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

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

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

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The Gentlemen

Director: Guy Ritchie

Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant 

Three out of five stars

The specs: 2017 Dodge Viper SRT

Price, base / as tested Dh460,000

Engine 8.4L V10

Transmission Six-speed manual

Power 645hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 813Nm @ 5,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 16.8L / 100km

The five stages of early child’s play

From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:

1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.

2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.

3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.

4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.

5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.

Indika
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Inside Palestine-Israel
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

While you're here
Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Updated: February 20, 2024, 1:07 PM`
Photography