An old photograph is circulating in recently unearthed documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, showing the late British scientist Stephen Hawking with two bikini-clad women. This photo is said to be from 2006. The family has clarified that the women in the photo were his longtime caregivers and that any allegations of inappropriate behavior are baseless. The photo was reportedly taken at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas. In March 2006, Epstein hosted a scientific conference there, attended by 21 international scientists. Hawking’s name appears several times in documents related to Epstein released by the US Department of Justice. However, the available documents do not mention any inappropriate activity related to this photo. In a 2015 email, Epstein dismissed the allegations against Hawking as false. Stephen Hawking died in 2018 at the age of 76. He had long suffered from ALS. Also read these news related to international affairs… India said in UN – Kashmir’s budget is twice the amount of loan given to Pakistan by IMF. At the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), India cornered Pakistan on the issue of debt and development. Using the ‘Right to Reply’, India’s representative Anupama Singh said that India is spending twice the amount of loan given to Pakistan by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the development of Jammu and Kashmir. India said that large-scale investments are being made in infrastructure, connectivity, education and social schemes in Jammu and Kashmir. India termed the repeated allegations made by Pakistan as baseless and said that propaganda does not change the truth. India reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain an integral part of India. It also accused Pakistan of destabilizing the region through state-sponsored terrorism. Digital permit required for entry into the UK; travelers from 85 countries will have to obtain a pre-travel permit for ₹1970. Starting Wednesday, the UK has made Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) mandatory for travelers arriving from 85 countries. Under this rule, airlines will not allow boarding for travelers without a valid ETA, e-visa, or other required documents. The ETA scheme was launched in 2023. Under this scheme, travelers who do not require a visa must apply online before travel and obtain a pre-travel permit for 16 British pounds (approximately ₹1970). The ETA is a digital entry permit required for foreign travelers who do not require a visa. It is electronically linked to passports and is used for security checks. The e-visa is a digital visa that will replace the paper visa sticker affixed to passports. This was extended to European travelers in April 2024, but strict enforcement has not been in place until now. It has come into full effect from 25 February. This new system will replace the paper visa sticker affixed to the old passports. British and Irish citizens, dual citizens and those with right of abode in the UK are exempted from this rule. UK Migration and Citizenship Minister Mike Tapp said that this step has been taken to strengthen border security and make the system more modern. UK Migration Minister Mike Tapp said that the ETA scheme is an important part of strengthening the country’s border security. According to him, this will make the entry system more modern and effective, which will benefit both travellers and British citizens.
