Japan
Ski down the pristine slopes of Mount Niseko An'nupuri and stay at The Green Leaf Niseko Village in Hokkaido this winter. The recently refurbished resort has ski-in, ski-out facilities, 200 guest rooms and suites (many with views over Mount Yotei), natural onsen, or hot springs, and the Green Leaf Spa. For first-time skiers, the Niseko Village Snow School provides lessons by internationally certified instructors. Other activities include snowmobile adventure tours along forest trails, guided snowshoeing, cross-country ski courses, snow rafting and reindeer sledging.
The "winter magic discovery package" starts at 21,550 yen (Dh1,030) per person, per night, based on two sharing, for a minimum of two nights, including breakfast, a four-hour beginner's ski lesson, a Niseko Village ski lift pass, ski wear and equipment rental, Wi-Fi and taxes. International airfare not included. The package is valid from December 1 until March 31 next year. Visit www.thegreenleafhotel.com.
Finland
Explore the stark landscapes of Finnish Lapland, go on a husky sled safari with your own team of dogs and look out for the famous Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) on this eight-day trip with Activities Abroad. Visitors will be taught how to look after their team of dogs and go on daily sledding adventures through the forests, valleys and over frozen lakes and rivers around Pallas-Ounas National Park in Western Lapland, covering up to 40 kilometres each day. Accommodation is provided in rustic and cosy cabins, with most meals cooked over an open fire.
From £1,430 per person (Dh8,172) for eight days, including all accommodation, some meals, training in how to handle your husky team while on safari, airport transfers, cold-weather clothing for the duration of your stay, fully qualified wilderness guides and instructors, and taxes. The minimum age is 16. International airfare is not included. Visit www.activitiesabroad.com for more information.
Slovenia
Go snowshoeing along the scenic trails through the dramatic limestone peaks of the Julian Alps in Triglav National Park in the north-east of Slovenia. The country's highest peak, Mount Triglav (2,864m), lies in the centre of the park. Visitors will be based in the lakeside town of Bled, which provides easy access to the walking routes. The highlight of the trip is a two-day expedition to the Bogatin plateau, with a night in a traditional mountain hut. On the way there you'll pass Bohinjsko Jezero, Slovenia's largest glacier lake. Optional extras include skiing the World Cup circuit at Kranjska Gora and snowbiking. Or enjoy a snowshoeing expedition to an igloo for a fondue dinner.
The five-day trip costs from £799 (Dh4,566) per person, based on two sharing (maximum of seven persons in a group). It includes accommodation, some meals, guided snowshoeing, snowshoes and poles, and the services of a tour leader. International airfare is not included. Visit www.exodus.co.uk to book.
Bhutan
See the mountains and monasteries of Bhutan on this 16-day cultural holiday package. The trip starts in New Delhi with a flight out to Bagdogra in Bhutan, followed by a drive to Paro. The itinerary includes visits to dzongs (monasteries) and museums in Paro and Thimphu, treks along forest trails, expeditions to Wangdu and Punakha, drives through mountain passes thousands of metres above sea level, walks in the mountains and visits to ancient nunneries and hill temples, with overnight stays in select family-run guest houses. The trip's highlight is a day in Bumthang for a chance to participate in the colourful Prakar festival.
The 16-day trip costs from £3,595 (Dh20,545) per person, including all accommodation, some meals, sightseeing, park fees, the services of an experienced guide and taxes. Departure November 5. International airfare is not included. Book through www.responsibletravel.com.
travel@thenational.ae
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAri%20Katcher%2C%20Ryan%20Welch%2C%20Ramy%20Youssef%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERamy%20Youssef%2C%20Amr%20Waked%2C%20Mohammed%20Amer%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
