Britain has urged its citizens to leave Ukraine as world leaders voiced heightened concerns of an invasion by Russia in the coming weeks.
The UK Foreign Office said British citizens should “leave while commercial means are available” and warned against travel to the country in an updated advisory.
It comes as new satellite images of Russian troop movements in Eastern Europe showed what Nato called a relentless military build-up that threatens Ukraine.
“The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority, which is why we have updated our travel advice,” a UK Foreign Office statement said.
“We urge British nationals in Ukraine to leave now via commercial means while they remain available.”
On Friday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, that he fears for the security of Europe “in the current circumstances".
He held a virtual meeting with the leaders of the US, Italy, Poland, Romania, France, Germany, the European Council, the European Commission and Nato to discuss the situation.
“He impressed the need for Nato allies to make it absolutely clear that there will be a heavy package of economic sanctions ready to go, should Russia make the devastating and destructive decision to invade Ukraine,” a Downing Street representative said.
US company Maxar Technologies, which has been tracking troop movements for months, said its pictures showed new groups of Russian troops in Crimea, Belarus and near the Ukrainian border.
These included 550 troop tents and hundreds of Russian vehicles parked at an airfield in Oktyabrskoye in annexed Crimea, Maxar said, while other equipment was seemingly moved to the coast of the peninsula.
Maxar said more troops and forces had been stationed at the Kursk training area in western Russia, about 100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
European diplomats are working to avoid war breaking out in Ukraine amid fears that Russia plans to invade its ex-Soviet neighbour.
UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he was not as optimistic as he used to be about quelling the crisis on the Ukrainian border.
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that while the number of Russian forces was going up, the warning time for a possible attack was decreasing.
Russia has stationed “well over” 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border with heavy equipment and medical units, he said.
And he described a simultaneous Russian deployment in Belarus, an ally of Moscow, as the biggest since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
The Maxar images were said to show newly arrived helicopters, troops and military vehicles in Belarus before joint drills between Russia and its ally.
Russia has not disclosed how many troops it has sent and says it has the right to move forces around on its territory as it sees fit.
But Nato fears Russia is planning an invasion of Ukraine and that troops may not return home from Belarus after the joint exercises.
Frantic diplomacy this week by the leaders of Britain, France and Germany has raised hopes of averting war, but Russia played down a claim by French President Emmanuel Macron that it had promised not to escalate matters.
Nato countries have moved to bolster the defences of member countries on the alliance’s eastern flank, with the UK sending 350 troops to Poland and Germany posting the same number to Lithuania.
Although Nato sees these as defensive movements, Russia’s version of events is that western powers are to blame for the high tension.
MATCH INFO
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73’)
Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
Man of the Match: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
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
The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T
Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000
Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic
Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Indian origin executives leading top technology firms
Sundar Pichai
Chief executive, Google and Alphabet
Satya Nadella
Chief executive, Microsoft
Ajaypal Singh Banga
President and chief executive, Mastercard
Shantanu Narayen
Chief executive, chairman, and president, Adobe
Indra Nooyi
Board of directors, Amazon and former chief executive, PepsiCo
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
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ANALYSTS’ TOP PICKS OF SAUDI BANKS IN 2019
Analyst: Aqib Mehboob of Saudi Fransi Capital
Top pick: National Commercial Bank
Reason: It will be at the forefront of project financing for government-led projects
Analyst: Shabbir Malik of EFG-Hermes
Top pick: Al Rajhi Bank
Reason: Defensive balance sheet, well positioned in retail segment and positively geared for rising rates
Analyst: Chiradeep Ghosh of Sico Bank
Top pick: Arab National Bank
Reason: Attractive valuation and good growth potential in terms of both balance sheet and dividends
more from Janine di Giovanni
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 0
Liverpool 2 (Mane 50', 54')
Red card: Andreas Christensen (Chelsea)
Man of the match: Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
