Pedestrians in Independence Square in the Ukraine's capital Kiev. A growing number of countries are asking their citizens to leave the country. EPA
Pedestrians in Independence Square in the Ukraine's capital Kiev. A growing number of countries are asking their citizens to leave the country. EPA
Pedestrians in Independence Square in the Ukraine's capital Kiev. A growing number of countries are asking their citizens to leave the country. EPA
Pedestrians in Independence Square in the Ukraine's capital Kiev. A growing number of countries are asking their citizens to leave the country. EPA

UAE and Kuwait advise citizens against travel to Ukraine


  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE embassy in Kiev on Saturday issued an advisory asking citizens to avoid travel to Ukraine.

It said Emirates' citizens should postpone plans to go to Ukraine and provided those in the country with a phone number to contact.

Kuwait also asked its citizens not to travel to Ukraine, and advised Kuwaitis already in the country to leave.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's embassy in Kiev urged its citizens to quickly get in touch to arrange their departure from the country, Saudi state TV reported.

Jordan also called on its nationals to leave Ukraine in light of the “current developments”, the foreign ministry said. It also called on citizens to postpone any plans to visit the country.

The advisories follow a US warning on Friday that an invasion by Russia could happen at any time.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that after months of building up its military forces on Ukraine's borders, Russia had reached the point of being able to invade its neighbour in “a relatively near-term time frame".

The US and several other countries — including the UK, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Japan and South Korea — have already asked their citizens to leave Ukraine.

The US embassy in Kiev said on Saturday that the State Department had ordered all non-emergency employees at the mission to leave “due to continued reports of a Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine, indicating potential for significant military action".

  • Russian and Belarus troops held joint combat training at firing ranges in Belarus as tensions remain high under the looming threat of war with Ukraine. AP Photo
    Russian and Belarus troops held joint combat training at firing ranges in Belarus as tensions remain high under the looming threat of war with Ukraine. AP Photo
  • A soldier drives an armoured vehicle at Brestsky firing range, Belarus. AP Photo
    A soldier drives an armoured vehicle at Brestsky firing range, Belarus. AP Photo
  • A Ukrainian serviceman carries out checks not far from the pro-Russian militant-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
    A Ukrainian serviceman carries out checks not far from the pro-Russian militant-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
  • A Russian military vehicle drives off a railway platform after arriving in Belarus. AP Photo
    A Russian military vehicle drives off a railway platform after arriving in Belarus. AP Photo
  • A soldier takes aim during a Russian and Belarusian military drill at Brestsky firing range. AP Photo
    A soldier takes aim during a Russian and Belarusian military drill at Brestsky firing range. AP Photo
  • A Ukrainian serviceman repairs a shelter near Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
    A Ukrainian serviceman repairs a shelter near Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
  • Aircraft are lined up on 'USS Harry S Truman' in the Adriatic Sea. The Truman strike group is operating under Nato command and control along with several other Nato allies for co-ordinated maritime manoeuvres, anti-submarine warfare training and long-range training. Reuters
    Aircraft are lined up on 'USS Harry S Truman' in the Adriatic Sea. The Truman strike group is operating under Nato command and control along with several other Nato allies for co-ordinated maritime manoeuvres, anti-submarine warfare training and long-range training. Reuters
  • Russian soldiers attend the Yurginsky training ground in the Kemerovo region, Russia. AP Photo
    Russian soldiers attend the Yurginsky training ground in the Kemerovo region, Russia. AP Photo
  • A Ukrainian serviceman lays flowers where one of his friends was killed in 2017 near Avdiivka. Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
    A Ukrainian serviceman lays flowers where one of his friends was killed in 2017 near Avdiivka. Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
  • A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in a dugout on the frontline with the Russia-backed separatists near Avdiivka. AFP
    A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in a dugout on the frontline with the Russia-backed separatists near Avdiivka. AFP
  • This satellite image shows troops gathered at a training ground in Pogonovo, Russia. AP Photo
    This satellite image shows troops gathered at a training ground in Pogonovo, Russia. AP Photo

UK junior defence minister James Heappey warned Britons that there would be no military evacuation effort in case they were caught up in conflict in Ukraine.

“British nationals should leave Ukraine immediately by any means possible and they should not expect, as they saw in the summer with Afghanistan, that there would be any possibility of a military evacuation,” he told Sky News.

Mr Heappey said no decision had yet been made on Britain's diplomatic presence in Ukraine.

Most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20Middle%20East
%3Cp%3E1.%20Baghdad%2C%20Iraq%3Cbr%3E2.%20Manama%2C%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3E3.%20Dhahran%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3Cbr%3E4.%20Kuwait%20City%2C%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3E5.%20Ras%20Al%20Khaimah%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E6.%20Ash%20Shihaniyah%2C%20Qatar%3Cbr%3E7.%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E8.%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E9.%20Riyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3Cbr%3E10.%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%202022%20World%20Air%20Quality%20Report%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
%3Cp%3E1.%20Chad%3Cbr%3E2.%20Iraq%3Cbr%3E3.%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3E4.%20Bahrain%3Cbr%3E5.%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E6.%20Burkina%20Faso%3Cbr%3E7.%20Kuwait%3Cbr%3E8.%20India%3Cbr%3E9.%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E10.%20Tajikistan%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%202022%20World%20Air%20Quality%20Report%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

The specs: 2017 Dodge Viper SRT

Price, base / as tested Dh460,000

Engine 8.4L V10

Transmission Six-speed manual

Power 645hp @ 6,200rpm

Torque 813Nm @ 5,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 16.8L / 100km

The bio

Who inspires you?

I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist

How do you relax?

Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.

What is favourite book?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times

What is your favourite Arabic film?

Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki

What is favourite English film?

Mamma Mia

Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?

If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.  

 

21 Lessons for the 21st Century

Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
 

Recycle Reuse Repurpose

New central waste facility on site at expo Dubai South area to  handle estimated 173 tonne of waste generated daily by millions of visitors

Recyclables such as plastic, paper, glass will be collected from bins on the expo site and taken to the new expo Central Waste Facility on site

Organic waste will be processed at the new onsite Central Waste Facility, treated and converted into compost to be re-used to green the expo area

Of 173 tonnes of waste daily, an estimated 39 per cent will be recyclables, 48 per cent  organic waste  and 13 per cent  general waste.

About 147 tonnes will be recycled and converted to new products at another existing facility in Ras Al Khor

Recycling at Ras Al Khor unit:

Plastic items to be converted to plastic bags and recycled

Paper pulp moulded products such as cup carriers, egg trays, seed pots, and food packaging trays

Glass waste into bowls, lights, candle holders, serving trays and coasters

Aim is for 85 per cent of waste from the site to be diverted from landfill 

Updated: February 12, 2022, 1:38 PM