A performer puts his head inside a crocodile's mouth during a performance ahead of the April reopening of Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Thailand. The zoo closed during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. EPA
A performer puts his head inside a crocodile's mouth during a performance ahead of the April reopening of Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Thailand. The zoo closed during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. EPA
Women hit revellers with sticks during Lathmar Holi, part of the Hindu spring festival of colours, Holi, at the Radha Rani temple in Barsana, Uttar Pradesh, India. Getty Images
Women hit revellers with sticks during Lathmar Holi, part of the Hindu spring festival of colours, Holi, at the Radha Rani temple in Barsana, Uttar Pradesh, India. Getty Images
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish boys and men block traffic in and out of Jerusalem in protest against the expiration of a law exempting them from being drafted into the Israeli army. Getty Images
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish boys and men block traffic in and out of Jerusalem in protest against the expiration of a law exempting them from being drafted into the Israeli army. Getty Images
Goldfish on display at a flower market, ahead of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, in Tehran. Reuters
Goldfish on display at a flower market, ahead of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, in Tehran. Reuters
A Palestinian man stands in the rubble of a building hit by overnight Israeli strikes in Rafah, southern Gaza. AFP
A Palestinian man stands in the rubble of a building hit by overnight Israeli strikes in Rafah, southern Gaza. AFP
A woman throws a bag of rubbish at police blocking an anti-government demonstration against food scarcity and economic reforms proposed by Argentinian President Javier Milei, in Buenos Aires. AP
A woman throws a bag of rubbish at police blocking an anti-government demonstration against food scarcity and economic reforms proposed by Argentinian President Javier Milei, in Buenos Aires. AP
Drivers pass under Ramadan decorations on Hadarat Bridge during a dust storm in Nasiriyah, southern Iraq. AFP
Drivers pass under Ramadan decorations on Hadarat Bridge during a dust storm in Nasiriyah, southern Iraq. AFP
Revellers take part in the flour war, marking the end of the carnival season and the start of Lent, in the southern Greek port town of Galaxidi. AP
Revellers take part in the flour war, marking the end of the carnival season and the start of Lent, in the southern Greek port town of Galaxidi. AP
Artist Alain Roche plays piano while hanging from a crane in Munich. Audiences wearing headphones listened to the piano mixed with sounds of awakening nature captured by 40 microphones in Bavaria and Switzerland as the sun rose, in a project entitled When The Sun Stands Still. EPA
Artist Alain Roche plays piano while hanging from a crane in Munich. Audiences wearing headphones listened to the piano mixed with sounds of awakening nature captured by 40 microphones in Bavaria and Switzerland as the sun rose, in a project entitled When The Sun Stands Still. EPA
Elite women cyclists compete during stage two of the 97km Absa Cape Epic race in Saronsberg, South Africa. EPA
Elite women cyclists compete during stage two of the 97km Absa Cape Epic race in Saronsberg, South Africa. EPA
North Korea's Western Region Artillery Unit carries out a rocket salvo firing drill at an unconfirmed location in the country. AFP
North Korea's Western Region Artillery Unit carries out a rocket salvo firing drill at an unconfirmed location in the country. AFP
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: Members of the public photograph a recent mural which has appeared on the side of a building in Islington on March 18, 2024 in London, England. The 'Banksy' artwork appeared on a North London street on Sunday. A mass of green has been painted behind a bare tree to look like foliage, with a stencil of a person holding a pressure hose next to it. The green paint used matches the colour the council uses on Islington road signs. (Photo by Dan Kitwood / Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: Members of the public photograph a recent mural which has appeared on the side of a building in Islington on March 18, 2024 in London, England. The 'Banksy' artwork appeared on a North London street on Sunday. A mass of green has been painted behind a bare tree to look like foliage, with a stencil of a person holding a pressure hose next to it. The green paint used matches the colour the council uses on Islington road signs. (Photo by Dan Kitwood / Getty Images)

World

Today's best photos: From a crocodile zoo reopening to Banksy's new work - in pictures

The National picks the most striking images from around the world

The National

March 19, 2024

  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

Monday's best photos: From blossoms in Washington DC to St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin

Sunday's best photos: From volcano eruption in Iceland to carnival in Macedonia

Saturday's best photos: From an Ides of March re-enactment in Rome to a tornado in Ohio

Friday's best photos: From Russia's elections to Scotland's Stone of Destiny

Thursday's best photos: From Eid al-Khaliqah in Iraq to Greta Thunberg's removal

Wednesday's best photos: From Popocatepetl volcano celebrations to Lowry's Sunday Afternoon

Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
%3Cp%3EThere%20are%20several%20factors%20for%20landlords%20to%20consider%20when%20preparing%20to%20establish%20a%20holiday%20home%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3ERevenue%20potential%20of%20the%20unit%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20location%2C%20view%20and%20size%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EDesign%3A%20furnished%20or%20unfurnished.%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Is%20the%20design%20up%20to%20standard%2C%20while%20being%20catchy%20at%20the%20same%20time%3F%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EBusiness%20model%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20will%20it%20be%20managed%20by%20a%20professional%20operator%20or%20directly%20by%20the%20owner%2C%20how%20often%20does%20the%20owner%20wants%20to%20use%20it%20for%20personal%20reasons%3F%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EQuality%20of%20the%20operator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20guest%20reviews%2C%20customer%20experience%20management%2C%20application%20of%20technology%2C%20average%20utilisation%2C%20scope%20of%20services%20rendered%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Adam%20Nowak%2C%20managing%20director%20of%20Ultimate%20Stay%20Vacation%20Homes%20Rental%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
 

The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Notable cricketers and political careers
  • India: Kirti Azad, Navjot Sidhu and Gautam Gambhir (rumoured)
  • Pakistan: Imran Khan and Shahid Afridi (rumoured)
  • Sri Lanka: Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan (rumoured)
  • Bangladesh (Mashrafe Mortaza)
Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

RESULTS

Men – semi-finals

57kg – Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) beat Phuong Xuan Nguyen (VIE) 29-28; Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) by points 30-27.

67kg – Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Huong The Nguyen (VIE) by points 30-27; Narin Wonglakhon (THA) v Mojtaba Taravati Aram (IRI) by points 29-28.

60kg – Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Amir Hosein Kaviani (IRI) 30-27; Long Doan Nguyen (VIE) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 29-28

63.5kg – Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Truong Cao Phat (VIE) 30-27; Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Norapat Khundam (THA) RSC round 3.

71kg​​​​​​​ – Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ) beat Fawzi Baltagi (LBN) 30-27; Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Man Kongsib (THA) 29-28

81kg – Ilyass Hbibali (UAE) beat Alexandr Tsarikov (KAZ) 29-28; Khaled Tarraf (LBN) beat Mustafa Al Tekreeti (IRQ) 30-27

86kg​​​​​​​ – Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Mohammed Al Qahtani (KSA) RSC round 1; Emil Umayev (KAZ) beat Ahmad Bahman (UAE) TKO round

Updated: March 19, 2024, 3:45 PM`