The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Hong Kong. Courtesy Cosmopolitan Hotel
The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Hong Kong. Courtesy Cosmopolitan Hotel

Travel news: A premium feel with Hong Kong stays



Travellers can get 20 per cent off rooms and a series of other benefits with a business package at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Cosmo Hotel and Dorsett Mongkok in Hong Kong. The additional perks include free use of a hotel-supplied 3G smartphone, Wi-Fi and a daily buffet breakfast. If you book three consecutive nights, you'll also receive three hours' access to the Plaza Premium Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, with unlimited food and beverages, plus shuttle access to key destinations around the city. The package costs from Dh417 per night for stays until the end of March. For more information, visit www.cosmopolitanhotel.com.hk, www.cosmohotel.com.hk or www.mongkok.dorsetthotels.com.

First Starwood hotel opens in Romania

The Sheraton Bucharest, the first Starwood property in Romania, is now open for business. The 270-room hotel is within walking distance of the Piata Romana subway station, which offers a quick connection to the Old Town, Victoria Palace, several renowned museums and the Palace of the Parliament – the largest parliament building in the world. The hotel is a 20-minute drive from the airport, and boasts a fitness centre, conference facilities and the 18th-floor Sheraton Club lounge with views of the city. Rooms cost from Dh760 per night, including breakfast and taxes. For more information, visit www.sheraton.com.

Head East for new Abu Dhabi deal

Book a short stay at Anantara's Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa in Abu Dhabi between now and December 31 and you'll benefit from a selection of discounts and add-ons. The offer includes an upgrade to the next room category, breakfast, a signature drink, a 4pm checkout and 20 per cent discounts on dining and massage treatments per couple. The package is only available for two-night stays, and costs start from Dh1,044 per room, per night, including taxes. For more information visit, www.anantara.com/abudhabisummer.

Experience the flavours of Oman

Al Bustan Palace in Muscat has opened its Six Senses Spa and is inviting guests to enjoy a Flavours of Oman experience to celebrate. The package includes a day trip to the historic souq in Nizwa and Jebel Al Akhdar, plus the opportunity to indulge in a traditionally crafted spa treatment. The property is home to the longest private beach in the sultanate, as well as an infinity pool and garden surrounds. The package costs from Dh3,912 per night, based on a twin share, including taxes, a deluxe sea-view room, full-day excursion and a 25-minute signature spa per person, and is available for stays until December 31 (excluding Eid and Christmas). For more information, visit www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/AlBustan.

mhealy@thenational.ae

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Tales of Yusuf Tadros

Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)

Hoopoe

PFA Team of the Year: David de Gea, Kyle Walker, Jan Vertonghen, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Alonso, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
The specs

  Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now

Company%20profile
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Meydan race card

6pm Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m 

6.35Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
1,800m 

7.10pm Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m ,400m 

7.45pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB)  $180,000  (T) 1,800m 

8.20pm Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m 

8.55pm Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m 

9.30pm Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m  

Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

LEADERBOARD
%3Cp%3E-19%20T%20Fleetwood%20(Eng)%3B%20-18%20R%20McIlroy%20(NI)%2C%20T%20Lawrence%20(SA)%3B%20-16%20J%20Smith%3B%20-15%20F%20Molinari%20(Ita)%3B%20-14%20Z%20Lombard%20(SA)%2C%20S%20Crocker%20(US)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESelected%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E-11%20A%20Meronk%20(Pol)%3B%20-10%20E%20Ferguson%20(Sco)%3B%20-8%20R%20Fox%20(NZ)%20-7%20L%20Donald%20(Eng)%3B%20-5%20T%20McKibbin%20(NI)%2C%20N%20Hoejgaard%20(Den)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Business Insights
  • Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
  • The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
  • US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Company%20Profile
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Changing visa rules

For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.

Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.

It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.

The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.

The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

SPAIN SQUAD

Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)

Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)

Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

Company%20Profile
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TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5

TOURNAMENT INFO

Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November

UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi

The specs: 2017 Dodge Viper SRT

Price, base / as tested Dh460,000

Engine 8.4L V10

Transmission Six-speed manual

Power 645hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 813Nm @ 5,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 16.8L / 100km

The%20specs
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5