• Muslims pray in a mosque during the fasting month of Ramadan, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. EPA
    Muslims pray in a mosque during the fasting month of Ramadan, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. EPA
  • A customer examines fruit for sale in a street-market as families shop for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Mogadishu, Somalia. AP
    A customer examines fruit for sale in a street-market as families shop for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Mogadishu, Somalia. AP
  • A general view of the Gazi Husrev Bay's Mosque in Sarajevo on the 27th night of Ramadan, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. EPA
    A general view of the Gazi Husrev Bay's Mosque in Sarajevo on the 27th night of Ramadan, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. EPA
  • A man reads the Koran, seen from a window of his house decorated with a traditional Ramadan lantern called "fanous", on the Laylat al-Qadr, or Night of Power, the holiest night for Muslims, during a night-time curfew amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cairo, Egypt. REUTERS
    A man reads the Koran, seen from a window of his house decorated with a traditional Ramadan lantern called "fanous", on the Laylat al-Qadr, or Night of Power, the holiest night for Muslims, during a night-time curfew amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cairo, Egypt. REUTERS
  • Muslim women wearing face masks amid concern over the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus receive food aid donated by the Southern Peace Media Club in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat, ahead of Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. AFP
    Muslim women wearing face masks amid concern over the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus receive food aid donated by the Southern Peace Media Club in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat, ahead of Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. AFP
  • Volunteers at Springreens Community Cafe prepare free Iftar meals for fasting Muslims celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. EPA
    Volunteers at Springreens Community Cafe prepare free Iftar meals for fasting Muslims celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. EPA
  • Muslims pray during the Laylat al-Qadr, or Night of Power, the holiest night for Muslims, while practicing social distancing, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), during the fasting month of Ramadan, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS
    Muslims pray during the Laylat al-Qadr, or Night of Power, the holiest night for Muslims, while practicing social distancing, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), during the fasting month of Ramadan, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. REUTERS
  • A boy performs Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic for Night of Destiny) prayer inside Al Azhar mosque in Egypt, Cairo. EPA
    A boy performs Laylat al-Qadr (Arabic for Night of Destiny) prayer inside Al Azhar mosque in Egypt, Cairo. EPA
  • Muslim worshippers take part in evening prayers on Laylat al-Qadr during the holy fasting month of Ramadan outside the compound known as al-Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem's Old City due to restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jerusalem. REUTERS
    Muslim worshippers take part in evening prayers on Laylat al-Qadr during the holy fasting month of Ramadan outside the compound known as al-Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem's Old City due to restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Jerusalem. REUTERS
  • Members of the Ashour family gather in prayer at a family home, due to closure of mosques during the coronavirus pandemic, in the flashpoint city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank to mark Lailat al-Qadr, a night in the holy month of Ramadan during which the Koran was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammed in the seventh century. AFP
    Members of the Ashour family gather in prayer at a family home, due to closure of mosques during the coronavirus pandemic, in the flashpoint city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank to mark Lailat al-Qadr, a night in the holy month of Ramadan during which the Koran was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammed in the seventh century. AFP
  • A woman goes for shopping ahead of Eid al-Fitr in Herat, Pakistan. EPA/JALIL REZAYEE
    A woman goes for shopping ahead of Eid al-Fitr in Herat, Pakistan. EPA/JALIL REZAYEE
  • Palestinians gather to break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at the Mount of Olives with a backdrop of the Old City of Jerusalem and the closed al-Aqsa Mosque compound, during the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis. AFP
    Palestinians gather to break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at the Mount of Olives with a backdrop of the Old City of Jerusalem and the closed al-Aqsa Mosque compound, during the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis. AFP
  • Volunteers distribute food among people gather to break their fast at sunset during the Muslims fasting month of Ramadan after the government relaxed a weeks-long lockdown that was enforced to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Islamabad, Pakistan. AP Photo
    Volunteers distribute food among people gather to break their fast at sunset during the Muslims fasting month of Ramadan after the government relaxed a weeks-long lockdown that was enforced to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Islamabad, Pakistan. AP Photo
  • Palestinian family members prepare to smoke mackerel on the roof of their house in preparation for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. AFP
    Palestinian family members prepare to smoke mackerel on the roof of their house in preparation for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. AFP
  • Syrians buy Arabic sweets in one of the old souks of Damascus, Syria. EPA
    Syrians buy Arabic sweets in one of the old souks of Damascus, Syria. EPA
  • A man buys clothes in a shop, in preparation for Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Baghdad, Iraq. REUTERS
    A man buys clothes in a shop, in preparation for Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Baghdad, Iraq. REUTERS
  • A woman walks through a disinfecting gate before entering a mall ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival after the government eased a nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus in Karachi. AFP
    A woman walks through a disinfecting gate before entering a mall ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival after the government eased a nationwide lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus in Karachi. AFP
  • Palestinian bakers prepare 'Saj' bread, in Hebron, Palestine. EPA
    Palestinian bakers prepare 'Saj' bread, in Hebron, Palestine. EPA

Ramadan around the world in photos: May 20


  • English
  • Arabic

More from Ramadan 2020:

UAE expatriates who converted to Islam observe their first fast

Pray and play together: 9 ways to make Ramadan more special for children staying at home

Ramadan headlines from 1970-90: From a lunar lander to 'Lawnchair Larry'

Eid holiday dates announced for public-sector workers

if you go

Getting there

Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.

Staying there

On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.

More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr

MATCH INFO

Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)

TV: Abu Dhabi Sports

Thor%3A%20Love%20and%20Thunder%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Taika%20Waititi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Hemsworth%2C%20Natalie%20Portman%2C%20Christian%20Bale%2C%20Russell%20Crowe%2C%20Tessa%20Thompson%2C%20Taika%20Waititi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20Beekeeper
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDavid%20Ayer%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJason%20Statham%2C%20Josh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Emmy%20Raver-Lampman%2C%20Minnie%20Driver%2C%20Jeremy%20Irons%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Chatham House Rule

A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding,  was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
organisation”. 

 

The depth of knowledge and academics that it drew on
following the Ukraine invasion had broadcast Mr Putin’s chicanery.  

 

The institute is more used to accommodating world leaders,
with Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher among those helping it provide
authoritative commentary on world events. 

 

Chatham House was formally founded as the Royal Institute of
International Affairs following the peace conferences of World War One. Its
founder, Lionel Curtis, wanted a more scientific examination of international affairs
with a transparent exchange of information and ideas.  

 

That arena of debate and analysis was enhanced by the “Chatham
House Rule” states that the contents of any meeting can be discussed outside Chatham
House but no mention can be made identifying individuals who commented.  

 

This has enabled some candid exchanges on difficult subjects
allowing a greater degree of free speech from high-ranking figures.  

 

These meetings are highly valued, so much so that
ambassadors reported them in secret diplomatic cables that – when they were
revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
most speeches are held on the record.  

 

Its research and debate has offered fresh ideas to
policymakers enabling them to more coherently address troubling issues from climate
change to health and food security.   

 
THE DETAILS

Kaala

Dir: Pa. Ranjith

Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar  

Rating: 1.5/5 

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Belong%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Michael%20Askew%20and%20Matthew%20Gaziano%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%243.5%20million%20from%20crowd%20funding%20and%20angel%20investors%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E666hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%20at%202%2C300-4%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQ1%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh1.15%20million%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

'Tell the Machine Goodnight' by Katie Williams 
Penguin Randomhouse

Meghan%20podcast
%3Cp%3EMeghan%20Markle%2C%20the%20wife%20of%20Prince%20Harry%2C%20launched%20her%20long-awaited%20podcast%20Tuesday%2C%20with%20tennis%20megastar%20Serena%20Williams%20as%20the%20first%20guest.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20Duchess%20of%20Sussex%20said%20the%2012-part%20series%2C%20called%20%22Archetypes%2C%22%20--%20a%20play%20on%20the%20name%20of%20the%20couple's%20oldest%20child%2C%20Archie%20--%20would%20explore%20the%20female%20experience.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELast%20year%20the%20couple%20told%20Oprah%20Winfrey%20that%20life%20inside%20%22The%20Firm%22%20had%20been%20miserable%2C%20and%20that%20they%20had%20experienced%20racism.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20don't%20ever%20remember%20personally%20feeling%20the%20negative%20connotation%20behind%20the%20word%20ambitious%2C%20until%20I%20started%20dating%20my%20now-husband%2C%22%20she%20told%20the%20tennis%20champion.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Liverpool 4 (Salah (pen 4, 33', & pen 88', Van Dijk (20')

Leeds United 3 (Harrison 12', Bamford 30', Klich 66')

Man of the match Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELuv%20Ranjan%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Shraddha%20Kapoor%2C%20Anubhav%20Singh%20Bassi%20and%20Dimple%20Kapadia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key developments

All times UTC 4

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Forced%20Deportations
%3Cp%3EWhile%20the%20Lebanese%20government%20has%20deported%20a%20number%20of%20refugees%20back%20to%20Syria%20since%202011%2C%20the%20latest%20round%20is%20the%20first%20en-mass%20campaign%20of%20its%20kind%2C%20say%20the%20Access%20Center%20for%20Human%20Rights%2C%20a%20non-governmental%20organization%20which%20monitors%20the%20conditions%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20in%20Lebanon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%9CIn%20the%20past%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20General%20Security%20was%20responsible%20for%20the%20forced%20deportation%20operations%20of%20refugees%2C%20after%20forcing%20them%20to%20sign%20papers%20stating%20that%20they%20wished%20to%20return%20to%20Syria%20of%20their%20own%20free%20will.%20Now%2C%20the%20Lebanese%20army%2C%20specifically%20military%20intelligence%2C%20is%20responsible%20for%20the%20security%20operation%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Mohammad%20Hasan%2C%20head%20of%20ACHR.%3Cbr%3EIn%20just%20the%20first%20four%20months%20of%202023%20the%20number%20of%20forced%20deportations%20is%20nearly%20double%20that%20of%20the%20entirety%20of%202022.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESince%20the%20beginning%20of%202023%2C%20ACHR%20has%20reported%20407%20forced%20deportations%20%E2%80%93%20200%20of%20which%20occurred%20in%20April%20alone.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%20comparison%2C%20just%20154%20people%20were%20forcfully%20deported%20in%202022.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Violence%20
%3Cp%3EInstances%20of%20violence%20against%20Syrian%20refugees%20are%20not%20uncommon.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJust%20last%20month%2C%20security%20camera%20footage%20of%20men%20violently%20attacking%20and%20stabbing%20an%20employee%20at%20a%20mini-market%20went%20viral.%20The%20store%E2%80%99s%20employees%20had%20engaged%20in%20a%20verbal%20altercation%20with%20the%20men%20who%20had%20come%20to%20enforce%20an%20order%20to%20shutter%20shops%2C%20following%20the%20announcement%20of%20a%20municipal%20curfew%20for%20Syrian%20refugees.%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CThey%20thought%20they%20were%20Syrian%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20the%20mayor%20of%20the%20Nahr%20el%20Bared%20municipality%2C%20Charbel%20Bou%20Raad%2C%20of%20the%20attackers.%3Cbr%3EIt%20later%20emerged%20the%20beaten%20employees%20were%20Lebanese.%20But%20the%20video%20was%20an%20exemplary%20instance%20of%20violence%20at%20a%20time%20when%20anti-Syrian%20rhetoric%20is%20particularly%20heated%20as%20Lebanese%20politicians%20call%20for%20the%20return%20of%20Syrian%20refugees%20to%20Syria.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A