All is not quiet on the eastern front.
Top US and Nato officials have in recent days issued grave warnings of a potentially large Russian incursion in Ukraine’s south-eastern Donbas region, part of which has been occupied by pro-Russian forces since Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea.
This is far from the region's only threat of instability. Across the Caucasus Mountains, Armenia and Azerbaijan are tussling again, a year after the latter captured most of the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in a six-week conflict. In Turkey, the government and its citizens are struggling with a fast-plunging lira, rising inflation and deepening economic mismanagement. And would-be migrants are dying of hunger and cold as security forces clash on the border between Belarus and EU member state Poland.
But Russia's military build-up along the border, along with President Vladimir Putin's July assertion that Ukraine is an integral part of his country, has put Ukraine and regional allies on high alert. Not coincidentally, all this comes just as Ankara and Kiev embrace deeper ties. In a phone call last week, presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the Russian threat, a looming free trade deal and further arms co-operation.
The Black Sea neighbours have already begun to integrate drone production and Ukraine is expected to buy its second batch of Turkish-made Bayraktar drones next year, following an initial 2018 purchase that finally made an impact in the country's east last month.
On October 26, the Ukrainian military sent the Bayraktar TB2 into action for the first time in response to a sustained howitzer assault from the so-called Donetsk People's Republic troops that killed one Ukrainian soldier and injured two more. Without even crossing into disputed airspace, the TB2 took out one of the howitzers and halted the DPR's shelling, marking yet another international success for Turkey's advanced drones following campaigns in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Former Ukrainian military officer Taras Chmut, head of the Return Alive Foundation, argued that Kiev had sent Moscow a message by showcasing its ability to hit Russia without even needing to cross the contact line.
Russian bloggers initially argued that video footage of the strike had come from Nagorno-Karabakh and that the TB2 had, in fact, missed its target. Once that failed, Russian outlets asserted that the use of the drone had violated the Minsk agreements. But that holds little water as the same could be said of the DPR's use of a howitzer on the frontlines.
In the end, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argued that with its drone strike, Ukraine sought to further destabilise the situation by provoking Moscow into a military response. Moscow seemed to walk right into Kiev's supposed trap with its significant build-up of forces along the border.
But rather than readying for a new incursion, what seems more likely is that Russia is merely showing its might.
Back in April, Ukrainian officials warned of Russia beefing up its Donbas presence with 100,000 additional troops, along with military vehicles and heavy artillery. Top western officials, including US President Joe Biden, warned of a looming Russian invasion, but it never materialised and Moscow soon pulled back. Two years prior, in April 2019, a series of major Russian military exercises along the border and in the Sea of Azov evoked similar concerns, but nothing came of that either.
This time, too, Russia may be merely flexing in response to a foe that has reasserted its military capabilities thanks to deeper defence ties with a Nato member state.
International observers often criticise Ankara for its tilt toward Moscow in recent years, most notably its 2019 purchase of Russian-made S-400 missile defences. That decision led to US sanctions and to Turkey being forced out of the US's F-35 production process, as well as calls for Turkey's eviction from Nato. But what have Nato and the West done to help Ukraine beat back the Russian threat? Mr Zelensky has repeatedly pressed Nato for a timeline on Ukrainian accession, with little result.
If Turkey's alliance with Ukraine curbs Russian aggressions – still a big if – then Ankara will deserve western praise, and thanks
Though responding to Russian aggression is a founding principle of the alliance, the position of the US and other key Nato states is that the bloc is unwilling to add a new member that's already at war with Russia. To his credit, Mr Biden has restarted the military and financial backing of Kiev paused by the previous administration due to political machinations.
But he also waived sanctions on the Russian company building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will carry Russian natural gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea, cutting Ukraine out of billions in energy revenues. "Your decision on Nord Stream 2," Ukrainian parliamentarians wrote to Mr Biden in August, "rewards Russian President Vladimir Putin with tens of billions of dollars … [and] enhances Russia's ability to blackmail Ukraine and Europe."
To sum up, the West has doubly rewarded Moscow when it comes to Ukraine, while Ankara has boosted Kiev's military might.
It's easy to criticise Ankara's regional balancing act: standing against the Syrian regime while attacking US-allied Syrian Kurdish forces; overseeing Nato's second-largest army while maintaining semi-friendly ties with strange bedfellows such as Russia, Iran and Israel. And its drone sales to Ukraine may well be driven by self-interest rather than a desire to counter Russian encroachment.
But what matters is the result, and Lavrov's call to his Turkish counterpart on Friday, warning of close defense ties with Kiev, suggests it may already be significant. If Turkey's deepening alliance with Ukraine ends up playing a key role in narrowing Russian ambitions – still a big if – then Ankara will be deserving of western praise, and thanks.
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
RESULT
Wolves 1 (Traore 67')
Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')
Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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.
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
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
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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THREE
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
