Riyadh [Saudi Arabia] August 21 (ANI/WAM): The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched the Nusuk Umrahservice on Wednesday, allowing international pilgrims to apply for Umrah visa and book services directly online. Available on https://umrah.nusuk.sa/, the platform aims to improve service quality and enrich the pilgrim experience, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Nusuk Umrah is a new option for international Umrah pilgrims, complementing existing channels like accredited agents. The service allows users to customise their trip by choosing from integrated packages or booking individual services such as visas, accommodation, transportation, and tours. The launch of the service is part of the ministry’s efforts to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by hosting a greater number of Muslims and providing high-quality and convenient services that enhance the Hajj journey, SPA said. (ANI/WAM)
PERU-MACHU PICCHU/PROTEST (TV, PIX):Peru protest strands hundreds of tourists near Machu Picchu
LIMA, Sept 16 – At least 900 tourists were stranded near Peru’s ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu on Tuesday, the country’s tourism minister said, after a passenger train service was suspended due to a protest.
Peru protest strands hundreds of tourists near Machu Picchu
Train operator PeruRail said service had been suspended on Monday because the route in Peru’s mountainous Cusco region had been blocked by “rocks of various sizes” as local residents clashed with authorities and bus companies.
Protesters say there is a lack of transparency and fairness in the process of replacing tourist bus operator Consettur after its concession expired, paving the way for different local businesses to benefit from the vital industry.
Tourism Minister Desilu Leon told local radio that 1,400 tourists had been evacuated on Monday but some 900 remained stranded in Aguas Calientes, the closest town to the nation’s most-visited cultural site.
The protest began last week after the concession ended of Consettur, the bus company that ferries tourists from Aguas Calientes to the entrance of the 15th-century Inca citadel.
A neighboring district commissioned another bus company to provide services in its place, but protesters in Aguas Calientes prevented it from operating.
Meanwhile, PeruRail’s local unit said “third parties” had excavated part of its rail route, which affected the track’s stability and slowed down the evacuation of tourists.
New7Wonders, a campaign group which highlights global sites of major cultural heritage, said in a statement over the weekend that it had sent a letter to Peru’s government warning that if the conflict escalates, Machu Picchu’s credibility as one of the new Wonders of the World could be affected.
A global poll organized by the group had in 2007 selected Machu Picchu as a world wonder, alongside the Great Wall of China, India’s Taj Mahal and Mexico’s Chichen Itza.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
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NEW DELHI: Close on the heels of his two-day tour of the North-East last week, PM Narendra Modi appears to be preparing for another tour of the region. He is likely to visit Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh later this month, his back-to-back trips, which hardly featured on the travel plans of his predecessors, being another instance that demonstrates his relentless travel zeal, which he has shown since his days as an RSS pracharak, has not dimmed with age or changes in role.These excursions have provided opportunities for him to disseminate his messages, expedite the implementation of schemes, and gather feedback.On Wednesday, he will mark his 75th birthday in MP, launching welfare schemes, in keeping with his plank of inclusive development.Modi’s journeys have been an integral part of his politics. In 1990, he helped organise the Somnath-Ayodhya Rath Yatra, igniting pride amongst Hindus that laid the foundations for BJP to emerge at the national level.The Ekta Yatra (1991-92), which he led along with former BJP chief MM Joshi, and which culminated in hoisting the national flag at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, symbolised defiance of terrorism.As Gujarat CM, Modi’s Gujarat Gaurav Yatra (2002) restored hope after a devastating earthquake, while the Swarnim Gujarat Yatra (2010) celebrated the state’s progress. “Each journey was a bridge to the people, rooted in their aspirations,” said BJP national media head Anil Baluni.“From his days as an RSS pracharak to his role as India’s PM, Modi’s travels have always been about more than speeches. They are about meeting people where they are, listening to their dreams, and turning their stories into national pride,” the BJP functionary said.The effort has been supplemented by his monthly radio address, ‘Mann Ki Baat‘, an innovation that he has skillfully used to weave individual feats into his larger message of Viksit Bharat.Whether celebrating a tribal woman reviving Santhali handlooms in Odisha or cheering at Pulwama’s first night cricket match, the PM has been actively involved in celebrating such achievements.The Covid pandemic saw him utilise addresses and app-based outreach to transform a public health crisis into a mass movement, fostering unity.His words during security crises, like “ghar mein ghus ke marenge”, have been the vehicles of signaling collective resolve and rally spirits during crises. He stood in solidarity with K Sivan and other Isro scientists when the Chandrayaan-2 mission failed, and has been playing the understanding patriarch-cum-counsellor to anxiety-filled students during his ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’.
India’s extensive coastline is a haven for marine life, including various dolphin species like Indo-Pacific humpback, bottlenose, spinner, and Irrawaddy dolphins. These areas offer opportunities for boat safaris, cruises, and eco-tours to spot dolphins in their natural habitat
