On October 18, health officials reported more than 2,000 cases (4x the normal amount) of Lyme disease infections since late September. The tick season began roughly two months earlier than normal, and has since been prolonged with peak transmission running from early spring to late autumn. Risk remains low without tick exposure; Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics.
On October 19, authorities will ban rail and road travel, suspend domestic flights, reinforce security around polling facilities and government buildings, and prohibit all political gatherings until 6:00 PM. Transportation services should resume by 12:00 PM on October 20. Checkpoints and patrols will be in effect in La Paz, Sucre, Santa Cruz, Chapare, and El Alto where interference warings raise risks of clashes. Results will be announced on October 26, though it could be contested, raising the risk of post-election demonstrations.
The French Louvre Museum is closed in Paris after a theft of the French Crown Jewels and other items from the Galerie d’Apollon collection. The thieves entered at approximately 9:30 AM using a small ladder truck. The theft took under 10 minutes, and the thieves escaped on e-scooters. Authorities have closed the Louvre, and a security operation is underway. The theft was non-violent. There is no apparent safety threat to the public at present.
The Trillion Peso March Movement (TPMM) Protesters will gather at 6:00 PM every Friday until November 28. The TPMM are protesting irregularities in flood control projects. These protests will culminate in a nationwide rally on November 30. Thousands of security personnel were deployed in September to control crowds and deter the violent protests. City disruptions are expected.
Nationwide anti-immigration demonstrations, part of the March for Australia movement, will take place across Australia on October 19. The protesters will call for an end to mass migration in Australia. They are scheduled to take place in cities throughout the country including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra and Adelaide. Counter demonstrators will protest the marches in multiple cities. Clashes between protesters are likely and a heightened security presence is expected.
Power grid operators warn that Spain could experience a mass outage over the coming weeks. Red Elécrtica de España, responsible for operating the Spanish power grid, reported that they have seen power fluctuations over the last two weeks that threaten the stability of the system. The mass power outage on April 28 left tens of millions without power. Phone service, transportation, and essential services were massively disrupted.
In opposition to a new labor bill that enacts a 13-hour workday, the Civil Servants’ Confederation (ADEDY) and Athens Labor Center (EKA) will engage in a nationwide 24-hour strike and corresponding 11:00 AM protest on October 14 at Syntagma Square in Athens. Their demands are higher wages and an abolishment of the 2% levy. This strike will cause disruptions in healthcare, transportation, education, private businesses, and government.
Protesters will gather at the Victoria Embankment in London and march towards Downing Street. A counter-protest has been scheduled for the same place and time as the pro-Palestinian protest. There is heightened potential for scuffles between rival activist groups and the police. Police are likely to arrest any demonstrators deemed to be supporting Palestine Action, the group which has recently been deemed a terrorist organization by the British government.
Heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds have caused severe impact across several Mexican states (including Chiapas, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz). Flooding and landslides have killed at least 37 people and damaged about 6,000 homes. The storms cut power to roughly 320,000 users and closed major roadways. Further residual disruptions are likely over the coming days as conditions stabilize.
The Autonomous Union of Senior Health Technicians (SATSUS) called for the strike in response to the government’s continued failure to act on the reclassification of senior health technicians, despite having previously signed agreements on the matter. The strike will occur for 48 hours and is expected to affect major hospitals and healthcare institutions across the country. Consequently, substantial disruptions to public health services are anticipated until the strike concludes.