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Under the now-repealed standards, 35 percent of all new vehicle sales in California would have needed to be emission-free by 2026, with that figure rising to 68 percent by 2030 and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

China has announced plans to eliminate tariffs on imports from all 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.

This policy shift aims to deepen trade relations and position China as a leading trade and investment partner for the continent.

The zero-tariff initiative, when fully implemented, would expand on a 2024 agreement that removed import duties on goods from 33 African nations classified as “least developed.”

The new policy will now include larger economies like Nigeria and South Africa, further deepening trade ties between Beijing and the continent.

However, Eswatini, the only African country that maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, is excluded from the deal.

Middle-income African countries with more developed manufacturing and export sectors are expected to benefit significantly from this arrangement.

Nations like Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Morocco will gain duty-free access to the Chinese market, enabling them to export a wider range of processed and value-added goods without tariff barriers.

China has also pledged additional support for smaller or less industrialized African economies, promising tailored programs to help them take advantage of the new trade benefits.

Despite the optimistic tone, trade between China and Africa continues to show a significant imbalance, with China enjoying a trade surplus of around $62 billion.

Analysts warn that unless African exports to China increase substantially, this disparity may grow.

The new tariff policy is seen as a strategic move to help rebalance trade flows and strengthen Beijing’s influence on the African continent.

This initiative follows broader economic commitments made by China, including a pledge of 360 billion yuan (approximately $50 billion) in credit lines and investments over a three-year period.

The move reflects Beijing’s ongoing efforts to cement its role as a key economic partner in Africa and offer an alternative to Western-led trade systems.

With the tariff walls coming down, African nations now face the dual challenge of scaling up production capacity and ensuring the quality of exports. If successfully harnessed, the opportunity could mark a new chapter in Africa–China relations—one defined by more equitable trade and shared prosperity.

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.”