November 10, 2021

*) Tensions rise in migrant standoff at Poland-Belarus border Poland has reinforced its border with more riot police as Belarus encourages refugees and migrants to try to enter the EU from its eastern frontier. The European Union has accused Belarus of trying to destabilise the bloc by encouraging migrants to enter illegally to retaliate against EU sanctions. The bloc said it is close to imposing more sanctions on Belarus. Poland reported many migrants attempted to cross overnight as thousands of people remain trapped in freezing conditions at the border. *) UN working to secure release of staff detained in Addis Ababa At least 16 United Nations staff members have been detained in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa. The organisation says it is working with the government to secure their freedom. The latest detentions follow the release of six other staff members, as tensions between the government and the UN have been high since the start of the war between the state and Tigrayan forces last year. *) Afghan FM to meet Pakistani officials in first visit since Taliban takeover Amir Khan Muttaqi, the interim Afghan foreign minister, will visit Pakistan for the first time since the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan. A senior-level delegation led by Muttaqi is travelling to Pakistan on Wednesday, a spokesperson of Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry said. The Afghan Taliban government recently helped facilitate a ceasefire between the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan and the TTP, the Pakistani Taliban. *) Top UAE diplomat visits Syria for the first time in over a decade The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates has met with Syria’s widely shunned regime leader Bashar al Assad in Damascus. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan's visit is the first by a UAE foreign minister since Syria's war began a decade ago. It comes as some Arab states improve relations with the Assad regime. During the meeting, the foreign minister "underlined UAE's keenness on ensuring the security, stability and unity of