Dhai Dubai: Stunning New Light Art Festival Featuring World-Class Lineup Launches At Expo City Dubai

Dhai Dubai, the first-ever Emirati-led light art festival, has launched its illuminating 10-day programme at Expo City Dubai. The event celebrates the rich artistic tapestry of Emirati talent through a series of awe-inspiring artistic projections, interactive installations, enlightening talks and creative workshops. The free-to-attend festival is created and organised by Expo City Dubai, in partnership with AGB Creative and Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and will run from January 26 to February 4.

Artists lighting up the inaugural event include Mattar Bin Lahej, known for designing the calligraphic façade on the Museum of the Future; pioneering artist Dr Najat Makki, honoured with the French Chevalier of Arts and Letters; Emirates Fine Arts Society co-founder Dr Mohamed Yousef; designer Abdulla Almulla, who participated in last year's London Design Biennale; multi-disciplinary artist Maitha Hamdan; esteemed designer Khalid Al Shafar, renowned for his collaboration with Louvre Abu Dhabi; and celebrated visual artist Reem Al Ghait.

Meanwhile, Al Wasl Plaza's iconic 130-metre-wide dome comes to life with a series of special projection shows titled Sisters of the Desert, inspired by the late Emirati artist, Dhabia Juma Lamlah, who produced more than 200 remarkable artworks despite not being able to use her right hand. Reflecting Dubai's spirit of multicultural collaboration, the show also features special guests, Australian artist Rene Kulitja and South African artist Dr Esther Mahlangu, who weave together a narrative of resilience and cross-cultural connectivity.

Dhai Dubai is supporting the Liter of Light initiative – a global grassroots movement – to provide high-quality solar lighting to people with limited to electricity in the floating images of Agusan Marsh in the Philippines. Festival visitors can also pledge to contribute toward Liter of Light's mission in communities across the Philippines, Kenya, Cameroon, and India.

For more information, please visit www.dhaidubai.com and sign up to receive updates.

Travelore News: DOT Orders Termination Of Delta, Aeromexico Partnership

Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico will not be permitted to renew their cross-border joint operations. The US Department of Transportation handed down a tentative ruling late Friday, dismissing the renewal application for grant of antitrust immunity (ATI) for their Joint Cooperation Agreement (JCA) and related alliance agreements. Lacking a successful appeal, the partnership will end on 26 October 2024, allowing time for a controlled unwinding of the integrations and other agreements, without adverse impact to consumers.

The Department is levying blame for the decision squarely on the Mexican government and its actions surrounding access to Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX):

Actions taken by the Mexican government regarding operations at MEX have been raised by the U.S. Government with counterparts at the highest levels within the Government of Mexico in formal consultations as being fundamentally out of compliance with the existing bilateral air service agreement and international norms governing capacity management at airports. After continued consultations that have not altered the current course, the Department tentatively concludes that the condition precedent necessary for consideration and continuation of ATI, namely the adherence by the Government of Mexico to its obligations under the U.S.-Mexico Aviation Agreement, is no longer present.

"Specifically, the DOT calls out the removal of cargo operations at MEX, and reduction of capacity for passenger service at the airport. “The Mexican Government has premised these actions on the need to undertake significant renovation of MEX because of saturation levels at the airport; however, the Mexican Government has more recently conceded that no such construction plans exist but indicated, in a communication to the Department on November 28, that no additional capacity would be added at MEX as long as operational and technical conditions at the airport prevail. As such, there is no valid operational basis on which to undertake the already-enacted capacity reductions and no possibility of new entry at MEX for the foreseeable future.”

Allegiant/Viva Aerobus also impacted

This ruling is in line with the July 2023 move by the department to suspend consideration of the joint venture application of Allegiant and Viva Aerobus. That application also called out the MEX access changes as a key sticking point. The Department notes, “Despite further formal engagement with the Mexican Government, no progress has been made at this time on resolving core issues…”

Given that the current Mexican government shows no signs of changing its tune on MEX, expect that nothing will get better for US airlines or transborder partnerships anytime soon. And with the Mexican government trying to launch its own airline, it is equally unlikely that an appeal from Aeromexico for relief at MEX would fall on sympathetic ears.

Source: https://paxex.aero/

China Kicks Off Lunar New Year Travel Rush, Expects Record 9 Billion Trips

China on Friday kicked off its busiest annual period of mass migration with a record 9 billion domestic trips expected to be made during a 40-day travel rush around the Lunar New Year holidays, state media predicted.

That would be nearly double the 4.7 billion trips made during the so-called Spring Festival travel rush in 2023 when ultra-strict COVID-19 restrictions were abolished.

Millions of people will travel back to their home towns to reunite with families for the Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year, in the world's largest mass migration each year.

About 80% of the 9 billion trips will be self-driving road trips, also a record, with the rest by rail, air, and water, Chinese state television CCTV reported.

Nearly 11 million train trips, the main mode of transportation in China, are expected on Friday. A total of 480 million trips will be made nationwide during the 40-day period, a 38% jump from 2023 and up 17% from 2019 before the pandemic.

Both railway travel and air travel skyrocketed on the first day of this year's rush. Passengers struggled to get train tickets, even though China is home to the world's largest high-speed network.

Miranda Guo, a 25-year-old cartoonist from a Hangzhou-based Chinese technology firm, was lucky to have secured a seat on a bullet train to Jinan. But that was only after forking out an additional 60 yuan, 13% of the ticket price, on an "accelerator package" offered by third-party booking apps.

"I think it's hard to buy a ticket this year, with almost all my colleagues failing to get tickets. Many of them are still on waiting lists," Guo said.

Air passenger trips are estimated to reach 2 million on Friday, CCTV reported. During this year's travel rush, the number of trips made by air are expected to surge to 80 million, per China's aviation regulator, up 9.8% from 2019.

Airports in China's biggest cities Beijing and Shanghai will brace for heavy crowds.

Shanghai's two airports Pudong and Hongqiao expect passenger traffic to surge 57.6% on year in the 40-day period while Beijing's airports will see a more than 60% jump. Overseas travel will also rise during the travel peak.
China's aviation authorities have arranged more than 2,500 additional international flights to Asian destinations including Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea.

Additional railway and flights are also arranged for popular domestic tourism cities including Harbin in northeast China and Sanya, a popular tropical destination in the south.

Reporting by Albee Zhang, Qiaoyi Li and Ryan Woo; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan

Amtrak To Begin Testing High-Speed Trains On The Northeast Corridor

The Federal Railroad Administration cleared testing of high-speed trains on the Northeast Corridor, a crucial step for Amtrak in advancing the long-delayed project.

Why it matters: The trains are faster and can carry more passengers than the current aging Acela fleet, which was supposed to be decommissioned in 2016, per the New York Times.

Driving the news: Amtrak announced testing will commence on tracks running from Washington to Boston after the new trains were approved by the FRA on the 14th attempt following repeated failed computer modeling tests, per the Times.

Flashback: In 2016, the federal government announced it was giving Amtrak a $2.45 billion loan for the project.
Two years later, French manufacturing company Alstom informed Amtrak that train modeling showed the trains weren't safe on the Northeast Corridor tracks, which need more than $100 billion in repairs and upgrades for the trains to reach maximum speed, per the NYT.

Amtrak still gave the company approval to build the trains despite the modeling issues, feeling they had little recourse since the contract was in place. The Times cited inspector general reports in 2020 and 2023 that warned of continued failed modeling tests and defects in trains, though the reports also said that the defects could be fixed.

What they're saying: Amtrak tells Axios that track testing is "the next step in the safety certification process that leads toward launching revenue service."

By the numbers: The high-speed trains cost Amtrak about $1.6 billion total.

Amtrak has spent more than $48 million to maintain and keep running the Acela trains, which were also built by Alstom, per the NYT.

The intrigue: The new trains can reach a maximum speed of 160 miles per hour and are designed to tilt around curves for a better ride.

They can carry 386 passengers each, or 25% more than the Acela fleet.

What's next: Amtrak initially hoped the new fleet would be operational by this year but still hasn't said when it expects the trains will be deployed.

https://www.axios.com/authors/iavilucea

US Set For New Tallest Skyscraper With 1,907ft Building In Surprising City

Forget New York City or Chicago, America is set to get a new location for its tallest skyscraper.

Oklahoma City is set to be the surprising location of the United States' next tallest skyscraper. The proposed Boardwalk at Bricktown would reach a dizzying 1,907 feet high, making it not only the tallest building in the US but the fifth tallest building in the world.

Developers initially proposed a building of 1,750 feet, but have now revised their request to add an extra 157 feet. The development will include three huge towers each 345 feet tall, with the fourth and tallest tower on top, called the Legends Tower. The top of the Legends Tower will consist of a public observatory, a restaurant and a bar where visitors can look over a sweeping view across Oklahoma.

Currently the tallest building in America is One World Trade in NYC at a formidable 1,776 ft, followed by Centra Park Tower at 1,550 ft and in third place is Chicago's Willis Tower. The proposed new skyscraper would dwarf them all but it would still come in at 800ft shorter than the world's largest building, Dubai's Burj Khalifa.

By KIA FATAHI

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department Of Tourism And Division Of Festivals Announces Dates For St Thomas Carnival 2024

In collaboration with the Division of Festivals, the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) Department of Tourism announces the official dates for the 2024 St. Thomas Carnival. Scheduled to be held from April 28 to May 5, 2024, this year's annual celebration is projected to be the largest to date.

Consistent with longstanding traditions, the 72nd annual Carnival celebration will feature events including the Queen, Prince, and Princess Pageants, Calypso Monarch, Pan-O-Rama, and one of the region's best J'ouvert parties. The annual Carnival culminates with the highly anticipated parade through Charlotte Amalie featuring thousands of masqueraders adorned in colorful outfits dancing down the 2-mile route.

"I am excited to welcome everyone to join us for the 2024 St. Thomas Carnival," said Joseph Boschulte, U.S. Virgin Islands Commissioner of Tourism. "This year, we are preparing to make this the best Carnival yet, highlighting our rich culture, picturesque island, and beautiful people."

Local and home-based revelers can expect to experience the best of St. Thomas, including the St Thomas Carnival Boat Races and top-tier musical performances at the free nightly Village Nights. From fast boats to Latin fusion, calypso, soca, reggae, and quelbe music, unmatched vibes will be circulating throughout the island.

No Caribbean Carnival celebration is complete without a food fair, and on May 1, the rich and diverse cuisine of the USVI will take center stage at the annual Food Fair.

For up-to-date information on the St. Thomas Carnival, please visit https://www.visitusvi.com/experiences/carnivals-festivals.

For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands and its offerings, please visit https://www.visitusvi.com/.

Chicago Joins Paris In Global Bed Bug Spotlight, Ranking As The Worst City On Orkin's U.S. Bed Bug Cities List

The Windy City is taking up residence as one of the worst cities for bed bugs taking the #1 spot on Orkin's Top 50 Bed Bug Cities List for the fourth year in a row. Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia hold onto the top three spots, ranking first, second and third, respectively for cities with most bed bugs. Greensboro, N.C. saw the largest jump this year, moving up twenty-fife spots into the Top Twenty, with Milwaukee (#25) moving up the list by fifteen and Tampa (#31) moving up by ten.

Amid the Paris Bed Bug craze, travelers are more concerned than ever with avoiding these stealthy pests. As Americans look towards travel in 2024 it is critical to know how to identify and thoroughly check for bed bugs in hotel rooms (both internationally and domestically) while being careful not to bring the pests home with them.

The bed bug cities list is based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from Dec. 1, 2022 – Nov. 30, 2023. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.

What cities have the most bed bugs?

Chicago

New York

Philadelphia

Cleveland-Akron, OH

Los Angeles

Detroit

Washington, D.C. (+2)

Indianapolis (-1)

Charlotte (+5)

Champaign, IL (+1)

Columbus, OH (-1)

Cincinnati (+1)

Atlanta (+3)

Grand Rapids, MI (-2)

Denver

Baltimore (-8)

Richmond, VA (+9)

Greensboro, N.C. (+25)

St. Louis (+6)

Youngstown (+7)

Pittsburgh (-3)

Dallas-Ft. Worth (-5)

Flint, MI (-2)

Raleigh-Durham (-4)

Milwaukee (+15)

Charleston, W.V. (-7)

Greenville, SC (-3)

Norfolk, VA (-5)

Davenport (+8)

Nashville (+3)

Tampa (+10)

Toledo (+6)

Dayton, OH (+1)

Knoxville (-4)

Las Vegas (new to list)

Omaha, NE (-4)

South Bend, IN (-9)

Houston (+6)

Cedar Rapids, MI (-8)

Ft. Wayne, IN (-5)

San Francisco (-19)

Buffalo, NY (-13)

Harrisburg (-7)

Seattle (-5)

Miami

Orlando (+1)

Minneapolis (new to list)

Oklahoma City (new to list)

Louisville, KY

Lexington, KY (-4)

Bed bugs are typically 3/16 inch long, red to dark brown in color and are mostly nocturnal insects that come out of hiding to take blood meals from sleeping humans. These pests are hematophagous, which means blood is their only food source. Clinging to items such as luggage, purses and other personal belongings, bed bugs can travel from place to place with ease.

"Bed bugs are extremely resilient, making them difficult to control. As travel plans ramp up, it's important that Americans know how to protect themselves through pest identification and proper control," said Ben Hottel, Orkin entomologist. "While bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, they are excellent at hiding. Involving a trained professional at the sight of a bed bug introduction is recommended."

Known for rapid population growth, female bed bugs can deposit one to five eggs a day and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in their lifetime. They can survive for several months while waiting for their next blood meal, so they're likely to emerge the moment a food source, e.g., humans or animals, becomes available.

"While the bed bug infestations in Paris have made travelers more conscious of the pests in hotels while traveling internationally, it is also important to take precautions at home," said Hottel. "Second-hand items such as clothing and furniture are also common bed bug hiding places, allowing pests an opportunity to hitch a ride home with new consumers. Examining any new items before they enter your home will help to catch a bed bug infestation sooner, rather than later."

At Home:

Inspect your home for signs of bed bugs regularly. Check the places where bed bugs hide during the day, including mattress tags and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets and picture frames. Inspect when you move in, after a trip, when a service worker visits or after guests stay overnight. Decrease clutter around your home to make it easier to spot bed bugs on your own or during professional inspections. Examine all secondhand furniture before bringing it inside your home.

During travel, remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to inspect for bed bugs:

Survey the hotel room for signs of an infestation. Be on the lookout for tiny, ink-colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards. Lift and look in bed bug hiding spots: the mattress, box spring and other furniture, as well as behind baseboards, pictures and even torn wallpaper. Elevate luggage away from the bed and wall. The safest places are in the bathroom or on counters. Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and once you return home from a trip. Always store luggage away from the bed.

With nearly 125 years of experience with bed bugs and state-of-the-art tools and products, Orkin is well-equipped to assess your bed bug problem, offer trainings for short-staffed hospitality teams and mount a strategic response to rid your home of the pest and provide maximum protection.

For more information about bed bug prevention and bed bug control, visit Orkin.com. Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for at least 30-45 minutes at the highest setting after you return home. Here are proactive tips Orkin recommends for homeowners and travelers to prevent bed bugs: