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Hornbill Festival 2024 in Nagaland Draws Over 1.73 Lakh Attendees

The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland this year has recorded an impressive turnout with more than 1.73 lakh attendees. Among these 2,375 were international visitors which is a remarkable feat! Held every year at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, the festival is one of the prime attractions of India which celebrated its 25th edition in 2024. This also marks a major hike from last year's attendance of 1,54,057. The colourful festival is organised every year from December 1 and attracts visitors from across the globe. The Hornbill Festival also is also showcases the traditions and ethnic diversity of Nagaland, offering a window into the lives of its 18 indigenous tribes. Through a variety of cultural performances, traditional games, and the distinct flavors of Naga cuisine, the festival creates a platform for the celebration of the state’s cultural richness. The event was inaugurated with much fanfare, featuring the symbolic beating of the Naga gong by Governor La Ganesan and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, accompanied by representatives from partner countries such as the UK, Wales, Peru, the USA, Japan, and Indian state partners Telangana and Sikkim. The festival’s success is attributed to its cultural connect, as presented by the Department of Art and Culture, which brought together performances by all 18 Naga tribes. These performances not only highlight the state’s unique cultural practices but also promote a sense of unity and pride among the Naga people.

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Qatar Airways Introduces Starlink Technology on Executive Jets

Qatar Airways Group has unveiled a game-changing advancement with the integration of Starlink technology across its Qatar Executive Gulfstream G650ER fleet. This pioneering move underscores the airline group’s ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in aviation, setting a new standard for inflight connectivity in the private jet sector. Beginning 14 December 2024, Qatar Executive will operate its first Starlink-equipped Gulfstream G650ER, offering passengers Wi-Fi speeds of up to 350 megabits per second. This means guests can stream movies, watch live sports, and work seamlessly while cruising at 45,000 feet in the comfort and privacy of a luxury jet. By May 2025, Qatar Executive will equip the first five aircraft of its 15 G650ER fleet with Starlink, with plans to complete the rollout across its entire Gulfstream fleet within the next 18 months. This technological leap enhances Qatar Executive’s promise of world-class service, combining luxurious travel with the ultimate in connectivity, ensuring that passengers are always connected, no matter where their journey takes them. Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “Qatar Executive continues to redefine the future of private aviation. The integration of Starlink technology represents our vision for seamless connectivity that meets the expectations of our global clientele. This innovation further enhances our position as a leading provider in the ultra-long-range business jet branded charter market, ensuring that every journey with Qatar Executive is exceptional.”

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Air India Takes Inflight Entertainment to New Heights

Air India, the flagship airline of India, has announced an exciting expansion of its cutting-edge wireless inflight entertainment service, Vista Stream. Initially launched in August 2024, Vista Stream has now been extended to the airline’s narrowbody fleet, ensuring that passengers across both domestic and international flights can enjoy uninterrupted entertainment at cruising altitude. Vista Stream, which was previously available on Air India’s wide-body aircraft (excluding the newly introduced Boeing 777 and Airbus A350), will now be available across a broader range of aircraft. This means travelers can enjoy their favorite movies, TV shows, music, and more, regardless of the aircraft type, making for a consistently superior entertainment experience on every journey. Designed to offer ultimate convenience, Vista Stream allows passengers to stream a vast library of content directly to their personal devices—smartphones, tablets, and laptops—ensuring an engaging and personalized experience throughout the flight. Whether you’re on a long-haul international flight or a short domestic leg, Air India’s Vista Stream service guarantees an immersive and distraction-free way to enjoy your travel time. As Air India continues to innovate, the expansion of Vista Stream is another step forward in enhancing the overall in-flight experience, aligning with the airline’s commitment to providing world-class services and entertainment to passengers worldwide. “As we continue to transform Air India into a world-class airline, we are happy to introduce Vista Stream that enables our guests to access digital entertainment content on their personal devices during their flight. With the introduction of Vista Stream across our narrowbody fleet, uninterrupted entertainment (BYOD) service will be available throughout the entire domestic and international network,” said Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India.

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Etihad Airways and Air Seychelles Partner to Boost Surging Global Flight Network

Etihad Airways and Air Seychelles have entered into a codeshare agreement that will allow travelers to seamlessly book flights between Etihad’s global destinations and the idyllic Seychelles, starting in May 2025. This partnership is designed to increase travel options and convenience, offering an enhanced travel experience for passengers and broadening the global reach of both airlines. The codeshare agreement will be centered on six weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Mahe, with onward connections to other exotic destinations, such as Praslin and Mauritius, through Air Seychelles. The collaboration between Etihad Airways and Air Seychelles will see the airlines working together to offer six flights per week between Abu Dhabi and Mahe, the capital of Seychelles. This increased frequency is set to improve travel options for passengers, particularly those seeking to visit the Seychelles from various international destinations. The new service will integrate with Etihad’s existing network, enhancing global connectivity and providing an easier path to new destinations like Praslin and Mauritius. The partnership marks an exciting development in the travel industry, as it will allow Etihad passengers to access the beautiful island destinations with a single booking, connecting seamlessly through Abu Dhabi. This move is expected to draw more international tourists to the Seychelles and its surrounding islands, further strengthening the UAE’s position as a global travel hub. For travelers, the codeshare agreement offers a host of benefits, including the ability to travel between destinations with the same baggage allowance, complimentary meals, and access to inflight entertainment. Additionally, Etihad Guest members will be able to earn miles on their flights, making the experience even more rewarding for frequent flyers. This collaboration is expected to attract a large number of visitors from various regions, as passengers can now conveniently reach the Seychelles without multiple stopovers.

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Odisha To Get Three New Railway Lines

President Droupadi Murmu has launched three major railway projects in Odisha, aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting the region’s economic development. President Droupadi Murmu has officially inaugurated six major development initiatives in Odisha, collectively valued at INR 6,400 crore.The projects are aimed at improving infrastructure, connectivity, and services in the state. Among the key initiatives are three new railway lines that will connect important districts and bolster the region’s economic growth. These lines—Bangriposi-Gorumahisani, Buramara-Chakulia, and Badampahar-Keonjhargarh—are expected to enhance regional transport and logistics. The new railway lines include the 60-km Buramara-Chakulia route, which will link Mayurbhanj district in Odisha to East Singhbhum in Jharkhand. With a projected cost of INR 1,639 crore, this railway line is set to improve transportation between these mineral-rich regions, boosting the local economy and facilitating the movement of goods, particularly for industrial purposes. In addition to the railway projects, President Murmu also laid the foundation for three other significant developments in Rairangpur. These include a Tribal Research and Development Center, a new airport at Dandbose, and a sub-divisional hospital. These projects aim to address key gaps in education, healthcare, and infrastructure in Odisha’s tribal areas, enhancing the quality of life for local communities. The President’s visit to Odisha also saw her participating in important events such as the Indian Navy Day celebration at Blue Flag Beach in Puri on December 4. The Navy Day ceremony commemorated the Indian Navy’s role in securing the nation’s maritime interests. Additionally, President Murmu attended the 40th convocation of Odisha University of Agricultural Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar on December 5, where she congratulated the graduating students.

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Dubai: Global Village launches new space-themed attraction

Global Village has launched Exo Planet City, a new space-themed attraction, designed to offer an immersive, high-tech experience for visitors this 29th season. The attraction features a range of interactive activities designed for all ages, combining adventure, entertainment, and sensory stimulation in one dynamic space hub. Exo Planet City is centred around a variety of activities that combine cutting-edge technology with immersive storytelling. The experience kicks off with the Infiniti Mirror Maze, where guests navigate through an infinity room featuring aquatic, forest, and space-themed realms. LED lights, illusion displays, and special effects add to the maze's "mind-bending experience". For those seeking more excitement, the Gravity Vortex offers a thrilling sensory challenge. Guests step into a spiralling tunnel, where swirling lights and sounds create the sensation of moving through space. The interactive visual effects further enhance the illusion, making it a standout attraction for guests. The attraction also features a 5D Cinema, with a 30-degree curved screen and dynamic seating capacity of up to 36 guests. The cinema’s multi-sensory effects, including smoke, rain, bubbles, and even snow, bring the on-screen action to life for guests who wear 3D glasses, creating a truly engaging experience for visitors.

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