Belarus-EU tensions escalate

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has threatened to cut off gas and goods transit to Europe via Belarus if the EU imposes further sanctions on his regime over the migrant crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border.

Lukashenko was responding to a statement by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who accused Minsk of displaying a "cynical geopolitical power play" by flowing migrants across EU borders in an attempt to destabilize it. Von der leyen said the bloc would expand its sanctions on the Lukashenko regime.
Lukashenko warned on Thursday that Minsk would respond to any "unacceptable" sanctions.

“We are warming Europe, they are threatening to close the border,” Lukashenko said, according to the Belarusian state news agency Belta. “What if we cut the gas on them? That's why I advise leaders of Poland, Lithuania other headless people think before they speak. We must stop at nothing to defend our sovereignty and independence,” he added.

Ukraine border in focus

The US is warning its European allies that Russia is preparing to potentially invade Ukraine again, as tensions escalate between Moscow and the European Union over migrants and pre-winter energy supply shortages via Belarus.

Washington has been closely monitoring the build-up of Russian forces near the Ukrainian border. US officials briefed their EU counterparts about their concerns about a possible Russian military operation into Ukraine, according to US Bloomberg television which cited people familiar with the matter.

Sources said they believe the potential invasion assessments are based on information that the US has not yet shared with European governments. Washington may share such sensitive information with Brussels before taking any decision on a collective response.

CCP plenum 'historic resolute'

The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) decision Thursday consolidated the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, elevating President him to the same level as the party and people's republic's founder, Mao, at a time Beijing's rivalry with the United States heating up.

The 6th plenum of the Central Committee ended with the adoption of the 'third historic resolution' in the history of the party, thus placing Xi among the three most important leaders of the party, along with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

The document salutes Xi's "deep thoughts" and "important theories", listing his actions, such as bringing Hong Kong under the CCP's control and fighting corruption.

The decision paves the way for a third term for Xi's presidency at next year's party congress.

Xi-Biden summit

As tensions persist over international trade, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, and military activities in the Indo-Pacific, US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to hold their long-awaited virtual summit on Monday.

Washington and Beijing differ on many issues, from the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic to China's expanding nuclear arsenal. Biden administration officials believe direct engagement with Xi is the best way to prevent the relationship between the world's two largest economies from escalating into conflict.

The White House declined to comment on Thursday, with Chinese officials refraining from commenting, Reuters reported.

CNBC television reported on Thursday that Xi is likely to invite Biden to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Ahead of the US-Iran talks

US Special Envoy to Iran Rob Malley will visit the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on November 11-20 to coordinate new negotiations on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Malley will coordinate ahead of the talks, the US State Department said in a statement on Thursday.

Washington, Brussels and Tehran previously announced that the US-Iran talks would resume on November 29.

US stocks

The Nasdaq Composite Index rebounded on Thursday after hot inflation data and higher bond yields prompted a sell-off in tech stocks in the previous session.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.5% to close at 15,704.28. The S&P 500 closed marginally higher at 4,649.27. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 158.71 points, or 0.4%, to 35,921.23.

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