• JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 09: Fireworks go off over the circuit at the end of the race during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 09, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images)
    JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 09: Fireworks go off over the circuit at the end of the race during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 09, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images)
  • Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) supporters attend the IFP election manifesto launch at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. AFP
    Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) supporters attend the IFP election manifesto launch at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. AFP
  • Tibetan nuns at a protest march to mark the 65th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, in Dharamsala, India. Reuters
    Tibetan nuns at a protest march to mark the 65th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, in Dharamsala, India. Reuters
  • Construction workers carry out cement work on the outer courtyard of the 'Ibrahim Al-Khalil' church, in Iraq. Reuters
    Construction workers carry out cement work on the outer courtyard of the 'Ibrahim Al-Khalil' church, in Iraq. Reuters
  • US President Joe Biden arrives at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for campaign events in Georgia. AFP
    US President Joe Biden arrives at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for campaign events in Georgia. AFP
  • Fire Tabernacle Prophetic Ministry choir members sing at their church in Ekurhuleni ahead of the South African Presidential elections. AFP
    Fire Tabernacle Prophetic Ministry choir members sing at their church in Ekurhuleni ahead of the South African Presidential elections. AFP
  • Swedish soldiers take part in a training exercise on the Finland/Norway border during the Nordic Response military exercise in Kivilompolo, Finland. Getty Images
    Swedish soldiers take part in a training exercise on the Finland/Norway border during the Nordic Response military exercise in Kivilompolo, Finland. Getty Images
  • Cloudy skies over the Creek Extension and city skyline as the rain passes over Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National
    Cloudy skies over the Creek Extension and city skyline as the rain passes over Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National
  • A woman walks near one of the ancient statues of the tomb of King Antiochus atop Mount Nemrut, southeastern Turkey. AP
    A woman walks near one of the ancient statues of the tomb of King Antiochus atop Mount Nemrut, southeastern Turkey. AP
  • A child jumps on a trampoline as others wait their turn in Alexandra near Johannesburg. AFP
    A child jumps on a trampoline as others wait their turn in Alexandra near Johannesburg. AFP
  • A raccoon walks along the Cinta Costera, in Panama City. AFP
    A raccoon walks along the Cinta Costera, in Panama City. AFP
  • An Oscar statue is covered in plastic as preparations continue for the 96th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US. Reuters
    An Oscar statue is covered in plastic as preparations continue for the 96th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US. Reuters

Today's best photos: From the Saudi Grand Prix to Oscars preparations


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More from The National:

Saturday's best photos: From hot air balloons in Canberra to Kuwait sports day marathon

Friday's best photos: From Port-au-Prince gang violence to a State of the Union protest

Thursday's best photos: From a hammam in Rabat to bread delivery in Cairo

Wednesday's best photos: From Francis Ngannou's workout to dog training in Germany

Tuesday's best photos: From Ramadan preparations to Chanel's ready-to-wear show

Monday's best photos: From Kamala Harris in Selma to Buzkashi in Kyrgyzstan

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

The smuggler

Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple. 
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.

Khouli conviction

Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.

For sale

A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.

- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico

- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000

- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Qosty Byogaani

Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny

Four stars

The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta

What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning. 
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. 
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
 

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Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
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Francesco Totti's bio

Born September 27, 1976

Position Attacking midifelder

Clubs played for (1) - Roma

Total seasons 24

First season 1992/93

Last season 2016/17

Appearances 786

Goals 307

Titles (5) - Serie A 1; Italian Cup 2; Italian Supercup 2

Black Panther
Dir: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Five stars

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

The biog

Place of birth: Kalba

Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren

Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken

Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah

Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”

Updated: March 10, 2024, 3:28 PM