In the spotlight: the UN at the bedside of Afghanistan on the brink of collapse

Audio 05:22

The headquarters of the United Nations (UN) in New York.

© AFP / Daniel Slim

By: Véronique Rigolet Follow

9 mins

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The international press returns at length on Tuesday to the UN donors' conference, which enabled the day before to collect " 

more than a billion dollars in emergency aid

 ", to combat " 

the humanitarian crisis which has arisen. aggravated after the takeover of the Taliban

 ”, explains

The Washington Post

. It is " 

a lifeline

 ", as the country sinks into poverty " 

every day a little more perilous

 ", while " 

a million children risk dying of hunger if nothing has done

 " , reports

Le Temps

, which emphasizes that this aid will only " 

deal with the most urgent

 ", in clear " 

humanitarian aid will not prevent the country from sinking if the Afghan economy collapses

 ”.

This is one of the dilemmas posed by the takeover of the Taliban

 ", also notes the

Post

, which recalls that " 

foreign aid represented the lion's share of the budget of the Afghan government

 ", and that the United States in particular froze “ 

9 billion dollars in Afghan reserves

 ”.

Failure to release this aid, underlines the American daily, " 

the consequences will not only be devastating for the Afghan population

 ", but they will also lead to " 

a destabilization of neighboring countries and a massive exodus of refugees

 ".

Biden flies to the aid of the governor of California

The maintenance of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is played out this Tuesday, during a recall referendum 

", which was triggered by Californian activists " 

opposed to his measures to fight against Covid-19 

", reports the American correspondent of the daily

Le Temps

, which specifies that Californian law “ 

thus authorizes disgruntled voters to organize a recall ballot to replace their governor

 ”. A possibly perilous referendum for Gavin Newsom, " 

President Biden's support visit underscores (moreover) all the Democratic Party's concern about the possibility of losing California,

 " comments

The New York Times

, ie " 

the most populous and richest state in the country, 

notes the daily, 

and where Democrats are almost twice as numerous as Republicans

 ”.

In the final hours of the campaign, President Biden therefore decided on Monday to bring out " 

the scarecrow Donald Trump

 ", explains the

Washington Post, 

warning voters against the Republican candidate Larry Elder, described by Joe Biden as a real " 

clone of Trump

 ”, who would question both“

 vaccination, abortion and the fight against global warming

 ”.

The left returns to power in Norway

The 4 million Norwegian voters "

 ousted the conservatives in power for eight years, in favor of Labor Jonas Gahr Store, 61

, former foreign minister, but also a millionaire,

 " notes the Scandinavian correspondent of the

New York Times

.

"

 Labor is delighted, but the coalition discussions promise to be difficult

 ", underlines for its part

The Guardian, 

which explains that a coalition " 

of three left parties or even a coalition with the Greens

 ", would require the future Prime Minister Store that he is able to " 

compromise on a whole series of policies, from the future of the oil industry to Norway's relations with the EU

 ". So many divisive subjects, comments for its part 

Süddeutsche Zeitung, 

which recalls that " 

the Greens have notably called for the end of all Norwegian oil production by 2035

 ", in a country where oil remains the main source of wealth.

Women in the Pope's Swiss Guard?

 Women among the Swiss Guards protecting the Pope?

 "Asks

La Repubblica

,"

 it has not been done

 ", says the Italian daily, but"

 the plan for the new barracks at the Vatican provides for it, with 126 single rooms which would allow the accommodation of women

 ".

"

 This will be possible from 2027, at the end of the work

 ", indicates for its part

Le Temps

, which explains that " 

for 500

years women have been excluded from the pontifical guard, reserved only for men, Swiss and practicing Catholics

".

Will the Pope then open his Swiss Guard to diversity?

The decision is in his own hands, says a Vaticanologist in the Swiss daily, stressing that “ 

Pope Francis is an image specialist, and he knows how to use it very appropriately.

Imagine, women in the Swiss Guard, that would be historical and media coverage

 ”.

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