• Afghan children train in circus acts at a home in Kabul, Afghanistan, 31 October 2022 (issued 02 November 2022). Two teenage Afghan sisters, Najma and Bahara, not only put on spectacular circus acts but also inspire and train others to pursue the art form, spreading joy and fun among Afghan children. The sisters have learned the art from Khalilullah Hamid, the founder of the Afghan Parwana circus, who taught hundreds of students for two decades after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. EPA / STRINGER
    Afghan children train in circus acts at a home in Kabul, Afghanistan, 31 October 2022 (issued 02 November 2022). Two teenage Afghan sisters, Najma and Bahara, not only put on spectacular circus acts but also inspire and train others to pursue the art form, spreading joy and fun among Afghan children. The sisters have learned the art from Khalilullah Hamid, the founder of the Afghan Parwana circus, who taught hundreds of students for two decades after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. EPA / STRINGER
  • A woman plugs a USB media device containing freedom-related content into a socket on a wall depicting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the Oslo Freedom Forum in Taipei, Taiwan. AFP
    A woman plugs a USB media device containing freedom-related content into a socket on a wall depicting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the Oslo Freedom Forum in Taipei, Taiwan. AFP
  • Palestinian girls take part in a swimming festival organised by the Gaza Swimming Academy in the Mediterranean Sea off of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. AFP
    Palestinian girls take part in a swimming festival organised by the Gaza Swimming Academy in the Mediterranean Sea off of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. AFP
  • A man stands in front of mounds of red chili peppers at the Mirch Mandi wholesale market in Kunri, Umerkot, Pakistan. 'Last year, at this time, there used to be around 8,000 to 10,000 bags of chilis in the market,' said trader Raja Daim. 'This year, now you can see that there are barely 2,000 bags here.' Reuters
    A man stands in front of mounds of red chili peppers at the Mirch Mandi wholesale market in Kunri, Umerkot, Pakistan. 'Last year, at this time, there used to be around 8,000 to 10,000 bags of chilis in the market,' said trader Raja Daim. 'This year, now you can see that there are barely 2,000 bags here.' Reuters
  • Television screens show a news report about the latest North Korean missile launch at an electronics market in Seoul, South Korea. AFP
    Television screens show a news report about the latest North Korean missile launch at an electronics market in Seoul, South Korea. AFP
  • Boats during a sandstorm in Iraq's southern city of Basra. AFP
    Boats during a sandstorm in Iraq's southern city of Basra. AFP
  • A flock of starlings fills the sky in the village of Val-de-Vesle near Reims, France. Reuters
    A flock of starlings fills the sky in the village of Val-de-Vesle near Reims, France. Reuters
  • Workers repair a railway bridge that was damaged in fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the town of Kupiansk, in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. EPA
    Workers repair a railway bridge that was damaged in fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the town of Kupiansk, in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. EPA
  • Members of the Ethiopian National Defence Force hold national flags as they parade in Addis Ababa during a ceremony to remember soldiers who died on the first day of the Tigray conflict. Ethiopia's warring sides agreed on Wednesday to a permanent cessation of hostilities. AP
    Members of the Ethiopian National Defence Force hold national flags as they parade in Addis Ababa during a ceremony to remember soldiers who died on the first day of the Tigray conflict. Ethiopia's warring sides agreed on Wednesday to a permanent cessation of hostilities. AP
  • The Uru Murato indigenous community near a desert at the site of the former Lake Poopo in Oruro province, Bolivia. Lake Poopo, once Bolivia's second largest, has largely disappeared. AFP
    The Uru Murato indigenous community near a desert at the site of the former Lake Poopo in Oruro province, Bolivia. Lake Poopo, once Bolivia's second largest, has largely disappeared. AFP
  • Pope Francis laughs during a meeting with Bahrain's King Hamad at Sakhir Palace on the pontiff's four-day trip to the Gulf. Reuters
    Pope Francis laughs during a meeting with Bahrain's King Hamad at Sakhir Palace on the pontiff's four-day trip to the Gulf. Reuters

World

Today's best photos: from a juggling girl to the Pope in Bahrain

'The National' picks the most striking images from around the world

The National

November 03, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

Wednesday's best photos: from Day of the Dead to a SpaceX rocket launch

Tuesday's best photos: from Halloween at the White House to election time in Israel

Monday's best photos: from Chhath Puja to Afghan saffron

Sunday's best photos: from a Clone Trooper on the DLR to Day of the Dead parade

Saturday's best photos: from Mexico's iconic Catrina to march of the mummies

Friday's best photos: from a T-Rex to Maradona

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Saudi National Day
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000

Engine 3.5L V6

Transmission 10-speed automatic

Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km

The biog

Favourite book: Animal Farm by George Orwell

Favourite music: Classical

Hobbies: Reading and writing

 

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Gully Boy

Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi​​​​​​​
Rating: 4/5 stars

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 

More about coronavirus

Freezer tips

  • Always make sure food is completely cool before freezing.
  • If you’re cooking in large batches, divide into either family-sized or individual portions to freeze.
  • Ensure the food is well wrapped in foil or cling film. Even better, store in fully sealable, labelled containers or zip-lock freezer bags.
  • The easiest and safest way to defrost items such as the stews and sauces mentioned is to do so in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Gulf Under 19s

Pools

A – Dubai College, Deira International School, Al Ain Amblers, Warriors
B – Dubai English Speaking College, Repton Royals, Jumeirah College, Gems World Academy
C – British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Yasmina Academy
D – Dubai Exiles, Jumeirah English Speaking School, English College, Bahrain Colts

Recent winners

2018 – Dubai College
2017 – British School Al Khubairat
2016 – Dubai English Speaking School
2015 – Al Ain Amblers
2014 – Dubai College

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

more from Janine di Giovanni
Whiile you're here
While you're here
Best Foreign Language Film nominees

Capernaum (Lebanon)

Cold War (Poland)

Never Look Away (Germany)

Roma (Mexico)

Shoplifters (Japan)

MORE ON LOCUSTS

Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)

Nancy Ajram

(In2Musica)

More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Longreads
Tomorrow 2021
FIXTURES

Thursday
Dibba v Al Dhafra, Fujairah Stadium (5pm)
Al Wahda v Hatta, Al Nahyan Stadium (8pm)

Friday
Al Nasr v Ajman, Zabeel Stadium (5pm)
Al Jazria v Al Wasl, Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium (8pm)

Saturday
Emirates v Al Ain, Emirates Club Stadium (5pm)
Sharjah v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, Sharjah Stadium (8pm)

Updated: November 03, 2022, 5:44 PM
Photography