International press review

In the spotlight: the deadly strikes on Vinnytsia, in central Ukraine

Audio 05:21

Vinnytsia firefighters put out the fire after the Russian strike on the city, July 14, 2022. © AP

By: Anne Corpet Follow

5 mins

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Vinnytsia, in central Ukraine, more than 750 kilometers from the front line, was shelled by the Russian army on Thursday.

On the 141st day of the conflict, the images of these strikes recall the unprecedented brutality of the war.

The

Washington Post

publishes a short video of the fall of a missile in Vinnytsia: we see people circulating on a sidewalk, a cyclist in shorts pedaling quietly when suddenly, black shards darken the sky, and anonymous passers-by are thrown to the ground .

The cyclist crawls for cover.

A terrified dog let go by his master scurries off, dragging his leash.

In a few seconds, panic replaces an apparent torpor.

Another shot released by

The Guardian

shows the interior of a cafe brutally blown up by an explosion.

Then scroll the traditional images of charred vehicles, perforated, blackened buildings, and the rounds of ambulances.

The attack on Vinnytsia left at least 23 dead and 39 missing.

Among them: Liza Dmitrieva, a 4-year-old child.

Video of her shredded body, tangled with her stroller and her mother's severed leg protruding from a bloody white sheet, was posted on social media.

The

Guardian

refused to publish these horror images but devotes

an article to Liza

 : " 

The death of this little girl is the symbol of a conflict where death often falls from the sky without warning

 ".

Return to calm in the capital of Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the president's resignation letter finally arrived and the prime minister was sworn in as interim president on Friday.

“ 

Calm is back in Colombo

 ”, headlines the

Daily News

before explaining that the demonstrators have decided to evacuate the official buildings they were occupying.

“ 

The armed forces have been ordered to use lethal force if necessary to protect public property and essential installations

 ,” says

The Island

.

But the daily reports the reassuring words of the army spokesman: “ 

despite the provocations, the troops have so far made measured use of force

 ”.

Journalist Jamal Khashoggi's shadow hangs over Joe Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia

In the United States, the press echoes Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East and focuses on the next stop: Saudi Arabia.

The president refused to say if he would discuss the death of Jamal Khashoggi with the Saudi authorities

 ," reports the

Washington Post

, for whom the murdered journalist worked.

The daily reveals that the ex-wife of Khashoggi was received by officials last week at the White House.

“ 

They assured me they would talk about Jamal

 ,” she says.

In an

editorial

, the newspaper wonders what Joe Biden could get during this visit.

The Saudi regime will certainly not make any concessions on human rights, nor will it promise to help stabilize the energy market, even if that is the main reason for this move.

There is therefore not much to expect from this debacle

 ", stings the editorialist before weighing: " 

there is a way for the president to draw something positive from this trip

: it is to bring back to aboard Air Force One one of the Americans wrongfully detained in the kingdom

 ”.

Haaretz in Israel

nevertheless

cites a first step forward obtained during this tour, with the opening of Saudi airspace to all Israeli flights.

This decision by Saudi Arabia has been described as historic by Joe Biden, but the more down-to-earth Israeli daily commented: " 

From a more practical point of view, it will reduce prices and flight times for Israelis traveling to East Asia

 ”.

The

Jerusalem Post

 quotes a former Israeli army intelligence official: " 

This is a significant development, a link in the chain of thawing relations between our countries, but we are still a long way from normalization and peace we want

 ".

The Israeli daily

Yediot Aharonot

 sent a reporter to Jeddah who tested the reception given to him by the Saudis.

“ 

When I tell people I'm from Israel, they look at me wide-eyed in shock before welcoming me.

But impossible to continue the conversation and even less to take a photo

 , ”he says.

And the journalist concludes: " 

If there is a change in the relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, it only occurs at the level of the government

 ".

Political unrest returns to Italy

Italy is again plunged into political uncertainty: the Prime Minister presented his resignation on Thursday evening, after the boycott by the 5 Star movement of a vote of confidence on a text in the Senate.

But the president refused his departure.

“ 

Italy is reconnecting with its old demons, with the suicidal instincts of its political life

,” asserts the

Corriere della Serra

.

“ 

Political unrest is back

 ,” adds

La Républica

.

President Matarella has asked Mario Draghi to appear before Parliament on Wednesday and, until then, to try to find a majority to continue to govern.

Five days to avoid a collapse

 ", comments

La Repubblica

, which analyzes the president's decision: " 

It is an invitation to look reality in the face

: in a legislature which has already experimented with all possible political formulas, it is difficult to see how forces incapable of regrouping around Draghi can in a few days to gather around an alternative solution.

The parties have their backs to the wall

 ”.

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