Eight private institutions of higher learning have been shut down in the month of February, a move by President Ortega that many read as a clear aim at controlling still further critical voices and alternative thinking in universities

Over 1730 cases of Chikungunya have been registered in Nicaragua since the beginning of the year; symptoms can be similar to those of Dengue fever, and authorities recommend a professional evaluation for the diagnosis

Regarding the constitutional reform that will exclude anyone who is labelled as “traitor” or “coup-plotter” from participating in future elections, President Daniel Ortega commented that there won’t be any elections

While authorities present Nicaragua as a country of peace and harmony, an international report denounces deterioration in religious freedom; in the worsening persecution of Christians a priest returning from Spain after his graduation was denied entry

Nicaragua is ranked worst of the Latin American states in terms of freedom of press for the second consecutive year: according to Reporters sans frontièrs, it sit in 168th place out of 180