Italian restorer Eleonora Pucci cleans Michelangelo's statue of David using a backpack vacuum and synthetic fibre brush at the Galleria dell'Accademia, in Florence on February 19, 2024. Michelangelo's masterpiece received a delicate beauty treatment on Monday, part of routine maintenance on one of the world's most recognisable nudes. Every two months, the marble sculpture of a muscular and steely-eyed David -- completed by a 29-year-old Michelangelo in 1504 -- undergoes the careful cleaning from his home within Florence's Accademia Gallery, where it has resided for over 150 years. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)
Italian restorer Eleonora Pucci cleans Michelangelo's statue of David using a backpack vacuum and synthetic fibre brush at the Galleria dell'Accademia, in Florence on February 19, 2024. Michelangelo's masterpiece received a delicate beauty treatment on Monday, part of routine maintenance on one of the world's most recognisable nudes. Every two months, the marble sculpture of a muscular and steely-eyed David -- completed by a 29-year-old Michelangelo in 1504 -- undergoes the careful cleaning from his home within Florence's Accademia Gallery, where it has resided for over 150 years. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)
A rainbow lights up stormy skies in Robbins, 56km north of Sacramento, California. AFP
A rainbow lights up stormy skies in Robbins, 56km north of Sacramento, California. AFP
Families who have fled from the war in Sudan arrive at a Transit Centre for refugees in Renk, South Sudan. AFP
Families who have fled from the war in Sudan arrive at a Transit Centre for refugees in Renk, South Sudan. AFP
Sri Lankan cricket fans climb trees to watch their team in the second T20 international cricket match against Afghanistan at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. AFP
Sri Lankan cricket fans climb trees to watch their team in the second T20 international cricket match against Afghanistan at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. AFP
Riders crash before the finish line during stage one of the sixth UAE Tour, from Al Dhafra Walk to Liwa. AFP
Riders crash before the finish line during stage one of the sixth UAE Tour, from Al Dhafra Walk to Liwa. AFP
Republic of Korea Air Force's Black Eagles perform a display on the first day of the Singapore Airshow at Changi Exhibition Centre. EPA
Republic of Korea Air Force's Black Eagles perform a display on the first day of the Singapore Airshow at Changi Exhibition Centre. EPA
Polish farmers in tractors block the S17 highway to Warsaw during a national protest in Lublin over Ukrainian imports. Getty Images
Polish farmers in tractors block the S17 highway to Warsaw during a national protest in Lublin over Ukrainian imports. Getty Images
Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange protest outside London's Royal Courts of Justice during his appeal against extradition to the US to face charges over the publication of intelligence files. AFP
Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange protest outside London's Royal Courts of Justice during his appeal against extradition to the US to face charges over the publication of intelligence files. AFP
A Palestinian man enters a heavily damaged house following an Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
A Palestinian man enters a heavily damaged house following an Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
Tourists enjoy the rare opportunity to wade through water at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California, normally the driest place in the US. AFP
Tourists enjoy the rare opportunity to wade through water at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California, normally the driest place in the US. AFP
A climate activist demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Reuters
A climate activist demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Reuters
People photograph the cherry blossoms in Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. AFP
People photograph the cherry blossoms in Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. AFP
A worker walks along the middle of the track during maintenance work on Long Bien bridge in Hanoi, Vietnam. AFP
A worker walks along the middle of the track during maintenance work on Long Bien bridge in Hanoi, Vietnam. AFP
A worker inspects the foundations of a judging tower being built on the coral reef in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, for the Paris Olympic Games surf competition. AP
A worker inspects the foundations of a judging tower being built on the coral reef in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, for the Paris Olympic Games surf competition. AP

World

Today's best photos: From cleaning the statue of David to Olympic preparations in Tahiti

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

The National

February 20, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

Monday's best photos: From tourists in Sri Lanka to a Cat Extravaganza in London

Sunday's best photos: From Bengal tiger cub in Spain to mourners at funeral in Lebanon

Saturday's best photos: From a French Lemon Festival to a Taipei Lantern Festival

Friday's best photos: From Prince Harry sledding to Dune: Part Two premiere

Thursday's best photos: From Biathlon World Championships to the Berlinale Film Festival

Wednesday's best photos: From snow-covered New York to Valentine's Day in Taiwan

Results

6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: Rasi, Harry Bentley (jockey), Sulaiman Al Ghunaimi (trainer).

7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m; Winner: Ya Hayati, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Magic Lily, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.

9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.

10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Eynhallow, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.

500 People from Gaza enter France

115 Special programme for artists

25   Evacuation of injured and sick

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COPA DEL REY

Semi-final, first leg

Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')

Second leg, February 27

On Women's Day
The%20Iron%20Claw
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sean%20Durkin%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Zac%20Efron%2C%20Jeremy%20Allen%20White%2C%20Harris%20Dickinson%2C%20Maura%20Tierney%2C%20Holt%20McCallany%2C%20Lily%20James%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results

1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner Al Suhooj, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)

2pm Handicap (TB) 68,000 (D) 1,950m

Winner Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

3pm Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,800m

Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner Alla Mahlak, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly

4pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m

HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
WE%20NO%20LONGER%20PREFER%20MOUNTAINS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Inas%20Halabi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENijmeh%20Hamdan%2C%20Kamal%20Kayouf%2C%20Sheikh%20Najib%20Alou%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber

While you're here
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20ASI%20(formerly%20DigestAI)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Quddus%20Pativada%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Artificial%20intelligence%2C%20education%20technology%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%243%20million-plus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GSV%20Ventures%2C%20Character%2C%20Mark%20Cuban%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: February 20, 2024, 1:07 PM
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