David Whitley
Why Dunedin?
One of the most southerly cities on Earth, Dunedin’s original inspiration hailed from much farther north. Its name comes from the Scottish Gaelic translation of Edinburgh, and its original settlers were from Scotland. A 19th-century gold rush saw it become New Zealand’s boom city, and much of its look comes from that time. Gorgeous Victorian-era buildings dot the city, with many of them given a new lease of life as cafes, organic food shops and small creative businesses.
The surrounding nature is what lures most people to Dunedin – the nearby Otago Peninsula offers arguably the best bird and marine life-spotting in the country – but the city has enough personality in its own right to be worth more than the perfunctory day or two that many visitors allocate to it.
Being a major university city helps – a big student population keeps parochiality at bay. And there’s a sense of emerging energy that lifts Dunedin beyond a heritage-drenched curiosity.
A comfortable bed
Fletcher Lodge (www.fletcherlodge.co.nz; 0064 3 477 5552) is about as luxurious as B&Bs get. It's the former private home of a wealthy industrialist; now, antique furniture, tapestries and suits of armour in the corridors give it tons of personality. Doubles from NZ$335 (Dh973).
The 315 Euro (www.eurodunedin.co.nz; 0064 3 477 9929), in the heart of George Street, is an excellent motel option. Clean, bright and contemporarily designed studios with kitchenettes cost from $150 (Dh436).
The real treat is on the Otago Peninsula, though. The Camp Estate (www.larnachcastle.co.nz; 0064 3 476 1616), within the Larnach Castle grounds, offers surprisingly "now" design with art-deco flourishes and tremendous hilltop harbour views. Doubles from $420 (Dh1,220).
Find your feet
Dunedin’s centre is the Octagon – a bizarre hybrid of handsome Victorian buildings, head-scratchingly hideous modern ones, cultural hubs and restaurants. Start there, and head along the shopping strip of George Street, which has its fair share of interesting architecture too.
You'll eventually arrive at the Otago Museum (www.otagomuseum.govt.nz; 0064 3 474 7474) – a big grab-bag of topics, of which the sections on natural history, Maori and history of regional settlement give the most local insight.
Swing back down towards the Railway Station – Dunedin's most spectacular building, with a gorgeous blend of volcanic basalt and the ultra-white Oamaru limestone. It's next to the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum (www.toituosm.com; 0064 3 477 5052), which makes great use of interactive touchscreens and video to tell the stories of the early Scottish settlers, the gold-rush boom years and the later history as a major university city.
Meet the locals
Rugby union is New Zealand's national sport, and the farther south you go, the more fervent the fans get. The Forsyth Barr Stadium gets rowdily animated when the local club, the Highlanders (www.thehighlanders.co.nz), play at home.
Book a table
Two Chefs (www.twochefsbistro.com; 0064 3 477 7293) has a buzzy European bistro feel, but food of a higher rank. Local produce meets international flavours in dishes such as the miso-brushed venison loin and venison steamed bun ($37 [Dh108]).
Nova (0064 3 479 0808) is attached to the main art gallery, and its menu globetrots somewhat, with a focus on South Island ingredients. The South American gumbo, for $15.90 (Dh46), is tremendous.
Shopper’s paradise
George Street is the main shopping strip, but it gets more indie and less high street-esque the farther away you head from the Octagon. From number 300 onwards, expect interesting home-grown boutiques to poke your nose into.
Dunedin is also an excellent place to get outdoor gear – perfect for New Zealand’s multitude of hiking, biking and kayaking adventures. Torpedo 7 (70 Stuart Street) has a huge range, covering everything from Merino-wool base layers to specialist climbing footwear.
What to avoid
Baldwin Street holds the Guinness World Record for being the steepest street in the world – trudging up it is seen as an obligatory masochistic rite. Sadly, photos from the top won’t convey nearly how hard you worked to get there.
Don’t miss
Dunedin's great strength is its access to wildlife and nature. Monarch (www.wildlife.co.nz; 0064 3 477 4276) runs a full-day package, including a bird-and-sea-lion-spotting cruise along Otago Harbour, the chance to see albatrosses nesting at the Royal Albatross Centre (www.albatross.org.nz; 0064 3 478 0499) and the ultra-cute yellow-eyed penguins at Penguin Place (www.penguinplace.co.nz). The package costs $240 (Dh697).
Getting there
At least one stop is needed in a major Australian or New Zealand city on the way. Flying via Brisbane from Abu Dhabi with Etihad (www.etihad.com; 02 599 0000), code-sharing with Virgin Australia, is the most hassle-free option available. Returns cost from Dh8,195, including taxes.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Getting there
The flights
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
The years Ramadan fell in May
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
SPECS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Read more about the coronavirus
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
More coverage from the Future Forum
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
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Women & Power: A Manifesto
Mary Beard
Profile Books and London Review of Books
Result
UAE (S. Tagliabue 90 1') 1-2 Uzbekistan (Shokhruz Norkhonov 48', 86')
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
