Otago Daily Times News Feed

Black Caps coach Gary Stead. Black Caps coach Gary Stead will take the positives that come with a series sweep of Bangladesh but is well aware that it could all mean little come the Cricket World Cup.

Actor Jussie Smollett (36) appears in a booking photo. Photo: Chicago Police Department Actor Jussie Smollett paid two brothers thousands of dollars to beat him in a staged racist and homophobic attack because he was unhappy with his salary on the hip-hop TV drama "Empire," Chicago's police chief said on Thursday (local time).

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A wallaby makes itself at home on a Naseby property. An increase in wallaby sightings in Maniototo continues to cause concerns.

Cool nights, hot days and settled weather has provided good fishing conditions over the past week.

Waitaki District Council staff presented this mock-up of a potential mobile venue for public engagement before councillors approved up to $20,000 for a caravan for the council's communications team. IMAGE: SUPPLIED A "retro-looking" caravan will add to the Waitaki District Council's community engagement options, council communications specialist Lisa Scott says.

Gillian Vine looks at the contribution made to rose breeding by David Austin. 

Vegetables

"Wildcat" is a very tall and eye-catching rose. Photo: Supplied A favourite rose can be hard to choose as there are so many beauties.

Jared Monk The Hill City-University Athletic Club‎ is winding back time and resurrecting the Clocktower Race.

Nicolas Alvarez Rey-Zirang (13), of Logan Park High School leaps high while trying to get the ball past Otago Boys' High School pupil Felix Moeller (17) in a handball game at Kavanagh College gymnasium earlier this week.PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON The number of pupils playing sport in Otago has dropped - though only slightly.

Brad Evans during the 2018 Tour of Southland. Photo: Getty Images The Calder Stewart Cycling Series begins in Dunedin on Sunday. Most of the country's best domestically-based riders will be competing, including locals Brad Evans and Kees Duyvesteyn.

Ron Gilder ponders Christianity and its role in society. 

A self-portrait of Nasa's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity from a combination of multiple frames taken by its panoramic camera in March 2014 on Mars. PHOTO: NASA It is the end of an era for Nasa with the 'death' of Mars explorer Opportunity, writes Usha Lee McFarling. 

It really shouldn't mean so much.

Syrian former refugee Mohammad Saad Aldeen (centre) with his friends Naser Tamimi (left) and Jane Macdonald on Wednesday.PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH A Syrian former refugee whose home was gutted by fire last week is concerned about his family's current living arrangements while they wait to move into a replacement house.

Kate Wilson The Dunedin City Council is to dust off the case for a second weighbridge at the Green Island landfill, following fresh discussion about the cost of using the facility.

Cr Aaron Hawkins Members of the public can have their say on the Dunedin City Council's latest spending plans from next month.

Michael Laws The Otago Regional Council is seeking more Ngai Tahu input on its decision-making, but the logistics are proving difficult.

Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith watches the distribution skills of Lillie Porthouse (2) as she thanks those involved with providing a Highlanders-themed playhouse to Crackerjax Early Learning Centre in Green Island. PHOTO: CHRISTINE O'CONNOR They might have been a bit unsure who all the adults were, but the children at Crackerjax Early Learning Centre in Green Island knew exactly what they were there for.