News

Revised timings announced for 25 trains, including the Netravati Express

The Railways has decided to revise the timings of 25 trains, including Netravati and Mangala Express trains, running on the Konkan route from today. Moreover, trains via Konkan will now operate at an average speed of 110km/hr after the speed of these express trains was cut down to 40 to 75km/hr during the monsoon season. The Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express (12617) will depart at 1.25 pm instead of 10.30 am. The train will reach Shornur at 4.15 pm and Kannur at 6.39 pm. The Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Express (12618) will reach the destination one hour early per the revised schedule. The train will reach Shornur at 4.15 am and Ernakulam at 7.30 am. The Thiruvananthapuram-Lokmanya Tilak Netravati Express (16346) will start its journey at 9.15 am and reach Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur at 1.50 pm, 6.05 pm and 7.35 pm respectively.

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Thailand rolls out biometric system at 6 major airports

Planning a trip to Thailand? This new update will help you plan a smooth journey. As per the latest news reports, Thailand is streamlining the travel experience with new biometric verification and facial recognition technology at six key airports. As per the reports, starting December 1, international tourists will experience faster and more efficient immigration processing, whereas domestic travellers will have early access to this facility from November 1. By allowing visitors to use their physical identification only once while travelling, this new procedure will expedite security and immigration clearances and eliminate the need for repeated identity checks. It is likely that this new process in place will enhance passenger convenience, and help boost Thailand's appeal as a travel destination for both domestic and foreign travellers. The introduction of biometric verification in Thailand's six airports promises a smooth travel experience. The new procedure will operate as follows: Consent and enrolment: Whether using self-check-in kiosks or check-in counters, travellers will need to give their consent to sharing personal identity information. Following enrolment, biometric information and travel information are collected and recorded by the Airport Authority of Thailand (AoT) for a single trip. This will make the entire experience hassle free for travellers as they will be able to go from luggage drop to boarding without having to show their passport or boarding card again. Do note that they will have to repeat the process during their next trip.

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Taiwan extends digital nomad visa plans to one year

Taiwan is revising the launch details of its digital nomad visa, which was originally planned to permit six month stays. The areas of Hualien, Taitung, Tainan, and Pingtung are all keen to welcome digital nomads, National Development Council (NDC) Minister Paul Liu said. He highlighted that the Taiwanese government will be offering its new digital nomad residents help with support innovation and creativity. Taiwan is just one of many East Asian countries offering digital nomad visas in a bid to attract professional talent from overseas. For now, EU visitors who wish to visit Taiwan can enter on a visa-free entry or on a tourist visa that allows stays of up to three months, however no one is permitted to work. Part of the country's new plans will be to make it easier for skilled and high-earning foreign workers to gain permanent residence in Taiwan.

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Free bus rides for women in Karnataka

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that there is no proposal before the government to revisit the 'Shakti' scheme, which provides free bus travel for all women domiciled in the state. The clarification came amid criticism over Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar indicating about revisiting the scheme. Facing backlash over his statement, Shivakumar on Thursday ruled out withdrawing or revisiting any of the five guarantee schemes including Shakti, and accused media and opposition parties of distorting his statement. “There is no such proposal before the government, he (Shivakumar) only said what some women are saying. I don't know, I was not there. I will speak,” Siddaramaiah said in response to a question regarding the Deputy CM's statement. Speaking to reporters here, the CM said: “there is no situation for revisiting it at the government level. There is no such intention, there is no such proposal.” Noting that many women had tweeted and reached out to him expressing their willingness to pay for the ride, Shivakumar, addressing an event on Wednesday, said: “let's see, we will all sit and discuss it. They are a section (of women), they may be 5-10 per cent. Let's see, some have honestly expressed they are ready to pay. Ramalinga Reddy (Transport Minister) and I -- we will discuss in the government, what to do.”

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S Africa launches scheme to woo tourists from India, China

South Africa has launched an innovative new scheme to increase tourism, especially from India and China, inviting tour operators from those two countries to join their local counterparts in signing up to the scheme. Two months after Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, conceptualised the concept, his Department on Tuesday announced the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS), which is aimed at enhancing job creation that flows from increased tourism. This followed discussion with the tourism ministry and the tourism sector in the country to find ways of eliminating visa inefficiency and red tape which had throttled South Africa's ability to attract more tourists from these two burgeoning source markets. To resolve bottlenecks and reposition Home Affairs as an economic enabler, the Department has today gazetted a call for expression of interest by established tour operators from South Africa and abroad who wish to sign up to the scheme to bring more tourists from China and India to our country, the department said in a statement. It cited statistics showing how Chinese tourists made over 100 million outbound trips in 2023, with South Africa receiving only 93,000 of these arrivals. In comparison, a country like Australia attracted over 1.4 million visitors from China in 2023.

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UK Government issues updated travel advisory for 18 countries

The UK government has issued a fresh travel advisory, urging British nationals to reconsider travel to 18 popular destinations across the Middle East and North Africa. This advisory follows recent airstrikes by Israel targeting Iran and an escalating wave of conflict across the region. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) updated its guidance on October 26, advising against non-essential travel to destinations that include Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. With tensions mounting, the FCDO cautioned travellers to keep a close eye on official updates and local guidance if they’re currently in or planning to visit the region. If reports are to go by, for those who may be considering trips to any of the impacted countries, it's important to remember that disregarding this travel advice could mean more than just taking a personal risk—your travel insurance might not cover you if you go against FCDO recommendations. The advisory extends to a wide range of popular destinations across the Middle East and North Africa, including: Cyprus, Turkey (which has a separate warning due to a recent terrorist attack), Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Iran, Syria, Occupied Palestinian Territories

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