Nicaragua: Despite a government attempt to defuse a mounting political crisis, protesters in Nicaragua took to the streets again by the thousands, as the violent unrest that started nearly a week ago over social security payments has swelled into broader outrage over President Daniel Ortega's authoritarian rule. After five days of protests and deadly clashes with police, Ortega went on television yesterday and announced he would reverse his decision to overhaul the social security system, a move he had pushed to require citizens to pay more during their working lives and receive less upon retirement. But his attempt to appease Nicaraguans appeared insufficient, as thousands of flag-waving residents marched through downtown Managua in opposition to violence by security forces, as well as in other cities such as Granada and Esteli.
Britain: A Scottish man who filmed a dog appearing to give Nazi salutes was fined £800 after being convicted of a hate crime, in a case that has sparked a debate about the limits of free speech. Mark Meechan filmed his girlfriend's pug responding to phrases such as "sieg heil" by raising its paw and posted the footage on YouTube in 2016. Meechan — a comedian and video blogger who uses the name Count Dankula — said the stunt was meant as a joke, but he was convicted last month of posting "grossly offensive" material. A judge at Scotland's Airdrie Sheriff Court imposed the fine today. Sheriff Derek O'Carroll said the video "contained menacing, anti-Semitic and racist material." The dog was filmed responding to "Gas the Jews," a phrase repeated 23 times in the video, O'Carroll said. Outside court, Meechan, 30, said his conviction set a "really dangerous precedent" for free speech and he would appeal.
Vlogger Mark Meechan has been fined £800 for training his girlfriend's pet pug to give Nazi salutes pic.twitter.com/45TlWxw7cd
— SkyNews (@SkyNews) April 23, 2018
United States: Documents show that Oregon child welfare officials knew the family in an 4WD that plunged off a California cliff had faced a child abuse investigation in another state when it looked into allegations in 2013. KOIN-TV in Portland reports that Oregon Child Protective Services obtained records from Minnesota before investigating Jennifer and Sarah Hart, who adopted six children. The agency closed its case after it couldn't determine whether abuse occurred. Records obtained by the TV station show the agency found "some indications of child abuse or neglect" but insufficient information to conclude it happened. California authorities say Jennifer Hart was drunk when she drove the family off a cliff and that her wife and several children had large amounts of a drug in their systems that can cause drowsiness. It happened days after authorities in Washington state opened an investigation.
North Korea: Leader Kim Jong Un has visited the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang to express "deep sympathy" over a bus crash that killed 32 Chinese tourists and critically injured two, the North's state media says. "He said that the unexpected accident brought bitter sorrow to his heart and that he couldn't control his grief at the thought of the bereaved families who lost their blood relatives," the North's central news agency said. The accident occurred when a bus crashed off a bridge in North Hwanghae Province. Four North Koreans were also killed in the accident.
