• Two children walk past 200,000 lights that decorate a winter wonderland where people walk through at Naumkeag, part of the land managed by the Trustees of Reservations, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. AFP
    Two children walk past 200,000 lights that decorate a winter wonderland where people walk through at Naumkeag, part of the land managed by the Trustees of Reservations, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. AFP
  • A man wearing a protective mask points his guns outside the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Reuters
    A man wearing a protective mask points his guns outside the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Reuters
  • Tourists look at an illuminated ice sculpture at the Changchun Ice-Snow Grand World in Changchun, in northeastern China's Jilin province. AFP
    Tourists look at an illuminated ice sculpture at the Changchun Ice-Snow Grand World in Changchun, in northeastern China's Jilin province. AFP
  • Farmers shout slogans during a blockade to protest against the recent agricultural reforms at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state border in Ghazipur. AFP
    Farmers shout slogans during a blockade to protest against the recent agricultural reforms at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state border in Ghazipur. AFP
  • A fisherman walks at sunset at Lhoknga beach in Aceh province. AFP
    A fisherman walks at sunset at Lhoknga beach in Aceh province. AFP
  • A ferry is seen crossing the English Channel with the coastline of France visible, shortly after sunrise, from Dover, southeast Britain. REUTERS
    A ferry is seen crossing the English Channel with the coastline of France visible, shortly after sunrise, from Dover, southeast Britain. REUTERS
  • A woman makes models of Santa Claus inside her workshop ahead of Christmas, in Kolkata, India. REUTERS
    A woman makes models of Santa Claus inside her workshop ahead of Christmas, in Kolkata, India. REUTERS
  • The sunsets behind the Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May, New Jersey. REUTERS
    The sunsets behind the Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May, New Jersey. REUTERS
  • Racing's Australian full back Kurtley Beale charges through during the European Rugby Champions Cup rugby union match between Racing 92 and Connacht at the U Arena in Nanterre, near Paris. AFP
    Racing's Australian full back Kurtley Beale charges through during the European Rugby Champions Cup rugby union match between Racing 92 and Connacht at the U Arena in Nanterre, near Paris. AFP
  • General view of the Ski Flying World Championships at Planica, Slovenia. REUTERS
    General view of the Ski Flying World Championships at Planica, Slovenia. REUTERS

World

World in focus - best photos for December 14, 2020

Take a look at some of the best images from around the world in the past 24 hours

The National

December 14, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

More galleries from The National:

UAE sky full of 'shooting stars': Geminids meteor shower puts on dazzling display

From palaces to railways: 12 of the most endangered heritage sites in Europe revealed

Max Verstappen dominates Yas Marina Circuit to win Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

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
Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Explained
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Avatar%3A%20The%20Way%20of%20Water
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJames%20Cameron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Worthington%2C%20Zoe%20Saldana%2C%20Sigourney%20Weaver%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
3%20Body%20Problem
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Benioff%2C%20D%20B%20Weiss%2C%20Alexander%20Woo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBenedict%20Wong%2C%20Jess%20Hong%2C%20Jovan%20Adepo%2C%20Eiza%20Gonzalez%2C%20John%20Bradley%2C%20Alex%20Sharp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Factfile on Garbine Muguruza:

Name: Garbine Muguruza (ESP)

World ranking: 15 (will rise to 5 on Monday)

Date of birth: October 8, 1993

Place of birth: Caracas, Venezuela

Place of residence: Geneva, Switzerland

Height: 6ft (1.82m)

Career singles titles: 4

Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016, Wimbledon 2017)

Career prize money: $13,928,719

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

World