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UAE awards Golden Visa to renowned actor Rajnikanth; know what privilege it offers

Renowned actor Rajinikanth has been honored with the prestigious UAE Golden Visa by the Department of Culture and Tourism in the UAE. Taking to social media, the superstar expressed his gratitude towards the Abu Dhabi Government and MA Yusuff Ali, the chairman and managing director of Lulu Group, for their instrumental roles in securing this accolade. In a widely circulated video, Rajinikanth shared, "I am deeply honored to receive the esteemed UAE Golden Visa from the Abu Dhabi government. My sincere thanks to the Abu Dhabi government, as well as to my dear friend Mr. Yusuff Ali, CMD of Lulu Group, for facilitating this visa and for their unwavering support." During his recent visit to the UAE, Rajinikanth met with MA Yusuff Ali and other key executives of Lulu Group. The actor and the entrepreneur were even seen sharing a ride in a Rolls Royce, sparking speculation about potential collaborations between the superstar and the Lulu Group owner. Here’s all that you need to know about this prestigious visa. What is the Golden Visa? It’s actually a long-term residence visa that is granted to individuals from other countries to study, work, or reside in the UAE, accompanied by exclusive benefits. Some of the key highlights about the Golden Visa are: - The benefits encompass a six-month entry visa with multiple entries, along with a renewable residence visa valid for either 5 or 10 years, thereby eliminating the requirement for a sponsor. - Golden visa holders have the flexibility to uphold visa validity by residing outside the UAE for over six months, as well as sponsoring family members and domestic helpers, ensuring their accommodation in the event of the primary holder's passing until the visa expiration. - Golden Visa prerequisites differ depending on the residency category, such as investor, entrepreneur, etc. - Public investment investors must demonstrate a deposit or capital of AED 2 million, furnish evidence of annual tax payments amounting to at least AED 250,000, and maintain full ownership of the invested capital. - Real estate investors must possess properties valued at a minimum of 2 million dirhams or acquire property via an approved loan from designated local banks. - Entrepreneurs must present economically innovative projects endorsed by authorities, auditors, and business incubators. - Exceptional talents, including doctors, scientists, and inventors, must fulfill specific criteria and secure approval letters from pertinent authorities. - Exceptional talents, such as doctors and scientists, may receive a 10-year Golden Visa upon approval from the Ministry of Health and Prevention and Emirates Council of Scientists, respectively. - Inventors require a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Economy, while individuals excelling in culture and arts must obtain an approval letter from the Department of Culture and Arts in their respective emirate.

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JetBlue and British Airways May Be Partnering Up to Expand Their Networks — What That'll Mean for Travelers

JetBlue and British Airways have submitted a codeshare agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), hoping to make travel easier for fliers across the Atlantic. “We are always looking for new ways to offer our customers more choice when traveling,” JetBlue shared in a statement with Travel + Leisure. “With the new codeshare, customers will be able to seamlessly book a single ticket for travel on both airlines, providing an expanded network of destinations across Europe and the U.S.” The codeshare partnership, filed on Wednesday, proposes both airlines leverage their unique route networks and fly to nearly 100 destinations across the U.S. and Europe. This would allow travelers to fly from 75 domestic airports in JetBlue’s network, such as Charleston and Syracuse, and cover 17 cities British Airways serves, including Copenhagen and Lisbon. etBlue’s hubs are heavily focused on the Northeast, as its transatlantic flights depart from New York and Boston. Since JetBlue launched its first-ever routes to London in 2021, it now offers flights to Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin, and, most recently, Edinburgh. The news of the codeshare agreement comes as JetBlue recently announced it would cut back daily transatlantic frequencies during the slower winter season. If approved, this agreement would benefit JetBlue to maintain capacity on the routes by flying codeshare passengers year-round. The past year has been marked by JetBlue’s unsuccessful tie-ups with American Airlines and Spirit Airlines — and on separate occasions. The Northeast Alliance between JetBlue and American, which had added more flights out of New York and Boston, was dissolved last summer due to antitrust violations. Then, in January, a federal judge blocked JetBlue's proposed merger with Spirit, which was proposed to make the fifth-largest airline in the country.

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Kashmir on road to become 'Valley of hope' for startups: Ex-NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant

India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant has lauded the significant changes witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir after the scrapping of Article 370 in 2019. Kant, the former CEO of NITI Aayog, has said that Kashmir has the potential of becoming the 'Valley of hope' for startups, especially after recent ‘radical’ transformation on the ground. “I have been coming here for a long time, and I have seen the period of stone pelting, hartals, and violence. And I see a very radical transformation (post 370) on the ground here," Kant, who visited the Valley, told local daily Greater Kashmir. On August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government abrogated the Article 370, which granted special status to J&K, was abrogated, and the erstwhile state was divided into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. “I discussed this with the Lieutenant Governor. He is very keen that we constantly do unique things in Kashmir. And I suggested to him, we should get the top CEOs and do a CEOs retreat on resilience and reinvention in Kashmir. We should also do a very major meet of all start-ups, the top start-ups and amplify the start-up movement in Kashmir because Kashmir is the ‘Valley of Hope’ for all start-ups," said Kant who met L-G Manoj Sinha on May 21. Kant appreciated L-G Sinha's administration for ensuring free, fair, and safe elections. This remark comes days after Srinagar and Baramulla seats of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed record voter turnout in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Kant also highlighted the potential for film tourism in the Valley. "This panoramic view: the snow, the mountains, and the greens – all this you will not get anywhere else in the world. So, I would appeal not merely to Bollywood but to the film industry of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala too. All of these are very big industries. They should all come and shoot in Kashmir. This is a big opportunity."

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UAE visa update: Travellers need to have INR 68,000; only visa and return tickets not enough

The UAE offers a Visit Visa for individuals wishing to visit the country, which serves multiple purposes such as visiting relatives, travel, exploring job opportunities, and more. Now, as per the latest news reports, immigration authorities have intensified inspections and screenings at UAE airports to detect individuals arriving on a visit visa with the intention of seeking employment. If reports are to go by, several passengers from Kottayam and Idukki districts in Kerala were detained at the airport due to inadequate travel documentation. These inspections commenced at Kochi and Kozhikode airports in Kerala. Following the detention of passengers in the UAE, the scrutiny process has become more rigorous. At Cochin International Airport alone, over 20 passengers were barred from boarding flights recently. Similarly, up to five individuals are denied travel daily at Calicut International Airport. Consequently, approximately 30 passengers in Kozhikode had to cancel their travel plans. Reportedly, airlines are also strictly enforcing regulations requiring tourist visa holders to possess hotel reservation documents and 5,000 dirhams (approximately INR 1.3 lakh) for expenses. Many passengers arriving with only a visa and air tickets were unable to board flights and were refused travel even after providing visa details, contact information, and addresses of relatives or friends in the UAE. Those whose trips were canceled received no refunds or opportunities to reschedule and endured lengthy waits at the airport before returning home. An airline official informed that they received directives regarding hotel booking documents and a 5,000 dirhams buffer, in addition to visas and return tickets. Guidelines stipulate that airlines will be held accountable for passengers lacking proper documentation upon arrival in the UAE, with fines of 5,000 dirhams per passenger imposed. These stringent measures, a first for airports, require passengers to carry or have access to 3,000 dirhams (approximately INR 68,000) for a one-month visa and 5,000 dirhams for a longer stay, with credit cards meeting these limits also accepted. Immigration authorities in Dubai have issued guidelines for visitors on tourist visas: 1) Airport officials will have to inquire about the purpose of the visit, accommodation arrangements, and available funds for expenses. Inadequate responses may result in passengers being detained. 2) Visitors on tourist visas are prohibited from engaging in employment, with travel and recruitment agencies forbidden from promising job opportunities. 3) Visitors on employment visas must complete visa procedures upon entry, enabling them to work legally. 4) Visitors engaging in tourist activities should provide information on their hotel accommodation, return tickets, and available funds. 5) Visitors visiting friends or relatives may be asked for copies of their hosts' visas and passports, along with contact details and accommodation information.

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Himachal government forms committee to safeguard Lahaul Valley ecosystem amid tourism surge

In response to the burgeoning influx of tourists in the Lahaul Valley, the state government has established an 11-member committee led by the Director of Tourism to ensure safe and sustainable tourism in the region. This initiative aims to protect the valley's delicate ecosystem, which has faced increasing pressure since the opening of the Atal Tunnel in October 2020. The Atal Tunnel has significantly boosted tourism, drawing numerous visitors to Sissu and Koksar for adventure activities in the snow. The surge in tourist numbers has raised environmental concerns, with experts warning about the region's limited carrying capacity. Kullu District Tourism Development Officer (DTDO) Sunayna Sharma emphasised the committee's role in regulating tourism, noting that it will offer suggestions on traffic management, safety, and adventure activities to ensure tourism is conducted in a safe, efficient, and sustainable manner. In May 2023, the government also established the Atal Tunnel Planning Area to control land use and construction activities in the region, particularly along highways. This measure aims to prevent unregulated expansion as new hotels and homestays emerge to meet the growing demand. The HP High Court has been actively involved in addressing ecological concerns. On March 6, the court directed the Town and Country Planning Principal Secretary to notify vending and non-vending zones in the Solang Special Area near Manali. This followed the court's earlier intervention regarding littering near the Atal Tunnel, prompted by a public interest litigation (PIL) based on a news report from The Tribune in July 2022. As the valley continues to attract more tourists, the newly formed committee's work will be crucial in balancing the region's economic benefits from tourism with the need to preserve its unique ecological and cultural heritage.

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Travel advisory: Heatwave alert in most parts of North India; places to avoid right now

A relentless heat wave persisted across large parts of the country for the seventh consecutive day on Thursday, with temperatures soaring to 48.8 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan's Barmer, marking the highest recorded temperature in the country so far this year. Official statistics revealed that at least 16 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh experienced maximum temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or above on Thursday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that the severe heat wave would persist for at least another five days. In Rajasthan, Churu recorded a high of 47.4 degrees Celsius, Phalodi 47.8 degrees, and Jaisalmer 47.2 degrees. Meanwhile, maximum temperatures reached 46.6 degrees in Madhya Pradesh's Guna, 45 degrees in Uttar Pradesh's Orai, 45.9 degrees in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, 45.4 degrees each in Punjab's Bathinda and Haryana's Sirsa. Despite a slight dip, Delhi still experienced above-normal temperatures on Thursday, with the mercury hitting 41 degrees Celsius, according to IMD data. The Met office issued a 'red' warning for Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh, highlighting a ‘very high likelihood’ of heat-related illnesses and heat stroke across all age groups. It also cautioned that warm nighttime conditions could exacerbate heat-related stress in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan over the next three days. Elevated nighttime temperatures are particularly concerning as they hinder the body's ability to cool down, a phenomenon exacerbated by the urban heat island effect, which causes cities to be significantly hotter than their surroundings. If reports are to go by, the relentless heat is straining power grids and depleting water sources, leading to drought-like conditions in various parts of the country. The Central Water Commission reported that water storage in 150 major reservoirs in India had plummeted to its lowest level in five years, exacerbating water scarcity in many states and significantly impacting hydropower generation. Severe and frequent heat waves are disproportionately affecting low-income households, which often lack access to adequate water and cooling facilities, and are putting outdoor workers at risk, necessitating frequent breaks. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly and children, are at a heightened risk of heat-related illnesses. Hot weather also negatively impacts productivity, with studies showing that students perform worse academically during 'hot school years.' The absence of functional electricity connections in 15 percent of government schools in India exacerbates the impact of heat waves on rural education. Moreover, the lack of adequate cold-chain infrastructure poses a threat to fresh produce during extreme heat events, contributing to annual food losses worth USD 13 billion in India. A World Bank report predicts that India could account for 34 million of the projected 80 million global job losses due to heat stress-associated productivity decline by 2030. With 75 percent of Indian workers experiencing heat-related stress, the lost labour resulting from rising temperatures could lead to a loss of up to 4.5 percent of India's GDP by the end of the decade, equivalent to approximately USD 150-250 billion, according to a McKinsey Global Institute report.

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