DUBAI: The draw for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday produced a stunning opening round clash between two-time champion Elina Svitolina and recent Australian Open finalist and two-time Grand Slam winner Garbine Muguruza. The match will give third-seeded Svitolina an early opportunity to avenge her recent defeat by Muguruza in the third round of the Australian Open, when the Spaniard allowed …

News Desk DUBAI: A host of Brazilian companies are finalizing preparations ahead of their participation at Gulfood 2020, the world’s largest annual food and beverage exhibition, where firms from around the world will throw the spotlight on a comprehensive range of products from 16-20 February at Dubai World Trade Centre. Gulfood serves as an interactive venue that will further strengthen …

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania: The Government of Tanzania Ministry of Finance has signed a facility agreement with Standard Chartered (SC.com) Tanzania for a US$ 1.46 billion term loan financing to fund the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project from Dar es Salaam to Makutupora. Running approximately 550 kilometres long, the SGR project is one of the country’s biggest …

MANAMA: Gulf Air – the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain – has added scuba diving equipment to its growing list of special free baggage allowance with up to 15 kilograms of scuba diving equipment permitted complimentary over and above the standard allowance for all passengers. Coinciding with Bahrain’s Sports Day on 11 February, the new policy has been …

LONDON: British Airways and Royal Air Maroc have announced a new codeshare agreement which will open up new routes across Morocco including Casablanca and Agadir.  It will also give customers more flight flexibility between London Heathrow and Marrakesh. Customers will be able to book from 13 February when the new agreement takes effect and codeshare flights will operate from 20 February, …

ABU DHABI: Guests arriving into Manchester Airport from Abu Dhabi felt the love as Etihad Airways surprised them with Manchester City-themed gifts in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Gifts appeared among the baggage as excited guests waited for their belongings. City mascot, Moonchester handed out Manchester City jerseys, mini footballs, scarves as well as model Etihad Airways aircraft painted in City …

DUBAI: The most exciting new star to arrive on the ATP Tour in recent years is ready to make his second bid for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title. Stefanos Tsitsipas arrived in Dubai a year ago as a budding superstar after upsetting Roger Federer at the Australian Open. Although Federer avenged that defeat in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis …

By Rafiq Vayani KOTA KINABALU: A total of 36 international media from 11 countries are in Malaysia to participate in Mega Familiarisation Programme (Mega Fam) organised by Tourism Malaysia. The programme themed “It’s Summertime in Malaysia in conjunction with PATA Adventure Travel Conference and Mart” is scheduled to be held from 11 to 15 February 2020. Mega Fam is designed …

News Desk DUBAI: Emirates is celebrating a milestone in its operations to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, marking 30 years of service to Riyadh. Since the first Emirates flight between Riyadh and Dubai in February 1990, and the airline has carried over eight million passengers on the route, demonstrating the strong links between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the …

LONDON: British Airways is launching a summer route between London Heathrow and Newquay, creating the only direct route to Heathrow.  This adds to the new routes the airline has already announced for summer 2020 to Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Montenegro and Turkey. Seats are available to book from today on BA.com with flights operating on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 2 …