• Smoke rises on the outskirts of the city during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters
    Smoke rises on the outskirts of the city during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters
  • Workers surround the Monument to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred with sandbags against damage from shelling in Mykolaiv. EPA
    Workers surround the Monument to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred with sandbags against damage from shelling in Mykolaiv. EPA
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev for talks before a meeting between the Russian president and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia. AFP
    Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev for talks before a meeting between the Russian president and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia. AFP
  • People take water from a water pump in Kyiv. EPA
    People take water from a water pump in Kyiv. EPA
  • A woman walks past a damaged building in the town of Nova Kakhovka. Reuters
    A woman walks past a damaged building in the town of Nova Kakhovka. Reuters
  • A woman outside her home, which was destroyed during battles at the start of the conflict, in Yahidne, Chernihiv. Getty Images
    A woman outside her home, which was destroyed during battles at the start of the conflict, in Yahidne, Chernihiv. Getty Images
  • People shelter inside a subway station during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters
    People shelter inside a subway station during a Russian missile attack in Kyiv. Reuters
  • Firefighters at the site of a drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
    Firefighters at the site of a drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
  • A woman walks past the site of a Russian missile strike in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. Reuters
    A woman walks past the site of a Russian missile strike in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. Reuters
  • Rescuer workers at a building destroyed in an attack in Mykolaiv. Reuters
    Rescuer workers at a building destroyed in an attack in Mykolaiv. Reuters
  • Parts of a drone lie on a street in Kyiv. Reuters
    Parts of a drone lie on a street in Kyiv. Reuters
  • A drone flies over the Ukrainian capital during an attack. AFP
    A drone flies over the Ukrainian capital during an attack. AFP
  • Ukrainian servicemen tow a captured Russian armoured vehicle in Rudneve village, Kharkiv. EPA
    Ukrainian servicemen tow a captured Russian armoured vehicle in Rudneve village, Kharkiv. EPA
  • A partially destroyed residential building in Saltivka, in Kharkiv. AP
    A partially destroyed residential building in Saltivka, in Kharkiv. AP
  • Ukrainian servicemen fire a captured Russian howitzer on a front line near Kupyansk city, Kharkiv. EPA
    Ukrainian servicemen fire a captured Russian howitzer on a front line near Kupyansk city, Kharkiv. EPA
  • Ukrainian servicemen near the recently retaken town of Lyman in Donetsk region. AFP
    Ukrainian servicemen near the recently retaken town of Lyman in Donetsk region. AFP
  • An officer from a Ukrainian national police emergency demining team prepares to detonate collected anti-tank mines and explosives near Lyman, in the Donetsk region. AFP
    An officer from a Ukrainian national police emergency demining team prepares to detonate collected anti-tank mines and explosives near Lyman, in the Donetsk region. AFP
  • A boy playing on a destroyed Russian tank on display in Kyiv. AFP
    A boy playing on a destroyed Russian tank on display in Kyiv. AFP
  • A young couple hiding underground during an air alert in Zaporizhzhia. AFP
    A young couple hiding underground during an air alert in Zaporizhzhia. AFP
  • Ukrainian firefighters looking for survivors after a strike in Zaporizhzhia. AFP
    Ukrainian firefighters looking for survivors after a strike in Zaporizhzhia. AFP
  • Workers fix a banner reading 'Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson - Russia!' to the State Historical Museum near Red Square in Moscow. AFP
    Workers fix a banner reading 'Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson - Russia!' to the State Historical Museum near Red Square in Moscow. AFP
  • Residents try to cross a destroyed bridge in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. AFP
    Residents try to cross a destroyed bridge in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. AFP
  • Alyona Kishinskaya helps to clean up a shop as it prepares to reopen in Balakiya, Ukraine, after a six-month Russian occupation. Getty Images
    Alyona Kishinskaya helps to clean up a shop as it prepares to reopen in Balakiya, Ukraine, after a six-month Russian occupation. Getty Images
  • Alla, 12, has a swinging time in Balakiya, Ukraine, as life goes on despite the war. Getty Images
    Alla, 12, has a swinging time in Balakiya, Ukraine, as life goes on despite the war. Getty Images
  • Ukrainian flags in the town square in Balakiya. Getty Images
    Ukrainian flags in the town square in Balakiya. Getty Images
  • A destroyed Russian command centre in Izium, Ukraine. Getty Images
    A destroyed Russian command centre in Izium, Ukraine. Getty Images
  • In what may be a final farewell, young Russian recruits - escorted by their wives - walk to a train station in Volgograd before being sent to war in Ukraine. AP
    In what may be a final farewell, young Russian recruits - escorted by their wives - walk to a train station in Volgograd before being sent to war in Ukraine. AP
  • Russian recruits board the train to Ukraine in Volgograd. AP
    Russian recruits board the train to Ukraine in Volgograd. AP
  • Ukrainian soliders drive a tank at the recently retaken eastern side of the Oskil River in Kharkiv region, Ukraine. AFP
    Ukrainian soliders drive a tank at the recently retaken eastern side of the Oskil River in Kharkiv region, Ukraine. AFP
  • Volunteers pass boxes of food aid on a destroyed bridge over the Oskil River. AFP
    Volunteers pass boxes of food aid on a destroyed bridge over the Oskil River. AFP
  • Ukrainian soliders rest on an armoured personnel carrier. AFP
    Ukrainian soliders rest on an armoured personnel carrier. AFP
  • A sign warns of landmines in Izyum, eastern Ukraine. AFP
    A sign warns of landmines in Izyum, eastern Ukraine. AFP
  • This crater was left after a missile strike in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. AFP
    This crater was left after a missile strike in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. AFP

Kherson offensive: Russian general says situation tense as local allies urge evacuation


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Russian forces are in a “very uneasy” situation around the strategic Ukrainian port city of Kherson, the commander of Moscow's invading forces has said.

His remarks came as the Russian-installed head of the Kherson region urged civilian evacuations from the area, saying 60,000 could leave in the coming days.

Kherson, which had a pre-war population of about 300,000, fell to Russian invading forces early in the conflict.

The city and surrounding oblast were annexed by Russia on September 30, after a referendum widely described as a sham vote and condemned by 143 UN member states voting on a resolution on October 12.

Only five countries, including North Korea, Syria and Russia’s close ally Belarus, voted against the resolution.

“Our plans in the city of Kherson will depend on the tactical military situation that is already very uneasy. We will seek to protect the lives of civilians and our service members,” Gen Sergey Surovikin said at a press conference in Moscow.

“We will act in a timely manner, without excluding the most difficult decisions.”

Ukraine has long stated its intention to recapture the city but launched a surprise offensive much further north near Kharkiv in early October, routing Russian forces after Moscow decided to reinforce Kherson.

The southern city is difficult to defend, located north of the 2,200-kilometre-long Dnieper river. In recent months, Ukrainian forces have been damaging and destroying bridges supplying the Russians on the northern bank.

Analysts say a successful Ukrainian offensive in Kherson could trap around 20,000 Russian troops, including some of their best forces.

Gen Surovikin alleged that Ukraine planned to attack infrastructure, including a dam at a hydroelectric plant. He also said the Russian army would “provide for the already announced safe transportation of the population under the relocation programme”.

Russia was heavily criticised in May at the end of the siege of the southern port city of Mariupol, when the UN asked for a humanitarian corridor to be kept open to evacuate civilians.

The UN said Russia initially reneged on its commitment, shelling civilian areas during the evacuation. Gen Surovikin said that in the event of the anticipated battle in Kherson, his forces would take steps to protect civilians.

“Under these conditions, our priority is preserving the life and health of peaceful citizens,” he said.

“Our further actions and plans regarding the city of Kherson itself will depend on the military-tactic situation at hand. I will say this again: it is already very difficult as of today.”

Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed Kherson region chief, said the risk of attack by Ukrainian forces had led to a decision to evacuate some civilians from four towns.

“The Ukrainian side is building up forces for a large-scale offensive,” Mr Saldo said in a video statement.

The Russian military was preparing to repel the offensive, he said, and “where the military operates, there is no place for civilians”.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Fines for littering

In Dubai:

Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro

Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle. 
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle

In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches 

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

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Match info

Uefa Nations League Group B:

England v Spain, Saturday, 11.45pm (UAE)

Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

Francesco Totti's bio

Born September 27, 1976

Position Attacking midifelder

Clubs played for (1) - Roma

Total seasons 24

First season 1992/93

Last season 2016/17

Appearances 786

Goals 307

Titles (5) - Serie A 1; Italian Cup 2; Italian Supercup 2

Updated: October 19, 2022, 6:36 AM