Russia and its key ally Belarus began a long-planned joint military exercise involving thousands of troops on Friday, putting Nato on edge days after Poland accused Moscow of firing attack drones through its airspace.
The exercises, dubbed Zapad 2025 (or West 2025), will last until Tuesday and are intended to showcase close defence ties between the two countries, as well as Russia's military might as it fights its three-and-a-half-year-old war in neighbouring Ukraine.
The Russian defence ministry posted a video showing heavy military equipment – including armoured vehicles, helicopters and navy ships – taking part in the drills.
The manoeuvres follow Wednesday's incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace that fuelled long-standing fears that the hostilities in Ukraine could trigger a wider conflict.
The Russian military said it wasn’t targeting Poland, and Belarus suggested drones veered off course, but European leaders described it as a deliberate provocation, forcing Nato allies to confront a potential threat in its airspace for the first time.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday night that the incursion could have happened “by mistake”, a suggestion Poland dismissed. "We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn't. And we know it," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday.
The EU on Friday summoned the envoys of Russia and Belarus in Brussels to protest over the "intentional and dangerous" drone intrusion.
"We conveyed in no uncertain terms that this reckless act signals a serious escalation by Russia and poses a direct threat to the security of EU citizens," an EU official said.
EU countries agreed to prolong Ukraine-related sanctions for another six months on more than 2,500 Russian individuals and entities, including President Vladimir Putin, diplomats said.
Nato's eastern flank members that border Belarus – Poland, Lithuania and Latvia – are on high alert over the Zapad drills, which Belarus says will be held near Borisov, a town east of the capital Minsk.
All three countries ramped up security ahead of the exercises, with Poland ordering the closure of its border with Belarus for their duration.
"The joint strategic manoeuvres of the Russian and Belarusian armies ... have started," Russia's defence ministry said in a statement.
Mr Tusk warned of "critical days" for his country, but Moscow has downplayed the concerns.
"These are planned exercises, they are not aimed against anyone," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, rejecting Poland's claim that the drills were an "aggressive" show of force.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also issued a warning over Moscow's intentions.
"The meaning of such actions by Russia is definitely not defensive and is directed precisely against not only Ukraine," he said.
Usually held every four years, the 2025 Zapad exercise is the first during the conflict in Ukraine.
Moscow sent around 200,000 troops to similar drills in 2021, just months before it launched its Ukraine offensive.
But this year's Zapad is expected to be much smaller, since hundreds of thousands of Russian troops are deployed in Ukraine.
According to Mr Tusk, the exercises are designed to simulate the occupation of the Suwalki corridor, a geographical gap that stretches along the border between Poland and Lithuania, flanked by Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
The corridor is considered a vulnerability for Nato and could potentially be the first target of any Russian attack.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed that fear as "utter nonsense".
Russia's stationing of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus has given the drills a new dimension.
Minsk said in August the exercises would involve Russia's new experimental nuclear-capable missile, dubbed Oreshnik, as well as nuclear strike training.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper arrived in Kyiv on Friday morning for the first overseas visit in her new role. She was met by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Britain’s Prince Harry also arrived in Ukraine for a surprise visit in support of wounded service members.
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Joe Root (captain), Dom Sibley, Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Championship play-offs, second legs:
Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0
(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)
Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')
Derby County 0
(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Final
Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE)
Tomb%20Raider%20I%E2%80%93III%20Remastered
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20Profile
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
Company%20profile
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The five pillars of Islam
Fanney Khan
Producer: T-Series, Anil Kapoor Productions, ROMP, Prerna Arora
Director: Atul Manjrekar
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Rajkummar Rao, Pihu Sand
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2a)
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