Category: News

Google Assistant, the virtual personal assistant developed by Google, has received over 4.5 lakhs marriage proposal from Indian users. “Google Assistant is available in India in Hindi and English. It has increasingly become popular in India. We have 4.5 lakh marriage proposals to Google Assistant from India,” said, Rishi Chandra, Google Vice President, Home Products. Google has recently launched the home-based voice assistant ‘Google Home’, which is a small sized speaker that houses touch panels with LED indicators including a mute switch. It has dedicated far-field microphone that can capture commands during a music playback. “Voice input covers more than ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: isro.gov.in Indian space research organisation (ISRO), has successfully launched the IRNSS-1I satellite into orbit earlier today from Sriharikota.  ISRO used launch vehicle PSLV-C14 for the mission, as it becomes the 8th satellite dedicated for indigenous global positioning system. Meanwhile, the previously launched GSLV rocket carrying the GSAT 6A had been lost due to a technical glitch losing over Rs 270 crore. Hence, ISRO on its part, made history through a second back to back launch. The Regional Navigation Satellite System-1I (IRNSS-1I), that weigh over 1,425 kg was made by a private firm named Alpha Design Technologies in association ... Read more

UAE’s two leading international airlines, Emirates and Etihad, have confirmed the temporary reduction and suspension of services to a number of its global destinations during the summer and autumn periods. Emirates is set to reduce its Dubai to Fort Lauderdale and Dubai to Orlando services from daily to five times a week from early July. Emirates is also set to slightly reduce its services to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpar, Phuket, Munich and London Heathrow in the coming months. Etihad Airways confirmed that it will suspend services to Edinburgh, Scotland and Perth, Australia as part of an ongoing review of network performance.  The Au ... Read more

In a bizarre incident, former civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju’s baggage was left at the New Delhi airport, prior to a baggage clearance by airport security staff. The incident happened while Ashok Gajapathi Raju was commuting to Visakhapatnam on an Air India flight. According to airport officials, the former minister’s luggage wasn’t loaded, as part of a slow movement of baggage belt at the Delhi airport. Meanwhile, the baggage was taken back on an IndiGo flight, soon after the scheduled Air India flight left with Ashok Gajapathi.

Dnata has introduced new airport fee, which provides ground-handling service for airlines operating at Dubai International Airport. Passengers flying out of Dubai International Airport may have to pay extra charges for baggage which require manual handling, reports Gulf News. A new fee has been introduced for manual handling of baggage that do not conform to standard size and weight at Dubai International Airport. The new fee is introduced by Dnata, which provides ground-handling service for airlines operating at Dubai International Airport. For example, Air India charges Dh45 per piece for such baggage, but the fee may vary for other carriers depending ... Read more

Cappadocia, the historic land in Turkey attracts more foreign arrivals, attracted by its vibrant natural tourism products. The city is blessed with unique landscape featuring the fairy chimneys, natural rocks and valleys. According to tourism statistics, about 2.5 million tourists have visited Cappadocia on average with 100 per cent hotel occupancy stats. It was a huge milestone for Turkey, calling it as the “golden year” with this remarkable achievement on tourism. Meanwhile, during 2016 a series of terrorist attacks have ruined Turkey’s integrity upon foreign arrivals. With challenges ahead, the authorities have initiated a strong come back through international fairs ... Read more

Donegal Airport, located south-west of Bunbeg in Ireland, is voted as the world’s most scenic landing airports in the world. The results came after a poll conducted by Private Fly (Jet booking company) which chose Donegal for its mesmeric natural beauty. The poll has been conducted among travel experts, as well as, from the public. Top 10 Scenic Airport list includes- Donegal Airport (Ireland), Barra Airport (Scotland), Nice Airport (France), Queenstown Airport (New Zealand), Saba Airport (Netherlands Antilles), Orlando Melbourne International Airport (USA), Toronto Billy Bishop (Canada), London City Airport (England), St Maarten (Netherlands Antilles) and Miami Airport (USA). “We’re ... Read more

Dubai Drivers will soon be driving vehicles which flashes digital number plates. The trial-run for the same is expected to be kick-started in May. The vehicles will be fitted with smart plates with digital screens, GPS and transmitters, reports BBC. The new plates will be able to inform emergency services if a driver has an accident. The technology is reported to be helping the drivers in contacting the police and ambulance services if the vehicle is involved in a collision. The technology also allows real-time communication with other drivers about traffic conditions or accidents/glitches ahead. The number plates can also change to ... Read more

Budget Carrier Jetstar will fly between Brisbane and Uluru commencing 3 August 2018. Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) welcomed the Jetstar announcement of three times weekly flights to Uluru. The new flights operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will inject more than 55,000 return seats into the market each year, enhancing Brisbane’s regional reach and providing a convenient gateway for international travellers to Australia’s world renowned Uluru. Accommodating both point-to-point traffic and domestic connections, the flights are also timed to connect with a number of international arrivals across BNE’s network. Julieanne Alroe, BAC CEO and Managing Director, praised the collaborative approach taken ... Read more

This Saturday marks Isra’a Wal Mi’raj, a national holiday in the UAE. It’s been officially confirmed that Dubai will be dry from Friday, April 13 at 6pm until Saturday, April 14 at 7pm. UAE bars and restaurants will have a dry day/night during this period, to mark the second holiday of the year. Al Isra’a Wal Mi’raj is an Islamic holiday which is observed annually on the 27th day of the Islamic month of Rajab, according to the Hijiri calendar. And, this year, the holiday falls on Saturday, April 14. The holiday is based on the sighting of the moon, so ... Read more

Tech giant Google introduces new gadgets in the form of smart speakers, that can act as an assistant on voice commands. The device named ‘Google Home’ is a small sized speaker that houses touch panels with LED indicators including a mute switch. It has dedicated far-field microphone that can capture commands during a music playback. Google Home comes with two colours – Chalk and Charcoal, that can be activated by saying ‘Ok Google’ or ‘Hey Google’. After connecting it to a network, the device can deliver all updates regarding weather, traffic, directions, news, alarm and so on. “We are delighted ... Read more

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai, (GDRFA-Dubai) will soon launch the “Smart Gate,” a quick and easy alternative to the standard manual passport control counters and e-gates. The new Smart Gate system has undergone testing and will go live next month. “The new gate enables each passenger to pass through immigration without assistance or travel document or ID and within only 10 seconds,” said Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, GDRFA-Dubai Director-General. The e-gates across the immigration checkpoints served more than 6,500 million inbound passengers from January to March 2018 and more than 6,800 outbound passengers during the same ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: scmp Sri Lanka said it has received 707,924 tourists in the first three months of this year, recording an increase of 17.1 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year. “Lanka could have attracted more tourists in March if not for the outbreak of communal violence in Galle and the subsequent declaration of the state of Emergency,” said Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga referring to the emergency declared in the island country last month following a communal violence between muslims and Buddhist groups. India, China, Germany, France and the UK are the biggest tourist markets for Sri Lanka. ... Read more

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has launched Naqel Service allowing buses owned by passenger transport companies and licensed in the Emirate to lift passengers arriving in Dubai for returning them to other Emirates. The step is part of RTA’s endeavours to realise its third strategic goal (People Happiness), curb traffic congestion, and avoid returning buses without riders or obliging companies to contract with other firms. “Naqel Service, which is operative through RTA’s website is an initiative allowing buses owned by passenger transport firms to load passengers arriving in Dubai and lift them for returning to other Emirates. Through ... Read more

The American National Travel and Tourism office announced that they will not discharge the data regarding international arrivals to the country. According to a statement issued by the department of tourism, the matter has been raised as part of a technical glitch. Meanwhile, the US Customs and Border Protection has also raised similar statement, as they won’t release new records until the records in question are properly counted, identified and categorized. The citizens of US weren’t counted correctly, while transiting through the checkpoints. “Therefore, those travellers were removed from the visitor count of overseas travellers arriving into the United States, ... Read more