Headlines: Belarus threatens to cut gas to Europe, migrant crisis worsens

Audio 04:48

Migrants from Middle Eastern countries, among others, gather at the Polish-Belarusian border near Grodno, Belarusian side, on November 8, 2021. © AP / Leonid Shcheglov

By: Véronique Rigolet Follow

4 min

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This new threat to “ 

cut the gas

 ” from the Belarusian president is making international headlines. " 

Lukashenko uses the energy weapon against Europe to avoid new sanctions,

 " explains

La Repubblica.

 “ 

This is a new challenge for the West,

 ” comments the

Guardian

. " 

A serious threat

 ", estimates for its part the

Washington Post

which recalls that " 

the gas pipeline which crosses Belarus provides 20

% of Russian gas to Europe

 ", while the European continent is already affected by shortages. " 

It is Russian President Vladimir Putin who will

ultimately

decide

if Lukashenko can carry out his threats

 ”, underlines the American daily.

Despite these threats, " 

it seems unlikely that the EU 27 will renounce a new round

- the fifth

- of sanctions against the Lukashenko regime

 ", argues the

Guardian

, even though " 

European officials expect it to be. that the crisis worsens

 "," 

the sanctions against some thirty Belarusian personalities and companies should be approved as of next Monday

 ", underlines the British daily.

Humanitarian crisis on the Polish border

The situation of the thousands of migrants massed on the Polish border by polar temperatures is on the way to " 

become a real humanitarian crisis

 ", headlines the 

New York Times.

Concern also shared on the front page by

La Repubblica

, whose special envoy to the Polish border reports the " 

solidarity

 " of Polish farmers who come to the aid of trapped migrants: "

Every evening they deposit food in front of their farms. , potatoes, milk, clothes

 ", so many" 

gifts

which are then collected by young volunteers who will carry them at night, in the forest, at the foot of the barbed wire behind which the refugees are massing

 ”.

“ 

It's illegal

 ”, argues a farmer, “ 

but while heads of state argue, we have not forgotten the lesson of Pope John Paul II

: we must do everything to prevent these desperate people from die

 ”.

COP26: leaders warn of a " 

possible failure

 "

More than a few hours of negotiations in Glasgow, " 

time is (now) counted to conclude an agreement which could spare the world the most disastrous effects of global warming

 ", underlines the

Washington Post

which argues that despite some encouraging signs , there are still " 

too many promises that ring hollow

 ", notes the daily which echoes the cry of alarm of António Guterres, the secretary general of the UN.

Warning also on the front page of the

Guardian

, for whom " 

the objectives of the COP26 are too weak to prevent a disaster

 ".

This is explained in the British daily " 

the architects of the Paris agreement

 ", Christiana Figueres and Laurence Tubiana, who both warn that " 

world leaders will have to come back to the negotiating table next year, with improved plans

 ”, because for the moment the“ 

posted objectives are too low

 ”and still lead“ 

to a disastrous warming of 2.4

degrees

 ”.

Xi Jinping president for life in China?

The Chinese president is strengthening his grip on the country, after the vote of the Chinese PC which places him at the same level as Mao Zedong. Xi Jinping " 

inscribes his name in the pantheon of the Communist Party

 ", headlines

Le Temps

. The Chinese president has the free way " 

to remain in power at least until 2027

 ", comments

El País

, whose correspondent in China reports " 

that the resolution of the Chinese Communist Party guarantees him that he will be renewed next year for 5

years at the head of the country

 ", a third historic term that could become" 

a term for life

 ", underlines

Le Soir

, even if" 

the term of president for life

 Is not specifically mentioned in the resolution of the Chinese PC.

What in any case give a cold sweat to the

South China Morning Post

, the Hong Kong daily, which notes that " 

the Chinese Communist Party supports Xi Jinping's firm hand on Hong Kong and Taiwan

 ".

So many topics of tension that should be on the agenda " 

from Monday at the first virtual summit between US President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping

 ", reports the

Wall Street Journal

, even if the White House has not yet confirmed the date of the summit.

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