India: Plea to block Uber, Ola apps

NEW DELHI authorities yesterday asked India’s federal Information Technology Ministry to block the taxi-hailing apps of US-based Uber and its local rival Ola in the city in a bid to enforce a ban on the firms’ services. India in December ordered unregistered web-based taxi firms to halt operations until they obtain an operating licence after an Uber driver was accused of rape. The ban, however, has largely been ineffective and both Ola and Uber have continued to operate in Delhi while their licence applications are pending. – Reuters