• Engineers wave through gaps in the drill face after a boring machine broke through to complete HS2's longest tunnel, in Great Missenden, England. The high-speed rail line will run between London and Birmingham. Getty Images
    Engineers wave through gaps in the drill face after a boring machine broke through to complete HS2's longest tunnel, in Great Missenden, England. The high-speed rail line will run between London and Birmingham. Getty Images
  • Seen through giant glasses, The World, an exclusive private residential ship, arrives in Cape Town, South Africa. Reuters
    Seen through giant glasses, The World, an exclusive private residential ship, arrives in Cape Town, South Africa. Reuters
  • A deserted Thessaloniki station during a 24-hour rail strike in Greece. Staff are demanding answers a year after the nation's deadliest train crash, which killed 57 people. AFP
    A deserted Thessaloniki station during a 24-hour rail strike in Greece. Staff are demanding answers a year after the nation's deadliest train crash, which killed 57 people. AFP
  • People displaced by an outbreak of violence gather to receive humanitarian aid from the World Food Programme in Nampula, Mozambique. AFP
    People displaced by an outbreak of violence gather to receive humanitarian aid from the World Food Programme in Nampula, Mozambique. AFP
  • Pope Francis holds his weekly general audience in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. Reuters
    Pope Francis holds his weekly general audience in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. Reuters
  • A wildfire that prompted an evacuation edges towards a home outside of Shattuck, Oklahoma. Reuters
    A wildfire that prompted an evacuation edges towards a home outside of Shattuck, Oklahoma. Reuters
  • Palestinians who fled from the northern Gaza Strip seek shelter near Deir Al Balah in the south. EPA
    Palestinians who fled from the northern Gaza Strip seek shelter near Deir Al Balah in the south. EPA
  • A soldier participates in a military parade to commemorate the 180th anniversary of the Dominican Republic's independence in the capital city Santo Domingo. EPA
    A soldier participates in a military parade to commemorate the 180th anniversary of the Dominican Republic's independence in the capital city Santo Domingo. EPA
  • A Ukrainian amputee military veteran, 23, who lost his legs during shelling near Bakhmut, takes part in archery training in Kyiv ahead of an international contest. AFP
    A Ukrainian amputee military veteran, 23, who lost his legs during shelling near Bakhmut, takes part in archery training in Kyiv ahead of an international contest. AFP
  • A motorcyclist crosses a road in Bangkok. AFP
    A motorcyclist crosses a road in Bangkok. AFP
  • San Diego Padres left-fielder Jurickson Profar prepares for the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, in Peoria, Arizona. AP
    San Diego Padres left-fielder Jurickson Profar prepares for the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, in Peoria, Arizona. AP
  • Romanian taxi drivers protest outside the national parliament building in Bucharest in a row over what they see as unfair competition from ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Bolt. EPA
    Romanian taxi drivers protest outside the national parliament building in Bucharest in a row over what they see as unfair competition from ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Bolt. EPA

World

Today's best photos: From the completion of a UK tunnel to a taxi protest in Bucharest

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

The National

February 28, 2024

  • English
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More from The National:

Tuesday's best photos: From Nato military exercise to India's Modi at space centre

Monday's best photos: From a rally supporting Bolsonaro to ice formations in Michigan

Sunday's best photos: From Macron's visit to an Agricultural Show to a giant panda in Seoul

Saturday's best photos: From American white pelicans to Mercato Market in Ethiopia

Friday's best photos: From a presidential resignation to a Moon landing

Thursday's best photos: From F1 testing to beekeepers protesting

On Women's Day
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

Updated: February 28, 2024, 1:11 PM