Plus: US election debate preview, and Harry Potter's record auction price ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| Hello. Bolivian President Luis Arce has survived an apparent coup attempt. Will Grant and Kathryn Armstrong unravel the chaotic events of the past few days. From Pakistan, Caroline Davies reports on a surge in deaths during a brutal heatwave. We're also looking ahead to the first debate of the 2024 US presidential election, and explain how young protesters in Kenya forced a U-turn on a key reform. Finally, a Harry Potter illustration casts a spell on US auction buyers. | |
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TOP OF THE AGENDA | Ousted general detained over coup attempt | | The coming weeks will be key in establishing whether Gen Zuñiga's military insurrection was just an isolated incident. Credit: Reuters | The tree-lined Plaza Murillo in Bolivia's capital La Paz was the focus of dramatic scenes on Wednesday, when armoured vehicles took up positions around key government buildings. One military vehicle rammed the main gate of the presidential palace, allowing soldiers to enter. They were apparently acting on the orders of Gen Juan José Zúñiga, who said he wanted to “restructure democracy”. He had been removed from his role as army chief the previous day after making comments related to Bolivia's former president Evo Morales. There were no reports of serious injuries or deaths and the soldiers later withdrew. Gen Zúñiga was arrested, seconds after telling reporters the military had intervened at President Luis Arce request. The public prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation and the head of the Bolivian Navy has also been arrested.
In pictures: These images portray how a tumultuous day in Bolivian history unfolded.
From the archives: In 2022, former Bolivian President Jeanine Áñez was sentenced to 10 years in jail over what prosecutors say was a coup to oust her predecessor Evo Morales.
Country profile: What you need to know about Bolivia's history and society. | |
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| Mounting death toll from heatwave | | Heatwave centres and camps have been set up to try to provide relief to the public. Credit: Getty Images | Temperatures in southern Pakistan have soared above 40C (104F), with high humidity making it feel as hot as 49C. Civil Hospital Karachi admitted 267 people with heatstroke between Sunday and Wednesday. Most of the patients had been working outdoors. |
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| | Caroline Davies, Pakistan correspondent |
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| | Wasim Ahmed knew he wasn’t feeling well when he arrived home. The 56-year-old security guard had just finished a 12-hour overnight shift outside. Even then, he had found the temperatures too much. “He came through the door and said I can’t deal with this hot weather,” Adnan Zafar, Wasim’s cousin, told the BBC. “He asked for a glass of water. Soon after he finished it, he collapsed.” By the time Wasim’s family got him to hospital, the medics said he had already died of a suspected heart attack. |
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BEYOND THE HEADLINES | Kenya's youth 1 - President Ruto 0 |
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| | | President William Ruto said he was listening to Kenya's youth in withdrawing unpopular tax proposals. Credit: Shutterstock | Kenya's youth have shown how the power of protest, organised largely organically and through social media, can force one of Africa’s most internationally regarded leaders to junk a flagship policy. From Nairobi, Stewart Maclean reflects on the event's significance. |
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SOMETHING DIFFERENT | Hunting Nazi-era bombs | Robots are helping to clear more than 1.6 million tonnes of unexploded weapons. | |
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And finally... | A new record has been set for the most valuable Harry Potter item ever sold. An original watercolour illustration for the first edition of the first book of JK Rowling's saga, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, fetched $1.9m (£1.5m) at an auction in the US. The artwork sold for more than three times the expected price. | |
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Medal Moments | Your daily newsletter guide to the Paris Olympics, from global highlights to heroic stories, throughout the Games. | |
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