• A baby is rescued by aid workers of the Spanish NGO Open Arms, after being located sailing adrift on an overcrowded wooden boat in the Mediterranean sea, about 85 miles north of Libya. AP
    A baby is rescued by aid workers of the Spanish NGO Open Arms, after being located sailing adrift on an overcrowded wooden boat in the Mediterranean sea, about 85 miles north of Libya. AP
  • Flamingos gather in a lake at the Al-Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve in the Gulf emirate of Dubai. AFP
    Flamingos gather in a lake at the Al-Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve in the Gulf emirate of Dubai. AFP
  • An Iraqi boy carries the portraits of Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani during a demonstration in Baghdad's western Shoala neighbourhood. AFP
    An Iraqi boy carries the portraits of Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani during a demonstration in Baghdad's western Shoala neighbourhood. AFP
  • Worshippers attend a mass at the Eastern Catholic Saint Elijah Cathedral, during a celebration to welcome the new year, in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. AFP
    Worshippers attend a mass at the Eastern Catholic Saint Elijah Cathedral, during a celebration to welcome the new year, in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. AFP
  • The casket of film director Hatem Ali is carried out from al-Hussein mosque in the Syrian capital Damascus, during his funeral. AFP
    The casket of film director Hatem Ali is carried out from al-Hussein mosque in the Syrian capital Damascus, during his funeral. AFP
  • Competitors spar during a boxing competition in the Libyan city of Benghazi. AFP
    Competitors spar during a boxing competition in the Libyan city of Benghazi. AFP
  • Locals look on during the shakedown stage at the Dakar rally, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
    Locals look on during the shakedown stage at the Dakar rally, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
  • A police officer stands on a deserted street during a lockdown, in Ankara, Turkey. AP
    A police officer stands on a deserted street during a lockdown, in Ankara, Turkey. AP

The Middle East Framed - regional photography for January 2, 2021


  • English
  • Arabic

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12 cars to look forward to in 2021: from Audi e-tron to Ram 1500 TRX

The 20 best local UAE discoveries of 2020: from Snoopy Island to The Chedi Al Bait Sharjah

From Dubai to the world: rockers Kiss live-streamed concert starts new year in explosive fashion

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo

Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm

Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Price: from Dh498,542

On sale: now

The specs

Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6

Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Kerb weight: 1580kg

Price: From Dh750k

On sale: via special order

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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.

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now