• Revellers take part in a fight with oranges during an annual carnival battle in Ivrea, Italy, February 11, 2024. REUTERS / Guglielmo Mangiapane
    Revellers take part in a fight with oranges during an annual carnival battle in Ivrea, Italy, February 11, 2024. REUTERS / Guglielmo Mangiapane
  • A municipal worker throws herring as part of the traditions of the Carnival of Dunkirk, northern France. AFP
    A municipal worker throws herring as part of the traditions of the Carnival of Dunkirk, northern France. AFP
  • People inspect debris and rubble in a building heavily damaged by Israeli bombardment in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
    People inspect debris and rubble in a building heavily damaged by Israeli bombardment in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
  • An anti-government protester stands in front of police officers during a rally demanding a fair election, outside the Indonesian Parliament in Jakarta. Reuters
    An anti-government protester stands in front of police officers during a rally demanding a fair election, outside the Indonesian Parliament in Jakarta. Reuters
  • Samba time at the night of the Carnival parade at the Sambadrome, Rio de Janeiro. Reuters
    Samba time at the night of the Carnival parade at the Sambadrome, Rio de Janeiro. Reuters
  • Taliban security officials stand guard during a ceremony to welcome the return of the last two Afghan Guantanamo Bay prisoners at Kabul Airport. EPA
    Taliban security officials stand guard during a ceremony to welcome the return of the last two Afghan Guantanamo Bay prisoners at Kabul Airport. EPA
  • A Palestinian child carries a cat among the rubble in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
    A Palestinian child carries a cat among the rubble in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
  • Masks are worn at the traditional Buso Carnival in Mohacs, Hungary. Reuters
    Masks are worn at the traditional Buso Carnival in Mohacs, Hungary. Reuters
  • Models pose in creations from the Melke Autumn/Winter 2024 collection at their presentation during New York Fashion Week. Reuters
    Models pose in creations from the Melke Autumn/Winter 2024 collection at their presentation during New York Fashion Week. Reuters
  • A person watches the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) illuminate the sky above the village of Akaslompolo in Lapland, Finland. EPA
    A person watches the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) illuminate the sky above the village of Akaslompolo in Lapland, Finland. EPA
  • Kansas City Chiefs' tight end Travis Kelce hugs his girlfriend Taylor Swift after the 25-22 victory over San Francisco 49ers to win the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. AP
    Kansas City Chiefs' tight end Travis Kelce hugs his girlfriend Taylor Swift after the 25-22 victory over San Francisco 49ers to win the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. AP

Today's best photos: From an Italian carnival battle to Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl


  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

Sunday's best photos: From Lunar New Year in London to Carnival in Sao Paulo

Saturday's best photos: From Sao Paulo carnival to Jakarta elections

Friday's best photos: From a bridge over the Ganges to a Polish mine

Thursday's best photos: From a volcanic eruption in Iceland to Women's Carnival in Germany

Wednesday's best photos: From Taylor Swift in Tokyo to optical illusions in Brussels

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 582bhp

Torque: 730Nm

Price: Dh649,000

On sale: now  

Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S24%20ULTRA
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Normcore explained

Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.

The Rub of Time: Bellow, Nabokov, Hitchens, Travolta, Trump and Other Pieces 1986-2016
Martin Amis,
Jonathan Cape

UAE v United States, T20 International Series

Both matches at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free.

1st match: Friday, 2pm

2nd match: Saturday, 2pm

UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Amjad Gul, CP Rizwan, Mohammed Boota, Abdul Shakoor, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat

USA squad: Saurabh Netravalkar (captain), Jaskaran Malhotra, Elmore Hutchinson, Aaron Jones, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Jannisar Khan, Xavier Marshall, Monank Patel, Timil Patel, Roy Silva, Jessy Singh, Steven Taylor, Hayden Walsh

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%3Cp%3EFly%20with%20Etihad%20Airways%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20New%20York%E2%80%99s%20JFK.%20There's%2011%20flights%20a%20week%20and%20economy%20fares%20start%20at%20around%20Dh5%2C000.%3Cbr%3EStay%20at%20The%20Mark%20Hotel%20on%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20Upper%20East%20Side.%20Overnight%20stays%20start%20from%20%241395%20per%20night.%3Cbr%3EVisit%20NYC%20Go%2C%20the%20official%20destination%20resource%20for%20New%20York%20City%20for%20all%20the%20latest%20events%2C%20activites%20and%20openings.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Stamp duty timeline

December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%

April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.

July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.

March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.

April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.

UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

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Polarised public

31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views

19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all

Source: YouGov

Updated: February 12, 2024, 1:40 PM