A woman walks through the middle of a decorative installation of colourful paper umbrellas in Bangkok, Thailand. AFP

From Iceland volcano tourism to UK lockdown easing - today's best pictures



More from The National:

From a huge fire in Indonesia to a sandstorm in Beijing - these are Monday's best photos

From a volcanic eruption in Iceland to school pupils at play in Afghanistan - these are Sunday's best photos

From Christ the Redeemer to Holi festival frolics - these are Thursday's best pictures

From hillside lessons in Italy to waterfalls at Australia's Uluru - these are Wednesday's best pictures

From a hoopoe in Lebanon to an FC Barcelona fishing village - these are Tuesday's best pictures

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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World ranking (at month’s end)
Jan - 257
Feb - 198
Mar - 159
Apr - 161
May - 159
Jun – 162
Currently: 88

Year-end rank since turning pro
2016 - 279
2015 - 185
2014 - 143
2013 - 63
2012 - 384
2011 - 883

The Bio

Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959

Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.

He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses

Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas

His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s

Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business

He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery 

Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all