• Mario Prushi holds in his hand one of the smallest Koran (Islam's holy book), of a postage-stamp size with a cover crafted from gold embroidered velvet, in Tirana, Albania, on April 17, 2023. - The ritual is always the same. Mario Prushi carefully washes his hands and face before kissing and pressing one of the world’s smallest Korans to his forehead. For generations, the postage-stamp sized book has been passed down in his family -- surviving authoritarian governments, war, and the perils of time. (Photo by Adnan Beci / AFP)
    Mario Prushi holds in his hand one of the smallest Koran (Islam's holy book), of a postage-stamp size with a cover crafted from gold embroidered velvet, in Tirana, Albania, on April 17, 2023. - The ritual is always the same. Mario Prushi carefully washes his hands and face before kissing and pressing one of the world’s smallest Korans to his forehead. For generations, the postage-stamp sized book has been passed down in his family -- surviving authoritarian governments, war, and the perils of time. (Photo by Adnan Beci / AFP)
  • A ship carrying 1,687 civilians fleeing violence in Sudan arrives at King Faisal naval base in Jeddah. AFP
    A ship carrying 1,687 civilians fleeing violence in Sudan arrives at King Faisal naval base in Jeddah. AFP
  • A bird’s eye view of a beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. EPA
    A bird’s eye view of a beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. EPA
  • Russian soldiers rehearse for a military parade at Dvortsovaya Square in St Petersburg. EPA
    Russian soldiers rehearse for a military parade at Dvortsovaya Square in St Petersburg. EPA
  • An image of a huge 'Bocolo' (rosebud) is created by hundreds of figures, choreographed by the artist Elena Tagliapietra for the feast of San Marco, in Venice, Italy. EPA
    An image of a huge 'Bocolo' (rosebud) is created by hundreds of figures, choreographed by the artist Elena Tagliapietra for the feast of San Marco, in Venice, Italy. EPA
  • Protesters carry a banner at a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv. Reuters
    Protesters carry a banner at a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv. Reuters
  • Exhumations at a mass grave in Malindi, Kenya, where a cult was believed to be practising mass starvation, bringing the number of victims so far to 89, including children. AFP
    Exhumations at a mass grave in Malindi, Kenya, where a cult was believed to be practising mass starvation, bringing the number of victims so far to 89, including children. AFP
  • A Canadair plane sprays water at a demonstration of civil security forest firefighting equipment in Nimes-Garons, southern France. AFP
    A Canadair plane sprays water at a demonstration of civil security forest firefighting equipment in Nimes-Garons, southern France. AFP
  • A labourer sleeps on the back of a delivery truck as traffic is stuck bumper to bumper on the Western Express Highway in Mumbai. AFP
    A labourer sleeps on the back of a delivery truck as traffic is stuck bumper to bumper on the Western Express Highway in Mumbai. AFP
  • Israeli fighter jets perform in an air show in Tel Aviv marking the country's 75th Independence Day. AP
    Israeli fighter jets perform in an air show in Tel Aviv marking the country's 75th Independence Day. AP
  • Racing Force Group helmets displayed in Sakhir, southern Bahrain. AFP
    Racing Force Group helmets displayed in Sakhir, southern Bahrain. AFP
  • Soldiers and volunteers try to load horses into a lorry to evacuate an abandoned farm in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine. AP
    Soldiers and volunteers try to load horses into a lorry to evacuate an abandoned farm in Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine. AP
  • French city councillor and author Eleonore Laloux holds the new Barbie doll with Down's syndrome, in Paris. Reuters
    French city councillor and author Eleonore Laloux holds the new Barbie doll with Down's syndrome, in Paris. Reuters

World

Today's best photos: from a small Quran to a new Barbie doll with Down's syndrome

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

The National

April 26, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

Tuesday's best photos: From 'Wall of Death' in Pakistan to Anzac Day in New Zealand

Monday's best photos: From bungee jumping in Beirut to falconry in Kyrgyzstan

Sunday's best photos: From London Marathon to Lyrid meteor shower

Saturday's best photos: from Eid Al Fitr in Iraq to bullfighting in Spain

Friday's best photos: from Welsh horses to macaws in Singapore

Thursday's best photos: from a solar eclipse to swallows at sunset

Titanium Escrow profile

Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue  
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family

The specs: 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 60kWh battery
Transmission: Single-speed Electronic Precision Shift
Power: 204hp
Torque: 360Nm
​​​​​​​Range: 520km (claimed)

Opinions on Lebanon
Election pledges on migration

CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections" 

SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom" 

'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai, 
HBKU Press 

War and the virus
Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
%3Cp%3E1.%20Baghdad%2C%20Iraq%3Cbr%3E2.%20Manama%2C%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3E3.%20Dhahran%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3Cbr%3E4.%20Kuwait%20City%2C%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3E5.%20Ras%20Al%20Khaimah%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E6.%20Ash%20Shihaniyah%2C%20Qatar%3Cbr%3E7.%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E8.%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E9.%20Riyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3Cbr%3E10.%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%202022%20World%20Air%20Quality%20Report%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
%3Cp%3E1.%20Chad%3Cbr%3E2.%20Iraq%3Cbr%3E3.%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3E4.%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3E5.%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E6.%20Burkina%20Faso%3Cbr%3E7.%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3E8.%20India%3Cbr%3E9.%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E10.%20Tajikistan%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%202022%20World%20Air%20Quality%20Report%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

BRAZIL%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EGoalkeepers%3A%20Alisson%2C%20Ederson%2C%20Weverton%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDefenders%3A%20Dani%20Alves%2C%20Marquinhos%2C%20Thiago%20Silva%2C%20Eder%20Militao%20%2C%20Danilo%2C%20Alex%20Sandro%2C%20Alex%20Telles%2C%20Bremer.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EMidfielders%3A%20Casemiro%2C%20Fred%2C%20Fabinho%2C%20Bruno%20Guimaraes%2C%20Lucas%20Paqueta%2C%20Everton%20Ribeiro.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EForwards%3A%20Neymar%2C%20Vinicius%20Junior%2C%20Richarlison%2C%20Raphinha%2C%20Antony%2C%20Gabriel%20Jesus%2C%20Gabriel%20Martinelli%2C%20Pedro%2C%20Rodrygo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
Book%20Details
%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EThree%20Centuries%20of%20Travel%20Writing%20by%20Muslim%20Women%3C%2Fem%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEditors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiobhan%20Lambert-Hurley%2C%20Daniel%20Majchrowicz%2C%20Sunil%20Sharma%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIndiana%20University%20Press%3B%20532%20pages%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FIGHT CARD

 

1.           Featherweight 66kg

Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)

2.           Lightweight 70kg

Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)

3.           Welterweight 77kg

Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)

4.           Lightweight 70kg

Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)

5.           Featherweight 66kg

Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)

6.           Catchweight 85kg

Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)

7.           Featherweight 66kg

Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)

8.           Catchweight 73kg

Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)

9.           Featherweight 66kg

Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)

10.         Catchweight 90kg

Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)

While you're here
While you're here
UFC%20FIGHT%20NIGHT%3A%20SAUDI%20ARABIA%20RESULTS
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do

Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.

“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”

Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.

Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.

“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”

For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.

“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”

 

About Proto21

Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group

More on animal trafficking
Updated: April 26, 2023, 3:50 PM
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