Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao will make a rare visit to Dubai this weekend as he headlines a new basketball event in the emirate.
Here are the details.
What is Dubai Invasion 2019?
A Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) event – the competition’s first trip to the Middle East. Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division champion and a sitting senator in his homeland, launched the MPBL in 2017, which has since grown from 10 teams to 31. Semi-professional, it is not yet as popular as the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA).
When is it?
September 27-28, from 4pm.
Where is it?
Hamdan Sports Complex, Dubai
Who is competing?
An avid basketball fan, Pacquiao will feature in an exhibition match on each day of the action, with three MPBL teams - inaugural champions Batangas City Athletics, Imus Bandera and Davao Occidental Tigers - contesting regular-season games across the two days. Other celebrities in action during the event include one-time PBA league MVP Jayjay Helterbrand, Filipino-American actor Gerald Anderson and Derek Ramsay, the British-born Filipino actor. Pacquiao’s brother, Bobby, will also be competing.
How do I get tickets?
Organisers expect up to 15,000 spectators on each of the days. Tickets can be found at meraticket.com. They begin at Dh50.
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
more from Janine di Giovanni
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
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A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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Director: Jon M Chu
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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