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.”

Health

UAE to India travellers face new mandatory health declaration

Published

2 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Michael Gomes

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If you’re travelling from the UAE to India, there’s a new travel requirement you shouldn’t miss.

India has introduced Air Suvidha 2.0, a mandatory online health declaration system for all international arrivals. The form must be completed within 24 hours before your flight and is required before passengers are allowed to board.

The new system was introduced by India’s civil aviation authorities as a precautionary measure in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

What is Air Suvidha 2.0?

Air Suvidha 2.0 is an online self-declaration portal where travellers must provide their recent travel and health information before flying to India.

Passengers will be asked to submit details including:

Their travel history over the past 21 days
Any possible exposure to infectious diseases
Whether they are experiencing any related symptoms

Once the form is submitted, it is automatically shared with the Airport Health Organisation (APHO) under India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Is the form mandatory?

Yes. All international passengers travelling to India are required to complete the Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form before boarding their flight.

Airlines may ask passengers to show proof that the form has been submitted before allowing them to travel.

Do you need a printed copy?

No. After submitting the form, travellers will receive a confirmation by email, which can simply be shown on a mobile phone upon arrival in India. There’s no need to carry a printed copy.

Completing the form in advance also helps speed up the arrival process by reducing paperwork at the airport.

Announcements

Good news for businesses: Sharjah slashes fees and fines

Published

3 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Businesses in Sharjah can now benefit from a range of temporary fee reductions after Sharjah Police unveiled a new package of incentives aimed at easing costs and supporting the emirate’s business community.

The measures, introduced in line with a decision by the Sharjah Executive Council, include 50% discounts on several security-related fees, along with reduced fines and lower training costs for companies.

What discounts are available?

Under the new initiative, eligible businesses will receive:

50% off security permit renewal fees for commercial activities
50% off security system subscription fees
50% reduction on eligible violations and fines
20% off mandatory training programme fees for companies

Sharjah Police said the initiative is designed to support commercial establishments, encourage business sustainability and further strengthen the emirate’s position as an attractive destination for investment.

How long will the discounts last?

The incentives will be available for three months from the date the decision comes into effect.

Businesses seeking more information about the discounts and eligibility can contact the Sharjah Police Call Centre on 901.

India

Waiting for Indian passport services in the UAE? Here’s the latest update

Published

4 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Indian nationals in the UAE will have to wait a little longer for regular passport, visa and attestation services to resume.

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai have announced that they will continue offering only emergency consular services until July 1, extending the temporary suspension of routine services by an additional day.

In a post on the missions’ official X account, the embassy said emergency requests for passports, visas, attestation and other consular services will continue to be processed during the transition period.

Why the delay?

The extension comes as the Indian missions complete the handover of outsourced passport, visa and attestation services to Alhind Tours and Travel LLC, which is set to begin operations in the UAE from July 1.

Under the transition plan, previous service providers BLS International and SGIVS Global stopped accepting new applications after June 25, while regular appointments were suspended from June 26.

The missions said the extension is due to administrative reasons.

Need urgent assistance?

Applicants with emergency requirements can contact the Indian missions through:

Toll-free: 800 46342 (800 INDIA)
WhatsApp: +971 54 309 0571
Email: pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in

The embassy said details about the resumption of normal services from July 2 onwards will be announced separately and advised applicants to follow its official social media channels for updates.