Bolivia is grappling with a national crisis as anti-government protests turn deadly, claiming multiple lives and threatening the country’s fragile stability.

At least four first responders—three police officers and a firefighter—have lost their lives in confrontations between protesters and authorities.

Justice Minister Cesar Siles confirmed the deaths, stating that some officers were reportedly shot.

The violent turn has shifted the government’s view of the protests, with Siles describing the situation as involving “paramilitary groups” that require a firm response.

The protests are fueled largely by supporters of former President Evo Morales, who was barred from contesting the upcoming August 17 election by the electoral tribunal.

Morales’ supporters argue that his disqualification is politically motivated and unjust, deepening tensions within the ruling MAS party.

Bolivia’s economic situation has worsened, with high inflation and dwindling foreign reserves intensifying public frustration.

Many citizens feel abandoned by a government they believe has failed to uphold the country’s once-celebrated economic model. Morales warned that without urgent change, Bolivia risks falling into “total collapse.”

The government’s response has become increasingly militarized, with tanks and heavily armed security forces deployed to affected areas.

Businesses have been forced to shut down, and transportation has come to a standstill, disrupting daily life and economic activities.

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In Nixing EV Standards, Trump Strikes at Two Foes: California and Elon Musk

In a move with far-reaching environmental and political consequences, President Donald Trump has officially rolled back federal recognition of California’s electric vehicle (EV) mandates.

With this decision, Trump not only dismantled key climate goals established under the Biden administration but also took aim at two familiar opponents: the state of California and tech mogul Elon Musk.

At a ceremonial signing event, Trump nullified rules that would have required California—and other states following its lead—to significantly increase the share of zero-emission vehicles.

Under the now-repealed standards, 35 percent of all new vehicle sales in California would have needed to be emission-free by 2026, with that figure rising to 68 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035.

Trump cast the previous rules as a dangerous overreach by environmental extremists and accused the Biden administration of outsourcing American auto policy to California.

“Under the previous administration, the federal government gave left-wing radicals in California dictatorial powers to control the future of the entire car industry all over the country — all over the world, actually,” Trump said.

“This horrible scheme would effectively abolish the internal combustion engine, which most people prefer.”

The former president warned that forcing electric vehicles onto the market would lead to soaring energy costs and strain power grids.

“Energy prices would likewise soar as the radical left forced more electric vehicles onto the grid while blocking approvals for new power plants,” he added. “The result would be rolling blackouts and a collapse of our power systems.”

The decision triggered an immediate backlash from California’s leadership, with Governor Gavin Newsom vowing to fight back.

“Trump’s all-out assault on California continues,” a spokesperson for Newsom said.

“We are suing to stop this latest illegal action by a President who is a wholly owned subsidiary of big polluters.” California, along with several other states that follow its environmental standards, has already filed lawsuits to preserve their autonomy in setting stricter emissions goals.

The rollback also marks a sharp blow to Elon Musk, whose electric vehicle company, Tesla, stands to lose significant ground under a weakened regulatory framework.

Once seen as an unlikely ally of Trump, Musk has since become a vocal critic. Trump, in turn, mocked the billionaire during the announcement, saying, “Now, I know why Elon doesn’t like me so much. Which he does, actually.”

He continued, “I used to say, ‘I’m amazed that he’s endorsing me,’ because that can’t be good for him. He makes electric cars, and we’re saying, ‘You’re not going to be able to make electric cars. You can make them, but it’ll be by the market.’”

Trump also hinted at expanding tariffs on imported vehicles beyond the current 25 percent.

“If they want a Mercedes-Benz, you’re going to have it made here,” he said. “Otherwise, they’re going to pay a very big tariff. I might go up with that tariff in the not-too-distant future.”

The significance of Trump’s move goes beyond partisan battles. For decades, California has set the pace for U.S. environmental standards, with 17 states typically adopting its emissions benchmarks.

Repealing California’s EV mandate and federal fuel economy rules effectively stalls national momentum for cleaner transportation and undermines confidence in the EV market.

Environmental groups describe it as a direct attack on efforts to curb climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Tesla, which has thrived under policies that incentivize electric vehicles, now faces a political and economic climate increasingly hostile to its business model.

The rollback, combined with the removal of federal EV tax credits and expanded tariffs, could dampen demand and make electric cars less affordable for American consumers.

Iran Warns Trump, Dares Him to Strike Country

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Wednesday in a post on X that his country does not fear President Donald Trump’s threats and “absurd rhetoric.” In a separate television address, he vowed that Iran “will not surrender” and said any U.S. military intervention in the conflict would bring “irreparable damage.”

Trump is weighing whether to strike Iran, and the Pentagon has built up U.S. military forces in the Middle East in recent days. On social media Tuesday, Trump demanded “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” from Tehran without detailing what that would mean, and he described the supreme leader as an “easy target.” Israel and Iran continued to trade fire on Wednesday, the sixth day of the direct conflict.

Explosions were heard in Tehran early Wednesday as Israeli warplanes continued to hammer Iran. The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for another district as the exodus from the Iranian capital continued. Israel said it attacked a centrifuge production site and several weapons manufacturing sites overnight.

Iran launched two waves of missiles at Israel overnight and said it used its hypersonic Fattah-1 missile for the first time. There have been no reports of casualties in Israel Wednesday.

The number of missiles Israel has faced in each retaliation barrage appears to have decreased over the past two days. Iran has not explained the decline, but Israel said it has destroyed more than a third of Iran’s missile launchers.

“The battle begins,” Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, posted on social media early Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump described him as an “easy target.”

As Trump mulls U.S. involvement, Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said in an interview with Al Jazeera that “any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region.”

The United States House of Representatives narrowly passed a sweeping Republican tax and spending package on Thursday, marking a significant legislative victory for President Donald Trump.

Dubbed his “one big, beautiful bill,” the legislation now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to undergo notable revisions.

The bill is both ambitious and controversial, containing measures that target several key sectors, including healthcare, taxation, immigration, education, and social welfare.

A centerpiece of the bill is the permanent extension of the individual income tax cuts originally introduced in the GOP’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

However, these cuts come at a steep price.

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the proposed tax changes would add approximately $3.8 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Meanwhile, the legislation proposes deep spending cuts to vital safety net programs.

Medicaid funding would be slashed by nearly $700 billion, a number expected to rise once recent updates to the bill are assessed. Similarly, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly known as food stamps) would lose $267 billion in federal support.

The bill includes measures that align with longstanding Republican policy goals and campaign promises made by President Trump.

These include significant investments in border security, enhanced systems to curb immigration, and the development of a massive new missile defense shield.

It also proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the air traffic control system, new fees targeting electric vehicle users, and a shift away from federal student loans.

To offset the cost of the tax breaks and increased defense and immigration-related spending, the House GOP aimed for at least $1.5 trillion in spending reductions.

However, Senate Republicans are likely to revise the bill, potentially softening some of the more aggressive cuts.

Because the legislation is advancing through budget reconciliation, it requires only a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing the need for Democratic support.

Among the most contentious provisions is the introduction of work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries.

For the first time in the program’s six-decade history, non-exempt adults between the ages of 19 and 64 would need to work at least 80 hours per month or engage in approved activities like schooling or community service to retain coverage.

The implementation date has been moved up to the end of 2026, raising concerns that more people could lose coverage sooner.

Exceptions would apply to groups such as parents, pregnant women, medically frail individuals, and those with substance abuse disorders.

The legislation also mandates more frequent eligibility checks for Medicaid expansion recipients and requires certain low-income adults to contribute financially to their care.

It includes penalties for states that use their own funds to cover undocumented immigrants, reducing their federal Medicaid matching funds by 10%.

States would face new limitations on the taxes they can levy on healthcare providers, a revenue stream used to enhance provider reimbursements and health services.

A notable incentive was added for the ten states that have not expanded Medicaid. These states would be allowed to send larger supplemental payments to healthcare providers, potentially deterring them from expanding coverage.

Additionally, the bill delays a Biden administration rule intended to streamline Medicaid enrollment until 2035, which could make it harder for individuals to obtain or renew coverage.

Another controversial aspect of the bill involves changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

It proposes codifying a Trump-era initiative that would shorten the ACA’s open enrollment period and eliminate year-round sign-up options for low-income individuals.

In a last-minute amendment, GOP lawmakers reinstated funding for cost-sharing reduction subsidies, which Trump had previously eliminated.

While this might lower out-of-pocket costs, it could reduce the generosity of premium subsidies, prompting some to drop their coverage.

According to early CBO estimates, these healthcare-related changes could lead to 8.6 million more people being uninsured by 2034—a figure expected to increase as the final provisions are analyzed.

The legislation also enhances the child tax credit, increasing it from $2,000 to $2,500 per child from 2025 through 2028.

However, eligibility is restricted to parents with Social Security numbers, eliminating access for those who file taxes using individual taxpayer identification numbers—typically undocumented immigrants—thereby affecting around two million children.

In a symbolic nod to Trump’s branding, the bill creates “Trump accounts,” officially named “money accounts for growth and advancement” (MAGA accounts).

These accounts would be established for U.S. citizen children born between 2025 and 2028, with an initial federal contribution of $1,000. Families could contribute up to $5,000 annually.

The funds, inaccessible until the child turns 18, could be used for higher education or first-time home purchases and would be taxed at capital gains rates. The account would expire when the beneficiary turns 31.

Fulfilling a major campaign pledge, the bill exempts income from tips and overtime from federal taxation for qualifying workers.

This applies specifically to traditionally tipped occupations and to hourly workers, excluding those earning more than $160,000 annually.

These tax breaks would be in effect from 2025 through 2028 and would also be available to non-itemizing taxpayers.

Senior citizens are not left out, as the bill increases their standard deduction by $4,000 from 2025 through 2028. However, this benefit phases out for individuals with incomes above $75,000 and couples earning more than $150,000.

This measure is positioned as an indirect fulfillment of Trump’s promise to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits, which cannot be addressed under budget reconciliation rules.

The package introduces a temporary car loan interest deduction, allowing taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 annually for interest on vehicles purchased after 2025, provided the cars are assembled in the U.S.

This benefit phases out for individuals earning more than $100,000 and couples earning above $200,000.

Other tax reliefs include a temporary boost to the standard deduction and permanent changes that favor wealthier Americans.

The estate tax exemption would be permanently set at $15 million per individual, adjusted for inflation.

The bill also enhances a deduction for owners of pass-through entities, such as partnerships and sole proprietorships, increasing it from 20% to 23%.

The legislation raises the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions to $40,000 for those earning up to $500,000, addressing long-standing concerns from lawmakers in high-tax states.

For single filers earning up to $250,000, the cap would be raised to $15,000. These adjustments would gradually phase back down and remain in effect until 2034.

Businesses also benefit from the bill, with the return of full, first-year deductions for equipment purchases and research and development costs, which had been curtailed in previous years. These provisions would expire after 2029.

Moreover, companies could temporarily write off expenses related to constructing or upgrading certain facilities, although deductions for purchases of professional sports teams would be limited.

Finally, the bill significantly increases taxes on universities and private foundations. The endowment tax rate for some universities would rise from 1.4% to as high as 21%, and private foundation taxes would jump to as much as 10%.

These measures aim to generate revenue but have sparked criticism from institutions that rely on endowment income for operational and scholarship support.

In summary, the House-passed bill is a comprehensive and controversial overhaul of the nation’s tax and spending priorities.

While it offers substantial tax relief and fulfills several of President Trump’s campaign promises, it does so at the expense of key social safety net programs and could result in millions of Americans losing healthcare coverage.

The Senate’s response to this bill will determine its final shape and its impact on the American people.