EMBARGOED TO 2330 BST TUESDAY OCTOBER 14 PRINT USE ONLY. NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE, NO CROPPING. CAN ONLY BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM'S WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2025 MANDATORY CREDIT: Wim van den Heever/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Copyright in this image is retained by the photographer. THE FOLLOWING MUST APPEAR CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY IN EDITORIAL COPY: Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. USAGE RESTRICTIONS: Maximum number of images within a publication or website is up to 20 (twenty) images across multiple editions and pages unless otherwise agreed in writing between the publication and the Natural History Museum. All front cover requests must be approved by the Natural History Museum and the photographer. Undated handout photo issued by Natural History Museum of Ghost Town Visitor, a brown hyena among the skeletal remains of a long-abandoned diamond mining town taken in Kolmanskop, near Luderitz, Namibia, by Wim van den Heever, from South Africa, the winner of the Urban Wildlife category and the overall winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 competition. Issue date: Tuesday October 14, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Wim van den Heever/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
EMBARGOED TO 2330 BST TUESDAY OCTOBER 14 PRINT USE ONLY. NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE, NO CROPPING. CAN ONLY BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM'S WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2025 MANDATORY CREDIT: Wim van den Heever/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Copyright in this image is retained by the photographer. THE FOLLOWING MUST APPEAR CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY IN EDITORIAL COPY: Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. USAGE RESTRICTIONS: Maximum number of images within a publication or website is up to 20 (twenty) images across multiple editions and pages unless otherwise agreed in writing between the publication and the Natural History Museum. All front cover requests must be approved by the Natural History Museum and the photographer. Undated handout photo issued by Natural History Museum of Ghost Town Visitor, a brown hyena among the skeletal remains of a long-abandoned diamond mining town taken in Kolmanskop, near Luderitz, Namibia, by Wim van den Heever, from South Africa, the winner of the Urban Wildlife category and the overall winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 competition. Issue date: Tuesday October 14, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Wim van den Heever/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
'Synchronised Fishing', taken at Yundang Lake, Fujian Province, China, by Qingrong Yang
'Synchronised Fishing', taken at Yundang Lake, Fujian Province, China, by Qingrong Yang
'Caught in the Headlights', taken in Ibbenburen, Germany by Simone Baumeister
'Caught in the Headlights', taken in Ibbenburen, Germany by Simone Baumeister
'Like an Eel out of Water', taken in D'Arros Island, Amirante, Seychelles by Shane Gross of Canada
'Like an Eel out of Water', taken in D'Arros Island, Amirante, Seychelles by Shane Gross of Canada
'Shadow Hunter', taken in Naturns, South Tyrol, Italy, by Philipp Egger of Italy
'Shadow Hunter', taken in Naturns, South Tyrol, Italy, by Philipp Egger of Italy
'Frolicking Frogs', taken in Kaw Mountain, French Guiana, by Quentin Martinez of France
'Frolicking Frogs', taken in Kaw Mountain, French Guiana, by Quentin Martinez of France
'Cat Amongst the Flamingos', taken at Ndutu Lake, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania by Dennis Stogsdill of the US
'Cat Amongst the Flamingos', taken at Ndutu Lake, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania by Dennis Stogsdill of the US
'Sole Survivor', taken by Luca Lorenz of Germany
'Sole Survivor', taken by Luca Lorenz of Germany
'Rattled', taken in Fort Davis, Texas by Javier Aznar Gonzalez de Rueda of Spain
'Rattled', taken in Fort Davis, Texas by Javier Aznar Gonzalez de Rueda of Spain
'Eye of the Tundra', by Alexey Kharitonov of Israel and Russia
'Eye of the Tundra', by Alexey Kharitonov of Israel and Russia
'Orphan of the Road', taken at a rehabilitation centre in Belo Horizonte, Brazil by Fernando Faciole
'Orphan of the Road', taken at a rehabilitation centre in Belo Horizonte, Brazil by Fernando Faciole
'How to Save a Species', taken in Ol Pejeta, Nanyuki, Kenya, by Jon A Juarez of Spain
'How to Save a Species', taken in Ol Pejeta, Nanyuki, Kenya, by Jon A Juarez of Spain
'Vanishing Pond', taken in Platzertal, Tyrol, Austria by Sebastian Frolich of Germany
'Vanishing Pond', taken in Platzertal, Tyrol, Austria by Sebastian Frolich of Germany
'Survival Purse', taken in Monterey Bay, California by Ralph Pace of the US
'Survival Purse', taken in Monterey Bay, California by Ralph Pace of the US
'Mad Hatterpillar', taken in Torndirrup National Park, Western Australia by Georgina Steytler
'Mad Hatterpillar', taken in Torndirrup National Park, Western Australia by Georgina Steytler
'Deadly Allure', taken in Kuching, Malaysia by Chien Lee
'Deadly Allure', taken in Kuching, Malaysia by Chien Lee
'The Feast', taken in northern Norway by Audun Rikardsen
'The Feast', taken in northern Norway by Audun Rikardsen
'Alpine Dawn', taken in Col de la Colombiere, Haute-Savoie, France by Lubin Godin
'Alpine Dawn', taken in Col de la Colombiere, Haute-Savoie, France by Lubin Godin
EMBARGOED TO 2330 BST TUESDAY OCTOBER 14 PRINT USE ONLY. NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE, NO CROPPING. CAN ONLY BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM'S WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2025 MANDATORY CREDIT: Andrea Dominizi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Copyright in this image is retained by the photographer. THE FOLLOWING MUST APPEAR CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY IN EDITORIAL COPY: Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. USAGE RESRICTIONS: Maximum number of images within a publication or website is up to 20 (twenty) images across multiple editions and pages unless otherwise agreed in writing between the publication and the Natural History Museum. All front cover requests must be approved by the Natural History Museum and the photographer. Undated handout photo issued by Natural History Museum of After the Destruction, a longhorn beetle taken in Lepini Mountains, Lazio, Italy, by Andrea Dominizi, from Italy, the winner of the 15-17 Years category, and the overall title winner at the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Issue date: Tuesday October 14, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrea Dominizi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
EMBARGOED TO 2330 BST TUESDAY OCTOBER 14 PRINT USE ONLY. NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE, NO CROPPING. CAN ONLY BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM'S WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION 2025 MANDATORY CREDIT: Andrea Dominizi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Copyright in this image is retained by the photographer. THE FOLLOWING MUST APPEAR CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY IN EDITORIAL COPY: Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. USAGE RESRICTIONS: Maximum number of images within a publication or website is up to 20 (twenty) images across multiple editions and pages unless otherwise agreed in writing between the publication and the Natural History Museum. All front cover requests must be approved by the Natural History Museum and the photographer. Undated handout photo issued by Natural History Museum of After the Destruction, a longhorn beetle taken in Lepini Mountains, Lazio, Italy, by Andrea Dominizi, from Italy, the winner of the 15-17 Years category, and the overall title winner at the Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Issue date: Tuesday October 14, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrea Dominizi/Wildlife Photographer of the Year/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Culture

Hyena shot that took decade to capture wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Exhibition of the images will be on display the Natural History Museum in London

The National

October 14, 2025

  • English
  • Arabic

A “haunting” image of a hyena in a mining ghost town that took a decade to capture has won this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest.

The shot was selected out of a record-breaking 60,636 images submitted to this year's competition. The image, taken by the South African wildlife photographer Wim van den Heever, shows a rarely seen brown hyena, the world’s rarest hyena species, next to a dilapidated building in the long-abandoned diamond mining town of Kolmanskop, Namibia.

Mr Van den Heever said it took him 10 years to capture the single image of a brown hyena in a perfect frame, and said he was “ecstatic” when he managed it. The image also won the Urban Wildlife Category of the contest.

Kathy Moran, chairwoman of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year jury, said: “You get a prickly feeling just looking at this image and you know that you’re in this hyena’s realm. I also love the twist on this interpretation of ‘urban’ – it was once but is no longer a human-dominated environment.

“Abandoned by miners, wildlife has taken over. Repopulated, if you will. Is it still a town? It would seem that way to me, just no longer ours.”

'After the Destruction', by Andrea Dominizi. Andrea Dominizi / Wildlife Photographer of the Year / PA
'After the Destruction', by Andrea Dominizi. Andrea Dominizi / Wildlife Photographer of the Year / PA

The competition’s Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year prize was won by the Italian Andrea Dominizi, who secured the top award for his “harrowing” shot of habitat loss in the Lepini Mountains of central Italy.

His image “after the destruction” spotlights a longhorn beetle, a vital element of the ecosystem, framed by abandoned machinery in an area once logged for old beach trees.

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Brief scores:

Day 1

Toss: South Africa, field first

Pakistan (1st innings) 177: Sarfraz 56, Masood 44; Olivier 4-48

South Africa (1st innings) 123-2: Markram 78; Masood 1-4

Cultural fiesta

What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421,  Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day. 

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3ECompany%3A%20Zywa%3Cbr%3EStarted%3A%202021%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Nuha%20Hashem%20and%20Alok%20Kumar%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20UAE%3Cbr%3EIndustry%3A%20FinTech%3Cbr%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%243m%3Cbr%3ECompany%20valuation%3A%20%2430m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Read more
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

if you go

The flights 

Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning. 

The trains

Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.

The hotels

Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
more from sholto byrnes
While you're here
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Updated: October 15, 2025, 4:48 AM
Photography