Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu surfaced in public on Monday for the first time since a mutiny by Wagner mercenaries that failed to unseat him from the military top brass.
Footage on state television showed Mr Shoigu aboard a helicopter and inspecting troops at a command post for Russian forces in Ukraine.
Mr Shoigu – who was the focus of mutiny leader Yevgeny Prigozhin's ire as he marched his private army more than halfway to Moscow – was briefed on missions being undertaken by Russian forces, the ministry said.
Although the timing of the visit was unclear, the footage seemed to indicate that Mr Shoigu remained in charge after a weekend of chaos and confusion in Russia.
Mr Prigozhin has accused Russia's military leadership of incompetence and failing to equip his fighters as they battled to conquer Bakhmut in Ukraine.
On Saturday, the feud came to a head as Mr Prigozhin's troops took control of a military headquarters in southern Rostov-on-Don and advanced towards Moscow, before abruptly calling off their mutiny under a deal brokered by Belarus.
Wagner mutiny in Russia – in pictures
The truce offered Mr Prigozhin the opportunity to withdraw to Belarus and for his troops to be granted immunity, but it appeared he had failed to persuade the Kremlin to remove Mr Shoigu.
Neither Russia's President Vladimir Putin nor Mr Prigozhin have commented in public since the ceasefire announced by Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko.
There has been no word either from top Russian general Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff, another target of Mr Prigozhin's anger over the conflict in Ukraine.
Ukraine's ambassador in Britain, Vadym Prystaiko, said on Monday that Mr Putin had been weakened by the events of recent days.
But speaking to Sky News, he said of Mr Prigozhin: “We’re not wishing him to win. All of them are enemies of ours."
Serhiy Nayev, commander of Ukraine's Joint Forces, responded to speculative reports that Wagner fighters could be moved to Belarus to attack Ukraine from the north.
“If this happens and the enemy tries to cross the state border, it will be nothing but suicide for them,” Mr Nayev said on the military's Telegram channel.
Moscow lifts security
On Monday, Moscow lifted an “anti-terrorist” security regime it had imposed over the weekend as it prepared for Wagner troops to reach the capital.
Mayor Sergey Sobyanin thanked citizens for their “calm and understanding” during the crisis.
Events were cancelled and travel restrictions were implemented along the road from Rostov to Moscow as Wagner forces advanced on Saturday. The Red Square, which is adjacent to the Kremlin, was blocked off by metal barriers.
The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell said that the war was “cracking Russian power” after a weekend of cautious comments by western diplomats.
“The monster that Putin created with Wagner, the monster is biting him,” said Mr Borrell.
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the full ramifications of the Wagner Group’s march on Moscow have yet to be felt.
“It's too soon to tell exactly where this is going to go,” he told CNN.
Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar meanwhile said troops had reclaimed 130 square kilometres of land from Russia since the start of its counter-offensive.
However, she said the situation in the south “has not undergone significant changes over the past week”. She said about 250 clashes had taken place along the eastern part of the front line.
Britain's Defence Ministry said in a regular intelligence update that Russia may lack the reserves of ground forces to reinforce its positions.
It said Ukraine had “gained impetus” around Bakhmut, the city fought over with Wagner troops in the months-long battle that exacerbated tensions between Mr Prigozhin and the Kremlin.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
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Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
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.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
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- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
Australia squads
ODI: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
T20: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth.
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