• 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 in focus - best photos for December 14, 2020


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More galleries from The National:

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The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 582bhp

Torque: 730Nm

Price: Dh649,000

On sale: now  

Profile

Company: Justmop.com

Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

ANDROID%20VERSION%20NAMES%2C%20IN%20ORDER
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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes. 
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com

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Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

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

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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