Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine
The number of refugees leaving Ukraine is soaring towards one million as fighting intensifies and spreads.
As of Wednesday, 874,026 refugees had left Ukraine with more heading for its borders, the UNHCR refugee agency said.
Poland alone took in more than half of them – 453,982 – as the rate of refugees escaping notched higher.
The new figure is a marked leap from the estimated 677,000 announced on Tuesday afternoon and the 520,000 from Monday.
“We are looking at what could become Europe's largest refugee crisis this century,” UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said.
The first wave of people fleeing Ukraine is likely to be those with cars, resources and some connections in other European countries, he said.
If Russia's military offensive continues and more urban centres are hit, people who are “more vulnerable in every respect” could start to flee, he said.
UNHCR figures show about 116,000 fleeing to Hungary; 67,000 to Slovakia; 79,315 to Moldova; 42,900 to Russia; 44,540 to Romania; and 341 to Belarus.
About 96,000 crossed into Russia from the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions between February 18 and 23, the UNHCR noted.
Meanwhile, 69,600 have moved on to other European countries.
The EU has been trying to push an open-door policy for Ukraine refugees but data from individual nations is not yet readily available.
In Germany, 5,309 people have been registered as entering Germany from Ukraine, according to the federal police, but the number could be much higher.
“There are no border controls, at least no regular border controls, only random checks. That's why it is very possible that significantly more people have already reached Germany,” an interior ministry representative said.
In Ireland, 134 refugees have arrived and Irish Foreign Affairs Minster Simon Coveney said up to 20,000 may eventually arrive.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has indicated that the UK, no longer a member of the EU, could take in about 200,000 Ukrainian refugees and has encouraged requests from those with relatives already in the country.
The UNHCR projects that more than four million Ukrainian refugees may eventually need protection and assistance in neighbouring countries.
“The military offensive in Ukraine has caused destruction of civilian infrastructure and civilian casualties and has driven many thousands of people from their homes seeking safety, protection and assistance,” it said.
“There is a clear indication that many more people are on the move. They are in need of protection and support.”
The UN on Tuesday launched an emergency appeal for $1.7 billion to provide urgent humanitarian aid to those caught up in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and for the refugees fleeing the violence.
Mr Grandi said $550.6 million of that was needed to help refugees across the region, with the aim to provide shelter, emergency relief items, cash assistance and psycho-social support.
The Polish rail company PKP Intercity said on Saturday it would carry Ukrainian citizens free of charge from the border. Deutsche Bahn is giving Ukrainian passport or ID-card holders free travel on its long-distance trains from Poland to Germany.
Eurostar is offering Ukrainians travelling with valid visas free rides to the UK from its stations in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
More than a dozen telecom providers are providing free international calls to Ukraine or are scrapping roaming charges there.
Airbnb is working with its hosts to house up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees free of charge. Polish hospitality chain Arche Hotels has lodged 1,000 refugees and is preparing to admit 5,000.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
THE SPECS – Honda CR-V Touring AWD
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Power: 184hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 244Nm at 3,900rpm
Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
0-100kmh in 9.4 seconds
Top speed: 202kmh
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
Price: From Dh122,900
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
