Portal:Current events/2014 April 2

Current events of April 2, 2014 (2014-04-02) (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Islamist unrest in Egypt (2013–present):
  • A bomb detonates near Cairo University killing a police chief and injuring 5 others. (BBC)
• A suicide bomber wearing a military uniform strikes a voter registration office in Kabul, Afghanistan killing 6 police officers. (AP via CTV)
• 2014 Fort Hood shooting:
  • A shooting is reported at the Fort Hood Army Base near the US town of Killeen, Texas with reports of at least four deaths, including the gunman, and 14 injuries. (Washington Post)

Business and economy

• Chrysler recalls nearly 870,000 SUVs from its Jeep and Dodge brands, citing brake issues. (KNTV)

Disasters and accidents

• 2014 Iquique earthquake:
  • The President of Chile Michelle Bachelet declares the northern part of Chile to be a disaster zone including the regions of Arica, Parinacota and Tarapaca. (ABC News Australia)
  • A 7.8 aftershock follows in the same area causing more damage. (RT)(USGS)

Law and crime

• The High Court of Australia recognises a neutral third gender that is neither male nor female. (AFP via Yahoo! News Australia)
• The Supreme Court of the United States, in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, votes (5-4) to overturn limits on the amount of money that an individual can donate to politicians' campaigns over a two-year cycle. (Washington Post)
• More than 100 mostly elderly residents of Chinatown are reported as victims of fraud from a travel agency. (KGO)

Politics and elections

• Garda phone tapping scandal:
  • Government sources claim white powder in an envelope and possibly a swastika have been sent to the home of the Irish Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter, who is embroiled in multiple political controversies. An army bomb disposal unit has moved in on Shatter's estate in Ballinteer, Dublin. (Independent)
  • A motion of no confidence brought by the opposition against Minister of Justice Alan Shatter is defeated 95–51 in the Dáil following a two-day debate. (RTÉ News)