The International Convention Centre Durban. Rajesh Jantilal / AFP
The International Convention Centre Durban. Rajesh Jantilal / AFP

Brics build relationships in Durban



The Brics are piling into Durban this week, and the South African city in KwaZulu Natal province by the Indian Ocean is packed. The big news anticipated from the fifth summit is that delegates from Brazil, Russia, India, China and the home country might agree on a Brics Development Bank.

Key facts about Durban:

Airlines that connect with Durban: South African Airways connects to Durban from Dubai via Johannesburg.

Airport: King Shaka International Airport (Iata code: DUR) connects Durban to the world. The city had been served by Durban International Airport from 1951 until three years ago, when it was replaced in time for the Fifa World Cup 2010. The airport has one terminal, which also handles domestic traffic.

Airport hotel: There are no hotels near the airport.

Downtown hotel: The Hilton Durban is located next to the Durban International Convention Centre. Room rates start at 1,750 rands.

Cost of cab from airport to city centre: There are private taxis available but an airport shuttle bus leaves every half-hour between 5am and 10pm for all Durban hotels and city centre. The price is 70 rands per person to Durban.

Conference centre: The International Convention Centre Durban was built in 1994. It comprises six convention halls, which can accommodate up to 8,000 people. The halls can form one large venue of 9,250 square metres. There are three outdoor courtyard venues of more than 1,000 square metres. The facility also has 25 meeting rooms.

A power restaurant: Spiga d'Oro on Florida Road offers pastas, pizzas and other Italian fare and is open until 2am. Pastas start at 55 rands.

Currency/conversion rate: 1 UAE dirham = 2.50 South African Rand.

Company%20Profile
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Key findings
  • Over a period of seven years, a team of scientists analysed dietary data from 50,000 North American adults.
  • Eating one or two meals a day was associated with a relative decrease in BMI, compared with three meals. Snacks count as a meal. Likewise, participants who ate more than three meals a day experienced an increase in BMI: the more meals a day, the greater the increase. 
  • People who ate breakfast experienced a relative decrease in their BMI compared with “breakfast-skippers”. 
  • Those who turned the eating day on its head to make breakfast the biggest meal of the day, did even better. 
  • But scrapping dinner altogether gave the best results. The study found that the BMI of subjects who had a long overnight fast (of 18 hours or more) decreased when compared even with those who had a medium overnight fast, of between 12 and 17 hours.
Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

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

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Janet Yellen's Firsts

  • In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve 
  • In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers 
Your Guide to the Home
  • Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
  • Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
  • Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
     
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What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

Company profile

Date started: December 24, 2018

Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer

Based: Dubai Media City

Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)

Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech

Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year

Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants