Press Review of the Americas

Headlines: US monitoring of drug crops in Colombia suspended

Coca leaves in a field in the municipality of Tibu, Colombia, October 30, 2022. AFP - SCHNEYDER MENDOZA

Text by: Margaux Ratayzyk

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Washington used to publish an annual report on the extent of coca plantations in Colombia. But this year, for the first time in decades, no documents will appear. According to the sources of the daily El Tiempo, the surveillance program was even "suspended several months ago" already.

At issue: the high cost of satellites used by the United States. The country also prefers to focus its efforts on another fight, namely the fight against fentanyl. This opium-derived drug causes many deaths among the American population. El Tiempo explains that the monitoring program was based on "satellite images that detect the presence of coca" in Colombia, a plant used in the manufacture of cocaine. The images were then "superimposed on previous images to see the increase or decrease" in the extent of the crops.

For its part, the Colombian Embassy in the United States reacted to the suspension of the surveillance program in a statement. The institution recalls that President Gustavo Petro came to power "with a new drug policy". It has opted for a less repressive approach, more focused on prevention related to consumption and trafficking. Finally, the Colombian embassy insists on the "collaboration" between Washington and Bogotá to "strengthen stability and progress in the region".

United States: new rains expected in the northeast

The aftermath of the violent floods in the northeastern United States still makes the headlines of the American press. On Tuesday, July 11, emergency evacuations were carried out in Vermont, where President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency. New rains are even expected during the week. This raises fears of new losses while the damage is already considerable since Sunday, July 9. To visualize the extent of the phenomenon, the New York Times publishes on its website a graph showing the increase in river levels over the past four days. In the northeastern United States, the level of some rivers has quadrupled.

The press also reports extensively on the link between these bad weather and climate change. "These floods reveal the inability to address the climate threat," reads the front page of the New York Times. The daily deplores "the absence of a comprehensive national rainfall database", but also the absence of "maps of current floods". This "hampers the ability to prepare for future storms," warns the New York Times. The newspaper cites the example of Vermont, which is currently paying a heavy price. In this state, "the actual number of homes threatened by flooding is three times higher than what federal maps indicate."

Quebec also hit by torrential rains

In Canada, the province of Quebec was also swept away by heavy rains. Roads were cut off, residents evacuated and more than 50,000 homes were left without power. "No injuries have been reported," says the website La Presse. But the damage is still impressive. The Quebec site publishes the image of a gutted road, cut in two, between the cities of Montreal and Quebec City. La Tribune reports that "a state of emergency has been declared" in the municipality of Saint-Brigitte-de-Laval, near Quebec City.

Haitian footballers have arrived in Australia for the World Cup

Haitian women footballers have arrived in Perth, Australia. They will play their first World Cup in ten days, facing England first in a group match. On this occasion, Le Nouvelliste published a portrait of human rights defender Tabita Joseph, nicknamed "the commander". The player native of the Cul-de-Sac plain in western Haiti "is only 19 years old," recalls the daily. However, Le Nouvelliste already sees in her a "warrior who brings order and discipline within the team's defense [...] She has always been a very decisive element in the coronations of the yellow and black team. ».

Tabita Joseph hopes to break through in France. A project on track, since she has just signed at Olympique de Marseille. She previously played for Stade Brestois 29. Her former coach also remembers in Le Nouvellistea player "with high potential". Tabita Jospeh will now have to fully exploit this potential at the World Cup. The Haitian players, or "the Grenadières" according to their nickname, "are already hard at work," rejoices the Haitian daily. They will play their first game on Saturday, July 22.

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  • Press Review of the Americas
  • Press review
  • United States
  • Colombia
  • Drug
  • Quebec
  • Haiti
  • Women's football