The stand-off at Poland’s border with Belarus has developed into a public relations battle, as the countries blame each other for the plight of migrants trapped in the middle.
Poland suspects Belarus of using text messages to shepherd migrants towards the EU's eastern border and coach them to look forlorn and miserable.
Warsaw has used a prolific Twitter presence to share footage from the border and seek to counter what it sees as a propaganda campaign coming from President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk.
The crisis has drawn in larger geopolitical players, including the EU and Russia. As it drags on into winter, the migrants – many of them Iraqi – face an uncertain future.
The National looks at what the key players have said and what they mean.
Poland: EU is under attack
What they said:
“We Poles are determined to defend our border by all means – which is the eastern border of Europe and Nato.”
What it means:
Poland’s depiction of the crisis as a common EU challenge comes amid otherwise fractious relations with Brussels, which is at odds with Warsaw over alleged violations of the rule of law.
On the migrant crisis, Poland has sought to rally support from the EU by persuading Brussels that that the security of the whole bloc is at stake amid a “hybrid attack” by Belarus.
It also wants to set an example of tough border security which it has long believed the rest of Europe should follow. Mr Morawiecki said: “We must do everything to protect our borders from immigration at the Mediterranean and in the east.”
Belarus: It is not our fault
What they said:
“If you want to remove the barbed wire, we do not mind. Remove it and come right up to the refugees.”
Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus
What it means:
Belarus denies orchestrating the crisis, and has sought to shift the blame by suggesting the migrants would be fine if only the EU would let them in.
State media has been awash with pictures of long-suffering migrants and reports of them being mistreated by Poland. This has served to deflect criticism from a regime under sanctions for alleged human rights violations.
“The Lukashenko regime and its propaganda is seeking to portray this crisis as the result of the EU’s refusal to abide by international law,” said Andrea Kendall-Taylor of the Centre for a New American Security think tank, in a briefing to US legislators.
Mr Lukashenko has proposed that the EU should take in 2,000 migrants while Belarus seeks to persuade another 5,000 to return home “to the extent possible and provided refugees agree to it”. Germany has said such a deal was not on the table.
Poland: Do not believe Belarus’s propaganda
What they said:
“Belarusians conduct disinformation activities, use emotional blackmail, exposing the participation of children and women in migrant groups, although they are a minority … Belarus hopes that public opinion in Poland and the West will put additional pressure on the Polish government.”
Stanislaw Zaryn, Polish security services spokesman
What it means:
Polish officials, well aware of Belarus’s attempts to shape the narrative, have heavily used Twitter to tell their own side of the story.
By accusing Belarus of exaggerating the misery faced by migrants, Poland sought to downplay the humanitarian crisis and thereby divert criticism from Polish guards.
Mr Zaryn quoted from text messages purportedly circulating among migrants encouraging them to approach foreign journalists, use articulate children as spokespeople and give them banners to wave.
Aid workers have accused Poland of illegally pushing people back into Belarus and failing to provide adequate food or shelter.
Belarus: Russia is in our corner
What they said:
“We’ve staged, stage and will stage such operations to protect our security that neither the West nor the European Union can even imagine. And Russians have finally understood that Belarus’s KGB may be considerably smaller but it is a powerful fist.”
Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus
What it means:
Belarus is under pressure from the EU, US and organisations, such as the G7 and Nato, but has one key ally in its corner: Russia.
The West has been shown this more assertively in recent weeks, with two Russian bombers flying over Belarusian territory in a show of force. But Mr Lukashenko’s message was also aimed at the Kremlin, which has publicly tried to stay out of the dispute.
“We don’t have any proof that Russia is participating or orchestrating, but for sure Russia is backing Lukashenko here,” said Pavel Slunkin, a Belarus expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank.
“And I’m sure that Lukashenko [wouldn’t] be ready to start the attack against the EU without permission from Moscow.”
Germany: Our door is not open
What they said:
“Rumours that Germany is planning to send buses to pick people up from Belarus through Poland to Germany are false. Whoever spreads these lies puts people in great danger.”
German Foreign Office
What it means:
Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are the gateways to the EU from Belarus, but it is no secret that some migrants dream of continuing to wealthy Germany.
Warsaw and Berlin have sought to communicate directly with the migrants to persuade them that this is not an option. Germany’s message was posted on social media in Kurdish, Arabic and English.
Poland, which said the rumour had circulated among migrants at the border, sent a message in English, Polish, German, French and Arabic telling them that the story was “a total lie and nonsense”. It has separately warned migrants that they could be poisoned by Belarus.
It was not clear who started the buses rumour, but Polish official Stanislaw Zaryn said whoever was behind it “hoped to push migrants into storming the Polish border”.
EU: We are not backing down
What they said:
“The Belarusian authorities must understand that pressuring the European Union in this way through a cynical instrumentalisation of migrants will not help them succeed in their purposes.”
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
What it means:
The EU is in no doubt that the crisis is being orchestrated by Minsk to retaliate against sanctions and punish EU countries who support the Belarusian opposition.
Rather than submitting to the pressure, the EU has responded by tightening sanctions on Mr Lukashenko’s regime.
But Poland felt the EU’s united position was undermined when German Chancellor Angela Merkel held one-to-one talks with Mr Lukashenko.
Mr Slunkin said the calls had helped Mr Lukashenko achieve one of his aims by forcing European leaders to talk to him. “He’s in a much more comfortable position when he’s not discussing his absolute power and his control over Belarus,” he said.
Russia: Talk to Belarus
What they said:
“Of course, talks between Lukashenko and Putin are not enough to find solutions to this crisis. It’s crucial to continue direct contacts between Lukashenko and EU representatives.”
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman
What it means:
Russia, like Belarus, denies being behind the migrant crisis and has sought to shift blame on to the West. Separately, it has alarmed Nato with a troop build-up near Ukraine.
The two presidents, Mr Lukashenko and Russia's Vladimir Putin, spoke on Friday to condemn what they called the “unacceptable brutal actions” of Polish guards.
But Moscow has repeatedly told the EU to deal with Belarus directly. Mrs Merkel initially spoke to Mr Putin, who invited her to approach Mr Lukashenko.
Ms Kendall-Taylor believes the Kremlin sensed an opportunity to test the West’s resolve, at a time when Germany is between governments, France has an election coming up and the US is more focused on China.
“The events in Belarus need to be understood as part of a broader, multifaceted pressure campaign by the Kremlin on Europe,” she said.
G7: Belarusian repression to blame
What they said:
“The actions of the Belarusian regime are an attempt to deflect attention from its ongoing disregard for international law, fundamental freedoms and human rights, including those of its own people.”
G7 foreign ministers’ statement
What it means:
Ministers from G7 countries – a club that included Russia until its annexation of Crimea in 2014 – came to Poland's defence against what they said were Belarus’s breaches of international law.
Their promise to support “civil society and human rights in Belarus” addressed what the US described as the root cause of the problem – the repression in Belarus that prompted sanctions on Minsk in the first place.
Washington has indicated that further sanctions could be imposed if Mr Lukashenko does not reverse course.
Having quit the EU, the UK is not involved in the EU’s rule of law disputes in Poland. On Friday, Britain sought to deepen ties with Warsaw by announcing a partnership in the missile sector.
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
Dunki
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RESULT
Uruguay 3 Russia 0
Uruguay: Suárez (10'), Cheryshev (23' og), Cavani (90')
Russia: Smolnikov (Red card: 36')
Man of the match: Diego Godin (Uruguay)
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Disturbing%20facts%20and%20figures
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THE%20HOLDOVERS
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The%20specs
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
Moonfall
Director: Rolan Emmerich
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry
Rating: 3/5
More on Quran memorisation:
Usain Bolt's time for the 100m at major championships
2008 Beijing Olympics 9.69 seconds
2009 Berlin World Championships 9.58
2011 Daegu World Championships Disqualified
2012 London Olympics 9.63
2013 Moscow World Championships 9.77
2015 Beijing World Championships 9.79
2016 Rio Olympics 9.81
2017 London World Championships 9.95
Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (87')
Athletic Bilbao 1
Williams (14')
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The%20specs
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Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
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How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
heading
Iran has sent five planeloads of food to Qatar, which is suffering shortages amid a regional blockade.
A number of nations, including Iran's major rival Saudi Arabia, last week cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of funding terrorism, charges it denies.
The land border with Saudi Arabia, through which 40% of Qatar's food comes, has been closed.
Meanwhile, mediators Kuwait said that Qatar was ready to listen to the "qualms" of its neighbours.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Match info
Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')
Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
The biog
Born: High Wycombe, England
Favourite vehicle: One with solid axels
Favourite camping spot: Anywhere I can get to.
Favourite road trip: My first trip to Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan. The desert they have over there is different and the language made it a bit more challenging.
Favourite spot in the UAE: Al Dhafra. It’s unique, natural, inaccessible, unspoilt.
Company%20Profile
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A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE FIXTURES
Thursday, September 21
Al Dahfra v Sharjah (kick-off 5.35pm)
Al Wasl v Emirates (8.30pm)
Friday, September 22
Dibba v Al Jazira (5.25pm)
Al Nasr v Al Wahda (8.30pm)
Saturday, September 23
Hatta v Al Ain (5.25pm)
Ajman v Shabab Al Ahli (8.30pm)
Fast%20X
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NEW%20PRICING%20SCHEME%20FOR%20APPLE%20MUSIC%2C%20TV%2B%20AND%20ONE
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