Looking forward to celebrating its 90th anniversary are Otago Bridge Club members (from left) Peter McIver, Anita Dynes, Sam Birkett and Rona Chave. Photo: Sam HendersonThe Otago Bridge Club is dealing a winning hand as it prepares to celebrate its 90th anniversary next month. Otago Bridge Club vice-president Eunan Cleary said the game remained as popular and challenging as ever. Games were played both in private homes and at venues such as the Empire Club and the St Clair Women’s Club. In March 1936, Ron Mathieson began to contact people about forming an official Otago Bridge Club.

Photos: Brenda HarwoodFresh and affordable fruit and vegetables are on the menu once again, as the All Saints’ Fruit & Veges scheme gets under way for the year. In recent years, the All Saints’ Fruit & Veges scheme has expanded into other core produce, and milk, eggs and 10kg bags of potatoes. At present this is done through the All Saints’ Fruit and Vegetables website, although work is under way on creating a cellphone app. Along with distributing the pre-packed fruit and vegetables, All Saints’ also hosts a produce stall on Thursdays, 8.45am-10am and 4pm-6pm. To sign up and order All Saints’ Fruit & Vege scheme produce, visit the website All Saints’ Fruit and Vegetables or Facebook dnfruitandvege, or phone the parish office on (03) 479-2212.brenda.harwood@thestar.co.nz

“They’ve spent hours and hours queueing,” Chris said. The father of a Kiwi stranded in Dubai says Emirates staff were rude to his son at times because of the codeshare nature of his initial flights. Photo / Florian Wiegand, picture alliance via Getty Images“They can’t talk to Emirates staff online or on the phones – they won’t talk to them, which is a bit peculiar,” Chris said. He said the staff “sort of change every day, and you queue, and sometimes they’ve been rude and unco-operative”. After falling sick with food poisoning, Chris said his son was told he needed to vacate their current hotel despite his condition.

John MilburnVolunteer group Wheels to Dunstan have had an increase of up to 40% in volunteers and rides for the service. Wheels to Dunstan is a volunteer-run, door-to-door donation-based transport service taking patients to Dunstan Hospital, Alexandra and Cromwell to meet the Hato Hone St John health shuttle to Dunedin Hospital. It is a community-led project founded by the Rotary Club of Wa ¯naka and Wa ¯naka Masonic Lodge. Volunteer John Milburn has been driving for Wheels to Dunstan for five years as he is a member of the Rotary Club. ‘‘Being retired, I enjoy volunteering and, in addition to Wheels to Dunstan, regularly drive for Meals on Wheels and Community Link.

Waitaki Girls’ High School student Ana Latuselu will head to Sydney this weekend for a training camp with NRLW club South Sydney Rabbitohs. PHOTO: NIC DUFFAna Latuselu is hopping across the Ditch in hopes of impressing NRLW scouts. The 16-year-old flies to Sydney this weekend for a training camp with Australian rugby league club South Sydney Rabbitohs. From there, Latuselu attended a New Zealand Warriors exhibition game after which her coach linked her up with the Rabbitohs. The training camp will include ‘‘a few trial games’’ and Latuselu is excited to see the differences in playing style between Australia and New Zealand.

Waitaki Boys’ High School (from left) sport co-ordinator Twyla Kingan, head boy Ned Newlands-Carter, deputy head boy Isi Manu and head of sport Ian Cathcart were all pleased with how the school did in Sport Otago’s 2025 Voice of Rangatahi Survey. PHOTO: NIC DUFFWaitaki Boys’ High School sport department is top of the class. The Oamaru school ranked No 1 in Otago for sport satisfaction in Sport Otago’s 2025 Voice of Rangatahi Survey. The results were a great indicator that sport at the school was heading in the right direction, Waitaki Boys’ head of sport Ian Cathcart said. ‘‘The results reflect a lot of the work that Twyla [Kingan, sport co-ordinator] puts in, especially, and where we want to go with sports, just getting as many involved.

WAI Wānaka celebrates World Water Day. PHOTO: EVIE SINCLAIRAs World Water Day approaches on March 22, WAI Wānaka is inviting residents and visitors to consider a question: ‘‘what would you pay to keep your favourite swimming spots clean and safe?’’. WAI Wānaka, in a press release, said behind the beauty of freshwater ecosystems was a reality: their protection required ongoing investment, monitoring and community action. ‘‘Nature doesn’t come with a clear price tag and as a result it is often undervalued,’’ WAI Wānaka chief executive Cat Dillon said. ‘‘Protecting them is an investment in our future, and for generations to come.’’WAI Wānaka encouraged people, this World Water Day, to reflect on the value they placed on clean and safe water and consider how they could play their part in protecting it.

Altrusa International of Oamaru member Sharon Walshe-Grieve with a collection of handbags to be donated to The Love Grace Handbag Appeal. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDAltrusa International of Oamaru is supporting The Love Grace Handbag Appeal in North Otago. The finished handbags will go to the Mid South Island Women’s Refuge and Family Safety Services in Timaru, she said. Donations would still be ‘‘gratefully received’’ beyond the March 8 date for Women’s Refuge, Ms Wood said. Just under 50,000 women and children were referred to Women’s Refuge each year and the refuge received 72 crisis calls a day nationwide.

Leigh MatthewsWaitaki might be a bit colder than Adelaide, but Leigh Matthews is hoping the football scene can be just as strong. The Australian began his role as Southern Football South Canterbury and Waitaki football and futsal development officer earlier this year after serving in a similar position in Southland in 2025. He also spent two decades working for Football South Australia across the Ditch. ‘‘In the long term [the goal is] to try and make the region somewhere for both men and women where players can be identified for New Zealand rep teams.’’He will be ‘‘working hand in hand’’ with Football Waitaki development officer Maree Cadogan. ‘‘Maree does a great job with what she does with the clubs, rep teams and futsal.’’Matthews identified three main areas for growth — futsal, women’s and girls’ participation as well as promoting the sport to the district’s migrant population.

Sean Aday, a public relations professor at George Washington University, said he has “never seen worse messaging in wartime from a US administration”. Richard Haass, a former US diplomat, pointed to how Trump has largely ignored formal national security processes, “having spent the better part of the last year hollowing out the national security apparatus”. Marco Rubio now combines the roles of Secretary of State and National Security Adviser – positions that were previously separate. Contradictory commentsTrump has been vague about the reason for entering a war with Iran and the objectives being pursued. A poll released Wednesday by NBC shows 52% of US voters oppose the military action in Iran.

"Made in America": The US has turned a captured Iranian drone back on Tehran as part of its airstrikes in the past week. Photo / US Navy via Getty ImagesThe commander of the United States Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, has described it as “indispensable” in the conflict with Iran. “This is an original Iranian drone design,” he said on Thursday. “These low-cost drones, modelled after Iran’s Shahed drones, are now delivering American-made retribution,” Central Command said on X. Also fired from the Himars launcher, the PrSM is being used in combat for the first time in the Middle East war.

The Paralympic cauldron is lit by Italy's Francesca Porcellato during the Opening Ceremony on Friday. Photo: OIS/IOC/Tyler McFarland/ via ReutersWith a sequence of rhythmic performances celebrating uniqueness and participation, the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics in Italy featured artists with disabilities, as athletes sat in a front row designed for wheelchairs. Verona's Roman amphitheatre hosted the inaugural event of the 50th Paralympics on Friday, less than two weeks after bidding goodbye to the Winter Olympics, against a dramatically altered global backdrop. Aerialists from Il Posto Vertical Dance Company perform during the Milano Cortina Paralympics opening ceremony in Verona. Only 28 national Paralympic delegations attended the parade, the IPC said, adding that was mostly due to performance reasons, given the competition schedule.

From April, two Bunnings stores in Hamilton will set up the technology to test safeguards are working properly before it is rolled out nationwide. Photo: RNZBunnings Warehouse is introducing facial recognition technology in New Zealand stores in a bid to crack down on high-value theft and serious harm. Bunnings manager Melissa Haines said the scale of retail crime was growing - particularly when it came to threatening behaviour by repeat offenders. "FRT gives us a proactive warning when a serious repeat offender enters the store, so we can act before something happens. Last year the Privacy Commissioner said facial recognition technology in retail outlets had potential safety benefits, despite raising significant privacy concerns.

Timoci Tavatavanawai of the Highlanders charges forward during today's Super Rugby match against the Western Force at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Photo: Getty ImagesThe Highlanders provided a nice pick-me-up for their coach with an entertaining 39-31 win over the Western Force at Forsyth Barr Stadium today. The first half lacked long periods of quality but it did feature a couple of entertaining Highlanders tries. The second Highlanders try was all about one man. Amends were made 12 minutes into the second half.

Anything which promotes Town Belt is welcomeI write in support of the Dunedin City Council Town Belt Active Travel Trial. I attempt to walk the town belt from Mornington to Prospect Park once a month and so I class myself as a frequent user of the Town Belt. I am supportive of any initiative that encourages people to appreciate the Town Belt and encourages people to slow down and literally smell the flowers. The trial should be supported for no other reason than an opportunity to learn about different ways to enjoy the Town Belt. G ShattkyAlexandraAddress Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin.