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CANBERRA Kostas Manolas Jersey , Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Controversial ride sharing app Uber has officially launched Uber X services in Canberra on Friday after the nation's capital became the first Australian city to regulate ride sharing.
On Thursday, the Australian Capital Territory government passed legislation allowing ride sharing services, such as Uber to operate within the territory's borders.
Uber Australia's general manager David Rohrsheim told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday that he expects it to be popular right away, and asked those keen to use the app to be ""patient"" as it rolls out.
""We do urge people to be patient. On day one I doubt we'll have enough cars on the platform to keep everyone happy. But we welcome people to give it a go,"" he said.
Currently, there are 100 approved Uber drivers in the nation's capital though they can choose their own work hours and schedule.
Rohrsheim said the legislation passed by the government made a number of background checks compulsory before drivers are approved to start working for Uber, something which the company already does.
""(The ACT Government) put in place regulations around background checks, vehicle inspections and insurance, all of which we've had from day one,"" he said.
""And now that's the law in Canberra and we'll be up and running today.""
He applauded the government's forward-thinking and said embracing new technology will only be a positive for consumers.
""What the Chief Minister has done here is actually taken a look at opportunities, not just to open up to new things like ride sharing... but also how can they improve options for the taxi industry,"" Rohrsheim said.
""So I think you'll see a whole bunch of innovation inside the taxi sector. And it will always be another choice to help you get around.""
Uber was launched in 2009 and currently operates in 60 countries around the world.
The state of Victoria is expected to follow Canberra's lead in allowing Uber to operate legally, following expected changes to legislation and regulations.
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GENEVA, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres on Thursday welcomed the announcement in the UN headquarters in New York of the nomination of Italian diplomat Filippo Grandi as his successor.
Saying that Grandi is a highly respected leader with a wealth of international and refugee experience, Guterres noted that ""given the scale and urgency of today's refugee crisis, with 60 million people worldwide uprooted by conflict and persecution, someone of his abilities and profound knowledge of forced displacement will be of great benefit.""
Grandi's nomination was announced earlier on Wednesday at UN headquarters by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. The General Assembly is expected to elect the new High Commissioner in the coming days.
Guterres ends his role of over 10 years as UN High Commissioner for refugees on 31 December 2015. His term, which began in June 2005, spanned one of the most tumultuous decades in the UN refugee agency UNHCR's history.
With more than 9,300 staff in some 123 countries, UNHCR will mark its 65th anniversary of founding next month.
Grandi was Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from 2010 to 2014 and its Deputy Commissioner-General from 2005 until 2010.
He served as the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and has a long-standing career with UNHCR, notably as Chief of Mission in Afghanistan and Chief of Staff in the High Commissioner's Executive Office.
His vast UNHCR field experience includes various positions in Sudan, Syria, Turkey and Iraq, having also led emergency operations in Kenya, Benin, Ghana, Liberia, the Great Lakes region of Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and
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Bayern Munich and Pep Guardiola have reached a crossroads after Tuesday's Champions League exit to Barcelona, with the team in need of renewal and the Spanish coach under growing pressure to deliver European silverware.
Guardiola's arrival two years ago was supposed to herald another great European era for the Bavarians after their 2013 treble. They had reached the Champions League final in 2010, 2012 and 2013 before signing him.
The 44-year-old has so far failed to take the side beyond the semifinal stage in his two seasons in charge, Tuesday's 3-2 win not enough to give them a place in next month's final.
And while Bayern won the domestic double last season and the league this time around it was to capture a sixth elite European trophy that he was brought to the club.
Bayern's ambitious bosses wanted European glory and they wanted it fast, and who better to bring it than the most sought-after soccer coach in the world?
Guardiola has received the full backing of the Bayern board from the very start. He was even described as an exceptional coach after they lost to Leverkusen in the league, crashed out of the German Cup, went down 3-0 to Barcelona and were beaten by Augsburg in the league last week to round off their first four-game losing streak since 1991.
Guardiola won 14 titles in four -seasons at Barcelona, including two Champions Leagues, but Bayern's 5-3 loss on aggregate to the Spaniards has proved to everyone in Munich that he is no magician.
"We won the league, now we will rest, we will go on holidays and come back next season stronger," Guardiola said. "I am not bothered about how critics view my work. I am not there for them. I am there for the club."
Critics may not be an issue for him but with one year left on his contract and no talks yet on an extension Guardiola will need to review his options.
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