♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... woman: two retiring executives turn their focus to greyhounds, giving these former race dogs a real chance to win. a raymond james fincial advisor gets to know you,

your purpose, and the way you give back. life well planned. man: cunard is a proud supporter of public television. on a voyage with cunard, the world awaits. a world of flavor. diverse destinations. and immersive experiences. a world of leisure... and british style. all with cunard's "white-star" service. announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news"

quick i'm caitríona perry in washington and this is bbc world news america. an apparent military coup attempt is underway in bolivia as soldiers and government tanks circle buildings in laplace. kenya's president withdraws a controversial tax bill. we ask whether it's a victory for protesters. young people say this isn't our problem. it has been made our problem. we refuse it. we say no. >> president pardons troops convicted under a military ban on gay sex. we speak to somebody who has been directly impacted. >> hello. welcome to world news america. i'm caitríona perry. breaking from bolivia, and attempted coup appears to be underway where hundreds of

soldiers and armored vehicles have encircled government buildings for the president has denounced the irregular presence of army units and called for democracy to be respected. the coup attempt is being led by the head of the army who gave an interview outside the presidential cabinet saying it was about to be changed. evo morales earned community leaders to take to the streets to defend democracy and the rule of law. there has been widespread international condemnation of the apparent coup from several world leaders. to get the latest i am joined by will grant our mexico cuba and central america correspondent. talk us through what we know and what is happening. >> it is a fluid situation in bolivia. it looks, certainly, from those on the ground, to l intents and purposes like a coup

attempt. when you have the military making what the president has called irregular mobilization outside the doors of the presidential palace around the main plaza where the government ildings are based of course it sends a huge warning and echo around his communities and around his support base. we have seen people marathas, the elder statesman of the left in bolivia come support this. we have seen neighboring friendly states like venezuela condemn it in the international community and we have seen the general involved say he recognizes for the time being for the moment but there would be host cell challenges to the cabinet. what that means is far too murky to say but it's a critical moment in bolivia. >> was there a specific incident that triggered this today? what is the background?

>> good question. there has been a lot of tension in bolivia. between luis arce and -- the president, and evo morales. if they have not seen eye to eye for a time now over a range of issues in bolivian politics. but that seemed contained to the movement of coca growers and indigenous movement in bolivia and this looks like a separate thing. we don't need to think back too far to the role of the military in forcing evo morales from power in 2019. there were a lot of disgruntled military men over how that was handled that phil -- feel the military became scapegoats for the state of the country and the fact they took action. a lot of them ended up on charges. exactly what is behind this is

there is a specific moment that has prompted this. i would not put it down to a single moment. it feels like a return to the bad old days in bolivian politics before the stability morales brought, decades of stability, admittedly, under one man. it made bolivia a more stable nation. this looks like a return to a lack of stability, the role of the military and the dangers in that. in south america, that echoes back through generations. >> thank you for joining us. we apologize to viewers who may have struggled to hear some of what he was saying. kenya's president william ruto decided to withdraw a finance bill that included controversial tax hikes following major protests were at least 23 people were killed read of the bill aimed to raise an additional 2.7 billion dollars in taxes in an effort to light thevy debt kimye is facing. opponents of the bill said tax

increases would harm people already struggling with the rising cost of living. in response to the bill demonstrators broke into kenya's parliament and set parts of it on fire. president ruto was initially defiant but addressing the nation wednesday he said he has changed course. >> having reflected on the continuing conversation around the content of the finance bill 2024 and listening keenly to the people of kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with these -- this finance bill 2024, i concede. therefore, i won't sign. i won't sign the 2020 for finance bill. >> the bill initially contained in taxes on basic goods including bigs, bread., and

cooking oil as well as a fresh taxes on digital products like mobile phones internet, and bank transfer fees and included a tax on goods and services for specialized hospitals which canyons worried was drive up the price of health care. some of those removed from the bill before president -- wednesday's announcement by president ruto. our rafa correspondent barbara plett-usher has been following the story in nairobi. ask a dramatic reversal. president ruto stood firm until now but he finally bowed to public opposition to the contentious tax bill. he laid out a clear rationale as to why he thought it was necessary. he said the funds were needed to reduce the national debt and for development purposes. he conceded the people simply were not behind him. he said he would not sign the bill. it's a significant change of tone from the one he adopted after protesters stormed parliament. then, he filed a full security sponse against what he called

treasonous events. the police presence killed more than 20 people and injured more. there was condemnation from organizations in kenya and there was concern expressed by president ruto's international partners that are restraint. now that he has climbed down it may diffuse dangerous tensions in the country, but some prominent activists have already dismissed this. they said it's too little too late. it won't bring back the dead. they say it's a pr stunt and have pledged to return to the street. >> president william ruto says he will engage with young people on the issue. one activist focused on supporting kenyan youth is, obama the half sister of former u.s. president barack obama. she joined the president -- the protest and spoke about what so many canyons are thinking about. president ruto anunced he

wants on the finance bill. can that be described as a victory f the protesters? >> i'm not sure. look at the mood in the country. look at the social media comments being posted following his speech at announcement. i think there's still a lot of skepticism. i think also for legal reasons it's difficult to withdraw a bill at this stage. we have a very strong, very good constitution that clearly outlines what is possible and what is allowed and what is not. an individual cannot just withdraw a bill. it goes through a process. the thing that is may be unlucky for us older people. we have underestimated the young people, the gen z. they are very well informed. they are well organized and have legal people among them that are informed. the conversation happening now is yes, it is great that the

president has made this announcement. he said he conceded. the reality is he cannot do this on his own. it is a whole process. there is still a lot of skeptism among young people. i would say there's a lot of anxiety in the country regarding what took place over the last days. >> indeed. to ask you about that we saw the protests provoke significant response from the kenyan authorities, human rights groups estimating 20 three people were killed and the united nations secretary general calling for restraint. what did you see? you were tear gas yourself at 1.i gather? >> yes. i was there. i saw young peoe peafully, protesting the status quo they are concerned about. peacefully trying to have their voices heard. peacefully trying to reach out to our leaders to listen to them. unfortunately, what we

experience to, even before i came out on the streets, i was able to observe already that by 9:30, 10 :00 tear gas was being shot at the young people. it was coming out of vehicles. this is the interesting thing. and what was then coming out of th ammunition and the equipment being carried were rubber bullets that came later and then live bullets. i experienced tear gas being shot at young people very early. i assume it was to disperse them and not enable them together. but this was already the wrong approach. it is the constitutional right of everyya to demonstrate and to talk and express views around issues that concern them. that helps governance. you can only govern a people if you talk with the people. if you know their issues and allow them to be a part of the decision-making process. that's what the young people

wanted. they did not get it. the only violence i saw on the street was the violence against the young people. the later looting and whatever else happened in the evening happened after the young people were leaving the city center. because, all of us were leaving. all of us were telling young people to leave. at that point there were other issues in parliament. we knew that young people would be targeted and a lot of lives would be lost. we pleaded with the young people. we did not have to plead. every young person was very focused and well behaved. at least, this is what i experienced. >> on that point about how unhappy young people are with the administration and the situation in kenya now. you work with young people through your foundation. what is life like for young canyons -- kenyans? >> almost 80% of our population is under 35. gen z and millennials are about

60% of the population. this group of people within our community, up to 50% are unemployed. they have a sense that their futures are hopeless. they do not see and feel the government working for their benefit, or for the benefit of kenya as a whole. what has happened is basically every step of the way, they have been hearing what they will have to pay, what their parents have to pay. all of the taxation coming up, all things canyons can't cope with. it is a build up of a lot of economic stress. even before the current government. the government would have been better placed to look at the situation to see what they can do for kenyans. the big conversation about how we are all being taxed because debts have to be paid have enraged not just the youth. i think the generation and the generation before me, those who are still there with us are

feeling pretty helpless. they use less so because they are going on the streets, but the rest of us, you get taxed. you pay for a debt you did not sign up for. this is causing the problem. it is not adding up. this country in particular, we were told the reason we are getting out of this taxation is because we have a debt to pay by actually specified.th that was you cannot come off the back of the people try to pay debts you have incurred. it does not make sense. it's irresponsible. to incur debts when you know your people are jobless, that they have no way of giving you the money to pay you back, that's irreonsible. you can't work that way. that is not how one should be governing a country. young people are just saying, this is not our problem, but it has been made our problem and we refuse it. we say no. >> the wikileaks founder julian assange arrived in australia wednesday a free man for the first time in 14 years after

reaching a plea deal with the u.s. government. he was sentenced to time already served in a british prison on a single espionage charge for leaking classified military documents. our correspondt katy watson was in canberra when julian assange arrived and filed this report. >> the political win for australia. a political victory for julian assange and his family. this is a homecoming they have long been waiting for. so too his supporters. >> there are no words to do it justice to be honest. i have had the shakes. i can't eat the last few days. i can't sleep. >> do you think opinion will be divided that he gave one guilty plea? how does it make you feel? >> dads sufficiently for america. they don't even have the decency to except they have already been

told t appeal was likely to be successful. >> shortly after landing he was whisked away for his first night of freedom. supporters have come here to the hotel where julian assange is saying with the hope of getting a glimpse of him. people have been campaigning for years. there was a concerted effort of politicians and diplomats here in australia talking to the u.s.. that made a difference bringing him home. for those anxious to hear his story, they will have to wait longer -- a while longer. >> julian wanted me to sincerely thank everyone for it he wanted to be here. but you have to understand what he has been through. he nds time. he needs to recuperate. this is a process. >> in the packed press conference, much praise was heaped on the australian prime minister for making it happen.

>> of the prime minister was the first person to get on the phone to speak to julian. julian thanked him and the team. he told the prime minister he had saved his life. >> the two men spoke on the phone after julian assange landed, but they have not yet met. >> i believe in standing up for australian citizens. i make that very clear. i have made it clear from the beginning. i had the same position as an opposition leader on all the issues as i have had as prime minister. as prime minister of australia, you have an opportunity to make a difference. >> this marks the end of an epic journey for julian assange, back on home turf. with that, an end to 14 years of legal battles and diplomatic headaches. katy watson, bbc, canberra. >> for more i have been speaking to the brother of julian assange and the chairperson of the

assigned campaign, gabriel shipton. he has been campaigning for his brother's release for years includin when he visited washington dc last year as part of a bipartisan delegation of australian parliamentarians. he told me what was next for his brother. >> the plea he has to sign essentially says he is guilty of journalism. it is one charge under the espionage act. the plea actually describes journalism. it's a criminalization of investigative journalism, of the journalist source relationship. it will have an incredible chilling effect on national security journalism. i think only -- the only way to wipe that off the books now is to pursue a pardon for julian and at that is what we will be doing. the biden administration has said many times they cannot interfere in the department of justice and the department of justice proceedings. now those are over. now, the biden administrn

has a chance to really correct the record and do the right thing. the new york times has called on the biden administration to bring this prosecution to an end, as has all press freedom organizations in the united states commit amnesty human rights watch. they have written multiple letters to the biden administration. there is plenty of good will for the biden administration to take up now by giving this pleand is standing up for press freedom saying, investigative journalism , national security journalism is not a crime. bucks president joe biden pardon to thousands of u.s. veterans wednesday that were convicted of crimes under a military law that banned gay sex over a six decade time frame. on x joe biden said he was using his authority to pardon certain former service members convicted simply for being themselves. the pardon applies to those convicted between a 1951 and

2013 when consensual sodomy was repealed as a military offense. lgbtq advocacy groups praised the biden's decision. officials estimate the pardon affects around 2000 people. earlier i spoke to one of them, former u.s. air force officer steve moreau's that served two years in prison after being charged with three counts of consensual sodomy in the 1980's. today, joe biden is pardoning you and thousands of others adapt were convicted and in your case jailed essentially for being gay. how are you today? is it a great day in your life? >> it's pretty fantastic. it is what i have been waiting and hoping for for a long time. it's metered excitement and enthusiasm. >> the announcement is not, here are all the people we are pardoning. it is, we will do this. potentially thousands of people,

and there is a process. they put a process in place to apply to get the pardon. obviously there are parameters. you need to have been convicted of article 125 consensual sodomy purely based on your sexual orientation. that is the case for me. that is why i do have optimism. but, it's not done deal, if it makes sense. >> sure. talk about the impact of having this conviction, the criminal record on your life, your career for almost 40 years now? >> for the longest time it just sat in the background. i had a therapist that dug up a lot of the baggage, the emotional regrets, the guilt, the heavyweight, that i built walls about emotionally. i do know that when i got out,

old friends told me a light had gone out in me. that they could tell there was a change in me. i proceeded as an out and proud gay man after that. i used it as my motivation to become militant. there have been moments where this tripped me up a little bit. it is a felony record. thankfully i live in a state that does not consider you a convicted felon if it is not a felony here and it's not, so i can vote. my ex-husband was a police officer. i wanted to get a job with a police department as a dispatcher and i scored very highly but they could not because of my record. they said, that we want you, but we can't. that was an example of when it stopped me from getting a job. i am in the financial industry. i have backgrounds done. to register as a fedal rep, as a registered rep. they do backgrounds every time.

when i changed jobs i have to dig it all up again and show them, this is what it was. this is what the charges were. this is the outcome. this is why it happened. i have not yet been denied a job, outside the police's job i mentioned, for it yet. but, there is just the feeling inside, having to dredge all that up and hope they land on, garth, yeah, don't worry about this. that's not necessarily guaranteed. they could go, we won't mess with this because you have this record. i can't get into canada. they don't care what your conviction is, they won't let you in. >> and no pardon can ever give you back to the two years you spent in jail as well. >> no. i was asked what it was like. i tell people, it was a military prison. it wasn't like these were career

criminals. these were all people that had been in the military but there were murderers, write this, thieves. i would have rather been anywhere else. it was still present. the fact people told me they could tell it had changed something in me and that there had been a deep impact for those years, i can deny that all i want. i can pretend i'm resilient and i've got this. but in the end, it's trauma. so, yeah. they made me pay them back for college. they ended my career early. there are financial impacts as well as time impacts. and it just the idea that two years was -- actually, a year and a half. since my sentence was cut when they threw out one of the charges. but, that time is something i can't get back. you're right. >> why do you think this

pardoning process has not happened sooner? why do you think it took until now? >> i try not to spend on that too much because it's been frustrating. a lot of people have said that. this is me not looking a gift horse in the mouth. they asked that question. president biden could have done this years ago. why not now. i don't know. there is the glacial speed of the pentagon and of the government. i can put a lot on that. but i am just glad that the day has come. >> to bring you an update on our top story, the apparent coup attempt in bolivia. president park -- president announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... financial services firm, raymond james.

cunard is a proud supporter of public television. announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ announcer: get the free pbs app now and stream the best of pbs.

wow, you get to watch all your favorite stuff. it's to die for. now you won't miss a thing. this is the way. xfinity internet. made for streaming. ♪ >> good evening. >> tonight, the u.s. supreme court mistakenly posts a draft opinion signaling it may rule on abortion laws. >> a trial begins. we take a look at what is the tension says about russia today. >> the growing political divide within some christian