Actors perform during the opening ceremony for the International Day for the Babylonian Civilization held in the archaeological site of Babylon, Iraq, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo / Anmar Khalil)
Actors perform during the opening ceremony for the International Day for the Babylonian Civilization held in the archaeological site of Babylon, Iraq, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (AP Photo / Anmar Khalil)
The leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ozgur Ozel (C) along with other party members stand next to the empty chair reserved for detained Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu during the party's extraordinary congress in Ankara, Turkey. EPA
The leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Ozgur Ozel (C) along with other party members stand next to the empty chair reserved for detained Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu during the party's extraordinary congress in Ankara, Turkey. EPA
The wreckage of a helicopter is recovered from the Hudson River, in New York, after a crash that killed six people. Reuters
The wreckage of a helicopter is recovered from the Hudson River, in New York, after a crash that killed six people. Reuters
An elderly Palestinian man stands in front of a building hit by an Israeli strike on the Shujaiya neighbourhood of Gaza city. AFP
An elderly Palestinian man stands in front of a building hit by an Israeli strike on the Shujaiya neighbourhood of Gaza city. AFP
US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina with her fiance, Chris van Heerden, after her release by Moscow in a UAE-mediated prisoner exchange. AP
US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina with her fiance, Chris van Heerden, after her release by Moscow in a UAE-mediated prisoner exchange. AP
A shrapnel-riddled building heavily damaged during Lebanon's civil war, in Beirut, on April 4, 2025. AFP
A shrapnel-riddled building heavily damaged during Lebanon's civil war, in Beirut, on April 4, 2025. AFP
People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv. Reuters
People take shelter inside a metro station during a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv. Reuters
US President Donald Trump about to board Air Force One on a windy day at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Reuters
US President Donald Trump about to board Air Force One on a windy day at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Reuters
A wounded Palestinian child is carried to Al Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, following an Israeli strike on Gaza city. Reuters
A wounded Palestinian child is carried to Al Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, following an Israeli strike on Gaza city. Reuters
Firefighters tackle a fire at a plastics processing company in Ahlen, near Munster, in western Germany. AP
Firefighters tackle a fire at a plastics processing company in Ahlen, near Munster, in western Germany. AP
State representatives toss papers in the air, in the House of Representatives in Atlanta, on the last day of Georgia's legislative session. AP
State representatives toss papers in the air, in the House of Representatives in Atlanta, on the last day of Georgia's legislative session. AP
A far-right protester holding US and South Korean flags attends a rally to show support for South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, in Seoul. Reuters
A far-right protester holding US and South Korean flags attends a rally to show support for South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, in Seoul. Reuters
Clergy members attend the mass for the Jubilee of the sick and healthcare workers led by Italian Archbishop Rino Fisichella at St Peters’ square in the Vatican. AFP
Clergy members attend the mass for the Jubilee of the sick and healthcare workers led by Italian Archbishop Rino Fisichella at St Peters’ square in the Vatican. AFP
Palestinians look on as a crowd inspects the site of an Israeli air strike on a house, in Khan Younis. Reuters
Palestinians look on as a crowd inspects the site of an Israeli air strike on a house, in Khan Younis. Reuters
Protesters during the nationwide "Hands Off!" protest against US President Donald Trump in downtown Los Angeles. AFP
Protesters during the nationwide "Hands Off!" protest against US President Donald Trump in downtown Los Angeles. AFP
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron greet shopkeepers during a stroll at the Khan Al Khalili market area in Cairo. AFP
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron greet shopkeepers during a stroll at the Khan Al Khalili market area in Cairo. AFP
Britain's King Charles III plays a recorder made from a carrot with the London Vegetable Orchestra at Windsor Castle, England. AP
Britain's King Charles III plays a recorder made from a carrot with the London Vegetable Orchestra at Windsor Castle, England. AP
Pope Francis meets Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in a private audience at the Vatican. Reuters
Pope Francis meets Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in a private audience at the Vatican. Reuters
Smoke billows behind the Sacre Coeur Basilica as a "major fire" broke out in the nearby 17th arrondissement, in the north of Paris. AFP
Smoke billows behind the Sacre Coeur Basilica as a "major fire" broke out in the nearby 17th arrondissement, in the north of Paris. AFP
A Buddha statue is surrounded by debris in Inn Wa on the outskirts of Mandalay. AFP
A Buddha statue is surrounded by debris in Inn Wa on the outskirts of Mandalay. AFP
Customers buy watermelons at a fruit market in Lahore. AFP
Customers buy watermelons at a fruit market in Lahore. AFP
A man shouts at former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, former Mossad head Tamir Pardo and Maj Gen Noam Tibon before a court hearing on the dismissal of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar in Jerusalem. Reuters
A man shouts at former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, former Mossad head Tamir Pardo and Maj Gen Noam Tibon before a court hearing on the dismissal of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar in Jerusalem. Reuters
The Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft lifts off from the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. EPA
The Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft lifts off from the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. EPA
Sand dredging at Surfers Paradise Beach on the Gold Coast, Australia. EPA
Sand dredging at Surfers Paradise Beach on the Gold Coast, Australia. EPA
A model presents a creation by designer Alexandre Herchcovitch during the Sao Paulo Fashion Week in Brazil. Reuters
A model presents a creation by designer Alexandre Herchcovitch during the Sao Paulo Fashion Week in Brazil. Reuters
Hindu devotees pull a rope to move a chariot during the chariot festival at Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai, eastern India. AFP
Hindu devotees pull a rope to move a chariot during the chariot festival at Kapaleeswarar Temple in Chennai, eastern India. AFP
Workers sewing at a clothing factory in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. AFP
Workers sewing at a clothing factory in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. AFP
Afghan refugees embrace before leaving for Afghanistan at a bus stand in Karachi, amid deportations by Pakistan's government. AFP
Afghan refugees embrace before leaving for Afghanistan at a bus stand in Karachi, amid deportations by Pakistan's government. AFP
Displaced Palestinians' tents set up in the bombed-out auditorium of Gaza city's Islamic University. AP
Displaced Palestinians' tents set up in the bombed-out auditorium of Gaza city's Islamic University. AP
Visitors walk along the "Grand Ring", made of wood, at the end of the day during a media preview day for the 2025 Osaka Expo in the city of Osaka. AFP
Visitors walk along the "Grand Ring", made of wood, at the end of the day during a media preview day for the 2025 Osaka Expo in the city of Osaka. AFP

News

Pictures of the week: From International Day of Babylonian Civilisation to Osaka Expo

Striking images from around the world

The National

April 11, 2025

  • English
  • Arabic

If you go...

Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.

Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50

UAE currency
While you're here
The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Updated: April 11, 2025, 6:02 PM`
WeekendPhotography