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Turkey travel warning issued for UK tourists travelling this month

The Foreign Office has issued a warning to Brits heading to Turkey this month. They have advised them to be extra cautious due to potential threats of terror attacks in the lead up to the country's local elections. And UK government officials have even suggested avoiding certain areas that have been targeted previously. A recent update said Turkish police have arrested 33 individuals suspected of having connections with the Islamic State group. These suspects were allegedly planning attacks ahead of the upcoming local elections, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Speaking on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said the suspects were "preparing and searching for action before the upcoming local elections." The nationwide elections are scheduled to take place on March 31. During raids conducted by counter-terrorism police in Sakarya, located in north-west Turkey, weapons, cash and "organisational documents" were discovered, officials in Turkey say. "We will not tolerate any terrorists. We will continue our fight uninterruptedly with the superior efforts of our security forces," Mr Yerlikaya said. He alleged that the network was supplying personnel for war zones and providing financial support to Islamic State from illegal mosques and religious schools. Currently, Turkey is perceived to be at a 'high likelihood' of being targeted by terrorists, the Foreign Office says. The pre-existing tensions in Israel and Palestine influence this risk, officials say. A number of terrorist attacks have been carried out in southeast Turkey. Ankara and Istanbul have also been targeted. Holiday-goers are being advised to stay aware of their environment, to keep up with local news broadcasts and listen to the advice given by local authorities. The Foreign Office warned: "Occasional demonstrations can occur in cities and may become violent. Police have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protests. Events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories have led to heightened tensions in the region and demonstrations are ongoing in locations across Turkey. Large demonstrations have been reported outside diplomatic missions connected to the conflict in major cities, particularly Israeli diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul."

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H-1B visa registrations begin; check what’s new for Indian travellers

The H-1B visa program, which enables US companies to hire foreign workers with specialized skills, has commenced registrations for the fiscal year 2025 as of March 6. In January, reports surfaced about a potential overhaul of the annual lottery system for this visa category by the US federal agency, signaling a significant change in the application process. While addressing concerns about the H-1B visa process and the green card application backlog in a press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre added that President Joe Biden is committed to resolving issues within the legal immigration system. To streamline processes, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced myUSCIS organisational accounts, aiming to enhance collaboration and user experience. Checking the registration trends over the past three years provides these insights: In 2022, there were 308,613 registrations, with 131,924 applications selected for further processing. In 2023, registrations increased to 483,927, and 127,600 applications were selected. Notably, 2024 saw a surge in registrations, reaching 780,884, and 188,400 applications were selected. Key dates for the H-1B visa process in the upcoming fiscal year: March 6: H-1B registration period opens March 22: H-1B registration period closes March 31: USCIS intends to notify selected registrants April 1: Earliest day to submit H-1B petitions for the 2025 fiscal year for those chosen during the initial selection process. How to register? To submit an H-1B registration, the initial step is to create a USCIS online account. The registration window for Fiscal Year 2025 will be open from March 6 to March 22. Both representatives and registrants are required to delay the creation and submission of H-1B registrations until March 1. Starting from February 28, 2024, individuals handling their own registrations, termed as "registrants," including U.S. employers and U.S. agents, will utilise an "organisational" account, previously identified as a "registrant" account. Registrants have the option to establish new organisational accounts beginning February 28, 2024. For those holding existing registrant accounts, the process involves a simple upgrade to an organisational account instead of creating a new one. Representatives have the flexibility to create an account at any time using the existing representative account type. If they already possess a representative account, there is no need to initiate a new one. Additionally, representatives can opt to upgrade to an organisational account, with this option becoming available from February 28, 2024. A daily transaction cap of $24,999.99 per credit card per day is in place. Alternatively, transactions can be processed through different means: - Utilise a checking account for transactions. The checking account details, including routing and account numbers, must be affiliated with a financial institution based in the United States. - Employ a debit card issued by a financial institution situated in the United States. Additionally, it remains an option to use a credit card, with the caveat of restricting daily credit card transactions to a cumulative total of $39,999.99 per card.

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‘We are sorry, we want Indians to come,’ says ex-Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed

Amid the ongoing tensions between India and the Maldives, the former Maldivian President, Mohamed Nasheed, currently in India, has expressed deep concerns regarding the potential impact of India's recent boycott on his country's vital tourism sector. Nasheed conveyed heartfelt apologies on behalf of the Maldivian people and fervently emphasised their sincere desire for Indian tourists to continue visiting the breathtaking islands. In a press conference addressing the media, Nasheed acknowledged the considerable and far-reaching repercussions on the Maldives due to the current situation. He stated, "The people of the Maldives are sorry; we apologise for this unfortunate situation. We want Indian people to continue coming for their holidays to the Maldives, and there will be no change in our warm hospitality." Following his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nasheed shared that PM Modi had extended his well-wishes, expressing full support for the Indian Prime Minister. Nasheed also commended the swift actions taken by the current Maldivian President in addressing the underlying issues that led to the current diplomatic strains. Reflecting on the long-standing historical ties between India and the Maldives, Nasheed stressed India's responsible and supportive approach during previous challenges. He urged both nations to get past through the present circumstances and return to their usual amicable relationship, stating, "I believe these matters must be carefully ironed out, and we must revert to changing course and go back to our usual relationship, which has always been characterised by mutual respect and cooperation." President Muizzu had previously pledged to expel Indian military personnel from the country, setting the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group by March 10. The tensions escalated further following derogatory comments posted by three Maldivian deputy ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, resulting in their suspension and a subsequent call for a boycott by Indian tourists. This group constitutes the largest contingent of visitors, closely followed by Russians. Nasheed's impassioned plea seeks to restore diplomatic and touristic ties, fostering harmony between the two nations.

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Farmers ‘rail roko’ protest across 60 locations in Haryana and Punjab; travel with precaution

Farmers are all set for another nationwide protest today. The ‘rail roko’ agitation will take place for four hours on Sunday between 12 PM and 4 PM. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have called for the protest to continue pressing their demands to the Centre. The nationwide ‘rail roko’ protest is expected to witness hundreds of farmers protesting at around 60 locations across Haryana and Punjab. The farmers' protest, which commenced on February 13 with the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, will see over 200 farmers' unions, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, demanding the acceptance of their demands by the Centre. In Haryana, authorities have imposed Section 144 in Ambala district to prevent major disturbances, with police deployed in sensitive areas. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has announced that during the ‘rail roko’ protest, hundreds of farmers will occupy railway tracks at various points in Punjab, including Ferozepur, Amritsar, Rupnagar, and Gurdaspur districts. Security measures have been heightened across all borders. The protest is likely to impact inter-city and state train schedules today. So travel with precaution, in case you are travelling on the affected route.

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Sela Tunnel, the world's longest bi-lane tunnel inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Arunachal Pradesh

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s largest bi-lane tunnel known as Sela Tunnel. Built at an altitude of 13000 ft, the strategically significant tunnel is set to ensure uninterrupted connectivity to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, regardless of weather conditions. During the tunnel's inauguration, PM Modi said, "You must have heard of 'Modi Ki Guarantee'. You will understand its significance once you visit Arunachal. The entire Northeast bears witness to this. I laid the foundation of the Sela Tunnel here in 2019, and today it has been inaugurated." Given its proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Sela Tunnel holds immense strategic importance, facilitating year-round access to Tawang and other frontier areas adjacent to China. In a broader developmental stride, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled projects worth INR 55,600 crore in the Northeast region on the same occasion. These projects span various states including Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh. The inauguration of the Sela Tunnel was symbolised by the flagging off of an Arunachal Pradesh State Transport bus passing through it. In total, development projects worth over INR 41000 crore were unveiled in Arunachal Pradesh alone, as reported by PTI.

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Beaches to soon have co-working spaces for beach-loving professionals

As per the latest development, co-working spaces will soon be available in Goa for all those who are there for both work and fun. Recently, the tourism department of the state announced that co-working spaces will be established on Morjim and Ashwem beaches in Goa. This move is in line with the Goa government's desire to position the state as a tourism hotspot beyond its renowned beaches, as per State Tourism Secretary Sanjeev Ahuja. He added that the government aims to attract more European tourists and high-spending travellers from various destinations. In short, the state government wants to offer more reasons to the travellers to visit Goa more often. Their approach is to introduce co-working spaces on the beaches, and also to grant nomad visas to individuals who can work while enjoying the coastal ambiance. According to the official, the development of facilities on Morjim and Ashwem beaches is underway and will be completed soon. The state government has initiated the process of obtaining nomad visas for such visitors, having communicated with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the External Affairs Ministry. The official anticipates a positive outcome, with discussions ongoing and potential progress post the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Ahuja elaborated on the concept of regenerative tourism, stressing the need to involve the local communities, culture, cuisine, festivals, and even farmers in the tourism spectrum. He highlighted lesser-known attractions, such as Goa's expansive temples and churches, which will be integrated into this innovative approach. An agreement has already been inked with Temple Connect, an organisation dedicated to revitalising and developing the temple ecosystem

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