• Soap sud 'snow' delights a young reveller at Christmas celebrations at Zocalo Square in Mexico City. Reuters
    Soap sud 'snow' delights a young reveller at Christmas celebrations at Zocalo Square in Mexico City. Reuters
  • Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo raises the trophy at the end of the NBA Cup in-season tournament final against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas. The Bucks defeated the Thunder 97-81 to win the NBA Cup title and Antetokounmpo gained the MVP award. EPA
    Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo raises the trophy at the end of the NBA Cup in-season tournament final against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas. The Bucks defeated the Thunder 97-81 to win the NBA Cup title and Antetokounmpo gained the MVP award. EPA
  • Drug courier and former death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso hugs her parents in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, after being repatriated from Indonesia where she spent 15 years in prison. Reuters
    Drug courier and former death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso hugs her parents in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, after being repatriated from Indonesia where she spent 15 years in prison. Reuters
  • A guard of honour in line ahead of Canada's Defence Minister Bill Blair's meeting with Polish counterpart Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz in Warsaw. Reuters
    A guard of honour in line ahead of Canada's Defence Minister Bill Blair's meeting with Polish counterpart Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz in Warsaw. Reuters
  • Photographers take pictures of current Saxony State Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer on election day for the role, in Dresden, eastern Germany. Reuters
    Photographers take pictures of current Saxony State Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer on election day for the role, in Dresden, eastern Germany. Reuters
  • An Atlantic puffin with a beakfull of fish on the Shiant Isles, in the Hebrides, north-west Scotland. This year has secured some 'major nature wins', for UK species, conservationists said. PA
    An Atlantic puffin with a beakfull of fish on the Shiant Isles, in the Hebrides, north-west Scotland. This year has secured some 'major nature wins', for UK species, conservationists said. PA
  • Pope Francis arrives for the weekly general audience, at Paul VI hall at the Vatican. Reuters
    Pope Francis arrives for the weekly general audience, at Paul VI hall at the Vatican. Reuters
  • A Christmas display on the home of Helen and John Attlesey in Soham, Cambridgeshire, eastern England. They decorate their house every year to raise money for charity. PA
    A Christmas display on the home of Helen and John Attlesey in Soham, Cambridgeshire, eastern England. They decorate their house every year to raise money for charity. PA
  • Ice hockey fans pass cutout heads of Calgary Flames players in the stands during the second period against the Boston Bruins at Scotiabank Saddledome. The Bruins won 4-3. Imagn Images
    Ice hockey fans pass cutout heads of Calgary Flames players in the stands during the second period against the Boston Bruins at Scotiabank Saddledome. The Bruins won 4-3. Imagn Images
  • Jamie Mott and Capricorn Star winning the Sportsbet Feed Handicap at Caulfield Heath Racecourse in Melbourne. Getty Images
    Jamie Mott and Capricorn Star winning the Sportsbet Feed Handicap at Caulfield Heath Racecourse in Melbourne. Getty Images
  • A pedestrian passes the Taj Mahal on a cold, foggy morning in Agra, in Uttar Pradesh, northern India. AFP
    A pedestrian passes the Taj Mahal on a cold, foggy morning in Agra, in Uttar Pradesh, northern India. AFP

Best photos of December 18: Soapy Christmas celebrations in Mexico City to a foggy Taj Mahal


  • English
  • Arabic

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: from Dh155,000

On sale: now

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%3Cp%3EThe%20BaaS%20value%20chain%20consists%20of%20four%20key%20players%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsumers%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20End-users%20of%20the%20financial%20product%20delivered%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDistributors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Also%20known%20as%20embedders%2C%20these%20are%20the%20firms%20that%20embed%20baking%20services%20directly%20into%20their%20existing%20customer%20journeys%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEnablers%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Usually%20Big%20Tech%20or%20FinTech%20companies%20that%20help%20embed%20financial%20services%20into%20third-party%20platforms%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProviders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Financial%20institutions%20holding%20a%20banking%20licence%20and%20offering%20regulated%20products%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
 
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
 
Don’t be afraid to negotiate

It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
 
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
 
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.

Updated: December 18, 2024, 12:17 PM