Kenya – USMAIL24.COM

An amazing time – guaranteed: discovering that the humpback whale migration off the coast of Kenya is one of nature’s greatest wonders (while staying in 5-star luxury at a 4-star European price)

Albert Elence — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 18:53:31 +0000

At first there is only a fleeting glimpse as someone breaks cover.

A little later it is a whole family. And suddenly, with cries of delight from our children, we are in the middle of the great migration.

Kenya is known for the annual migration of wildebeest and zebras from the Serengeti to the lush grasses of the Masai Mara, avoiding lions and crocodiles altogether.

But we don’t watch that show. We are near a Kenyan beach and see an equally spectacular migration of humpback whales that travel from Antarctica to the Indian Ocean every summer.

Along the way they skirt the Kenyan coastline at Watamu – and are just one of the attractions in this enchanting seaside town.

Robert Hardman visits the Kenyan coast where he watches the spectacular migration of humpback whales, which travel from Antarctica to the Indian Ocean every summer

For many, Kenya is all about going on a safari. Yet the Kenyan coast is much more beautiful, accessible – and affordable – than I thought. It is also ideal for summer holidays, because it is a quiet season here with wonderful temperatures.

So first look further south before paying peak prices in a European hotspot.

The East African country is more of a trek than Spain, but many of the eight-hour direct flights to the capital Nairobi take place at night, there’s no jet lag and there are plenty of connections to the coast at Malindi or Mombasa.

We chose a week in Watamu, where the days were sultry and the evenings wonderfully cool.

From sunrise to sunset we had the full tropical sandy beach experience, jumping from glass bottom boats over a coral reef and laying on the sand eating freshly cut coconut.

While the coastal town of Watamu, just 13 miles from Malindi airport, was far from empty, it was also far from full.

See Hemingways – a beautiful, low-rise property with a huge pool above the beach in Watamu. Robert checks in and declares that it offers five-star luxury at a European four-star price

In the photo: Robert in Watamu with his family

My wife and I, plus our three children (aged 16, 14 and 11) stayed in Hemingways – a beautiful, low-rise apartment with a huge pool above the beach.

It’s five-star luxury at a European four-star price.

Our ocean view apartment had two spacious bedrooms and a huge living room, both with views of the Indian Ocean and access to a balcony that ran the length of our suite.

Two large bathrooms and a large kitchen are located inland. Not that we were cooking.

Hemingways’ restaurant serves a full brunch-style breakfast every morning. Every evening we had the choice of a buffet or an a la carte menu.

Outside, chefs were busy preparing curries or tossing steaks, snapper and stir-fries over fire pits.

Often at lunch we would grab a few tuk tuks and head to the bazaars and restaurants of central Watamu.

Robert bases himself on the beach, from where he watches the migration of humpback whales. Pictured: dining on a terrace in his hotel

The bathroom and master bedroom in one of the hotel apartments

This place is steeped in Swahili history with its Gede ruins. There are also Indian, Arabic and Italian influences. Browse the stalls to find a famous kikoy sarong.

Just before sunset, head to Mida Creek, which flows into a huge inland lagoon.

There you can sit in a bar on stilts above the water with a cocktail and watch the sun set over the dhows and mangroves.

An unexpected highlight was Watamu Snake Farm, a sanctuary for some of the world’s deadliest specimens, including puff adders and spitting cobras.

Robert finds that the tropical sandy beaches of the Kenyan coast are much more beautiful, accessible – and affordable – than he had imagined. In the photo: Turtle Beach in Watamu

Just before sunset, head to Mida Creek (pictured), which flows into a huge lagoon inland, writes Robert

Be there at 11am when the venom is ‘milked’ into serum to treat bites that kill up to 1,000 Kenyans every year.

Another popular spot is the Watamu Turtle Watch Marine Information Center. The area is a breeding ground for endangered sea turtles and when fishermen catch one in nets, they bring it here.

Because Watamu is located in a UNESCO-protected marine reserve, it is not teeming with pedal boats, jet skis and disco boats.

You need a day ticket to enter the reserve in a licensed glass-bottom tourist boat. It costs £12 for a day ticket (£10 for a child) plus the boat ticket.

Because Watamu is located in a UNESCO-protected marine reserve, it is not teeming with pedal boats, jet skis and disco boats, says Robert

The area is a breeding ground for endangered sea turtles, as pictured here in the Watamu Marine National Park

Hemingways’ restaurant (above) offered a full brunch-style breakfast every morning, Robert says

A skipper takes you to a coral reef. All boats have free snorkel sets and life jackets. You can sunbathe on board or jump in to view the marine life.

My fate followed a stingray – at a distance.

The highlight was the afternoon on a Hemingways sports boat, following the great whale migration. It costs £80 each for a four-hour journey (including drinks and food).

Soon we saw a cloud of mist coming from a whale’s blowhole. Then the humpback whales appeared, slapping the water with their tails.

Suddenly a mother with a calf came up, followed by three relatives, so close that we could hear them snorting.

On the way back, our skipper Alfred set out fishing lines. I reeled in as many as a sailfish as long as I had a three-foot spike on its bill. It took three of us to reel it in, hold it for a photo, and then remove the hook. Then we threw it back.

What a day. What a week.

TRAVEL FACTS

A week at Hemingways costs from £1,659pp, a saving of £200pp with DialAFlight (dialaflight.com0207 962 9933). Includes return flights on Kenya Airways, seven nights’ accommodation in an ocean view room and transfers. Book by March 28 for travel from April 25 to July 31, 2024.

The post An amazing time – guaranteed: discovering that the humpback whale migration off the coast of Kenya is one of nature’s greatest wonders (while staying in 5-star luxury at a 4-star European price) appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Kenya suspends police deployment in Haiti

Jeffrey Bailey — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:07:51 +0000

A deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti to help quell gang-fueled lawlessness will be suspended until a new government is formed in the Caribbean country, officials in Kenya said Tuesday.

Kenya had agreed to send a security force to Haiti, but that deal was reached with Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who on Monday evening agreed to step down once a new transitional government is formed.

“The deal they signed with the president still stands, although the deployment will not take place now because we certainly need a sitting government to work with,” said Salim Swaleh, a top spokesman for Kenya’s foreign ministry Affairs. “Because you don’t just deploy the police to go through the streets of Port-au-Prince without a sitting government.”

Haiti’s embattled prime minister announced his resignation after being stranded in Puerto Rico for days following a gang takeover of much of the Haitian capital, making it impossible for him to return. His decision followed several days of violent attacks on police stations, prisons, the main airport, seaport and other state institutions.

Mr Henry’s resignation added further uncertainty to an already chaotic situation on the Caribbean island, which has been hit by an extraordinary wave of gang violence in recent months.

Mr Henry, 74, had traveled to Kenya to make final arrangements for the East African country to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti to help quell the violence. The mission was approved by the United Nations and largely funded by the United States, which pledged Monday to provide more aid.

The mission had already been postponed by Kenyan court rulings, but the agreement Mr Henry and Kenya signed was intended to remove the last remaining legal hurdle so the deployment could go ahead.

Gang leaders took advantage of Mr Henry’s absence to take to the streets and sow more chaos. Orchestrated attacks on two prisons freed thousands of prisoners. Gunfire at the main airport in Port-au-Prince, the capital, forced the suspension of flights; Houses were ransacked and looted throughout the city.

Every day there were reports from the United Nations of civilians being killed by gang fire.

The gangs threatened civil war if Mr Henry did not resign. Mr. Henry, who was appointed prime minister, had become deeply unpopular among many Haitians because of his failure to protect people from gangs and his apparent unwillingness to hold elections.

Leaders from Caribbean countries, who have taken the initiative to create a transitional council to lead Haiti after Mr. Henry’s departure, met for talks in Jamaica on Monday but said no plan had yet been finalized. Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who heads Caricom, a union of 15 Caribbean countries, said “we still have a long way to go.”

It was far from clear when Mr. Henry, under mounting pressure to resign both in Haiti and abroad, would actually do so.

Mr. Henry’s tenure has been problematic from the start.

A neurosurgeon who lived in France for almost two decades, Mr. Henry led the country’s public health response to a 2010 earthquake and a cholera outbreak that followed. He also worked at the Ministry of the Interior. A veteran of two previous presidential administrations, he was a member of the opposition party when President Jovenel Moïse tapped him to become prime minister in 2021.

But Mr. Moïse was assassinated just days after that appointment, and Mr. Henry was never formally elected by the legislature.

Haiti’s electoral system is so disorganized that no elections have been held in eight years. With no parliament in power to elect a new Prime Minister, many Haitians viewed Henry’s time in power as illegitimate.

But the Biden administration and other countries backed him, helping Mr. Henry stay in office. Now that he is leaving, Kenyan officials say they will wait until a new governing body is in power.

“We will certainly have to work with some kind of administration to fulfill that mandate,” Mr Swaleh said. “And if there isn’t one, we obviously can’t just send the police there.”

A spokesman for Mr. Henry, Jean-Junior Joseph, said Mr. Henry will resign once the transition council is appointed.

“We’re waiting for that to happen,” he said.

David C Adams And André Paultre reporting contributed.

The post Kenya suspends police deployment in Haiti appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Kenya signs deal with Haiti to send 1,000 police officers to the Caribbean

Jeffrey Bailey — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 13:56:36 +0000

The Kenyan government said Friday it has signed an agreement with Haiti to deploy a multinational force in the gang-ridden Caribbean country. In doing so, she is pursuing a plan that has drawn criticism from rights groups and been blocked by a court in the East African country.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry of Haiti recently arrived in Kenya to finalize plans to deploy 1,000 Kenyan police officers to his country.

The plan had been declared unconstitutional in January by Kenya’s Supreme Court, which said it could only go ahead if there was a “mutual agreement” between the two nations.

On Friday, Kenya’s President William Ruto said the two governments had signed the agreement to enable the deployment. He did not provide a timeline of when the police officers would be deployed to Haiti, but said in a statement that he and Mr. Henry had “discussed next steps to accelerate the deployment.”

“We believe this is a historic obligation because peace in Haiti is good for the world as a whole,” Ruto said in a statement.

The force, which is backed by the United Nations and funded by the United States, has been widely criticized by Kenyan opponents and activists, who call it unconstitutional. Many of them pointed to the human rights abuses committed by the Kenyan police over the years and their dismal record in the fight against terrorists and other criminals.

It was not immediately clear whether Kenyan opponents of the plan would challenge the new agreement or the possible deployment of troops. Some Kenyan activists have said that even if Kenya were to sign an agreement with Haiti, Mr Henry would not have the legal right to sign the document because he is not an elected leader.

Mr Henry became Haiti’s leader after its president, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated three years ago, plunging the country into extraordinary levels of violence and chaos.

Gangs control many parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and police in Haiti have failed to quell the unrest, prompting Mr Henry to call for international help.

But he himself has been criticized for his handling of the unrest, and many Haitians are demanding that he call elections.

In Kenya, the government has appealed the Supreme Court’s decision blocking the deployment. But a State Department official also told The New York Times last month that as long as they had a “mutual agreement” with Haiti, the government does not want to wait for the court’s decision before the armed forces are deployed.

The post Kenya signs deal with Haiti to send 1,000 police officers to the Caribbean appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

World record holder and London marathon winner Kelvin Kiptum dies aged just 24

Jeffrey Bailey — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 01:26:08 +0000

LONDON Marathon winner and world record holder Kelvin Kiptum has died aged just 24.

The Kenyan long-distance runner died in a car accident on Sunday along with his coach Garvais Hakizimana.

Kelvin Kiptum crosses the finish line to win the Elite Men's Marathon at the 2023 TCS London Marathon in April 2023Credit: Getty

The Kenyan was selected to represent his country ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in ParisCredit: X/@RailaOdinga

The Kenyan international poses next to Sifan Hassan, winner of last year's Elite Women's race, holding the Chris Brasher Memorial TrophyCredit: PA

Kiptum won the London Marathon last April and broke the course record by crossing the line in two hours, one minute and 25 seconds.

Just months later, he broke the world marathon record in Chicago, completing the 26-mile race in just two hours and 35 seconds.

The international track federation World Athletics had only ratified his records last week.

Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga confirmed that Kiptum had died on

“Together with his coach, they tragically died tonight.”

“My deepest condolences to his loved ones, friends and the entire athletics fraternity.

“Our nation mourns the profound loss of a true hero.”

The accident happened on a road in western Kenya, a high-altitude area often used as a training base for long-distance athletes.

The London Marathon organizers said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the terrible news of the deaths of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.

“The thoughts of everyone at the TCS London Marathon are with the family and friends of Kelvin and Gervais.”

World Athletics President Seb Coe said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.

“On behalf of all World Athletics, we extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.

“It wasn't until earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon world record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time.

“An incredible athlete who leaves an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”

Local reports state that a second passenger, a lady identified as Sharon Kosgey, was in the car at the time of the crash.

She survived the impact, but with serious injuries, and was rushed to Racecourse Hospital for medical attention.

The bodies of Kiptum and Hakiziman were taken to the hospital mortuary.

Elgeyo Marakwet police commander Petr Mulinge confirmed that the accident occurred around 11pm (8pm GMT) on Sunday.

According to Mulinge, Kiptum lost control of the vehicle, left the road and ended up in a ditch about 200 feet away before crashing into a tree.

He added that Kiptum and Hakizimana “died on the spot”.

Kiptum was currently training to run a short two-hour run during the Rotterdam Marathon on April 14.

He was also selected by Kenya for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

How Kelvin Kiptum went from borrowing shoes to winning the London Marathon

Kelvin Kiptum was known as the only person in history to run the marathon in under two hours and one minute in a race that qualified for a record.

But the Kenyan, 24, had to rise from the depths of poverty before his remarkable success.

When he lined up for his first major local race in 2018, Kiptum did so with borrowed running shoes because he couldn't afford a pair of his own.

Kiptum started his career on the road, breaking with the previous tradition of athletes starting on the track before moving on to longer distances.

But that wasn't by choice.

Kiptum claims he made the decision purely due to a lack of resources.

“I didn't have money to travel to track sessions,” he explained BBC Sports Africa.

“My training spot is far from a track, so I started training with guys who run on the road – and that's how I got into marathoning.”

Why it took Kiptum 23 YEARS to agree to run a marathon

Kiptum may have been a world record holder and champion, but it took a lot of convincing to get him into the top spot.

According to his coach, Garvais Hakizimana, Kiptum needed time to warm up to the idea of running a marathon.

The Kenyan initially feared that it might be too tough.

“He had some apprehension and preferred the shorter half marathon until 2022 when he finally agreed to a marathon,” Hakizimana told BBC Sport Africa.

A few years later, Kiptum would achieve 42 kilometer triumphs in Valencia, London and Chicago.

But there were other complications that stood in the way of Kiptum realizing his potential.

Kiptum had to convince his family that he could make it in athletics.

His father had been convinced that he should go to college instead.

“He wanted me to go to college to get my electrician's degree, but I said I had to be an athlete — I had that passion,” Kiptum recalls.

“That period was very hard for me because I trained for four years, but there were no successes and they were disappointed in me. But I kept pushing.”

Eventually, his father came around and occasionally even helped him get to early morning practice on time.

Kiptum poses as he celebrates winning the elite men's race in just two hours and 35 secondsCredit: Reuters

The post World record holder and London marathon winner Kelvin Kiptum dies aged just 24 appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Kenya plans to circumvent a court order in Haiti

Jeffrey Bailey — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:36:00 +0000

The Kenyan government will not wait for an appeals court ruling before sending its forces to Haiti, a senior government official said. This further underlines the government's determination to move forward with the proposed multinational force aimed at bringing stability to the gang-ridden Caribbean country.

Abraham Korir Sing'Oei, the principal secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told The New York Times in an interview that Kenya and Haiti were working to finalize a bilateral agreement in the next two weeks and that the Kenyan armed forces would Once you have it, use it immediately.

Mr Sing'Oei's statement comes just a week after the country's Supreme Court blocked the bet of 1,000 police officers, saying it could only go ahead if there was a “mutual arrangement” outlining the framework under which Kenyan forces can operate in Haiti.

Kenyan government appealed the decision.

Mr Sing'Oei said the Supreme Court provided a legal avenue for deployment, namely the bilateral reciprocal agreement with Haiti. But he said the government would still appeal the decision to a higher court seeking clarification of some findings that the government “finds problematic.”

Still, he added, “commitment does not have to wait until the conclusion of this appeal.”

He did not provide a specific timetable for when the agents would leave for Haiti.

Kenya's President William Ruto has remained optimistic about the plan Reuters last week that the mission would go ahead despite the court ruling.

Observers say Mr Ruto, who came to power in 2022, is adamant about pushing ahead with the plan to raise his profile as a global statesman and pan-African leader. He also cast the Haiti plan as “a mission for humanity”, which would help a nation whose population is part of the African diaspora.

His government's decision to bypass the courts would likely open a new legal challenge from activists and human rights groups who have blasted the deployment plan as unconstitutional. It would also open a new door of controversy for Mr Ruto, whose government is facing mounting criticism of the East African nation increasing economic challenges. By defying the courts, Mr Ruto will also intensify his confrontation with the judiciary, which he recently condemned for obstructing his government's plans.

One of those plans was the Haiti mission.

Last July, the government announced it would lead a multinational force to bring order to Haiti. where gangs have overtaken entire neighborhoods and in 2023 about 5,000 people were killed. The United Nations Security Council approved the mission in October and the Biden administration pledged to fund the mission with $200 million.

But the operation quickly became a political issue in Kenya, denounced by activists and opposition leaders. Opponents said the plan violated the Kenyan constitution because it would unnecessarily endanger officers and was carried out without broader public dialogue or the direct consent of government agencies charged with national security.

Human rights organizations also pointed this out the dismal record of the Kenyan policewho are accused of killing more than 100 people last year and shooting at protesters during the action demonstrations against the government. Many also asked questions how Kenyan forces would protect civilians in Haiti even as they struggled to contain the threat of bandits and the terrorist group Al Shabab within their own borders.

After a parliamentary session in November, lawmakers passed a motion allowing the deployment of troops a Supreme Court judge blocked the plan in late January, throwing the future into disarray.

Despite the court's decision, the United States reaffirmed his support for last month's mission.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry acknowledged the Kenyan court ruling and the government's intention to challenge it, and called on the international community to “respond to the unprecedented levels of gang violence and destabilizing forces emerging in the Haitian people ace.”

But even as Kenyan officials begin to hammer out a “mutual settlement,” lawyers and activists have begun exploring what that would entail.

Mr Sing'Oei said the agreement would follow the National Police Actwhich stipulates that the President can designate a country as a 'reciprocal nation' once they are satisfied that they have laws consistent with those of the Kenyan armed forces abroad.

Observers say Mr Ruto is now under pressure to show he has carefully assessed all necessary conditions before making such a decision if he wants to avoid more lawsuits.

“If the law gives that power to anyone – in our case the president – it is only sensible that the decision is not based on whim, diplomatic populism or even pure egalitarianism,” said Waikwa Wanyoike, a constitutional lawyer. wrote in a Sunday column in the Kenyan newspaper Daily Nation. “Instead, it should be taken on the basis of prudence and objectivity – with sufficient justification offered candidly.”

David C Adams contributed reporting from Miami.

The post Kenya plans to circumvent a court order in Haiti appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

India International Science Festival 2023 starts on Wednesday, here is a snapshot of the events

Sabir Ansary — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 12:35:22 +0000

The aim of this science festival is to celebrate India's achievements at the frontiers of science and technology.

The central theme of IISF 2023 is “Science and Technology Public Outreach in Amrit Kaal”.

IISF 2023: The India International Science Festival (IISF) 2023 begins on Wednesday. The preparations are in full swing. The mega science festival starts on January 17 and ends on January 20. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India is organizing the 9th edition of IISF and its autonomous organization National Innovation Foundation-India is the coordination and implementation body of IISF 2023. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is establishing the Regional Center for Biotechnology (RCB) – Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), located in Faridabad (Haryana), is the host institute of the grand event.

The aim of this science festival is to celebrate India's achievements at the frontiers of science and technology. The festival also aims to recognize the achievements of science enthusiasts and inculcate the scientific temperament in young students and spread the same among Indian citizens. The central theme of IISF 2023 is “Science and Technology Public Outreach in Amrit Kaal”.

This time, 22 countries are participating in IISF 2023. These include the Argentine Republic, the Republic of Armenia, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Kenya, Democratic People's Republic of Laos, Malaysia, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of Namibia, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of Singapore, Republic of South Africa, Kingdom of Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America (USA), Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Republic of Zimbabwe .

ABOUT IISF 2023: India International Science Festival

The following events are scheduled for all four days of the IISF 2023. Twelve events are scheduled for January 17. These include Student Science Village, Face to Face of New Frontiers of Science & Technology, Science Through Games & Toys, Students Innovation Festival – Space Hackathon, State S&T Ministers and Center and State S&T Secretaries and Officials Conclave, Education for Aspiring India – National Science Teachers Workshop, Young Scientists Conference, New Age Technology Show, National Social Organizations and Institutions Meet (NSOIM); Exhibition on science, technology and innovation; Start-up, Technology and Innovation B to B Meet.

Thirteen events are planned for January 18. These include Student Science Village, Vigyanika-Science Literature Festival, Science through Games & Toys, Students Innovation Festival – Space Hackathon, State S&T Ministers and Center and States S&T Secretaries and Officials Conclave, Education for Aspiring India – National Science Teachers Workshop, Young Scientists Conference, New Age Technology Show, National Social Organizations and Institutions Meet, Science, Technology and Innovation Exhibition, Start-up, Technology and Innovation B to B Meet, IISF Challenge, and Science & Technology Media and Communicators Conclave.

Eleven events will take place on January 19. These include Student Science Festival, Vigyanika – Science Literature Festival, Science through Games & Toys, Students Innovation Festival – Space Hackathon, Education for Aspiring India – National Science Teachers Workshop, Young Scientists Conference, New Age Technology Show, National Social Organizations and Institutions Meet; Exhibition for Science, Technology and Innovation, B-to-B Meet for Startups, Technology and Innovation, and Conclave for Science and Technology, Media and Communicators.

On the last day, January 20, eight events will take place. These include Student Science Village, Science through Games & Toys, Education for Aspiring India – National Science Teachers Workshop, Young Scientists Conference, New Age Technology Show; Exhibition on science, technology and innovation; Start-up, technology and innovation B-to-B meet and face new frontiers of science and technology.

IISF has been organized since 2015 and the IISF 2023 is the ninth edition of the series. This edition there are a total of 17 events on the programme. IISF is organizing a series of outreach events at R&D institutes, laboratories and schools for about a month to create awareness among various stakeholders in the society.

The post India International Science Festival 2023 starts on Wednesday, here is a snapshot of the events appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Iran, Kenya, Malaysia: List of countries offering visa-free travel to Indians, view the new guidelines

Sabir Ansary — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 11:06:54 +0000

In the recent past, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and several other countries have relaxed visa requirements for Indians.

Earlier, Sri Lanka announced a visa-free entry initiative for visitors from India and six other countries including China, Russia, Malaysia and Japan.

New Delhi: To boost the tourism and travel sector, the Iranian government on Friday canceled visa requirements for visitors from 33 countries, including India. Giving details, Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ezzatollah Zarghami told state news agency IRNA that this measure was taken to attract more visitors from countries around the world and increase the number of tourists traveling to Iran.

“The Islamic Republic has shown its willingness to open doors to people around the world and provide them with more facilities so that they can easily visit our country and enjoy its benefits,” Zarghami said.

Previously, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and several other countries had relaxed visa requirements for Indians.

Checklist of countries offering visa-free travel to Indians:

Kenya

Kenya previously said it will abolish visa requirements for international visitors from January 1. The move is expected to boost the country’s crucial tourism sector, allowing visitors to travel hassle-free to experience wildlife safaris and beach holidays.

President William Ruto gave details when he said: “It is no longer necessary for anyone from any corner of the world to bear the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya.”

Malaysia

Last month, Malaysia also relaxed visa requirements for Indians. Visitors from India and China can now enter Malaysia without a visa and stay for up to 30 days. The new guidelines will come into effect from December 1, 2023. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the exemption was subject to strict security vetting.

“Initial screenings will be conducted for all tourists and visitors to Malaysia. Security is another matter. If there are criminal records or a risk of terrorism, they will not be allowed to enter,” the Prime Minister said.

Sri Lanka

Prior to this, Sri Lanka announced a visa-free entry initiative for visitors from India and six other countries including China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand. This initiative will remain in effect until March 31, 2024

Thailand

Similarly, Thailand has also started granting 30 days visa-free entry to visitors from India and Taiwan from November 1. The initiative will remain applicable until May 10, 2024.

Vietnam

Vietnam similarly announced that it plans to introduce visa-free entry for Indians and Chinese to promote tourism. Currently, citizens of certain European countries enjoy visa-free access, while others can obtain e-visas with a validity of 90 days and multiple entry options.

The post Iran, Kenya, Malaysia: List of countries offering visa-free travel to Indians, view the new guidelines appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Good trip? King Charles did well to stay upright after a stumble in Kenya. But he’s not the only royal flirting with very public shame, as these photos (and video clips!) show…

Sabir Ansary — Sun, 12 Nov 2023 17:33:27 +0000

They are masters of decent public performance.

So it is all the more remarkable when the royal family – very occasionally – loses a little of their dignity.

No matter how well prepared they are, it can happen to anyone…

King Charles

King Charles came close to disaster last week when he tripped over a roll of artificial grass during his visit to Kenya with Queen Camilla.

Charles was being led from one man-made walkway to another at a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Nairobi when his foot landed under one of the mats.

King Charles almost fell during his visit to Kenya when he tripped over a roll of artificial grass during a visit to a cemetery on Wednesday

Charles and Camilla were visiting the Kariokor Commonwealth War Graves cemetery in Nairobi

Footage shows the 74-year-old momentarily losing his balance as Camilla, 76, reaches out to grab him.

He quickly gets to his feet and smoothly puts on his sunglasses to continue the walk.

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales

The usually elegant Kate Middleton made a rare mistake as she got into her car during a royal engagement.

The princess, 41, was accompanied by her husband, Prince William, 41, when they attended a charity event in London in September 2019 for their voluntary text support service Shout.

The Princess of Wales, 41, tripped en route in her royal car after attending a volunteer party with the charity Shout with Prince William in November 2019.

William reached out to help Kate after she appeared to stumble while getting into her car

As the royals left the Troubadour White City Theater, Kate, who was wearing black block heels, appeared to stumble as she got into the car.

William could be seen reaching out a hand to support her, but it wasn’t necessary as the mother of three recovered quickly, and the two shared a grin as they got into their car to leave.

Princess Anne

When a man sees a princess in distress, it is only right that he comes to her aid.

However, when the Princess Royal slipped and fell while walking in front of crowds in Guernsey, bailiff Geoffrey Rowland fell victim to Anne’s infamous scolding as he rushed to help her up.

‘No, don’t do that, thank you. Grabbing myself around won’t help,’ Princess Anne said. “I’m perfectly capable of pulling myself up.”

Princess Anne slipped and fell during a visit to Guernsey in June 2007, but snapped at bailiff Geoffrey Rowland as he went to help her up

An onlooker said: ‘Princess Anne looked furious. Falling over in public is bad enough, but what really annoyed her was being grabbed. The poor bailiff tried to do the right thing, but got spanked.’

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

In 2017, the Princess of Wales was sitting in a carriage at Ascot when Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, entered the vehicle and lost her balance, falling straight into Kate’s hands.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, lost her balance and fell into Kate’s lap at Ascot in 2017

Kate’s mouth opened in shock as she braced herself for the fall of Prince Edward’s wife.

Luckily, we then saw both women laughing about the incident, while William and Edward smiled in the background.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

If there is one royal family that likes to fall over without shame, it is Prince Harry.

Prince Harry’s three-day tour of Brazil on the final leg of his solo Diamond Jubilee tour in March 2012 was a demonstration of his energetic style and sporting skills.

The then 27-year-old royal kicked off his tour of Brazil with a one-mile charity run for Sports Relief with local families at Flamengo Beach in Rio de Janeiro.

Prince Harry fell to the ground during a rugby match while attending a sports day at Flamengo Beach, Rio de Janeiro, in March 2012

After this, Harry played a hearty game of rugby with a group of local schoolchildren. The prince seemed to have enjoyed the game immensely and enthusiastically threw himself into the game – and onto the sandy floor.

Princess Diana

Diana, the late Princess of Wales, proved she was just like all of us when she walked up the stairs to the plane during a visit to Pakistan in 1991.

After reaching out and grabbing the handrail to steady herself after tripping, things went from bad to worse when her flight was delayed an hour due to a rainstorm.

Princess Diana tripped as she boarded a plane at Islamabad airport after her royal tour of Pakistan in September 1991

Zara Tindal

Zara Tindall fell from her horse at the Burghley Horse Trials as husband Mike and daughters Mia and Lena watched in September 2019.

Princess Anne’s 41-year-old daughter was taking part in the event in Stamford, Lincolnshire, when she fell during a jumping competition.

Zara Tindall, 42, fell from her horse during the Leaf Pit jump while competing in the five-star horse event in September 2019

Sheikh Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned

The wife of Emir of Qatar Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned tripped when the heel of one of her shoes caught a drain cover during a visit to Madrid, Spain, in April 2011.

Her husband and the former King of Spain, Juan Carlos, who walked behind Sheikha Moza, appeared unresponsive as the graceful woman steadied herself with just one shoe left on her feet.

The wife of Emir of Qatar Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned tripped when her heel caught a drain cover during a visit to Madrid, Spain, in April 2011.

Prince Laurent of Belgium

Prince Laurent of Belgium wowed the red carpet when he arrived for the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock in the Grand Courtyard of the Prince’s Palace in July 2011.

Fortunately, the royal family was helped to their feet by a guard and was ready to resume the festivities of the Roman Catholic ceremony at a moment’s notice.

Prince Laurent of Belgium wowed the red carpet as he arrived for the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock in July 2011

Queen Sofia of Spain

Queen Sofia of Spain learned the hard way that heels, a long dress and stairs are never a good combination.

When the Spanish royal family arrived for a state dinner at the White House in 2000, they found themselves in trouble, with President Bill Clinton and Sofia’s husband, King Juan Carlos, quickly seeking help.

Former First Lady Hillary Clinton could be seen looking on with concern.

Queen Sofia of Spain tripped over her long dress on the stairs as she arrived for a state dinner at the White House in 2000

Princess Charlotte

Although Princess Eugenie’s 2018 wedding was a modern fairytale, the stormy weather caused a problem for the younger members of the bridal party, including Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

The wind was so strong that morning that many guests struggled to keep their fascinators on their heads, and three-year-old Princess Charlotte almost fell over.

On the day of Princess Eugenie’s wedding in October 2018, the wind was so strong that Princess Charlotte, who was three years old at the time, almost fell over.

As they walked up the steps of Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel, they were surprised by a sharp gust of wind. Fortunately, her older second cousin Lady Louise Windsor was there to help her get back on her feet.

Prince Philip

After colliding with one of his teammates, Prince Philip, he fell to the ground during an attempt at bicycle polo in August 1967

After colliding with one of his teammates, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, fell from his bicycle during an attempt at cycle polo in August 1967.

A good sport, he brushed the fall away laughing.

The post Good trip? King Charles did well to stay upright after a stumble in Kenya. But he’s not the only royal flirting with very public shame, as these photos (and video clips!) show… appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Harry and Meghan insist Charles snubbed THEM at his 75th birthday party: New family row as couple say they had ‘no contact’ with Palace amid claims they refused to go – as friends suggest story was ‘briefed to finish leading the trip to Kenya’

Sabir Ansary — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 08:30:15 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had “no contact” from Buckingham Palace about an invitation to King Charles’ 75th birthday party next week, their spokesperson told MailOnline today.

King Charles III will celebrate the milestone on Tuesday, November 14, with a party at Clarence House with his closest friends and family.

The Sunday Times reported that Prince Harry had turned down an invitation to the birthday party and would remain in California. But a spokesperson for the Sussexes told MailOnline the couple had no idea.

‘There has been no contact regarding an invitation to His Majesty’s upcoming birthday. It is disappointing that the Sunday Times misreported this story,” they said. The same spokesperson also denied that Meghan, who found fame on Suits, will return to acting following reports earlier this week.

A source close to the Sussexes told MailOnline that they had not been invited to Charles III’s party in London next week. “They had not received any invitations and were not aware of any celebrations until the stories emerged,” the insider said, adding: “I am sure the Duke will find a way to get in touch privately to ask His To wish your Majesty a happy birthday like him. always has done’.

A friend of the couple suggested the palace could have even leaked the “snarly” story to divert attention from the recent royal visit to Kenya, where the king was called on to apologize for Britain’s colonial past.

“The story is positioned in such a way to make it seem as if the Duke disapproves of his father, which is not the case,” the friend said. ‘Given the journey [to Kenya] didn’t go well, then this might be a welcome distraction.’

Royal and government sources have made it clear that they consider last week’s Kenyan trip a ‘resounding success’.

Prince Harry (pictured, center with his wife at the Queen’s funeral) has reportedly not spoken to his father, King Charles III, for quite some time. The Duke of Sussex’s spokesman has denied turning down his father’s 75th birthday

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had a bitter feud with the rest of his family in recent years, ever since they quit their royal duties and emigrated to California.

A source close to the couple said Harry (pictured at his father’s coronation) and Meghan had not received an invitation to King Charles’ birthday plans

King Charles will celebrate his 75th birthday next week with a party at Clarence House

A friend of the Sussexes told MailOnline that they would normally have been included in plans for major events in Britain, despite the widening rift between themselves and the rest of the royal family.

‘The Times story and subsequent stories are positioned in such a way as to make it appear as if the Duke disapproves of his father, which is not the case.’

Relations have been strained since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals and moved to California.

They made a number of claims about their treatment by the Palace, including in an extensive interview with Oprah and in Harry’s memoirs.

Although the Duke has since attended his father’s coronation at Westminster Abbey in May, his relationship with King Charles remains fractured – with the royal family failing to publicly mark his birthday in September.

Harry and Meghan’s friend said the story about the party push may have been intended to distract

However, King Charles and Queen Camilla’s trip to Kenya is considered a “resounding success” at Buckingham Palace and within the government, which had asked the monarch to go to East Africa to strengthen ties between the countries.

It was not marred by protests and the only major criticism seemed to come from the Sussexes’ favorite royal reporter Omid Scobie, who said the red carpet on the trip made the King and Queen look ‘out of touch’ .

But there were claims that the red carpet treatment was done at the behest of Kenyan authorities.

The king also took a major step, telling the Kenyan people in a key speech of his “deepest sorrow and deepest regret” over Britain’s “abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence” during the colonial era.

At a state banquet in Nairobi on the first evening of the four-day visit, Charles said there was “no excuse” for British “abuses” in the East African country, especially against the Mau Mau uprising, which killed 11,000 people in the 1950s came to life. .

The king stopped short of an immediate apology, which carries greater legal liability because it is not the policy of the British government to do so.

‘Their Royal Highnesses thoroughly enjoyed the trip. I think it’s fair to say it’s been a resounding success,” an aide told Vanity Fair, adding: “There’s a sense of relief that this went so well and a sense that the king and queen have hit the right note’.

The King and Queen at Fort Jesus, in Mombasa’s Old Town, during their visit to Kenya last week

Prince Harry (pictured, left) and Meghan Markle (pictured, right) were not spoken to by Buckingham Palace about the party, their spokesperson said

King Charles will celebrate his 75th birthday at Clarence House on November 14

An insider has claimed that the Duke of Sussex has not received any personal wishes from his brother, Prince William, or his father, King Charles.

They even told The Telegraph: ‘Communication between the King and Prince Harry remains quite poor. They hardly speak at all.’

They said one possible reason for this is that King Charles was disappointed with the way Harry wrote about Queen Camilla in his autobiography, Spare.

The Duke said his stepmother is ‘dangerous’ and a ‘bad guy’ who has ‘left bodies in the streets’.

He wrote in Spare: ‘I have complex feelings about gaining a stepparent who I thought had recently sacrificed me on her personal PR altar.’

Harry also accused Charles and Camilla of ‘planting stories’ about William and his family: ‘Give Dad and Camilla an inch, he said, they’ll take a mile.’

He told Good Morning America in an interview shortly after Spare was published: “We haven’t spoken in a long time. I love every member of my family, despite their differences.

“So when I see her, we’re really nice to each other. She’s my stepmother. I don’t consider her a bad stepmother.

“I see someone who married into this institution and has done everything she can to improve her own reputation and her own image, for her own good.”

A Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment, saying the palace does not comment on personal family matters.

The post Harry and Meghan insist Charles snubbed THEM at his 75th birthday party: New family row as couple say they had ‘no contact’ with Palace amid claims they refused to go – as friends suggest story was ‘briefed to finish leading the trip to Kenya’ appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Royal Tour of Kenya? It was more like WHITE MISCHIEF when disgraced Edward VIII paid a visit. He found the ex-pats of Happy Valley loved parties and adultery just as much as he did!

Sabir Ansary — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 04:56:15 +0000

King and Queen will pay a four-day State Visit to Kenya at the end of the month to celebrate ‘the strong and dynamic partnership’ the countries ‘continue to forge.’

But nearly a century ago, Charles’s disgraced great-uncle, Edward, Prince of Wales forged a few strong and dynamic partnerships of his own as he enjoyed a lengthy safari with the real-life characters from Out of Africa – with some with the morals of another film, White Mischief.

In September 1928 Edward and his younger brother Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester left London for a three month Official Imperial Tour to East Africa.

Edward was the darling of the Empire with hugely successful visits to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India as well as wildly popular tours of the USA, South America and Japan.

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester is in the front seat as the royal brothers make their way through the streets of Nairobi in Kenya. With the Prince of Wales in the back seat is Lady Grigg, wife of the Governor of Kenya, with whom the royal brothers were staying

White Mischief starring Greta Scacchi, right, dramatised the real life events of the 1941 Happy Valley murder case in Kenya. Edward was gratified to find the ex-pats shared his own louche outlook

The Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII, later Duke of Windsor), left, at Nairobi station in Kenya, during his visit with his brother Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester in 1928

Tired of what he dubbed ‘princing’ he was determined his visit to Kenya and Uganda would be a jolly from start to finish. To make the point clear, he deliberately left his formal dress uniforms at home.

To his delight he found the Kenya ex pats enjoyed drinking, partying, and adultery as much as he did, and he quickly adapted to a riotous social life in Nairobi.

Much of the partying centred around the Muthaiga Club, which was soon dubbed ‘the Royal Waiting-Room’ as aristocratic women, most of them married, danced, swigged cocktails, and hoped to catch the eye of one or both princes.

Karen Blixen – played by Meryl Streep in ‘Out of Africa’ – said: ‘The Prince is absolutely charming, and I am so much in love with him that it hurts.’

Even fun-loving Blixen was shocked that one of the royal party ‘Lady Delamere behaved scandalously at supper, I thought; she bombarded the Prince of Wales with big pieces of bread … and finished up by rushing at him, overturning his chair and rolling him around on the floor.’

On another occasion Edward kept his entourage waiting for several hours when he disappeared with ‘a certain blonde of easy virtue’ who was identified as the future aviatrix Beryl Markham who a few years later would fly solo from Europe to North America.

Then on the night before he was due to attend an Armistice Day church service the prince escaped from Government House by shinning down a drainpipe before being arrested by a guard.

After name dropping the king, he headed off to the club for another night of debauchery before sleeping off his hangover in the back of the royal Buick where he was spotted at 5.15am by the governor’s European milkman.

If the Prince of Wales’s visit plays a part in Out of Africa, what he found in Kenya is reminiscent, also, of another film, White Mischief, with its hedonistic portrayal of life among the ex-patriot elite in ‘Happy Valley’.

Written by James Fox and directed by Michael Radford the novel is based on the (real life) unsolved murder of the Earl of Errol in 1941. Some of the characters such as Lady Delamere had been there to meet the Prince of Wales in 1928.

White Mischief became a hit movie starring Charles Dance and Greta Scacchi in 1987, just two years after the release of Out of Africa.

Meryl Streep playing Karen Blixen who described Edward as ‘absolutely charming’ in the movie ‘Out of Africa’ in 1985

Actors Klaus Maria Brandauer, who played her husband Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke and Meryl Streep as Karen Blixon in the movie Out of Africa

Baroness Isak Dinesen, known as Karen Blixen, the Danish author of Out of Africa. She is pictured on a 1920 safari

Wearing a dress with embossed flowers on bodice and sleeves is Beryl Markham, famous British aviator

British-born Kenyan aviator Beryl Markham in the 1930s

Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in Out of Africa, the 1985 movie directed by Sydney Pollack

Edward Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, right, at tea in the bush camp near Kiu while on one of his hunting expeditions in East Africa. Pictured with Captain Anderson, the elephant-hunter, left, and Captain Denys Finch Hatton,

Map of Africa showing the two different routes taken by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Gloucester when they cut short their trip to Kenya and central African after receiving news that their father, King George V, was ill

The hedonistic lifestyle continued on safari, which was organised by Blixen’s aristocratic lover, the Honourable Denys Finch Hatton (played by Robert Redford in the film).

He arranged for Edward to stay in five-star luxurious camps which boasted a grand piano, gramophones, freshly ironed linen sheets, a massive dining table groaning with four course dinners, crystal glasses, and champagne, and even an ice-making machine.

Finch Hatton was a big-game hunter who was asked to ensure Edward saw and shot the ‘Big Five’ – a lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, and buffalo.

Edward had bagged two of them – a lion and an elephant, before becoming disillusioned by the kill. To his credit he came under Finch Hatton’s increasingly anti-hunting influence.

The two men developed a strong friendship and back in London Edward used his celebrity to highlight the devastating effect that tourist hunting with rifles at point blank range from cars was having on the wildlife.

His address to the East Africa Dinner Club, led to a debate in the House of Lords and eventually paved the way for the founding of the Serengeti National Park.

Less to his credit was his reluctance to return to London when the prime minister, Stanley Baldwin, telegrammed him that King George was critically ill with a respiratory infection.

Edward claimed this was no more than ‘an election dodge’ by Baldwin and refused to go.

His private secretary, Alan Lascelles, shouted ‘Sir, the King of England is dying, and if that means nothing to you, it means a great deal to me.’

According to Lascelles, the prince spent the remainder of the evening ‘in the successful seduction of a Mrs Barnes, the wife of the local commissioner. He told me so the next morning,’ after which he reluctantly agreed to head for London.

George V rallied and Edward returned to East Africa for another safari with Finch Hatton a year later. This time the only shooting he did was with his 16mm cine camera, which helped pave the way for a new type of ‘photographic safari’. The prince even filmed aerial shots of animals from an aircraft.

This time he camped with his latest girlfriend, Thelma, Lady Furness. The two had adjacent tents and their own fire at one end of the camp, where according to Thelma they enjoyed ‘nights of rhapsody.’

Over forty years later two other royal siblings – Prince Charles and Princess Anne – headed for Kenya and their own safari.

Once again there was time off from royal duties and Charles emerged from the jungle with a four-day growth of beard. Like his great uncle he too relished photographing the wildlife, snapping four of the ‘Big Five’ only missing out on seeing a lion.

Edward, Prince of Wales with Thelma, Lady Furness, at the midnight performance of the film ‘Lily Christine’ at the Plaza, Haymarket, London in 1932

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Anne on safari in the Masai Game Reserve on February 15, 1971 in Nairobi, Kenya

Prince of Wales and Princess Anne attend a formal event on February 15, 1971 in Nairobi, Kenya

Prince Charles at the end of his 10-days safari in Kenya pictured here at Laku Nakuru watching birds. With him is the park warden Joseph Mburuga

In March 1977, Charles returned, camera in hand, for another photographic Kenyan safari.

Unlike his great uncle whose hedonistic holiday was hardly mentioned by the British press, Charles found himself the quarry as nine London journalists and snappers formed a press caravan ready to greet him at Nairobi.

The prince emerged from the undergrowth ten days later to find he’d supposedly taken ‘a mystery blonde’ with him.

Unlike Edward’s blondes this one was very much fictitious. Charles took it in good spirit and presented the journalist who had started the rumour with a home-made stuffed bird, complete with blonde wig, labelled ‘mystery blonde.’

Ian Lloyd is author of The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Elizabeth II

The post Royal Tour of Kenya? It was more like WHITE MISCHIEF when disgraced Edward VIII paid a visit. He found the ex-pats of Happy Valley loved parties and adultery just as much as he did! appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.