• A student (C) takes a face mask from a basket held by an elephant (L) from the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace, outside the Jirasat Wittaya School in the central Thai province of Ayutthaya. AFP
    A student (C) takes a face mask from a basket held by an elephant (L) from the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace, outside the Jirasat Wittaya School in the central Thai province of Ayutthaya. AFP
  • A rainbow is seen over the Chacao neighbourhood, with the iconic El Avila hill in the background, in Caracas, Venezuela. AFP
    A rainbow is seen over the Chacao neighbourhood, with the iconic El Avila hill in the background, in Caracas, Venezuela. AFP
  • Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi eyes the ball during the Spanish league football match between Real Valladolid FC and FC Barcelona at the Jose Zorilla stadium in Valladolid. AFP
    Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi eyes the ball during the Spanish league football match between Real Valladolid FC and FC Barcelona at the Jose Zorilla stadium in Valladolid. AFP
  • A newly-wedded couple poses for their photographer in front of the Rain Vortex at Changi Jewel in Singapore. AFP
    A newly-wedded couple poses for their photographer in front of the Rain Vortex at Changi Jewel in Singapore. AFP
  • A passenger (L) arriving from the United Kingdom receives a hug by his father after undergoing a Covid-19 test at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport on the outskirts of Amritsar. AFP
    A passenger (L) arriving from the United Kingdom receives a hug by his father after undergoing a Covid-19 test at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport on the outskirts of Amritsar. AFP
  • An aerial view shows lines of freight lorries and heavy goods vehicles parked on the tarmac at Manston Airport near Ramsgate, south-east England, as the Brexit contingency plan "Operation Fennel" was activated early to cope with lorries waiting to depart the UK, after France closed its borders to accompanied freight arriving from the UK due to the rapid spread of a new coronavirus strain. AFP
    An aerial view shows lines of freight lorries and heavy goods vehicles parked on the tarmac at Manston Airport near Ramsgate, south-east England, as the Brexit contingency plan "Operation Fennel" was activated early to cope with lorries waiting to depart the UK, after France closed its borders to accompanied freight arriving from the UK due to the rapid spread of a new coronavirus strain. AFP
  • Two-year-old Sofia Fox is nuzzled by a donkey wearing a Santa hat on a shopping street in Galway, Ireland. Reuters
    Two-year-old Sofia Fox is nuzzled by a donkey wearing a Santa hat on a shopping street in Galway, Ireland. Reuters
  • A woman wears a custom face mask in Sydney, Australia. According to the New South Wales government, over 80 cases of coronavirus have been detected recently, and the state has imposed a number of restrictions until Christmas Eve in an effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19. EPA
    A woman wears a custom face mask in Sydney, Australia. According to the New South Wales government, over 80 cases of coronavirus have been detected recently, and the state has imposed a number of restrictions until Christmas Eve in an effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19. EPA
  • Farmworkers throw rocks at police trying to remove them from the Pan-American South Highway as they protest the Agricultural Promotion Law in the Barrio Chino neighbourhood of Peru's Ica province. Farmworkers are demanding better pay and protesting clauses in a law that exempts them from benefits given to other workers, including annual bonuses and paid vacation. AP Photo
    Farmworkers throw rocks at police trying to remove them from the Pan-American South Highway as they protest the Agricultural Promotion Law in the Barrio Chino neighbourhood of Peru's Ica province. Farmworkers are demanding better pay and protesting clauses in a law that exempts them from benefits given to other workers, including annual bonuses and paid vacation. AP Photo
  • Nevada defensive back EJ Muhammad (4) reaches for the ball after it was tipped into the air from a pass by Tulane during the first half of the Idaho Potato Bowl NCAA college football game, in Boise, Idaho. Nevada intercepted the ball on the play. AP Photo
    Nevada defensive back EJ Muhammad (4) reaches for the ball after it was tipped into the air from a pass by Tulane during the first half of the Idaho Potato Bowl NCAA college football game, in Boise, Idaho. Nevada intercepted the ball on the play. AP Photo

World in focus - best photos for December 23, 2020


  • English
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RESULTS

2.15pm: Al Marwan Group Holding – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: SS Jalmod, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)

2.45pm: Sharjah Equine Hospital – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout

3.15pm: Al Marwan Group Holding – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Inthar, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi

3.45pm: Al Ain Stud Emirates Breeders Trophy – Conditions (PA) Dh50,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: MH Rahal, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne

4.25pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: JAP Aneed, Ray Dawson, Irfan Ellahi

4.45pm: Sharjah Equine Hospital – Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Edaraat, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT

Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000

Engine: 6.4-litre V8

Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km

Leaderboard

63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)

64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)

66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)

67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)

68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)

69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)