General News
Emirates to Launch Services to Mashhad
Emirates, a global connector of people, places and economies today announced that it will launch a new service to Mashhad, Iran from 1 September 2015, marking its second gateway into the country.
Emirates will operate to Mashhad with five weekly services utilizing an Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, divisional senior vice president Commercial Operations, Centre, said: “Mashhad’s addition to our global network will enable us to provide flexibility and choice for customers creating new inbound and outbound markets for tourism. We look forward to boosting traffic in and out of Mashhad and drawing in visitors from a host of points across our global network including cities in Europe, India, Pakistan, the GCC, as well as Far East destinations like Bangkok.”
Mashhad is the second largest city in Iran and attracts more than 2 million foreign visitors per year.
Due to its proximity to Central Asian countries, Mashhad hosts numerous international exhibitions each year and is the second most active exhibition centre after Tehran.
Last year, Emirates carried more than half a million passengers to and from Iran.
The country also has 17 UNESCO-registered world heritage sites and plans to boost its total Travel and Tourism contribution to GDP to USD $8.9 billion by 2024 (7.5% of GDP), according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
Emirates services to Mashhad will depart on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from Dubai as EK967 at 0410hrs arriving at Mashhad International Airport at 0700hrs*.
The return flight, EK968 will depart Mashhad International Airport at 0845hrs* arriving in Dubai at 1045hrs.
Services will be operated by a combination of a three class and two class configured A330-200.
Timings have been scheduled to facilitate convenient onward connections via Dubai from points in the GCC, India and major cities like Bangkok in the Far East.
Furthermore, the new flights introduce convenient connections from major European cities such as Stockholm and points across the UK, homes to some of the largest Iranian communities in the world.
Travellers from the United States looking to stop in Dubai before embarking on their onwards journey to Mashhad can avail the Dubai Stop Over package, which includes stays at world-class hotels, sightseeing, among other activities.
Travellers from Mashhad will be able to easily connect to popular leisure destinations such as Istanbul and Bangkok, as well as thriving business destinations in India, Europe and the Far East.
Passengers travelling in the A330-200 First Class and Business Class cabins will be able to enjoy Emirates’ award-winning ice entertainment system with hundreds of channels of on-demand entertainment to choose from, including movies, television programmes, games, audio books and music from across the world.
Economy Class passengers can also enjoy a great selection of entertainment including the latest international movies, television series, great music and games, in addition to savouring regionally inspired menus.
As with all Emirates flights, passengers travelling on the Mashhad service will enjoy the generous Emirates baggage allowance of 30kg in Economy Class, 40 kg in Business Class and 50 kg in First Class.
In addition to passenger operations, Emirates SkyCargo will offer 17 tonnes of cargo capacity each way between Dubai and Mashhad on the A330-200.
Popular commodities are expected to be saffron, nuts, fruits, leather and personal effects.
Emirates’ launch of Mashhad will follow the launch of Multan in Pakistan on 1 August and will coincide with the launch of Orlando, which also launches on 1 September.
It will then be followed by the launch of Bologna on 3 November.
*Flight times are as per summer scheduling. Due to the end of Daylight Savings Time in Iran, the arrival and departure times in Mashhad will be one hour earlier from 22 September.
General News
PalmPay Supports Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Walk

PalmPay, a Nigerian leading digital banking platform, supported the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) during its Cybersecurity Awareness Walk held in Abuja as part of activities marking the 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Themed “Secure Our World,” the event brought together key stakeholders from law enforcement, regulatory bodies, and the private sector to promote public awareness on cybersecurity, financial fraud prevention, and safe online practices.
PalmPay joined other participants in advocating for stronger public vigilance and safer digital engagement, reaffirming its commitment to supporting national efforts that enhance cybersecurity and consumer protection.
Speaking during the event, PalmPay’s Managing Director, Mr Chika Reginald Nwosu, commended the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) for its efforts in combating cybercrime and protecting consumers. He emphasised the need for continued collaboration across sectors to build a safe and secure payment ecosystem for all Nigerians.
“We commend the NPF-NCCC for its proactive leadership in driving cybersecurity awareness,” said Nwosu. “At PalmPay, we are committed to supporting initiatives that promote digital safety and foster trust in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.”
At the event, PalmPay was commended for its outstanding efforts in strengthening regulatory engagement and advancing consumer protection initiatives across the fintech industry.
The partnership underscores PalmPay’s ongoing commitment to promoting cybersecurity awareness, consumer protection, and fraud prevention as part of its mission to create a safer digital financial ecosystem in Nigeria.
PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.
PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.
General News
Fidelity Bank Salutes Air Peace for Flying Nigeria’s Flag to Heathrow

Fidelity Bank Plc has congratulated Air Peace on the successful launch of its maiden direct flight from Lagos to London Heathrow, describing the milestone as a significant achievement for Nigeria’s aviation sector and a testament to the power of indigenous partnerships.

The commendation was delivered by Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, managing director of Fidelity Bank, during a special event held in Lagos to celebrate the airline’s expansion into the European market.
“This is not just a win for Air Peace, but a win for Nigeria,” Onyeali-Ikpe said. “It reflects the strength of home-grown businesses and the impact of strategic financial support in enabling national champions to thrive on the global stage.”
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek reports that Fidelity Bank has played a pivotal role in Air Peace’s growth, providing early financial backing and advisory services that helped the airline become the largest carrier in West Africa. The bank continues to support Air Peace through payment processing and other financial services
The launch of the London route marks a new chapter for Air Peace, which now joins a select group of African airlines operating direct flights to Heathrow.
The development is expected to boost tourism, trade, and connectivity between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the event, Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, expressed gratitude to Fidelity Bank for its unwavering support and reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to excellence and service.
“This partnership has been instrumental in our journey,” Onyema said. “We are proud to fly the Nigerian flag across international skies.”
Industry stakeholders present at the event praised the collaboration between the two companies as a model for sustainable business growth and national development.
General News
After MultiChoice Buyout, Canal+ Eyes Full Ownership of Showmax

Canal+, French media giant, is reportedly eyeing the full takeover of Showmax, the African streaming platform jointly owned with MultiChoice Group.

This followed its recent push to expand across the continent’s digital entertainment market.
The move comes after Canal+ completed its acquisition of MultiChoice to strengthening its hold on Africa’s pay-TV and streaming ecosystem.
With Showmax being a key growth asset under the partnership, industry analysts say a full takeover could give Canal+ end-to-end control of content production, distribution, and subscription revenue in multiple markets.
The acquisition would also align with Canal+’s broader strategy to rival global streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video by leveraging African content demand and localized storytelling.
According to RipplesNigeria, Ayo Balogun, Media and Telecoms Analyst, CardinalStone Partners, while reacting to the move, said: “Canal+’s full acquisition of Showmax would mark a decisive step in consolidating Africa’s digital media value chain.
“With MultiChoice now under its control, Canal+ can fully integrate content, distribution, and streaming into a single monetizable ecosystem—something we’ve not seen before on this scale in Africa.”
Thandiwe Mokoena, Senior Media Strategist, Johannesburg, added: “This move gives Canal+ strategic dominance in both the pay-TV and OTT spaces. It positions them not only as a regional player but also as a continental gatekeeper for premium African content. The competitive pressure on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in Africa will rise sharply if this takeover goes through.”
Financial markets are closely watching how the potential consolidation could reshape Africa’s media landscape, particularly in terms of valuation, competition law, and licensing rights.
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