With the new Sandinista Constitution, Ortega's Nicaragua aims to strengthen its grip on power, distancing itself from the Catholic Church and cutting ties with the Pope, continuing the persecution of believers and ecclesiastical institutions

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