• TOPSHOT - Iranians light fireworks during the Wednesday Fire feast, or Chaharshanbeh Soori, held annually on the last Wednesday eve before the Spring holiday of Nowruz, in Tehran, on March 18, 2025. The Iranian new year which begins on March 20 coincides with the first day of spring during which locals revive the Zoroastrian celebration of lighting a fire and dancing around the flame. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)
    TOPSHOT - Iranians light fireworks during the Wednesday Fire feast, or Chaharshanbeh Soori, held annually on the last Wednesday eve before the Spring holiday of Nowruz, in Tehran, on March 18, 2025. The Iranian new year which begins on March 20 coincides with the first day of spring during which locals revive the Zoroastrian celebration of lighting a fire and dancing around the flame. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)
  • The Chicago river is dyed green as part of annual St Patrick's Day festivities in Chicago, Illinois. AP
    The Chicago river is dyed green as part of annual St Patrick's Day festivities in Chicago, Illinois. AP
  • Actors perform during a rehearsal for media of the Opera Sun and Sea, at the Colon Theatre in Bogota, Colombia. AFP
    Actors perform during a rehearsal for media of the Opera Sun and Sea, at the Colon Theatre in Bogota, Colombia. AFP
  • Members of the Druid Order take part in a celebration of the spring equinox, during a ceremony at Tower Hill in London. Getty Images
    Members of the Druid Order take part in a celebration of the spring equinox, during a ceremony at Tower Hill in London. Getty Images
  • Anna Schlobohm de Cruder stands for a portrait in front of her home which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. The wildfire destroyed about 9,000 structures, 6,000 of which were homes. AFP
    Anna Schlobohm de Cruder stands for a portrait in front of her home which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. The wildfire destroyed about 9,000 structures, 6,000 of which were homes. AFP
  • A woman reads a book under lanterns at the Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, South Korea, ahead of the Lotus Lantern Festival in May, which celebrates Buddha's birthday. AFP
    A woman reads a book under lanterns at the Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, South Korea, ahead of the Lotus Lantern Festival in May, which celebrates Buddha's birthday. AFP
  • Campos Racing's American driver Chloe Chambers, during qualifying before the F1 Academy Round 1, in Shanghai, China. Getty Images
    Campos Racing's American driver Chloe Chambers, during qualifying before the F1 Academy Round 1, in Shanghai, China. Getty Images
  • Lava rises from the volcano of Mount Etna, in Italy. Reuters
    Lava rises from the volcano of Mount Etna, in Italy. Reuters
  • People touch the stones, as revellers attend spring equinox celebrations at Stonehenge, Britain. Reuters
    People touch the stones, as revellers attend spring equinox celebrations at Stonehenge, Britain. Reuters
  • An Afghan shepherd is silhouetted during sunset on the outskirts of Mazar-i-Sharif. AFP
    An Afghan shepherd is silhouetted during sunset on the outskirts of Mazar-i-Sharif. AFP
  • Tailors rush to fulfill orders as Ramadan draws to a close, in Bur Dubai. Many people buy new clothes for Eid Al Fitr, the festival that marks the end of the holy month. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Tailors rush to fulfill orders as Ramadan draws to a close, in Bur Dubai. Many people buy new clothes for Eid Al Fitr, the festival that marks the end of the holy month. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • An airplane is silhouetted against the Sun with visible Sun spots, a result of solar activity, over St. Petersburg, Russia. AP
    An airplane is silhouetted against the Sun with visible Sun spots, a result of solar activity, over St. Petersburg, Russia. AP
  • People walk on dry parts of the Indus riverbed, in Jamshoro, Pakistan. Reuters
    People walk on dry parts of the Indus riverbed, in Jamshoro, Pakistan. Reuters
  • People mourn over the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, at a hospital in Gaza City, Reuters
    People mourn over the bodies of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, at a hospital in Gaza City, Reuters
  • Canada's Mikael Kingsbury practises for the FIS Freestyle World Championships in St Moritz, Switzerland. Reuters
    Canada's Mikael Kingsbury practises for the FIS Freestyle World Championships in St Moritz, Switzerland. Reuters
  • Thousands of people protest after a fire gutted a nightclub, killing dozens, in Kocani, North Macedonia. Reuters
    Thousands of people protest after a fire gutted a nightclub, killing dozens, in Kocani, North Macedonia. Reuters
  • Men sit in Eyup Sultan Mosque's yard in Istanbul as they wait for sunset to break the Ramadan fast on Friday March 14. AFP
    Men sit in Eyup Sultan Mosque's yard in Istanbul as they wait for sunset to break the Ramadan fast on Friday March 14. AFP
  • Israeli Druze led by spiritual leader Mowaffaq Tarif, centre, at a welcome ceremony for Syrian Druze religious delegations as they arrive at the holy site of Nabi Shu'ayb, near the sea of Galilee, on March 14, the first such visit in five decades. EPA
    Israeli Druze led by spiritual leader Mowaffaq Tarif, centre, at a welcome ceremony for Syrian Druze religious delegations as they arrive at the holy site of Nabi Shu'ayb, near the sea of Galilee, on March 14, the first such visit in five decades. EPA
  • A Nihang - Sikh warrior - performs Gatka, an ancient form of Sikh martial arts, during a procession to mark the Hola Mohalla festival, celebrated a day after Holi, the spring festival of colours, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on March 15. AFP
    A Nihang - Sikh warrior - performs Gatka, an ancient form of Sikh martial arts, during a procession to mark the Hola Mohalla festival, celebrated a day after Holi, the spring festival of colours, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on March 15. AFP
  • Carlos Alcaraz serves to Jack Draper during their semi-final at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California. Draper made it through to the final. AP
    Carlos Alcaraz serves to Jack Draper during their semi-final at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California. Draper made it through to the final. AP
  • An Egyptian 'musaharati' beats a drum and makes calls for observant Muslims to wake up for the suhoor meal in the old quarter of Cairo during Ramadan. AFP
    An Egyptian 'musaharati' beats a drum and makes calls for observant Muslims to wake up for the suhoor meal in the old quarter of Cairo during Ramadan. AFP
  • Alleged Tren de Aragua gang members deported by the US under a government agreement are met at El Salvador International Airport, from where they will be taken to prison. Reuters
    Alleged Tren de Aragua gang members deported by the US under a government agreement are met at El Salvador International Airport, from where they will be taken to prison. Reuters
  • A worker collects sea salt at a farm in Chachoengsao province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters
    A worker collects sea salt at a farm in Chachoengsao province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters
  • Visitors pose for pictures with light installations at SangSom Moonlab, an interactive art exhibition in Bangkok. AFP
    Visitors pose for pictures with light installations at SangSom Moonlab, an interactive art exhibition in Bangkok. AFP
  • Protesters against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shelter from the cold outside Gwanghwamun in Seoul, ahead of an impeachment verdict that could remove him from office. AFP
    Protesters against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shelter from the cold outside Gwanghwamun in Seoul, ahead of an impeachment verdict that could remove him from office. AFP
  • Blackchin tilapia fish are poured on to a street in front of police officers during a protest outside Government House in Bangkok, Thailand. EPA
    Blackchin tilapia fish are poured on to a street in front of police officers during a protest outside Government House in Bangkok, Thailand. EPA
  • The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft shortly after it landed with Nasa astronauts aboard in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. AFP
    The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft shortly after it landed with Nasa astronauts aboard in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. AFP
  • The Helios sculpture of the sun by Luke Jerram goes on display at the National Trust's Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland. PA
    The Helios sculpture of the sun by Luke Jerram goes on display at the National Trust's Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland. PA
  • Israelis march on a highway towards Jerusalem to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet internal security service. AP
    Israelis march on a highway towards Jerusalem to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet internal security service. AP
  • A patient at the Emirati field hospital, which has been set up to help wounded and sick Palestinians, in Al Arish, Egypt. Victor Besa / The National
    A patient at the Emirati field hospital, which has been set up to help wounded and sick Palestinians, in Al Arish, Egypt. Victor Besa / The National

News

Pictures of the week: From Nowruz celebrations in Tehran to Emirati floating hospital in Egypt

Striking images from around the world

The National

March 21, 2025

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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index

Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.

The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.

“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.

“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”

Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.

Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.

“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

NYBL PROFILE

Company name: Nybl 

Date started: November 2018

Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence

Initial investment: $500,000

Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)

Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203S%20Money%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20London%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ivan%20Zhiznevsky%2C%20Eugene%20Dugaev%20and%20Andrei%20Dikouchine%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%245.6%20million%20raised%20in%20total%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

The Indo-Pacific
While you're here

Michael Young: Where is Lebanon headed?

Kareem Shaheen: I owe everything to Beirut

Raghida Dergham: We have to bounce back

Transgender report
World Mental Health Day
UAE squad

Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.

Updated: March 21, 2025, 6:00 PM
WeekendPhotography