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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.”

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Dubai-India travel: Security procedures triggered for Emirates flight following bomb threat email, flight lands safely

Published

2 days ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Authorities at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport activated full emergency protocols on Friday after receiving a bomb threat email linked to Emirates flight EK526 travelling from Dubai (DXB) to Hyderabad (HYD).

According to GMR officials, the threat email landed in the airport’s customer support inbox around 7.30am on December 5. Despite the alert, the flight continued under strict monitoring and landed safely at 8.30am.

Once on the ground, the aircraft was immediately moved to an isolated bay. Passengers were safely deboarded, and security te

ams carried out standard bomb threat checks. Investigations are currently underway.

Emirates confirmed the incident in a statement to local media, saying authorities had alerted them to a “potential security threat” to EK526.
“All standard security procedures were implemented by the relevant local authorities with full co-operation from Emirates’ ground teams,” the airline said, adding that “the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain the highest priority.”

Authorities say all threats are being investigated, and extra security measures remain in place at the airport.

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Driving through Abu Dhabi this week? Here are the road closures you need to know about

Published

2 days ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Abu Dhabi motorists can expect some delays over the next few days, with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announcing a series of partial road closures across key routes in the capital. Drivers are being urged to plan, allow extra travel time, and follow diversions to avoid congestion.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street

A major set of phased lane closures will take place near Sheikh Zayed Bridge from Tuesday, December 9 to Monday, December 22, 2025.

Three left lanes will be closed from 12am on December 9 until 10pm on December 15.
Two right lanes will then shut from 10pm on December 15 until 6am on December 22.

Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street

Another temporary closure is scheduled on Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street from 5pm on December 5 until 5am on December 8.

Authorities explained that these restrictions are part of ongoing road enhancement projects designed to improve traffic flow and safety across the city. Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes wherever possible during the maintenance period.

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Sharjah Police give deadline to remove National Day stickers, or face fines

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2 days ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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If your car is still sporting National Day decals, it’s time to take them off. Sharjah Police have announced that all vehicle owners must remove their UAE National Day celebration stickers by Saturday, December 6, and those who miss the deadline will face violations.

The reminder follows a crackdown during the 54th Eid Al Etihad celebrations, where authorities impounded 106 vehicles and nine motorbikes for dangerous and irresponsible behaviour on the roads.

According to Sharjah Police, the violations included:

Creating loud noise and disturbing residents
Driving recklessly and endangering others
Operating vehicles without a valid licence

Police officials urged motorists to celebrate responsibly and avoid turning festivities into safety risks.

However, there has been a shift in decorating trends this year. Many residents opted for cleaner, simpler, more elegant designs to showcase their UAE pride ahead of the long weekend, and demand for custom decals surged.

Authorities are now urging residents to ensure all celebratory stickers and decorations are removed by the set deadline to keep roads safe and avoid penalties.