Choristers of St Paul's Cathedral choir in London during their preparations for Advent and Christmas services, where they will perform throughout December. Picture date: Monday December 23, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Lucy North/PA Wire
Choristers of St Paul's Cathedral choir in London during their preparations for Advent and Christmas services, where they will perform throughout December. Picture date: Monday December 23, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Lucy North/PA Wire
Hindu priests perform morning prayers on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, India. AFP
Hindu priests perform morning prayers on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, India. AFP
A building that fell off the wharf floats in the mouth of the San Lorenzo river in Santa Cruz, California. AP
A building that fell off the wharf floats in the mouth of the San Lorenzo river in Santa Cruz, California. AP
Shopfronts illuminated by Christmas lighting in Leavenworth in the US state of Washington. AP
Shopfronts illuminated by Christmas lighting in Leavenworth in the US state of Washington. AP
Fireworks explode over Sednaya Convent on the outskirts of Damascus. AP
Fireworks explode over Sednaya Convent on the outskirts of Damascus. AP
People attend a tour of Bunker-703, a recently declassified nuclear-resistant bomb shelter built in 1961 in Moscow. AP
People attend a tour of Bunker-703, a recently declassified nuclear-resistant bomb shelter built in 1961 in Moscow. AP
Emergency services attend a bushfire in the Grampians National Park in Australia's Victoria state. AFP
Emergency services attend a bushfire in the Grampians National Park in Australia's Victoria state. AFP
A person dressed as Santa Claus jumps into the sea during the Copa Nadal (Christmas Cup) swimming race in Barcelona, Spain. Reuters
A person dressed as Santa Claus jumps into the sea during the Copa Nadal (Christmas Cup) swimming race in Barcelona, Spain. Reuters
Firefighters attend the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau. AFP
Firefighters attend the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau. AFP
Work in progress at the 37th Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Expo in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, north-eastern China. EPA
Work in progress at the 37th Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Expo in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, north-eastern China. EPA
The Italian Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team performs before the first run of the Men's Giant Slalom race at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event in Alta Badia, Italy. EPA
The Italian Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team performs before the first run of the Men's Giant Slalom race at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup event in Alta Badia, Italy. EPA
A coastguard ship that was carried about five kilometres inland to the city centre of Banda Aceh during the Indian Ocean tsunami, Indonesia. Reuters
A coastguard ship that was carried about five kilometres inland to the city centre of Banda Aceh during the Indian Ocean tsunami, Indonesia. Reuters
Thousands protest over the collapse of a train station roof that killed 15 people last month in Belgrade. AFP
Thousands protest over the collapse of a train station roof that killed 15 people last month in Belgrade. AFP
An anti-terror policeman conducts a security check near a life-size cutout of Pope Francis at the Jakarta Cathedral on Christmas Eve in Jakarta. AFP
An anti-terror policeman conducts a security check near a life-size cutout of Pope Francis at the Jakarta Cathedral on Christmas Eve in Jakarta. AFP
Parked trolley buses during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia. AP
Parked trolley buses during heavy snowfall in Sarajevo, Bosnia. AP
Storm-damaged shelters and houses in the town of Vahibe, on the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, on Christmas Eve, a week after Cyclone Chido hit the archipelago. AFP
Storm-damaged shelters and houses in the town of Vahibe, on the French Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, on Christmas Eve, a week after Cyclone Chido hit the archipelago. AFP
A surfer dressed as Santa Claus participates in the annual Surfing Santas event on Christmas Eve at Cocoa Beach, Florida. AFP
A surfer dressed as Santa Claus participates in the annual Surfing Santas event on Christmas Eve at Cocoa Beach, Florida. AFP
Prayers at Christmas Mass in St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National
Prayers at Christmas Mass in St Mary's Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson/The National
St Peter's Basilica during the Christmas Eve Mass in Vatican City. AFP
St Peter's Basilica during the Christmas Eve Mass in Vatican City. AFP
Posters of the missing on a monument in Marjeh Square, Damascus, Syria. AFP
Posters of the missing on a monument in Marjeh Square, Damascus, Syria. AFP
Christians hold candles on Christmas Eve at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta. AFP
Christians hold candles on Christmas Eve at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta. AFP
Preparations under way for the International Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Pokhara, Nepal. AFP
Preparations under way for the International Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Pokhara, Nepal. AFP
A butcher throws a cut of meat to a bidder during the traditional Christmas Eve meat auction at Smithfield Market in the City of London. AFP
A butcher throws a cut of meat to a bidder during the traditional Christmas Eve meat auction at Smithfield Market in the City of London. AFP
A house with inflatable Christmas decorations in Havana, Cuba, draws admirers. AFP
A house with inflatable Christmas decorations in Havana, Cuba, draws admirers. AFP
Muay Thai fighters during the Kibra Youth Initiative boxing exhibition at Kibera Fort Jesus grounds in Nairobi, Kenya. AFP
Muay Thai fighters during the Kibra Youth Initiative boxing exhibition at Kibera Fort Jesus grounds in Nairobi, Kenya. AFP
Afghan workers on a break at a shop in Herat citadel, also known the Citadel of Alexander and locally known as Qala Iktyaruddin, in Herat, western Afghanistan. AFP
Afghan workers on a break at a shop in Herat citadel, also known the Citadel of Alexander and locally known as Qala Iktyaruddin, in Herat, western Afghanistan. AFP
Christmas market at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The National
Christmas market at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The National
Ballet dancers perform Swan Lake, by Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, at Donbass Opera in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine. AFP
Ballet dancers perform Swan Lake, by Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, at Donbass Opera in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine. AFP
Flowers are laid outside Johannis Church near the Christmas Market in Magdeburg, Germany. AP
Flowers are laid outside Johannis Church near the Christmas Market in Magdeburg, Germany. AP
Women throw flowers into the sea in remembrance of the 2004 tsunami victims, marking the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, in Chennai, India. AP
Women throw flowers into the sea in remembrance of the 2004 tsunami victims, marking the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, in Chennai, India. AP

News

Pictures of the week: From Christmas services to 2004 tsunami commemorations

Striking images from around the world

The National

December 27, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

Match info:

Real Betis v Sevilla, 10.45pm (UAE)

On Women's Day
Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Key products and UAE prices

iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229

iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649

iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179

Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.

The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima


Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650

Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder

Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm

Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km

Updated: December 27, 2024, 6:01 PM`
WeekendPhotography