Beginning on April 18 and continuing as of press time, throughout Nicaragua as many as 40 people were killed, including one police officer, and more than 100 were wounded in clashes with police while protesting proposed pension reforms. The protests were started by pensioners, who soon were joined by students and workers. During the unrest, protesters damaged government buildings, setting some on fire.
In the Central African Republic in early April, a UN peacekeeping mission known as MINUSCA was accused of killing 21 civilians in the capital, Bangui. At least 40 others were reported injured. On April 12, Banguians laid 17 of the bodies of the deceased at the entrance to the UN headquarters to protest the killing.
A man intentionally drove a rental van onto the sidewalk and into a number of people in downtown Toronto, Canada, on April 23, killing 10 and injuring 15 others. The driver was arrested without incident a few blocks from the attack.
The driver was identified as a local student who had expressed anger toward women on social media posts, including an incitement to violence before the attack.
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan resigned on April 23 after two weeks of antigovernment protests. Sarksyan, who had previously served as Armenia’s president for 10 years, was accused of manipulating the constitution in order to give more power to the prime minister before his appointment.
After his resignation, a meeting between the ruling Republican Party and opposition groups was canceled, prompting leaders of the opposition to call for continued protests, saying that protests would continue until the Republican Party relinquished control of the government.
A bush fire in Sydney, Australia, that started on April 14 burned more than 6,000 acres of land, threatening homes in the suburbs south of the city, before being brought under control on April 16. Authorities described the fire as “highly suspicious” and believe it may have been set deliberately. Investigations were ongoing as of press time.
In the state of Victoria, Australia, an epidemic was declared for Buruli, an ulcerative, flesh-eating bacterial disease originating in Africa, after cases of the disease increased by 400% in four years. At least 275 cases were reported in the state in 2017, an increase of 51% from the year before.
With no reported cases for more than a year, the Bahamas have been declared free of the Zika virus by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The country is now listed as an “Area with Interrupted Transmission,” meaning that Zika had previously been present but is no longer found there. The CDC’s new designation indicates that women who are pregnant or couples who are planning to become pregnant may safely travel to the Bahamas.
The US Department of State posts up-to-date travel advisories on every country and many territories, ranking each 1 (Exercise normal precautions), 2 (Exercise increased caution), 3 (Reconsider travel) or 4 (Do not travel). Note: A country’s regions are also ranked and may have different rankings than the country as a whole. Visit travel.state.gov and click on “Travel Advisories” at the top of the page.
This month, the winners are DENZIL and JENNIE VERARDO of Elk Grove, California:
8 days, 7 nights in southern ITALY, Sept. 17-24, 2018. Highlights: From Bari to Ruvo di Puglia for Castel del Monte/in Martina Franca, 18th-century Basilica di San Martino/trulli in Alberobello/sassi in Matera/in Lecce, 12th-century Abbey of Santa Maria Cerrate/11th-century Otranto Cathedral. From London, £2,495 (near $3,437) per person, double occupancy (ppdo); land only, £2,330 ($3,210) ppdo. Single supp., £335 ($462).