Starfish Travel Corporation Team

During the current edition of the yearly The Ocean Race, which challenges some of the best boats and crews in a six-month around-the-world test, racing yachts are breaking records for the distances traveled by a monohull vessel. At the end of last week, two records were broken in a 24-hour period as the racing ships were on their fifth leg of the journey from Newport, Rhode Island, to Aarhus, Denmark. In Leg 5 of The Ocean Race, Boris Herrmann’s Team Malizia broke a new monohull world record by covering 641.13 nautical miles in 24 hours at an average speed of 26.71 knots (50 km/h). Less than 24 hours after their Swiss rivals, Team Malizia set the record. With a distance of 640.9 nm the day before, Team Holcim-PRB broke the previous record held by the 100-foot maxi-monohull Comanche. The day’s race did not feel like they were pushing, but in the final three hours, anticipation that they might break the record began to grow, according to German skipper Boris Herrmann. Setting this new standard, according to the team, was an illustration of how well captain Herrmann and French designer VPLP collaborated to develop a new type of IMOCA (International Monohull Open Class Association, which oversees the class of 60-foot (18.28 meter) vessel). There is little question, they claimed, that the designer and Boris took some risky but intelligent choices when creating their new boat after winning the lengthy Southern Ocean Leg, The Roaring Forties Trophy (fastest Cape of Good Hope to Cape Horn passage), and now breaking the 24-hour world distance record. Herrmann added, “It’s nice to see that the boat can do so well. “We got great weather, with a calm sea, a consistent breeze from the proper direction, and the ideal angle for such a long time. The only sail alterations we made were to put and take out a reef, which caused a brief slowdown. Other than that, nothing else caused a prolonged slowdown. The waves occasionally got a little bit smaller, causing us to slow down to 18 knots and briefly become stranded in the water. The majority of the time, the boat would fly at 27 to 34 mph, perfectly navigating the sea. Source: maritime-executive

A sizable Indian diaspora resides in Suriname, which has aided in strengthening cultural and interpersonal relations between the two nations. Suriname, a country in northeastern South America with just over 612,000 people, is the home to a sizable Indian diaspora. (AFP)To address the issue of illegal immigration from India to the tiny South American country, India and Suriname are now in negotiations. Suriname, a country in northeastern South America with just over 612,000 people, is the home to a sizable Indian diaspora. People with knowledge of the situation claim that Suriname serves as a stopover on the way to the US. This prompted Suriname to reinstate visa requirements for visitors from more than 20 nations in April, including India. This change occurred only a year after Suriname relaxed its procedures for applying for visas from a number of nations. In response to a formal press inquiry, India’s minister of external affairs remained silent. The foreign ministry of Suriname declared in 2022 that all nationalities would no longer need visas to enter the country for vacation or family visits. All that was required of visitors was a $25 entrance fee. The policy became operative on July 1, 2022. The individuals mentioned above claimed that this regulation needed to be changed since foreigners were coming to Suriname with the intention of immigrating to nations like the US. “Over the past few months, the Directorate of National Security, Immigration Department, and Foreign Affairs conducted an extensive study. What we observe is proof that visa-free travel is not being utilized for its original purpose, according to the country’s foreign minister, Albert Ramdin, who was mentioned in local media. This resulted in the reinstatement of visa requirements for many nations, including India. We consider the national interest as well. As a conduit, we don’t want to have issues with other nations. Minister Ramdin was also cited as saying, “We don’t want to be recognised as a country that enables human smuggling and unlawful human movement. Later this year, India and Suriname may discuss the issue at their Joint Commission sessions. A sizable Indian diaspora resides in Suriname, which has aided in strengthening cultural and interpersonal relations between the two nations. Approximately 37% of the population of India is of Indian ancestry, according to the ministry of external affairs of that nation. These ties have been fortified by New Delhi. Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the president of Suriname who is of Indian descent, was invited by India to attend this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conference in January as a Special Guest of Honour. Source: livemint

The UN human rights head said on Tuesday that he had officially expressed his worries to the British government over a new immigration law, saying he was concerned that it might prevent people from applying for asylum. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made it a priority to stop small boat landings from France across the English Channel, and the lower house of parliament enacted the Illegal Migration Bill in April. If approved by the House of Lords, it would enable the quick arrest and deportation of people coming on boats either back home or to so-called safe third countries like Rwanda. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated in a Geneva interview that he had “formally raised” this issue with London last month. “We have very serious concerns from an international refugee law and from an international human rights law perspective, because it (the bill) would essentially bar people from seeking asylum in the UK if they come through a certain way,” Turk added. Although it is the responsibility of the UN rights director to inform countries of any perceived shortcomings, some rights experts told Reuters that formal reprimands for Western democracies are less often. The British embassy in Geneva released the following statement: “We continue to engage with the High Commissioner on the Illegal Migration Bill,” adding that the embassy was convinced that its policies, including the intention to send migrants to Rwanda, were legal and in accordance with a U.N. treaty on refugees. Turk, a seasoned U.N. diplomat who spent many years advancing refugee safeguards, claimed that wealthy nations were perpetuating anti-migrant policies and narratives despite the fact that they took in significantly fewer migrants and refugees than many poorer ones. He gave the instances of Bangladesh and Uganda. Source: theprint

A Ukrainian official said on Tuesday that Ukraine is looking for guarantees from Moscow and the U.N. that a treaty on the secure shipment of Black Sea grain will function regularly if Kyiv permits Russian ammonia to traverse Ukrainian territory. The Black Sea Grain Initiative was mediated by the UN and Turkey between Moscow and Kyiv last July to help address a global food crisis made worse by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a major grain exporter. This month, Russia consented to a two-month extension of the accord, but has stated that the initiative will end unless a deal is reached to remove restrictions from Russian grain and fertilizer exports. The resumption of ammonia transit from Russia through Ukrainian territory to Pivdennyi port in Odessa, where it is exported, is one of the demands made by Moscow. Following Russia’s invasion, the pipeline was unable to transport ammonia, a crucial component of nitrogen-based fertilizers. “At this time, we are unsure of whether the ammonia pipeline itself will fix anything. Yuriy Vaskov, Ukraine’s deputy renovation minister, said at a grain conference that if conversation doesn’t resolve anything on its own, then there isn’t any need to have one. “If it (ammonia) is a major issue, then the United Nations must state clearly that if the ammonia pipeline resumes operation, then Ukraine will have such opportunities (to export grain in a normal way), and then our top political leadership will decide whether it is in our interests or not.” The U.N. reported last week that no ships have been given permission to visit Pivdennyi port since April 29 and that the grain agreement has not yet resumed full operations since it was extended. Reconnecting the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the SWIFT global payment network is one of Russia’s demands to increase grain and fertilizer exports. The supply of agricultural equipment and parts has also resumed, insurance and reinsurance restrictions have been lifted, and Russian enterprises that export food and fertilizer have had their assets and accounts unblocked. Source: theprint

Global Destinations has been given the task of boosting sales and increasing brand recognition in the industry by Australia and Worldwide Travel, an inbound tour operator and DMC in Australia with the intention of entering and leveraging India’s growth potential. The management team of Australia and Worldwide Travel has years of experience and expertise in inbound tourism. The business, which concentrates in Australia and the South Pacific, was founded in April 2022 by Ian D’Nazareth and Leon Ellas, two seasoned managing partners. Leon Ellas has worked for Qantas Holidays UK and Australia, where he headed up their inbound sector, and brings with him more than 40 years of travel experience. He also has substantial product and sales understanding in the inbound travel market. Ian De Nazareth certifies having over 25 years of experience traveling abroad with reputable airlines and travel agencies, including Emirates Airlines, Dubai. He has created a wide network of agents thanks to his good working ties with travel agencies both locally and internationally. The operational staff is led by Sumaira Kabir, the country manager for India, who is situated in Mumbai. She worked for the Tourism Australia office in India, therefore she has extensive experience of Australia. Australia and Worldwide Travel has a dedicated team in Sydney that specializes in incentive travel, leisure groups, large groups, and custom FIT programmes. India is a very important market for us, according to Leon Ellas, managing partner Australia and Worldwide Travel. Indian immigration to Australia has increased significantly during the past few years. We wanted to build a strong presence in India in order to capitalize on this growth. Due to their highly qualified staff, stellar record, and undeniable expertise in the Indian tourism industry, we felt that Global Destinations was the best partner to have there. It gives us great pleasure to name Global Destinations as our representational firm. According to Pranav Kapadia, the founder and director of Global Destinations, “Australia is unquestionably one of the top long-haul outbound destinations from India as it is a leading holiday destination that draws more than a million visitors annually. Through this agreement, we hope to increase Australia and Worldwide Travel’s brand recognition in India, implement a solid sales plan, and make the most of the Indian market. Source: travelbizmonitor

With the debut of Skywards Everyday, Emirates is elevating the experience of its loyalty programme. Through the app, members can earn Skywards Miles for dining, high-end and mainstream retail, entertainment, beauty and wellness, grocery, and services all day, every day. Start accumulating Miles quickly with Skywards Everyday and take advantage of perks like Cash+Miles on travel, lodging, duty-free purchases, and unforgettable experiences. At more than 200 Skywards Everyday partners in the UAE, you may earn Miles each time you make a purchase using any linked payment card. For every AED 3 spent on high street purchases, leisure and entertainment, luxury purchases, beauty and wellness services, and eating, members earn one mile. For every AED 5 spent on groceries and prescription drugs, members earn two miles. Members can also download Skywards Everyday and earn Miles when they travel to the UAE even if they don’t live there. Source: traveldailymedia

People are traveling all over the world as a result of the pandemic, but getting there is expensive, therefore some travelers are thinking of using the “skiplagging” technique to cut costs. Booking a flight with a layover at the intended destination city, sometimes known as “hidden city” or “throwaway” ticketing, entails skipping the second part of the trip. Travelers can save hundreds on tickets, which is especially alluring given the industry’s ongoing problems with high rates caused by inflation, rising fuel prices, and robust post-pandemic demand. For instance, Google Flights reported that a roundtrip ticket on the Dutch national airline KLM from New York to Amsterdam in late June started at $2,850. However, changing the reservation to have London as the final destination instead of Amsterdam reduced the roundtrip cost of Google Flight to roughly $2,150. Source: business insider

Two agents with a base in Delhi are said to have exchanged INR 30,000 to INR 55,000 for the falsified documents. A group of seven applicants were apprehended by two vigilant security guards at the VFS Global visa application center (VAC) in Delhi while carrying counterfeit paperwork to seek for Schengen visas. The largest provider of technology and outsourcing services to governments and diplomatic missions is VFS Global. On May 24, 2023, the tragedy happened at the Delhi VAC. The security officers were suspicious of the visa appointment letters that the applicants presented when they entered the facility, and they double-checked them against the applicants’ manifest and discovered that they were fake. Following investigations, it was discovered that the fake letters were produced by misusing the VFS Global brand and were allegedly purchased for INR 30,000 to INR 55,000 from Sharma Travels and Shiv Shanker, two Delhi-based agents. An official police complaint was made at the IGI Airport Metro police station in Delhi in accordance with VFS Global’s zero-tolerance policy against visa frauds. “This instance highlights the necessity to make informed decisions and to be aware of gray operators marketing phony appointments. Using every customer touchpoint available, VFS Global has regularly warned visa applicants about this danger. On a first-come, first-served basis, online appointments are free. According to Prabuddha Sen, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global, “given the unprecedented pent-up demand for outbound travel from India, it is advised to apply for visas as early as possible to avoid falling victim to such gray operators.” He further stated that the business will keep a watchful eye out for outside fraudsters preying on tourists and would collaborate closely with law enforcement to lessen the threat. Source: traveldailymedia

Deputy Foreign Minister of the UK Lord Tariq Ahmad, who is in India for four days, has stated that undergraduate Indian students are not the target of the change in UK visa regulations. He said that his government had benefited from the presence of Indian students and that the current restrictions on visas only applied to those coming for PhD and one-year research programmes. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Lord Ahmad said, “Those students who come for undergraduate studies and research will always be welcomed.” After the uproar over the pro-Khalistan protests, Lord Ahmad’s visit represents a turning point in India-UK ties. “We have tweaked visa rules for research and PhD students who come only for one year and sometimes don’t complete their research,” he said. The UK only wants to halt illegal immigration because it benefits from legal immigration. India is where most students come from. The minister, who is in Delhi today to meet with senior External Affairs Ministry officials and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, continued, “We want more students. The main topic of Lord Ahmad’s visit to India would be the expanding scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries. A special trip to Hyderabad has been organized for this purpose, where they will examine innovations in start-ups. After UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, it sheds light on a second UK minister with deep Indian connections. The Baron of Wimbledon, Lord Tariq Ahmad, started his four-day trip in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from which his mother emigrated 76 years ago to Pakistan and thereafter to England. The 55-year-old experienced a moment of great sadness. “I find it really challenging to express my emotions. My grandpa served as the treasurer in the court of Maharaja Umaid Singh, which is why I’m here now. He added that his father, Ahmed Khan, was a doctor with connections to the royal palace. Source: ndtv

An interline agreement has been signed between privately owned South African regional and domestic carrier Airlink and pan-South American airline LATAM. This means that the arrangement will provide LATAM’s passengers with seamless access to over 40 destinations in South Africa as well as farther afield in Africa when LATAM Brazil resumes its flights in September following a three-year hiatus. Since there is currently no reciprocity in the interline agreement, LATAM may sell Airlink sectors but Airlink may not sell sectors to LATAM. On September 2, the South American airline launched its first of three weekly flights between So Paulo and Johannesburg. The LATAM flights will be operated with a Boeing 787-900 aircraft, accommodating 300 passengers in a three-class configuration – 30 in business class, 57 in premium economy, and 213 in economy. The travel time between Brazil and South Africa will be nine hours. “Airlink is very proud of this partnership with LATAM as it enables connectivity between Latin America and the entirety of Southern Africa, creating wonderful leisure and corporate opportunities,” stated Rodger Foster, CEO and MD of Airlink. According to Aline Mafra, Director of Sales and Marketing at LATAM Brazil, the arrangement would increase the appeal and “full of possibilities” of LATAM’s flights to South Africa. According to Mafra, “the new connectivity options from Johannesburg expand the offer to LATAM customers, who can now reach significant African cities like Luanda, Nairobi, and Cape Town.” LATAM offers direct flights from 28 cities (São Paulo/Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro/Galeão, Brasília, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Florianópolis, and Fortaleza) to 21 foreign locations in addition to its 55 domestic destinations. As part of its joint venture with Delta Air Lines, LATAM will launch the routes Foz do Iguaçu-Lima, Santiago-Melbourne, Guarulhos-Johannesburg, and Guarulhos-Los Angeles this year. Source: travelnews