Uzbekistan hosts 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand
The 43rd session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference has opened in Samarkand, bringing...
Long queues stretched across La Paz on Friday as fuel shortages and soaring prices of essential goods fueled growing public frustration.
From the early hours, residents lined up outside supermarkets, scrambling to buy necessities at rising prices, while the deepening fuel crisis further strained daily life in the capital.
The shortages stem from a prolonged economic downturn driven by declining foreign currency reserves and a steady drop in domestic gas production. With pressure mounting on President Luis Arce’s government, officials have introduced subsidies to control price hikes and recently allowed state energy company YPFB to use cryptocurrency for fuel imports in a bid to ease supply disruptions.
Despite the worsening crisis, Arce dismissed claims that Bolivia is on the brink of bankruptcy. “They say our country is bankrupt, but Bolivia is not bankrupt. Our economy continues to generate public investment and redistribute income among Bolivians,” he said at a press conference.
The president also rejected speculation about his resignation. “We’ve heard rumors that I will step down. In this very Casa Grande (the presidential residence), we have faced blockades, marches, smear campaigns, even coup attempts—and we remain committed to fulfilling the people’s mandate,” he declared.
Yet discontent among citizens is growing. Local resident Pamela Quisbert described the struggle of waiting in long lines for basic goods. “We have to queue from 4 a.m. just to buy cooking oil, rice, and fuel. People sleep on the streets to secure a spot. Is this normal? This is what socialism has brought us—just like in Cuba and Venezuela, where people suffer in endless lines,” she said.
The crisis is also affecting daily routines. Schools and universities have reported lower attendance as the government promotes remote work and virtual classes. Drone footage has captured miles-long lines at fuel stations, with some displaying signs reading “No fuel available.”
Rolando Quispe, another resident, voiced his frustration while waiting in line. “My five-year-old son has been with me in this queue since yesterday. The situation is alarming and frustrating. I hope things improve, but honestly, it seems like they will only get worse,” he said.
As economic pressures mount, the government is scrambling to stabilize the situation. But for many Bolivians, the reality remains the same—long queues, growing uncertainty, and an increasingly fragile economic outlook.
Reliable sources have confirmed to AnewZ that the United States has asked Azerbaijan to join a Stabilisation Force in Gaza, as part of a proposed international mission to secure the territory.
Centrist liberal party D66, led by 38-year-old Rob Jetten, has made sweeping gains in the Dutch election, emerging neck and neck with Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV) in early results — a stunning reversal just two years after D66 ranked sixth.
Tanzanian police fired tear gas and live rounds on Thursday to disperse protesters in Dar es Salaam and other cities, a day after a disputed election marked by violence and claims of political repression, witnesses said.
U.S. President Donald Trump agreed with President Xi Jinping to trim tariffs on China in exchange for Beijing cracking down on the illicit fentanyl trade, Trump said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that the most difficult situation on the front line remains the eastern city of Pokrovsk, where fighting continues to be most intense due to a strong concentration of Russian forces.
Families gathered at a morgue in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday to identify loved ones killed in what has become Brazil’s deadliest police operation, while funerals were held for four officers who died during the raids.
Torrential rain battered New York on Thursday, leaving two people dead, Mayor Eric Adams confirmed, as severe storms disrupted flights and prompted flood warnings across parts of the city.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced plans to introduce a pension top-up as part of a wider pre-election spending drive ahead of the 2026 national vote.
The United States’ participation at this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea has been “very strong and robust,” a senior U.S. official said on Friday, after President Donald Trump left before the start of the leaders’ meeting.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth began a round of talks with Asian counterparts on Friday at a defence summit in Malaysia, urging closer cooperation to counter China's growing assertiveness and signing a 10-year military pact with India.
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