="ltr"> A lectern </li> <li dir="ltr"> Number plates </li> <li dir="ltr"> Birth certificate </li> <li dir="ltr"> Tray of lasagne </li> <li dir="ltr"> DJ decks </li> <li dir="ltr"> Hair extensions </li> <li dir="ltr"> A jockstrap </li> <li dir="ltr"> Robotic pool cleaner </li> <li dir="ltr"> Leather bunny ears </li> </ol> Images: Getty

Travel Trouble

Uber driver slammed for refusing guide dog

An Uber driver in South Australia is being slammed for refusing to let a vision impaired woman bring her guide dog in the car. Born with low vision, Ellen Fraser-Barbour relies on her guide dog Inca for safety and sight. But on Wednesday when she was trying to catch an Uber home, Ms Fraser-Barbour says she was told Inca was an unwelcome passenger. She was able to capture footage of the exchange between herself and the Uber driver. "This is an assistance dog, a guide dog," Ms Fraser-Barbour can be heard telling the driver. "No. No. No. I can't do it. Sorry," he replied. "It's an assistance dog, you can't refuse by law," Ms Fraser-Barbour added. But the driver still refused, claiming he was not obliged to accept the ride, leaving Ms Fraser-Barbour on the curb. She says the experience is one that is common for people with a disability. "I have a lot of blind friends and they all tell me about distressing experiences that they've had of being left on the curb. It's a really rampant issue," Ms Fraser-Barbour said. Since the incident she has made a report to Uber and received an apology. Ms Fraser-Barbour says it should never have happened in the first place and is now calling for stricter penalties. "For example being able to fine drivers if they refuse," Ms Fraser-Barbour said. In a statement Uber said a first offence will see a driver's account temporarily deactivated while they receive further education. A second strike could see them permanently banned from the platform. "Taking someone off the platform temporarily doesn't say zero tolerance approach. That says we'll give you another chance," Ms Fraser-Barbour said. Image: Nine News

Family & Pets

Mum drunkenly orders $6,000 Uber to Ukraine

A mother from the UK has drunkenly tried to order a very expensive Uber to Ukraine as she vowed to “help fight”. Mother-of-two Leoni Fildes was out celebrating a friend's birthday when they started discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine at the hands of Russia. After a few gin and tonics and some shots of sambuca, Ms Fildes – along with her military boyfriend – decided to order an Uber straight into the warzone. “My boyfriend’s in the military and we were talking about if he had to go,” Ms Fildes told <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/17/mum-got-drunk-and-ordered-4500-uber-to-ukraine-to-go-and-help-16294296/">Metro</a>. “I said, ‘If he goes, I’m going with him’.” “One too many drinks later, we were trying to get a taxi home. We said, ‘Shall we get a taxi and go help them?’” The total bill for the 2735km trip was going to set Ms Fildes back almost $6,000 (£3,300), and despite the huge cost, the Uber app attempted to process her bill almost 10 times. Thankfully, the Uber XL was cancelled due to insufficient funds in her bank account. Suspecting a fraudulent transaction attempt, the next morning Ms Fildes woke up to a call from her bank, who asked if her credit card had been stolen. “Uber tried to take the payment nine times out of my account. They were pretty determined,” she told the Manchester Evening News. “I had a little flashback when the bank called — and I said, ‘I think it was me - sorry’.” Ms Fildes said that her account was only a few pounds short from the trip going ahead, and despite her good intentions was still thankful it was cancelled. Image credits: Uber / Facebook

International Travel

Australia’s most polite city has been named

If you’ve ever wondered where the polite people of Australia live, ridesharing behemoth Uber has your answer: they’re on the country’s east coast, in Newcastle. According to <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/newcastle-revealed-as-most-polite-city-in-australia/f66741f6-f36c-44f1-9233-e62e3e0ab1d9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new data</a> on the average ratings Uber riders leave for their drivers, Newcastle had an average rating of 4.9 out of a maximum score of five - the highest in the country - which makes it the most polite city. Coming in just behind, the tropical city of Cairns scored an average rating of 4.89 and tied with Wollongong. The Gold Coast followed in fourth place with a score of 4.88, nosing out the Sunshine Coast’s score of 4.87. Sixth and seventh place were taken out by cities on opposite sides of the country, with Darwin and Hobart earning a score of 4.86 and 4.87 respectively. Though Sydney failed to make the top five, it did make it into the top ten, tying with Launceston and Geelong with a rating of 4.84. Adelaide came next, followed by Canberra and Brisbane with an equal rating of 4.82. The second lowest rating came from Melbourne, with a rating of 4.80. Rounding out the bottom of the list - making it the least polite city in the country - was Perth, with an average rating of 4.79. The release of the new data marks the <a href="https://www.uber.com/en-AU/newsroom/rider-ratings-breakdown/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launch</a> of Uber’s new Privacy Centre, which also allows users to see a breakdown of their scores as drivers and riders. Image: @city.newcastle.au (Instagram)

Domestic Travel

Date sends woman home for not liking her outfit

While most people have a dating disaster story, Nikki Harding’s could rival the very best, as her evening ended alone and in tears. Nikki had been getting to know a guy she was interested in for three weeks, and ignored a few red flags she noticed during their initial meeting. Ignoring her gut instinct, Nikki chose to give her new man the benefit of the doubt. However, when the two had scheduled a date together, Nikki was left feeling heartbroken and humiliated. The two had planned to go to a work event for the man’s retail company, and Nikki was excited to meet his friends and colleagues. Nikki showed up looking glamorous and chic in a black long-sleeved crop top, pink trousers and her hair and makeup styled accordingly. However, when she arrived at the event, her date “was too embarrassed” and sent Nikki home in an Uber. Taking to TikTok to explain her ordeal, she wrote, “It’s been 3 weeks. I spent 40 minutes on my makeup to meet his friends and coworkers at a grand opening for the retail company he works for.” “He was too embarrassed to be seen with me in this outfit, so he sent me home in an Uber and went to the opening without me.” Nikki shared the details of her fleeting relationship with her online followers, as she admitted it was not the first time the man had commented on her appearance. She said, “It all started with little comments here and there over the past couple of weeks like “Why are you wearing heels? I like it when you wear tennis shoes. Why are you wearing so much makeup? I really like it when you’re natural.” After sharing the details, her followers were quick to give her relationship advice. One person commented, “ “Remember: This is him in the beginning. This is him on his best behaviour. Run.” Many others told Nikki she deserved a lot better, and described it as “a blessing” that she got out of the relationship early, to which Nikki responded, “I deserve better than this.” Since the nightmare date, Nikki has made sure to dress exactly how she wants to. Image credits: TikTok @nikki.jabs

Beauty & Style

National chaos as Aussie truckies hit the brakes

Up to 7000 truckies are going on strike for 24 hours from today, which could affect the nation's food and fuel supplies. The strike will have a knock-on effect over the next few days so the public has been warned to buy extra food and fuel supplies now. The truckies have been accused of disrupting medical supplies as well but a Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) statement said it "has never and will never disrupt medical supplies or vaccines.” The TWU organised the strike, accusing the major employer, Toll, of scrapping overtime entitlements and engaging outside drivers in a bid to compete with global firms like Amazon Flex. Earlier this week, TWU national secretary Michael Kaine accused Toll of trying to imitate companies like Amazon Flex. "Toll workers have been forced to take the last resort option to go on strike this week because their jobs are being smashed," Kaine added. Much like Uber, Amazon Flex describes its model as "you use your own vehicle to deliver packages ... as a way of earning extra money". Toll argues it has the industry’s best enterprise agreement Toll has argued back with the TWU, saying its enterprise agreement is the best in the industry. President of its Toll Global Express businesses, Alan Beacham, has accused the TWU of refusing to compromise during negotiations. Beacham said: "It is clear the union was always planning this industrial action, no matter how the negotiations were going." "Toll will not be bullied by the union,” he added. "We will not allow the Australian public to be held to ransom at the behest of the TWU leadership." 4000 TWU members to take part in strike Beacham said he expects 4000 employees, who are voting TWU members, to take part in the strike rather than the 7000 threatened by the union. He said Toll had put in place contingency plans to deal with disruptions caused by the strike. Beacham added: "Instead of attacking Toll at the top of the sector, why aren't the TWU going after the bottom of the sector to raise the standards there?” But speaking for the TWU, the secretary Michael Kaine said: "It is an abomination that billionaire retailers like Amazon are smashing profit records while ripping off transport supply chains and crushing the jobs of the truck drivers who've risked the health of their families to deliver parcels and keep shelves stocked." Photo: Shutterstock

News

Aussie passenger slapped with $200 fine for breaking little-known law

On the weekend, an Aussie Uber passenger received a $200 fine for breaching a little-known law. The Western Australia man was pulled up by a passing traffic patrol officer who noticed the passenger was holding an alcoholic beverage while sitting in the ride sharing service. The officer saw the man drinking in the vehicle before trying to quickly hide his drink underneath the seat when he realised that he had been caught out. According to WA law, it is illegal to drink in public, which includes inside motor vehicles and public transport. The term ‘drink’ means having an open container inside all public vehicles. The passenger’s attempts to hide his alcoholic drink failed, and he was given the $200 fine for his actions. In NSW and Victoria, having an alcoholic drink open in a taxi can result in a fine of up to $1100. In South Australia, offenders can receive a maximum fine of $1250 and in Queensland, the fine is as high as $2523. In Northern Territory, drinking alcohol in public can result in a hefty $4620 fine. Did you know about this rule? Let us know in the comments below.

Legal

A passenger has shared a unique note that a deaf Uber driver had placed in his car. Read the thoughtful message here.

Musicians draw inspiration from all sorts of sources – people, experiences, events – but some of our favourite songs of all time are inspired by beautiful (and not so beautiful) places around the world. From “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra to “Castle on the Hill” by Ed Sheeran, join us as we tour the globe to see the incredible locations that led to some of the greatest songs ever made. Scroll through the gallery above to see them all and tell us in the comments, how many have you visited?

Music

Deaf Uber driver’s note goes viral

A note from a deaf Uber driver has gone viral after being posted to Twitter last week. Twitter user @lilghostgirl noticed the helpful note from the driver, Onur, explaining that his hearing impairment doesn’t impact his ability to do his job The note explains that if the passenger needs to tell him something they can either text or write it down on a notepad when the car stops. Onur also encourages his passengers to use the AUX cord in his note if they wish to listen to music during their ride. He says that if his passenger picks a song with a strong bass, then he can also enjoy the music. The kind note gained a lot of attention online, with users complimenting Onur for his excellent customer service. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> THIS WAS THE PUREST THING WE LOVE ONUR <a href="https://t.co/YkWCXjQYAt">pic.twitter.com/YkWCXjQYAt</a> — lil ghost girl (@Iilghostgirl) <a href="https://twitter.com/Iilghostgirl/status/986353146673983489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2018</a></blockquote> “Onur you are a good man, I wish you all the best in life,” one user wrote. “He’s a breath of fresh air,” another noted. One added, “This is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Technology

Waleed Aly's unexpected stance on Stefanovic brothers' leaked phone call controversy

Waleed Aly has weighed in on the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2018/03/karl-and-peter-stefanovic-apologise-after-details-of-phone-call-made-public/">“Ubergate” scandal surrounding the Stefanovic brothers’</a> controversial phone conversation, saying “nobody came out looking great”. The Project panel were discussing the fallout from Karl and Peter’s 45-minute rant on colleagues – including entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins, new Today co-host Georgie Gardner, veteran reporter Mark Burrows and Nine bosses – which was overheard by an Uber driver and sold to New Idea magazine. “We do all talk about work colleagues and it’s a privacy issue,” Waleed said. “I mean there is nothing wrong with these two guys talking about someone they work with. The criminal here or the person who is at fault is someone who has intruded on that conversation. That’s the problem.” <img width="421" height="237" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/11bfed6722a6f7bfd71b68bcb7a40f71" alt="The Project panel discussed Karl and Peter Stefanovic’s leaked Uber conversation, on March 19, 2018." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> According to the driver, who was reportedly paid $50,000 for the story, Karl accused Georgie of “sitting on the fence” and not having enough opinions. He reportedly became angry as he declared she had to “step up” if she “wanted to stay on the show”. Although it was widely reported the driver had secretly recorded the conversation – which is illegal in NSW – by the end of the week the story had changed and the driver would instead be recounting the call from his own memory. The driver is understood to have signed a statutory declaration saying he did not tape the conversation, <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/">The Australian</a> report. Of the saga, Waleed said society was “building a really sick culture of surveillance”. “In the end when all this was supposedly revealed, and we have no idea if it is even accurate, right?” he said. “But when all that’s revealed, it wasn’t even that big a deal.” The Project panellist Steve Price agreed and added “these days you really cannot say anything”. “You have to stop yourself whenever you’re referring to another individual and really think twice about it,” Steve said. “In the old days you could spray people all you liked, nothing ever happened and no one dragged you off ... and you could bag people and swear about them.” The Project panel’s comments are a far cry from <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/technology/2018/03/jessica-rowe-slams-karl-stefanovic-phone-comments/">Jessica Rowe’s stance</a>, who slammed the Stefanovic brothers and came out in defence of Georgie on Studio 10 yesterday.

News

Karl and Peter Stefanovic apologise after details of phone call made public

The Stefanovic brothers have publicly apologised for their late-night rant about colleagues and bosses - including Georgie Gardner, Richard Wilkins and Nine bosses - after their conversation was secretly recorded by an Uber driver. After a week of intense speculation about what was exactly said, Karl and Peter Stefanovic have gone on the front foot and come out on Sunday and said “sorry”. “Pete and I were guilty of having a spray after a Sunday barbecue,” Karl told The Sunday Telegraph yesterday. “We talk a hundred times a day and hardly ever about work. Mainly about his terrible golf. “But we did, and the conversation was recorded. And we are sorry. I was angry with myself at first that I could be so stupid.” “I’ll be taking cabs from now on,” Karl added “For the record, Georgie Gardner is killing it. She’s the best thing to happen to the show in years. “She’s hungry, she’s working hard and making the show better every day. “I love working with her. Anyone says differently, they don’t know.” <img width="431" height="243" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/c64103bc1022f065c9a17b5fa2b9ea08" alt="Georgie Gardner needs to “step up”, according to Karl." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> The 45-minute conversation occurred late last Sunday while Peter and his wife, Today newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys, were in the back of a car and speaking to Karl on speakerphone. In this week’s issue of New Idea, the driver denied he’d recorded the conversation – an illegal act – instead claiming he simply has recalled details. According to the driver, who was reportedly paid $50,000, Karl vented his frustrations about new Today co-host Gardner, who he accused of “sitting on the fence” and not having enough opinions. The driver claims Karl declared she needed to “step up” if she “wanted to stay on the show.” Karl also complained that entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins “kept all the entertainment contacts close to his chest.” The driver also alleges Karl took aim at Nine bosses who he said “didn’t know anything and ... are out of touch.” During the trip, Peter, who hosts Today Weekend and is a 60 Minutes reporter, complained that he “hated his job” and that his ideas were always rejected and that it was “sucking the life out of him”. Karl reportedly told Peter that he needed to demand $60,000 from the network and “not to take no for an answer.” Peter also criticised veteran Nine journalist Mark Burrows for looking down on him. <img width="474" height="267" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/b7a209ddb6f96bd640442fd86ab5093a" alt="Peter and his wife Sylvia were both in the Uber during the phone call." style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Peter also apologised yesterday, telling The Sunday Telegraph: “I did a silly thing and feel awful for any embarrassment I’ve brought to my (Channel 9) colleagues, who I deeply respect. “I have spoken directly to the people involved and have offered my sincerest apologies as I have been raised to do: Do something wrong, apologise and try to move on. “It is embarrassing to not only get myself into this situation but also my big brother and the network. “There’s nothing quite like having all your insecurities out there for people to see and read. “I am now investing in a hands-free ear piece and I gave the driver a one-star rating — but only because you can’t give a zero.” A Nine spokeswoman said the network accepted the apology, saying, “Clearly it was schoolboy behaviour between brothers, but that’s no excuse. We appreciate their genuine apologies.” A source closed to the Karl confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that he is “heading to court over a leaked Uber tape”. “The Nine frontman will issue legal proceedings against the global rider-share scheme,” he said.

News

Derryn Hinch suffers “brain trauma” after fall

Derryn Hinch is well and truly living up to his self-imposed Human Headline moniker, with <a href="http://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank">News.com.au reporting</a> the Australian senator has suffered from “brain trauma” after falling out of an Uber in Melbourne. The 74-year-old pollie reportedly fell out of the car on St Kilda Road and was knocked unconscious, and was promptly taken to The Alfred Hospital for checks. “I’d had two glasses of wine at dinner — I hadn’t overindulged. But it’s the obvious question with my background I don’t blame people for thinking that,” the former radio host said. Hinch famously made a splash in 2016 when he announced he was “back on the booze” after swearing of alcohol when he received a lifesaving liver transplant in 2011. <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/" target="_blank">9News.com.au</a> reports a witness helped an Uber driver call an ambulance. "He was out for a few minutes but he started to wake up as the paramedics arrived and we helped them get him on to a stretcher," the witness said. “He didn’t have any obvious injury but he was pretty confused about what was happening." The Human Headline put the fall down to a “dodgy knee” and tiredness, rather than the booze. He’s reportedly due to have further medical tests on Thursday. The Human Headline put the fall down to a “dodgy knee” and tiredness, rather than the booze. He’s reportedly due to have further medical tests on Thursday.

Mind

Car industry about to be revolutionised

Kent Kwan is co-founder of AtlasTrend. With 15 years of professional experience in investing and international financial markets, Kent has successfully managed more than $1 billion in funds invested in international-listed shares. What is Uber up to? Uber (the ride sharing service) has been in the press repeatedly over the last few years as it battled the taxi industry in Australia and overseas. In many instances, Uber won hands down and completely disrupted that industry. Believe it or not, beating the taxi industry is just a small win within Uber’s grand plans. What do we mean by this? It is becoming clearer by the day that Uber wants to completely change the way cars are used. The company’s CEO, Travis Kalanick, has been quoted as saying Uber’s ultimate vision is: “Smarter transportation with fewer cars and greater access” Sounds innocent enough but this simple mission has the potential to revolutionise the entire car industry. There is no better proof of this than the recent revelation that Uber and Mercedes will be working very closely together. What is happening with Mercedes and Uber? Daimler (the parent company of Mercedes) and Uber recently announced plans to introduce and operate self-driving Mercedes cars on Uber’s ridesharing network in the coming years. Mercedes becomes the first car manufacturer to have this agreement. No specific timetable has been released but given the rapid pace of improvement in Mercedes’ self-driving technology, the future is not too far off when your Uber might be a driverless Mercedes. The only thing that might prevent this from happening in the next few years is government legislation on autonomous cars but we are already seeing rapid legislative progress in a growing number of countries around the world. Why are they starting this partnership? To answer this question, let’s first understand how inefficient cars are. We are not talking about fuel efficiency. We are referring to how often cars are used. In a developed market like the US, statistics show that on average cars are only used 5 per cent of the time. For 95 per cent of each day, cars are unused and simply parked somewhere. That makes cars one of the most underutilised but widely owned assets on earth. Remember Uber’s vision of “smarter transportation with fewer cars and greater access”. The underutilisation of cars around the world is exactly what Uber’s ridesharing service is trying to solve. Imagine a world where instead of owning your car, there are fleets of self-driving Mercedes cars that operate nearly 24 hours a day rather than being parked for 95 per cent of the time. You order a car which arrives in minutes from your Uber app whenever you want, to take you wherever you want. All of this, for perhaps less cost and hassle compared to owning your own car. How is this a perfect love affair between Uber and Mercedes? Uber is on record saying it doesn’t want to build its own self-driving cars. Mercedes, with its technological leadership in autonomous vehicles provides a perfect fit. For Uber, an autonomous vehicle means no need to share any more revenues with a human driver. From Mercedes’ perspective, it knows the combination of ridesharing services such as Uber and self-driving cars will lead to one natural outcome. Less people will buy their own cars. That is why it makes perfect sense for Mercedes to operate in the autonomous car-sharing industry since it may eventually cannibalise its traditional car manufacturing business in the long term. What might the investment return be from investing in Uber or Mercedes right now? To find out, <a href="https://www.atlastrend.com/register/?group=oversixty" target="_blank">sign up with AtlasTrend for free</a>. As a member, simply <a href="https://www.atlastrend.com/login/?next=/member/investing-ideas-and-info/how-you-can-profit-mercedes-and-ubers-love-affair/" target="_blank">Click Here</a> to access the full article. Any advice contained in this communication is general advice only. None of the information provided is, or should be considered to be, personal financial advice. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2017/02/more-secrets-of-worlds-most-money-savvy-senior/%20">6 more secrets of the world’s most money savvy senior</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2017/02/ways-to-cut-your-grocery-spend-in-half/%20">8 ways to cut your grocery spend in half</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/money-banking/2017/01/best-saving-tips-for-seniors-in-2017/">Best saving tips for seniors in 2017</a>

Money & Banking

The easy way to make extra cash in retirement

There’s a growing number of seniors taking to ride-sharing services like Uber to supplement their retirement income – and meet new people at the same time. Considering the popularity of services like Uber over the traditional cab driver, it’s never been a better time to get behind the wheel and become a driver. Earlier this year, a <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2016/08/this-brisbane-grandma-is-getting-young-women-home-safely/">Brisbane grandmother’s door-to-door “chauffeur” service to keep young women safe went viral</a>. The “Grandma Uber” loves driving young people around and has met many amazing people during her drives. According to a 2015 company <a href="https://newsroom.uber.com/driver-partner-survey/" target="_self" title="https://newsroom.uber.com/driver-partner-survey/">survey</a>, twenty-three percent of people who drive an Uber in the US are 50 or older and two-thirds of drivers have never made money driving before Uber. With such success in the States, the popular ride-sharing app is now actively recruiting older drivers in Australia. In April this year, the rideshare company partnered with Seniors Card NSW in a New South Wales government scheme that aims to support people over the age of 60 in retirement. The scheme not only gave the 1.4 million Senior Card members $20 off their first Uber ride, but also encourages seniors to get behind the wheel. David Rohrsheim, Uber General Manager, Australia and New Zealand, said at the time, “For many of our existing senior citizen partners, driving with the Uber platform is a safe and accessible way to top up their pension and help pay the bills.” Here are five good reasons that becoming an Uber driver is for you: Supplement retirement income It’s a way to re-enter the workforce on a schedule that suits you. If you’ve got a car and a reasonable driving record, becoming an Uber driver is a great option to earn some extra money. Choose your hours Work whenever you want, part-or full time, weekdays or weekends. Uber gives you the freedom and flexibility to fit the busiest of schedules. Meet new people Uber drivers often share their great stories with passengers who are always up to listen, and you will get to meet some interesting characters. Earn great fares With a busy summer ahead, many drivers are currently earning $30+/hour in gross fares during peak hours. Safety is a priority All driver partners undergo a criminal background and driving history check before they get on the road. Trips are GPS-tracked and covered by Uber's commercial insurance policy. If you’d like to make some extra money in retirement, Over60 has a great offer to become an Uber driver. <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/retirement-life/deals/cf-uber/">Click here</a> to find out more. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/accommodation/2016/03/make-extra-cash-with-airbnb/">How to make extra cash with Airbnb</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/2016/03/6-items-never-buy-at-a-supermarket/">6 items you should never buy at a supermarket</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/2016/02/tips-for-picking-the-right-charity/">5 tips to find a good charity to help out</a>

News

This grandma is driving young women home safely

A grandmother's door-to-door “chauffeur” service to keep young women safe is going viral. In the past seven months, Kathy Raydings, from Brisbane, Australia, has driven more than 5,000 young women across the area home safely. Driven by her maternal instinct to get “as many home safe as possible”, Ms Raydings decided something needed to be done to help young people get home at night. She started a service that has now been called “Grandma Uber”, named after the ride-sharing service Uber. “There are horrendous stories, I've heard it so many times from my riders,” she told 7 News. “They should be able to go out, have their great night out and not have the stress about coming home and who's going to pick them up.” Amy O’Farrell, a passenger of Ms Raydings, decided to spread the word about “Grandma Uber” on social media, which quickly went viral. “It's fun and it's nurturing and she helps you with your life," she said. Grandma Uber will not only help get dozens of young people home safely, she also supplies drinks and baked brownies to her passengers so nobody goes home hungry. What an incredible woman! Would you like to be an Uber granny? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. Find more information about Grandma Uber on her <a href="https://www.instagram.com/grandma_uber/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/12/life-lessons-from-grandparents/">Top 10 life lessons kids learn from grandparents</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/10/quotes-about-siblings/">9 heart-warming quotes about siblings</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/10/role-of-grandparents/">The 10 “types” of grandparents</a>

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