• The Northern Lights illuminate the sky above Torassieppi in Lapland, Finland. Reuters
    The Northern Lights illuminate the sky above Torassieppi in Lapland, Finland. Reuters
  • A military helicopter flies over a crowd at the Afghan Security Forces Exhibition at the Darul Aman Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. The three-day event allows civilians to have a first-hand look at equipment used by the military. AP
    A military helicopter flies over a crowd at the Afghan Security Forces Exhibition at the Darul Aman Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. The three-day event allows civilians to have a first-hand look at equipment used by the military. AP
  • A Thai navy officer swims in the Andaman Sea with a rescued cat on his back. Reuters
    A Thai navy officer swims in the Andaman Sea with a rescued cat on his back. Reuters
  • A group runs past the National Mall in Washington. Security has been tightened over concerns about further unrest in the US capital on March 4. AFP
    A group runs past the National Mall in Washington. Security has been tightened over concerns about further unrest in the US capital on March 4. AFP
  • Children gather for the arrival of the rescued JSS Jangebe schoolgirls in Zamfara, Nigeria. Gunmen abducted 279 girls from their school last week. Reuters
    Children gather for the arrival of the rescued JSS Jangebe schoolgirls in Zamfara, Nigeria. Gunmen abducted 279 girls from their school last week. Reuters
  • The SpaceX Starship SN10 prototype rocket explodes after landing at South Padre Island, Texas. Reuters
    The SpaceX Starship SN10 prototype rocket explodes after landing at South Padre Island, Texas. Reuters
  • Streams of lava shoot into the night sky during an eruption of the Pacaya volcano in Guatemala. Authorities warned residents that volcanic material could rain down on nearby towns. Reuters
    Streams of lava shoot into the night sky during an eruption of the Pacaya volcano in Guatemala. Authorities warned residents that volcanic material could rain down on nearby towns. Reuters
  • Italian singer Achille Lauro performs at the Ariston Theatre during the 71st Sanremo Music Festival. The event runs until March 6. EPA
    Italian singer Achille Lauro performs at the Ariston Theatre during the 71st Sanremo Music Festival. The event runs until March 6. EPA
  • A protester holds up a Lebanese flag as he walks past burning tyres during a protest in central Beirut, Lebanon. AP
    A protester holds up a Lebanese flag as he walks past burning tyres during a protest in central Beirut, Lebanon. AP
  • A child sits on a motorcycle as the Pacaya volcano erupts in the background. AP
    A child sits on a motorcycle as the Pacaya volcano erupts in the background. AP
  • Residents wave national flags and fireworks after authorities in the Vietnamese province of Hai Duong ended 34 days of social distancing. Reuters
    Residents wave national flags and fireworks after authorities in the Vietnamese province of Hai Duong ended 34 days of social distancing. Reuters
  • Sakae Kato walks his dog on an empty road between restricted zones in Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. A decade ago, Mr Kato stayed behind to rescue cats abandoned by neighbours who fled the area during the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Reuters
    Sakae Kato walks his dog on an empty road between restricted zones in Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. A decade ago, Mr Kato stayed behind to rescue cats abandoned by neighbours who fled the area during the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Reuters
  • Myanmar protesters take cover after police open fire during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay. Teenager Kyal Sin, bottom left, was shot and killed. Reuters
    Myanmar protesters take cover after police open fire during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay. Teenager Kyal Sin, bottom left, was shot and killed. Reuters
  • A climber prepares to tackle an ice wall near the Palandoken ski resort in Erzurum, eastern Turkey. AFP
    A climber prepares to tackle an ice wall near the Palandoken ski resort in Erzurum, eastern Turkey. AFP
  • Supporters of Senegal's opposition leader Ousmane Sonko hold a rally after Mr Sonko was arrested in the capital Dakar. He was set to appear in court to face a rape charge. AFP
    Supporters of Senegal's opposition leader Ousmane Sonko hold a rally after Mr Sonko was arrested in the capital Dakar. He was set to appear in court to face a rape charge. AFP

From the Northern Lights to exploding starships – today's best pictures


  • English
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More galleries from The National:

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36 stunning photographs capture concrete creations around the world

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

The past Palme d'Or winners

2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda

2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund

2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach

2015 DheepanJacques Audiard

2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan

2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux

2012 Amour, Michael Haneke

2011 The Tree of LifeTerrence Malick

2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul

2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke

2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”