News

India’s Mr Bean goes viral

Published

3 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.”

Companies

Dubai warns engineering firms over costly villa designs

Published

8 mins ago

August 26, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Dubai Municipality has issued warnings to several engineering consultancy offices after finding that they exaggerated structural designs for citizens’ villas.

According to officials, these inflated designs went against the Dubai Building Code and led to unnecessary construction costs for property owners, without any real engineering need.

The move is part of the Municipality’s efforts to regulate Dubai’s construction sector and protect residents from extra financial burdens. Consultancy offices across the emirate had already been reminded through circulars to strictly follow approved engineering standards.

Eng. Maryam Al Muhairi, CEO of the Buildings Regulation and Permits Agency, said:

“Compliance with the Dubai Building Code is not only a legal requirement but also a professional and ethical responsibility. The goal is to ensure safe, high-quality construction without forcing citizens to pay more than necessary.”

She added that Dubai Municipality will continue to monitor consultancy offices and contractors to prevent excessive use of building materials, including steel, and ensure construction remains efficient, safe, and cost-effective.

Repeat offenders could face disciplinary measures, including poor annual evaluations or even suspension. Earlier this year, two consultancy offices were banned from licensing new projects for six months due to violations.

By cracking down on such practices, Dubai Municipality says it aims to strengthen the emirate’s construction sector, cut waste, and support sustainable urban growth.

Education

Parents, students benefit as RTA upgrades 10 school zones across Dubai

Published

16 mins ago

August 26, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed a series of traffic improvements in 10 busy school zones across the city, making life easier for parents, students, and staff.

The works, carried out over the summer break, covered areas such as Al Warqa 1, 3 and 4, Al Safa 1, Al Barsha 1, Al Garhoud, Al Mizhar 1 and 4, Al Qusais and Al Barsha South, benefiting 27 schools in total.

What changed?

Wider roads and smoother traffic flow
New entrances and exits to ease congestion
More parking for parents and staff (up to 90% more in some places)
Safer pedestrian features, including signals and traffic-calming measures

The RTA says some zones have already seen traffic flow improve by up to 40 per cent.

Work is still underway in other school areas like Umm Al Sheif, Al Warqa, and Al Barsha. The project is being carried out in coordination with Dubai Police to ensure safety for students and families.

Parents and school bus drivers are also urged to follow safety rules, use designated drop-off zones, and stay alert around schools.

Crime

UAE: Social media users referred to prosecution for breaking content rules

Published

28 mins ago

August 26, 2025

Michael Gomes

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The National Media Office (NMO) has referred several social media users to the Federal Public Prosecution for posting content that violates UAE media laws.

Officials said a special monitoring team works 24/7 to detect violations, alert users about their mistakes, and give them a chance to correct them. Those who fail to comply face legal action.

The NMO explained that these steps are taken to:

Keep social media safe and respectful
Prevent the spread of harmful or misleading content
Protect community values and ethics

In March, the NMO had already reminded users to follow the UAE’s principles of respect, tolerance, and coexistence when posting online. It warned that anyone breaking these rules will be held accountable under UAE law.