Russia accuses Turkey of breaching agreements by releasing Ukrainian prisoners

Russia has accused Turkey of breaching international agreements by releasing detained commanders of a Ukrainian army unit that defended a steel works in the city of Mariupol.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned to Ukraine from Turkey and brought back with him the freed five commanders of the former garrison in Mariupol.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the fighters were supposed to remain in Turkey until the end of the war under the terms of a prisoner exchange.

The Kremlin was not informed of their release, Mr Peskov was quoted by RIA news agency as saying.

Zelenskyy wins Turkey's Nato backing after securing US cluster bombs

The commanders were hailed as heroes in Ukraine for their defence of the port city, which was subjected to a three-month siege by Russian forces.

Mr Zelenskyy announced: “We are returning home from Turkey and bringing our heroes home.”

He also noted the names of the released commanders, who will be reunited with their families.

Black Sea grain deal and prisoner exchanges

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday that he was pressing Russia to extend a Black Sea grain deal by at least three months, and a visit from President Vladimir Putin was scheduled for August.

Mr Erdogan and Mr Zelenskyy held a joint news conference after discussing the fate of the arrangement brokered last year by Turkey and the UN to ensure the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports through the Black Sea amid the war.

Mr Erdogan said work was under way to extend the grain deal and hoped that it would be renewed at least once every three months.

The five commanders from Azovstal were exchanged for 55 Russian soldiers in September last year. EPA

The question of prisoner exchanges was also a key point during Mr Erdogan's talks with Mr Putin.

Mr Zelenskyy said it was the first thing on their agenda and expressed hope for a favourable result.

He also indicated that they had detailed discussions about the return of all captives, including children taken to Russia and other groups.

Mr Erdogan also said that the issue could come up in his contacts with Mr Putin before his visit.

Turkey's diplomatic balance act

Turkey, a Nato member, has maintained cordial relations with both Russia and Ukraine throughout the 16-month war and has played a significant role in brokering prisoner exchanges.

While Turkey has not imposed economic sanctions on Russia like its Western allies, it has supplied arms to Ukraine and called for respect of its sovereignty.

Despite the ongoing tensions, the Kremlin has acknowledged Mr Erdogan's efforts in mediating a resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.

Tips to stay safe during hot weather

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.

UAE currency

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face

The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.

The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.

Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.

"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.

Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.

The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.

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