Front page: tension mounts between Venezuela and the European Union

Text by: Eliott Brachet

Publicity

Brussels summoned the Venezuelan ambassador to the European institutions on Tuesday June 30 after the expulsion of the head of the European Union delegation in Caracas. The day before, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had demanded the departure of Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa. "  She has seventy-two hours to leave Venezuela. This is the end of European colonialism in our country !  "He exclaimed in a stormy speech reported by the daily El Universal . This ultimatum is a response to the new sanctions taken Monday by the 27 countries of the European Union against Venezuelan officials, reports the daily La Prensa de Lara .

Travel ban in Europe, freezing of their assets across the Atlantic: measures which provoked the ire of the successor of Hugo Chavez. For the Ultimas Noticias newspaper , close to the government, these sanctions are an attempt by the European Union to sabotage the parliamentary elections to be held this year in Venezuela. On the side of El Nacional , one stresses the diplomatic isolation of Caracas whereas most of the Latin American countries denounce the dismissal of the ambassador. Tuesday morning, the head of the European diplomacy Josep Borrell had condemned on Twitter the decision of Nicolas Maduro, by promising "  measures of reciprocity  ".

News in Venezuela about the Alex Saab case

This Colombian businessman, suspected of having led a vast network of corruption in Venezuela, should finally be extradited to the United States, according to information from the Colombian daily El Tiempo . Cape Verde gave the green light for this transfer when the man wanted by Interpol had been arrested in the archipelago at the beginning of June. Tal Cual recalls that Alex Saab is close to Nicolas Maduro, who played the regime's intermediary with countries like Iran or Russia . This Venezuelan newspaper, close to the opposition, believes that this extradition would represent a "  heavy blow  " for the Caracas regime.

11-year-old child raped by soldiers in Colombia

" What pain ! " Headlines the newspaper Semana . The weekly reports the details of the ordeal experienced by this young girl, raped by seven soldiers in the middle of the Colombian jungle, in a reserve of the Embera community. Colombia is in shock. A flabbergasted visible in all the press, especially since this case is not an isolated case, recalls El Espectador . The daily gives testimony of Angelica, a member of the Nukak Maku community (another Colombian minority), who was also raped by soldiers for four days in 2019.

For the newspaper La Opinion , these terrible examples illustrate the brutality of the Colombian army in the territory and the impunity that reigns within the institution. El Espectador wonders  : "  What is wrong with Colombian culture and our education so that our army can commit such atrocities ? Let’s just stop blaming monsters who act alone, the problem is deeper  . ” The editorial questions society's systemic racism towards native communities. For its part, the Colombian army defended itself. She said she took action as soon as the information was provided to her eight months ago. Too long to react, says Semana, who is worried about the psychological consequences for these children.

Mexican President's controversial visit to Washington

It will be the first state visit of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to the United States, recalls the newspaper Milenio . Officially, the president wishes to meet his American counterpart to discuss the North American free trade treaty which is to enter into force on Wednesday. But in the columns of El Universal , it is feared that a few months before the elections, this visit would be used by Donald Trump to seduce the Mexican electorate in the United States.

US Supreme Court Rejects Anti-Abortion Law

North of Rio Bravo, the Supreme Court rejected a law in the state of Louisiana to close several abortion clinics. It is a "setback" for the camp of the conservatives opposed to abortion, headlines the New York Times . But a temporary defeat, of short duration, estimates the New York daily newspaper which recalls that at least sixteen laws of this kind were examined by the Judges in June.

The anti-abortion movement is gaining strength and, in the long run, may end up winning all the more if Donald Trump is re-elected and re-appoints a judge to the Supreme Court. The Washington Post says the move is a relief for the rule of law and for abortion advocates in the United States. However, only five judges out of nine have vetoed.

Coronavirus pandemic continues in California

"  California is entering a perilous phase  ," headlines the Los Angeles Times as the coronavirus epidemic rebounds in this western state. 8,000 cases have been recorded in the last twenty-four hours, a record. Some hospitals are "  overheated  ", alarms the daily.

Californians do not respect preventive measures, the newspaper continues: they resume "  bad habits  ", rushing in bars, multiplying barbecues and parties. The response from the Los Angeles authorities was quick, we learn in Newsweek . Beaches, bike paths and seashores will be closed during this National Day weekend.

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