Thailand-Cambodia Border Clash Live Updates: ‘Avoid border provinces,' says Indian embassy in Thailand, issues travel advisory
What's the current situation? Clashes broke out between the two countries early on Thursday along a disputed area abutting an ancient temple, rapidly spilling over to other areas along the contested frontier and heavy artillery exchanges continued for a second straight day. Both sides accuse each other of firing the first shots that started the conflict. The ongoing conflict has killed at least 11 people and injured several others, according to the state-run Thai Public Broadcasting Service. The escalation of military exchanges between Thailand and Cambodia could move towards war, Acting Thai PM Phumtham Wechayachai told to reporters.
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Business Standard
36 minutes ago
- Business Standard
H-1B visa expiring? Indian chose Jamaica for visa slots, smooth process
An Indian H-1B visa holder renewed his visa in Jamaica instead of India and shared the full process, documents, costs, and interview details in a detailed Reddit post New Delhi Trying to get visa slots in India to renew your expiring H-1B visa? An Indian national opted for Jamaica instead, and has shared the complete process, documents, and costs in a detailed Reddit post to help others. The user, who goes by the handle 'noobvorld' on Reddit's H-1B community, titled his post 'My H-1B visa stamping experience in Jamaica'. 'I recently completed H1B visa stamping in Jamaica and wanted to share my experience to help others considering this option. My H-1B was expiring in September, and I needed to get it renewed without the hassle of booking appointments in India,' he wrote. Why Jamaica? He said he had explored several third-country national (TCN) options before deciding on Jamaica. Canada was fully booked through 2026, but Jamaica offered 'plenty of availability'. 'I used to check wait times across different countries – this website was incredibly helpful for comparing options,' he said. The process began with filling out and submitting the DS-160 form, followed by booking an appointment for early July. 'Your DS-160 must match your appointment location. You can only update your DS-160 in your application for appointment ONCE, so be careful. If you initially filled it for a different location, you can change it to Jamaica later, but you only get one update,' he advised. His document checklist included: Current passport Old visa DS-160 confirmation page Appointment confirmation and instructions Photo Offer letter Original I-797 LCA copy Employment verification letter Travel and stay He flew from New York's JFK to Kingston on July 27 and returned from Montego Bay on August 2. Indians do not need a visa to enter Jamaica, but must complete a C5 immigration form online before arrival. Describing his entry experience, he wrote: 'When asked by the officer about the purpose of my visit, I mentioned the visa appointment and was quickly allowed entry. The entire process took about 10 minutes.' At the consulate, there were 'about 40 people ahead of me in line for the interview, but the line moved relatively quickly. Was out of the consulate about an hour after entering. If you've experienced US Embassy interviews in Mumbai/Delhi, this will feel much smoother and better organised.' Is it safe to book from a third country? According to the US Department of State, each consulate or embassy has different procedures and timelines for visa applications. Applicants should first confirm that the location accepts third-country applications, review its process, and check appointment availability before booking travel. Piyush Kumar, regional director for South Asia, Canada and Latin America at IDP Education, said, 'It's important to note that you may be asked to explain why you chose to apply from a country other than your home country. This could lead to additional scrutiny during the interview process. Therefore, while it is an option, it is not recommended unless absolutely necessary.' Risks of the third-country option 'One of the primary challenges of applying from another country is that many locations may also have limited or no appointment slots available,' said Kumar. 'Additionally, applying from outside one's home country could result in more detailed questioning during the visa interview. It is important for students to assess these factors carefully and seek guidance from authorised advisors to make an informed decision.'
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Author Prajwal Parajuly chases the perfect dumpling and finds it in Chennai
Almost all my favourite restaurants in New York and London, or anywhere else, are east Asian or Southeast Asian. Clearly, I have a bias for foods from a certain part of the world. In New York, I often go to Thai Diner and Jeju and Atoboy. For no-frills Chinese, I like Chili. I've sadly not met a single New York dim sum I can unreservedly recommend—not in Chinatown, not in Flushing, and not even at the aforementioned Chili. For the perfect dim-sum, I choose Royal China Club in London. How serious a patron am I? On a recent weeklong trip to the city, I went to the restaurant four times. I twice took the train from Paris a few years ago just to eat the crispy lobster dim-sum for lunch. For Japanese, I like Akira—I was once fed an avocado there, skin intact, and was open-mouthed at the chef's ability to render spectacular the inedible. For somewhat pretentious Chinese fare, I like A Wong. The New York Din Tai Fung is better than the London one, but neither can quite capture the magic of the Asian DTFs. Closer home, in Calcutta, I go to Beijing and Chinoiserie and Ban Thai. In Delhi, I patronise a Chinese restaurant I shall not name. It's so good and so seedy. Because Chennai is the most Korean city in South Asia, I've been able to continue indulging my love for the cuisine here. But I've long asked people where to go for the best Chinese and Thai and Indonesian food here. Some recommendations were better than others. Three in particular stood out. When I was first told of Pumpkin Tales, I bristled. Any restaurant that dabbles in that much range, I'd say, deserves to rot in the same culinary backwater where five-star-hotel buffets belong. Pumpkin Tales, though, is cuisine-agnostic in the best possible way. The offerings are as varied as laksa and Balinese curry; Tuscan chicken and garlic sherry mushroom; and sandwiches and Mee Goreng. I could say the restaurant is multi-cuisine, but the term is a pejorative in my book — every place that calls itself that serves unremarkable food. Pumpkin Tales definitely doesn't do unremarkable food. Run by Chef Chindi Varadarajulu, it specialises in these wholesome, homey dishes that are often earnest and always charming. I marvel at the chef's ability to craft a sourdough pizza with as much aplomb as the Thai green curry. I marvel that my family of self-righteous eaters smiled wide after sampling almost all the vegetarian stuff on the menu. Still, if the restaurant does Asian food so well, I once asked in between mouthfuls of bibimbap, why not just open an Asian restaurant? It turns out the team had the same idea. Zhouyu, a Chinese restaurant located two floors up in the same building, comes from the house of Pumpkin Tales. I was nervous about visiting the place, which specialises in Cantonese, Sichuan and Hunan cooking, because it came recommended by my editor, with whom I disagree on everything from chutneys to commas. To complicate matters, we decided to go together. As we worked our way through the yuxiang eggplant and prawns with ridge gourd, I noticed a shift: for once, she and I were on the same page. We agreed on the originality, know-how, and flavours. We both declared everything excellent. We'd be back soon. I returned part of a big, unwieldy group of ten with ridiculous dietary requirements. Some of us were vegetarian. Others were pescatarian. Some of us liked our tongues singed by mala sauce. Others had the spice tolerance of two-year-olds who hadn't experienced the world beyond applesauce. In its recommendations, the restaurant managed to accommodate us all. We ordered the Hong Kong fish, a delicately spiced sea-bass, with zero expectations and evolved into unequivocal fans. I'd rate the dim-sum here better than any I've had in New York in terms of wrapping texture, stuffing succulence and freshness of ingredients. I caught an avowed pescatarian in our group scarf down a chicken-and-chive dumpling. There's an easy competence to these restaurants. The service is heartfelt. One of the partners is always present — the standards are high. High is also where you go to use the bathroom, which is on an altogether different floor. Both the restaurants are the size of football fields, and I'd love it if they were divided into smaller, cosier rooms. Right now, at least Zhouyu feels a bit like Singapore — seemingly perfect and a tad antiseptic. But who notices the ambience when a bowl of soybean tauchu calamari is plopped in front of you? I come from a culture in which fermented soybean is a delicacy, but I have seen it polarise eaters whether I am in Japan or in the northeast. At Zhouyu, the fussiest of us declared the dish a hit. If soul — zany, kitschy, irreplaceable soul — is what you are after, you should head to Dahlia. Origami of various sizes and colours vie for your attention in a space that could have been conjured up in your trippy dreams. Like that weren't eccentric enough, the entire restaurant is serviced by one staffer, the famous Valli, smile unfaltering. You are incredulous that you are being carpet-bombed with butter fish, kaatsu and chawan mushi in this strange joint that is suspended in time and between continents. Is it 1960s Havana, 1970s Tokyo or 1980s Chennai that you are in, you wonder. That, of course, is part of the appeal. It helps that the food is unembellished and unpretentious. It is also delightful. If only one of these restaurants opened a Sri City outlet, how delicious life would be. Prajwal Parajuly is a novelist. Karma and Lola, his new book, is forthcoming in 2026. He teaches creative writing at Krea University and oscillates between New York City and Sri City.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Thailand Digital Arrival Card explained: Who, when, and how to submit
As reported earlier, foreign travellers are now required to complete a digital arrival card online, known as the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), before entering the country. This has replaced the earlier traditional paper TM6 form. For more clarity and details, check Thailand Digital Arrival Card . As one of the popular tourist destinations, Thailand is making all efforts to enhance its travel infrastructure to ensure a seamless experience for visitors. A key innovation in this regard is the TDAC, which is an online form introduced to replace the traditional paper-based arrival card. This marks a significant step in modernising the immigration system of Thailand and aligning it with smart travel technology. The latest arrival card has been designed for travellers entering Thailand by land, air, or sea, the TDAC aims to improve security, streamline immigration procedures, and support public health management. Here is all that you need to know about the process. Who needs to submit? All non-Thai nationals entering the Kingdom of Thailand must complete the TDAC online before arrival. When to submit Foreigners are required to submit their arrival card details three days before their scheduled arrival in Thailand. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Omaxe State: India's 1st Air Conditioned High Street! Omaxe state Learn More Undo How to access the system Travellers can submit their TDAC through the Immigration Bureau website . The system allows both individual and group submissions, as well as updates to previously submitted information before travel. Read more: What do all EU passports have in common? Information required Applicants need to provide: Passport information Personal details Travel itinerary Accommodation details in Thailand Health declaration information Steps for individual submission Click the 'Arrival Card' button. Enter personal and passport details manually, by scanning the MRZ, or uploading an MRZ image. Click 'Continue.' Enter travel and accommodation details, then click 'Continue.' Provide required health status information. If recent travel history or flight details match Ministry of Public Health alerts, additional health information will be requested. Click 'Preview.' Review and edit details if needed. Enter an email address to receive the TDAC. Agree to the Terms and Conditions, then click 'Submit.' Download or print the TDAC for the duration of your stay. Read more: Travel green: Top 10 cleanest countries leading the fight against pollution Steps for group submission The process is similar to individual submission, with the option to add travelers and duplicate common trip details. Each traveler's details must be reviewed before submission. The TDAC ensures a faster, smoother entry process for visitors while supporting Thailand's immigration and health management systems.
