News

India’s Mr Bean goes viral

Published

4 years ago

March 3, 2022

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As a child, Jatin Thanvi was shy and used to stay in his shell. He was a huge fan of Rowan Atkinson, who played the much-loved 90s TV character of Mr Bean.

His family members made him aware about his uncanny resemblance with Mr Bean. This encouraged him to contest in a fancy dress competition – impersonating as Mr Bean. His act was highly appreciated.
Playing Mr Bean boosted his confidence. He made a short video on TikTok during the pandemic imitating and mimicking Mr Bean and it went viral, with 56 million views in no time.

Today, Thanvi, the 20-year-old architecture student, refers to himself as “Jr Mr Bean” on Instagram and YouTube.
“During the lockdown, my impersonations of Mr Bean went viral and that’s when I decided to start my own channel and act in my own stories. It’s heartwarming to read comments like: “You make me laugh my depression away; and that’s what I plan to do in my life – making people laugh and feel good about themselves. One day, I hope to meet my idol Rowan Atkinson and thank him for always making me laugh,” Thanvi said in an interview with Humans of Bombay.

“I always believed that ‘Mr Bean’ had a very good chance of being successful and having longevity, partly because the comedy is mainly visual and partly because Mr Bean is essentially a child in a man’s body,” Atkinson said in an interview with PTI.
His videos are set in an Indian environment. He localises his content to make it relatable for the people.
“People now stop me on the streets and ask for a selfie,” he said in an interview to Vice. “It feels good to know that I am entertaining them.”
“We are trying to create a Mr Bean for the digital era,” said Thanvi. “Currently, my focus is to flesh out the character and Indianise it so that it can be relatable for Indians everywhere and inspire them to feel comfortable being themselves, no matter what society thinks of them.”

Announcements

Free Public Parking Announced In Dubai For Hijri New Year

Published

6 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Staff Reporter

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Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced free public parking and a revised public transport schedule for the Hijri New Year 1448 holiday on Monday June 15.

Public parking across Dubai, except for multi-storey parking facilities will be free with parking fees will resume on Tuesday June 16.

All RTA Customer Happiness Centres will be closed on Monday, but customers will still be able to access services through the Customer Happiness Centre in Umm Ramool and Smart Kiosks located in Deira, Al Barsha, Al Tawar, Al Kifaf and the RTA Headquarters.

#RTA has outlined the operating hours for its services during the Hijri New Year 1448 public holiday, covering Customer Happiness Centres, Paid Public Parking, Public Buses, Dubai Metro and Tram, Marine Transport, and Service Provider Centres (Vehicle Testing).

To read full…
— RTA (@rta_dubai) June 13, 2026

Dubai Metro services on both the Red and Green Lines will run from 5am until midnight on Monday while Dubai Tram services will operate from 6am until 1am the following day.

Passengers using public buses are advised to check the S’hail app for updated holiday schedules.

The RTA also announced that Bus Route E100, which normally operates between Al Ghubaiba Bus Station and Abu Dhabi, will be suspended from June 13 to 15. Passengers heading to Abu Dhabi during this period can use Route E101 from Ibn Battuta Bus Station instead.

Marine transport services will be unaffected during this period.

Announcements

Alhind to Launch Indian Consular Services Across UAE from July 2026

Published

21 hours ago

June 12, 2026

Staff Reporter

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The Indian Embassy in the UAE has announced that Alhind Tours and Travels LLC will become the sole outsourced service provider for passport, visa, and consular applications across the country starting July 1.

In a statement shared on its official social media channels, the Embassy said detailed information on procedures and working hours will be released in due course through official platforms. The transition will impact consular services for over 3.5 million Indian expatriates in the UAE.

🔔 Important Update: Change in Outsourced Service Provider for Indian Passport, Visa and Consular Services in the UAE. pic.twitter.com/6GER045Jn1
— India in UAE (@IndembAbuDhabi) June 12, 2026

Current service providers, BLS International Services Ltd. and SGIVS Global, will continue operations until June 30, with applicants advised to complete pending submissions before the changeover.

Under the new arrangement, the largest service centre is expected to be located in Bur Dubai, spanning approximately 12,000 square feet with over 45 service counters. Alhind has also indicated plans to streamline operations through an expanded workforce of more than 400 staff, alongside an all-inclusive service fee of Dh19, excluding mandatory government charges.

The Embassy and Consulate have urged applicants to depend only on official sources for updates, cautioning against misinformation, and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a smooth transition of services.

The decision follows a tender issued in November 2025 for outsourcing a range of consular services at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai. Four companies—Alhind, DU Digital Global Ltd, SGIVS Global LLC, and VFS Global—were shortlisted, with Alhind emerging as the lowest bidder.

Founded in Kerala in 1992, Alhind Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd is part of the wider Alhind Group, which operates across IT services, luxury rentals, and foreign exchange. The company expanded its presence to the UAE and other Middle Eastern markets in 1995.

News

Travelling to Oman? Sharjah introduces new bus departure times

Published

3 days ago

June 10, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Travellers heading from the UAE to Oman now have more flexibility, with the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) announcing revised schedules for its popular intercity bus service connecting Sharjah with Sohar and Muscat.

The updated timings apply to Intercity Bus Route 203, which departs from Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah and serves passengers travelling to Oman’s two major cities. The changes are aimed at improving convenience, enhancing cross-border mobility, and providing more travel options for residents and visitors.

New Sharjah to Muscat bus timings

Passengers travelling from Sharjah can now choose from three daily departures:

6:30am
3:30pm
8:30pm

Oman to Sharjah bus timings

For travellers returning from Oman, buses departing from Sohar and Muscat will operate at:

7:00am
1:30pm
3:00pm

More travel options between UAE and Oman

SRTA said the revised schedule is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional transport connectivity and offer a comfortable, safe and efficient travel experience between the UAE and Oman.

Passengers are advised to check the latest updates through SRTA’s official channels before travelling and to arrive at the station early to ensure a smooth journey.

Route: Intercity Bus 203
Departure Point: Al Jubail Bus Station, Sharjah
Destinations: Sohar and Muscat, Oman
New Timings Effective: Immediately