Protesters rally in Bolivia, boosting the president and denouncing the thwarted military coup
By: Paola Flores And Isabel Debre
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivians chanting in support of the president rallied outside his palace on Thursday, denouncing an abortive coup attempt that had threatened to pitch the long-troubled South American democracy into chaos.
The nation of 12 million watched in shock and bewilderment Wednesday as Bolivian military forces appeared to turn on the government of President Luis Arce, seizing control of the capital’s main square with armoured personnel carriers, crashing a tank into the presidential palace and unleashing tear gas on protesters.
Bolivia’s embattled President Arce — who has struggled to control a politically paralyzed country reeling from shortages of foreign currency and fuel — awoke Thursday to supporters raising signs that advocated for democracy and condemned the now-ousted Bolivian army chief, Gen. Juan José Zúñiga, who led Wednesday’s thwarted coup. Riot police still stood sentinel outside palace doors.
21 children set to exit Gaza in first medical evacuation since early May
By: Mohammad Jahjouh, Wafaa Shurafa And Kareem Chehayeb
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Twenty-one critically ill children were set to exit Gaza on Thursday in the first medical evacuation since the territory’s sole travel crossing was shut down in early May, Palestinian officials said.
The nearly nine-month Israel-Hamas war has devastated Gaza’s health sector and forced most of its hospitals to shut down. Health officials say thousands of people need medical treatment abroad, including hundreds of urgent cases.
Family members bid a tearful goodbye to the children as they and their escorts left the Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis bound for the Kerem Shalom cargo crossing with Israel. It was not clear where they would receive treatment. The Israeli military body that coordinates civilian affairs in Gaza did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ship attacked in Red Sea in latest maritime assault likely carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels
By: Jon Gambrell
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A ship traveling through the Red Sea on Thursday reported being hit in an attack likely carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, authorities said, the latest in the campaign targeting shipping over the Israel-Hamas war.
The ship issued a radio call off the coast of the rebel-held port city of Hodeida saying it had been struck, the private security firm Ambrey first reported. A warship in the area was responding to the attack, Ambrey said.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre later also confirmed the attack.
“The nature of the attack is reported as a waterborne improvised explosive device,” the UKMTO said. “The vessel and crew are reported as safe and the vessel is proceeding to their next port of call.”
The UKMTO did not elaborate, but the Houthis have used bomb-laden drone boats to attacks ships.
The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack.
Wind-driven wildfire spreads near popular central Oregon vacation spot and prompts evacuations
By: Mark Thiessen
LA PINE, OREGON (AP) – A wildfire in Oregon’s high desert, near the popular vacation destination of Bend, grew rapidly Wednesday, and officials urged the continued evacuations of hundreds of homes in the area best known for its microbreweries, hiking, river rafting and skiing on nearby Mount Bachelor.
The wind-driven Darlene 3 wildfire was just outside city limits of La Pine, about 30 miles (48 kilometres) south of Bend, and grew to nearly four square miles (ten square kilometres).
Video taken Tuesday showed a huge plume of thick smoke billowing behind homes, strip malls and grocery stores. Officials set up an evacuation centre at a local high school and were working to get horses and other animals out of the area.
Firefighters were able to build a defence around the fire overnight, and fire managers listed the blaze at 30 per cent contained Wednesday.
The concern, however, was stronger winds forecasted for later Wednesday, which again could fan the fire.
Biden, Trump square off for a podium rematch, signalling start of presidential battle
By: Kelly Geraldine Malone
(AP) – Joe Biden and Donald Trump are preparing to square off in their first presidential debate of the campaign tonight as the tight race for leadership of the United States begins to ramp up.
The current president and the one-time occupant of the Oval Office are looking to highlight their respective policies, personal qualities and visions for the country.
The matchup in Atlanta is taking place historically early in the timeline of a general election and it’s uncertain whether the debate will spur interest from Americans who aren’t already engaged, said the University of Pennsylvania’s Marc Trussler.
Millions are expected to watch, which is important for both camps in an election that could be decided by a small fraction of voters in a handful of battleground states, including Pennsylvania.
Police clash with protesters in Kenya as the military patrols the streets
By: Evelyne Musambi
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenyan police on Thursday clashed with protesters in Nairobi before planned protests against a contentious finance bill, despite the president’s decision not to sign it after the plans sparked deadly chaos in the capital and saw protesters storming and burning part of the parliament building.
Protesters who said last week that they would march to the State House on Thursday say they still don’t trust President William Ruto, who has said the tax hikes would be withdrawn and budget cuts would be made.
Police have hurled tear gas canisters at groups of protesters attempting to congregate within the central business district. The military has been patrolling the city despite a Wednesday court order that suspended their deployment to support police during the protests.
3 killed and dozens injured in northern Russia when a passenger train derails
MOSCOW (AP) — A passenger train derailment in northern Russia killed three people and injured dozens, officials said Thursday.
The 14-carriage train derailed Wednesday night in Russia’s northern republic of Komi, state rail company Russian Railways said in a statement, with nine carriages coming off the tracks. About 40 people were injured, 10 of them requiring hospitalization, state news agencies reported.
The body of the third victim, a 16-year-old girl, was found Thursday afternoon, according to the Investigative Committee, Russia’s main agency for investigating possible criminal cases.
The cause of the derailment of the train, which was carrying 232 passengers, was likely that heavy rains had washed out a portion of the tracks, the railway company said. It was not clear whether crew negligence was a factor.
