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Brit Detained At Airport In India

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Hiker Heather Mackins. Credit: Instagram @hiker_heather

British traveller Heather Mackins has issued a warning on her Instagram page after being detained at India’s Indira Gandhi International Airport for carrying a Garmin inReach satellite communication device.

Satellite-enabled gadgets are strictly prohibited under India’s archaic Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933.

Why are satellite devices illegal in India?

India’s Wireless Telegraphy Act was originally introduced to regulate radio licence fees. It now restricts the use of satellite communication devices without a government-issued licence. The law gained prominence after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where satellite phones were used to coordinate deadly assaults that claimed over 170 lives. Possessing an illegal device can lead to a fine of ₹1,000 (approximately €11) or a prison sentence of up to three years.

While GPS devices used for navigation are permitted, gadgets like Garmin inReach, which facilitate text messaging, SOS alerts, and weather updates via satellites, fall under the ban.

According to Mail Online, Mackins’ incident on New Year’s Day came two days after the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice, explicitly telling Brits not to travel to India with satellite communication devices: ‘It is illegal to possess and operate satellite phones in India without a licence.’

Hiker Heather Mackins detained in Indian airport

Heather, an experienced hiker from Yorkshire, was travelling to Rishikesh, a popular destination for spiritual retreats, when her device was flagged during airport security checks. In an emotional Instagram post, she recounted being detained for nearly 11 hours, denied water, and handed over to the police. She explained:

“I innocently placed my Garmin inReach in the tray to go through the scanner. I was promptly pulled aside by security and told to wait.”

Heather was released on the condition that she remains in India to attend a court hearing.

Similar incidents have involved other international travellers, according to reports by Mail Online, including a Canadian trail runner detained in Goa for carrying a GPS device. In 2022, Saudi Aramco executive Fergus MacLeod was arrested for bringing a satellite phone into India and described his week in a communal prison cell as “traumatic.”

Despite growing calls to modernise the nearly century-old legislation, enforcement remains strict, leaving travellers vulnerable to significant legal challenges.

Travellers planning a trip to India are advised to thoroughly check the country’s laws regarding satellite devices. The Garmin website explicitly states: ‘Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit the use of satellite communications devices. It is the responsibility of the user to know and follow all applicable laws.’

In response to Heather’s arrest, an FCDO spokesperson told Mail Online, “We are aware of the British national who was stopped at Delhi airport and are in contact with the local authorities.”

View all travel news.

View all articles by Letara Draghia.

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Palma De Mallorca Passenger Record

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Image: Zixia / Shutterstock.com.

Palma de Mallorca Airport concluded 2024 with a record 33,298,164 passengers, marking a 7 per cent increase compared to 2023.

These figures, just released by Aena, confirm that it has been the busiest year in the airport’s history.

Of the total number of commercial passengers, 9,058,246 flew on domestic routes, a 5 per cent rise, while 24,225,720 travelled on international flights, an increase of 7.8 per cent.

In terms of operations, the airport handled 243,200 flights, up by 6.2 per cent from 2023, setting a new record for aircraft movements.

Passenger Records set in December at Palma de Mallorca Airport

In December 2024, Palma de Mallorca Airport saw 1,082,512 passengers, a 4.2 per cent increase over the same month in 2023. The airport managed 9,573 flights, representing a 2.8 per cent growth.

Of the passengers in December, 656,123 were domestic travellers (+1.1 per cent), while 426,254 were international passengers (+9.4 per cent).

The Aena Group, which operates 46 airports and two heliports in Spain, as well as London-Luton Airport and 17 airports in Brazil, closed 2024 with a total of 369,444,029 passengers, an 8.5 per cent increase from 2023. The group managed 3,203,747 aircraft movements, a 7.1 per cent rise, and handled 1,421,640 tonnes of cargo, an 18.1 per cent increase.

In December 2024, Aena Group airports processed 26,925,911 passengers, up by 7.2 per cent from the previous year.

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Record Foreign House Music Earnings

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Franky Rizardo made 112 foreign performances in 2024 Credit: Franky Rizardo Facebook

Although there is no history of successful Dutch rock groups outside of the Netherlands, there is still plenty of export money to be made from current trends.

Looking back, it’s hard to find more than a handful of successful Dutch rock bands that were successful outside of their homeland with probably Alquin, Focus, Golden Earring,  Shocking Blue and Supersister making up that that handful.

The Netherlands earned record foreign income from House Music performances in 2024

Where the Dutch are currently particularly strong is in the area of House Music and according to research commissioned by Buma Cultuur, this genre represented foreign earnings of €136 million in 2024 which accounts for 62 per cent of the grand total of €220 million.

This total figure represents a new record and beat the 2018 record by 11 per cent with the top four Dutch DJs and producers appearing outside of the Netherlands on 410 occasions in 2024 with the most in demand being Franky Rizardo.

It’s not just House Music that is popular as  performances by André Rieu were in great demand around the world

One of the more traditional Dutch musicians, violinist and conductor André Rieu proved to be very popular with foreign audiences and although he performed more than once a week outside of the Netherlands, he has also earned an enormous amount from TV and DVD recordings of his massively popular concerts.

Until Brexit, the UK probably earned more overseas performance earnings than any other European country but although the top performers such as Elton John, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran can still afford to tour internationally, new rules and regulations have made it increasingly difficult for up and coming artists to take part in many European events.

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Body Image, Food Anxiety Event Torremolinos

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Struggling with body image, stress, and food anxiety? This event in Torremolinos might be for you. Credit: Vania Fit, Meetup

ON Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 10 AM to 12 PM CET, Hotel Barracuda Pool Bar in La Carihuela, Torremolinos, will host a unique event designed specifically for women struggling with body image issues, stress, and food anxiety. This gathering is for those who have longed to achieve their ideal body but have found it challenging due to emotional eating and anxiety.

The event is a safe space where attendees can learn about the root causes of their struggles with food and body image, and how to finally break free from these patterns. The focus is not on quick fixes or weight-loss products but on teaching women to live freely in their bodies, something the host has successfully done herself.

This isn’t just about learning how to manage your relationship with food – it’s about reclaiming confidence and being at peace with yourself. If you’re tired of promises of weight loss through shakes and pills, this event offers a refreshing alternative that focuses on self-awareness and lasting change.

Join in on January 25 for a morning of learning, sharing, and growth together. Come alone or bring your friends, and take part in networking with other like-minded women who are on a similar journey to self-love and personal growth.

Don’t miss the opportunity to meet like-minded women and begin your own journey to living in a body you love. The group is waiting for you.

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