The controversy surrounding former official Juan Cardama has escalated into a major political dispute in Uruguay. Cardama is accused of alleged irregularities and possible fraud linked to state management and public funds , though the legal process is still ongoing. While some lawmakers argue there are sufficient grounds to investigate potential misuse of resources, others warn against turning the process into political persecution. Commentators describe Parliament as a “war zone”, reflecting the intense institutional and partisan confrontation sparked by the case. The debate now centres not only on whether Cardama committed wrongdoing, but also on how the investigation should proceed and under what majority rules.

Senate researcher suggests majority backing for a Cardama investigation commission

A Senate pre-investigator recommended to legislators that a majority vote should be sufficient to create a commission to investigate the Cardama case, rather than a qualified majority. The suggestion reflects growing political pressure to examine alleged irregularities tied to state contracts and public funds. Lawmakers are now debating whether to establish the special commission, with supporters arguing it will enhance transparency and critics warning it may fuel political polarisation. The move signals rising institutional scrutiny of corruption allegations.

Government expands drought aid measures to 12 departments

Uruguay’s Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) announced it is extending emergency assistance measures for drought relief to 12 departments, as parts of the country face serious water deficits affecting crops, livestock and rural livelihoods. The package includes support for water access, feed assistance and flexible loan conditions for affected farmers. Officials stressed the need for coordinated regional responses and early planning to mitigate ongoing climate stress. Local governors welcomed the announcement but urged faster implementation in the hardest-hit areas.

Well-known Punta del Este businessman charged; daughter under investigation in US

A prominent Punta del Este entrepreneur has been formally charged in Uruguay in a high-profile case that has drawn significant media attention. Authorities also revealed that the businessman’s daughter, currently in the United States, is being investigated by US law enforcement for her alleged involvement in related activities. Details of the case remain under judicial seal, but sources say the charges relate to financial misconduct and possible cross-border elements. The development has raised questions about accountability and international cooperation in complex financial crime cases.

Emails and parties reveal link between Epstein and famous Italian businessman in Uruguay

Investigative reporting has uncovered emails and social events suggesting a connection between Jeffrey Epstein and a well-known Italian businessman who spent significant time in Uruguay. The correspondence and social records indicate that Epstein and the businessman attended overlapping events and had contact over the years, prompting renewed scrutiny of elite networks tied to Epstein’s global activities. Journalists say the links shed light on how powerful figures moved within common social circles, with implications for understanding Epstein’s reach beyond the United States.

"Partners indicate that at least 120,000 people were displaced between September and December, as water prices soar, food becomes increasingly scarce, livestock die, and livelihoods collapse, " OCHA said in the update released on Monday, December 22.

The situation is also disrupting education, with more than 75,000 students having dropped out of school nationwide. OCHA anticipates that the upcoming dry season, spanning January to March, will exacerbate existing drought conditions. 

The agency warned of increased water shortages, further livestock deaths, and rising food insecurity across many regions. 

"Authorities are appealing for urgent assistance to avert a possible collapse of pastoral and farming livelihoods and to prevent avoidable loss of life. They warn that the next four months will be critical, as the next rainy season is not expected until April 2026," the update stated. 

Despite the challenges, OCHA confirmed that the UN and its partners are actively involved in the response. "Support includes assessments, mapping available supply stocks, and coordinating emergency responses across water, food, nutrition, health and shelter sectors." 

Humanitarian teams are also delivering cash assistance, distributing animal fodder, rehabilitating boreholes, and conducting field visits to monitor conditions and prepare for early interventions, according to OCHA. However, these operations are severely limited by ongoing financial constraints. 

Earlier this month, it was reported that over 680 staff members with UN agencies in Somalia had been laid off since the beginning of 2025, following widespread funding shortages that have disrupted various humanitarian and development programs.

In response to the crisis, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher allocated $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support immediate needs. OCHA emphasised that "substantially more support is urgently needed."

The Somali NGO Consortium (SNC) also voiced concern over the deteriorating situation.

 “The resources required to save lives are shrinking while communities grow more desperate. Somalia cannot afford to reverse the hard-won progress of recent years,” Nimo Hassan, Director of the Somali NGO Consortium, said in a December 14 press release .

With just days before the end of 2025, officials indicate that the humanitarian response plan for Somalia had received only about $370 million of the $1.4 billion required, representing just one-quarter of the total funding target.

An IGAD regional analysis in the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises shows that the number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity across the Horn of Africa has tripled over the past decade, rising from about 14 million in 2016 to more than 41 million this year. Kenya is among the countries most affected.

Forecasts from IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre indicate drier-than-normal conditions in parts of eastern Kenya, with some areas already experiencing below-average rainy seasons. Another failed season could deepen food shortages and accelerate malnutrition.

The crisis is being compounded by funding cuts to humanitarian programmes. Across the region, more than 11 million children under five are acutely malnourished, with over three million needing urgent, life-saving treatment. Aid agencies warn that reduced funding could leave up to one million people without access to critical nutrition services.

The Red Cross says the scale of need in Kenya continues to grow and has called for increased resources to sustain food, water and health interventions. Without urgent support and improved rainfall, humanitarian groups warn that the country could slide further into a full-scale hunger emergency.

As visualised by World Visualized, these phenomena, known collectively as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), are not just oceanic curiosities. They are key drivers of extreme climate events worldwide.

Backed by insights from the NOAA Climate , the graphics offer a clear breakdown of when these events occurred, how intense they were, and what their global impacts have been.

According to the NASA Earth Observatory , El Niño and La Niña alter atmospheric circulation, impacting rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns globally. The Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) is used to classify their intensity, with anomalies above +0.5°C (El Niño) or below -0.5°C (La Niña) for several consecutive months.

These shifts, particularly when strong, reshape monsoon behaviour , increase wildfire frequency, and even disrupt global trade routes due to abnormal storm tracks.

El Niño: The heat-bringer

El Niño (Spanish for “The Little Boy”) refers to warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. It typically occurs every 2–7 years and disrupts normal weather patterns globally.

Impacts:

The most recent El Niño event was between 2023 and 2024 and was classified as a strong El Niño, which impacted crop yields and global commodity prices.

Since 1952, there have been 27 El Niño events, with 11 weak, 7 moderate, 6 strong, and 3 very strong events recorded.

La Niña: The cold counterpart

La Niña (Spanish for “The Little Girl”) is characterised by cooler-than-average Pacific Ocean temperatures. Often considered El Niño’s opposite, La Niña can persist longer and deliver more intense and erratic weather, according to NOAA and WMO.

Impacts:

Over the last 70 years, 25 La Niña events have occurred: 13 weak, 6 moderate, and 7 strong. 2024 to 2025 is classified as a weak La Niña year.

The lack of rain and rising heat are damaging crops, drying up water sources, and turning pasturelands to dust, making life harder for families who depend on farming and livestock to survive.

The report also shows a decline in vegetation growth, which points to worsening drought conditions.

“Much of Afghanistan is facing a dangerous drop in rainfall and a rise in temperatures. This is not only harming the land, but also pushing more people into poverty and hunger,” parts of the statement said .

More than 60% of Afghans rely on agriculture for work, but years of unpredictable weather, shrinking water levels, and poor management of natural resources have left many communities struggling.

Without strong water systems and better ways to store rainwater, the country is not equipped to handle

The UN is calling on global donors and regional leaders to help.

The report notes that Afghanistan needs urgent support to build sustainable water systems, improve farming methods, and set up early warning tools to prepare for future droughts.

Helping local communities adapt is key to protecting their future.

As the climate crisis deepens, the UN says only a united and long-term effort can prevent more damage to the country’s environment and avoid further humanitarian emergencies.

Over 60 donkeys have already died in the region where MARES, an animal welfare organisation, is operating.

The situation is growing worse as temperatures soar and the land continues to wither under extremely high temperatures.

Even boreholes that could provide water for the animals are not helping much. Zimbabwe’s electricity problems mean that power cuts last up to 20 hours a day.

Without electricity, water cannot be pumped to the surface from these boreholes, leaving animals thirsty and weak.

The drought is devastating for both people and animals. As conditions worsen, the donkeys, which are essential for transport and farming in rural areas, are dying in large numbers.

The province is now struggling to adapt to the changing climate as staple crops continue to be threatened.

Limpopo has always been dry, but the droughts are getting worse. A UN official called the current drought in southern Africa the worst in 100 years.

The change in livestock farming forms part of efforts by farmers to explore more viable ways of farming amidst the drought.

Majority of them can’t afford irrigation or modern technology and therefore still depend on rain.

“Goats are more climate resilient. They can survive on less grass and even eat acacia trees,” Kingsley Ayisi, director of the University of Limpopo’s Centre for Global Change was quoted as saying .

Climate change in Limpopo is not only affecting animals, crops like maize are also being affected as farmers are advised to move to other crops like sorghum.

Ayisi says solutions like shade nets to protect crops and better water management could help. But these require money and government support, both of which are in short supply.

South Africa loses nearly half of its water through leaks, theft, or unpaid bills, according to reports. Rich countries have promised to help fund climate adaptation, but the money is far less than what poorer countries say they need.

A government official suggested the region should focus on industries like logistics, banking, or public services, which don’t need as much water but this would be difficult in a province with limited infrastructure and education.

Athimni noted that their income has significantly declined. “We’re earning half, sometimes just a third, of what we used to,” she said.

Tunisia produces approximately 10,000 tonnes of aromatic and medicinal herbs annually, according to official data. Rosemary, which accounts for over 40% of essential oil exports, is shipped primarily to France and the United States.

For two decades, Athimni’s collective has supported families in Tbainia, a village near Ain Draham. In a region with poverty levels higher than the national average, women comprise around 70% of the agricultural workforce and are often the primary earners for their households, AFP reports.

Tunisia is now in its sixth consecutive year of drought. Water reserves in the country’s 36 dams, most of which are located in the northwest, have plummeted to just 20% of capacity—a record low.

The women of Tbainia typically harvest herbs like eucalyptus, rosemary, and mastic year-round. However, reduced rainfall and drying mountain springs have diminished both the quantity and quality of their harvests.

“The mountain springs are drying up, and without snow or rain to replenish them, the herbs yield less oil,” Athimni explained.

Mongia Soudani, a 58-year-old mother of three who joined the collective five years ago, said the work is her family’s sole source of income.

“We used to gather three or four large sacks of herbs per harvest,” she said. “Now, we’re lucky to fill just one.”

Tunisia’s forests, covering 1.25 million hectares, include 10% of the northwestern region where the women work. Wildfires, exacerbated by drought and heatwaves, have further reduced the resources available to herb collectors.

Last summer, wildfires near Tbainia destroyed approximately 1,120 hectares of forest. “Parts of the mountain were consumed by flames, and other women lost everything,” Soudani recalled.

Around seven million people are facing food shortages, according to a government report

Following this, the private sector has already brought in over one million tonnes of grain, including maize, wheat, and flour.

Companies are now importing to meet market demand because Grain Marketing Board (GMB) stocks have been used for government aid,

Information Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere said the government is watching imports, stock levels, and prices closely.

“The government continues to monitor volumes of imports, stocks at millers, import prices, and sources ahead of the festive season,” he was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, authorities are delivering grain to rural areas and cash for food to urban families.

Government is putting in place plans for the next harvest for plants including maize, millet, and other crops across 3.27 million hectares, aiming for a 347% rise in cereal production.

The government is also providing cattle feed to help farmers protect their livestock.

In a statement, ZESA said, “The national grid experienced a system disturbance resulting in a nationwide blackout.” Meanwhile, ZESCO described the incident as a “power system disturbance… leading to loss of power supply that has affected the whole country.”

Restoration efforts were launched immediately, with Zimbabwe reporting near-complete power restoration by 3 AM CAT on Monday, November 25. 

Both countries face significant power generation shortfalls due to low water levels at the Kariba Dam, which forms part of Lake Kariba, the world's largest artificial lake and reservoir by volume.

Zimbabwe’s power crisis is particularly severe, with frequent outages lasting up to a reported 18 hours a day. The issue has been worsened by ageing infrastructure at the Hwange Thermal Power Station, the country’s largest power plant.

To cope with the disruptions affecting businesses and daily activities, many Zimbabweans have turned to alternative energy solutions such as fuel-powered generators and solar energy, though these options come with additional costs and logistical challenges.

Although authorities have provided street tanks and water tankers, residents say this is not enough.

“Even 100 jerry cans aren’t enough to feed our families and animals in the heat,” one resident Khadidjatou Taher told the AFP.

Tarhil’s population has grown with urbanisation, but water access remains limited.

Some pipes were installed years ago but remain dry.

“The tankers that supply us are often late,” said El Id Ahmed, another local resident.

Many residents depend on vendors who deliver water using carts or pick-up trucks.

Water shortages worsened after pipe failures during recent rains. Mauritania’s government plans to expand water networks and build a desalination plant, but progress has been slow.

More than 22% of the country’s people lack drinking water, according to UNICEF.

Food scarcity has become the biggest threat to these penguins who need sardines and anchovies to survive and breed, but are starving as a result of overfishing has led to starvation.

As part of efforts to curb the situation, authorities have banned commercial fishing near six penguin colonies, but experts say the zones are too small to make a difference.

“We need to limit direct competition between industrial fisheries and the penguins,” said Katta Ludynia, a researcher at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).

Tourism has also become a challenge for the penguins. While tourist visits bring much-needed funds, they can disturb the birds. Conservationists emphasise that protecting penguins helps maintain a healthy ecosystem that benefits humans as well.

Scientists have expressed optimism about the recovery of the penguin population with conservation efforts including using artificial nets, etc.

"It is possible to recover the penguin population. We can’t lose hope," she said. Conservation efforts, like artificial nests and expanding fishing bans, aim to stop the decline and ensure the species’ survival.

Meanwhile, conservationists are trying to protect these penguins in their natural habitat, using measures like disease surveillance, predator management, and artificial nests.

Namibian opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) has unveiled an initiative aimed at halving Namibia's seal population over the next decade, should they emerge victorious in the forthcoming elections. RDP presidential candidate Mike Kavekotora said that this drastic reduction could potentially double fisheries revenue while simultaneously creating 40,000 jobs. The RDP's agenda also includes recovering misappropriated state resources and bolstering local economic engagement. Kavekotora voiced strong critiques against the ruling SWAPO party for allegedly lacking vision and failing to prioritise the people's needs, the Namibian reports  

United States to enhance Namibia’s energy security

The United States has committed to enhancing Namibia's energy security and positioning the country as a regional leader in clean energy. This initiative encompasses various sectors, including green hydrogen, solar, and wind energy. At a ceremonial signing in Windhoek, US Ambassador to Namibia Randy Berry highlighted the critical nature of bilateral cooperation in the energy domain, aimed at facilitating Namibia's aspiration to become a net exporter of renewable energy. According to the Namibian , the agreement, which spans a five-year duration, will prioritise innovative technologies and the expansion of renewable energy generation capabilities.

UN provides $3million in drought relief

The United Nations has responded to Namibia's urgent needs by allocating $3 million (approximately N$53 million) from the Central Emergency Relief Fund to tackle the escalating drought crisis. This funding infusion is aimed at strengthening the government's drought response strategy, effectively targeting support for around 163,000 individuals through a spectrum of interventions, including food assistance, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, and protection against gender-based violence. The initiative, spearheaded by prominent organisations such as the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and the UN Population Fund, seeks a dual approach of immediate relief and fostering long-term resilience, with a particular emphasis on the most severely impacted regions, as reported by the Namibian . This drought crisis has been exacerbated by the El Niño climate phenomenon, posing severe threats to the agricultural landscape and overall food security in Namibia.  

Assistance from Nigeria in tackling corruption

Namibia's government has sought assistance from Nigeria's Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to enhance the training of Namibia's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in combating corruption and recovering embezzled assets. During a recent engagement at the ICPC, Namibian Ambassador to Nigeria Humphrey Geiseb highlighted Nigeria's pivotal role in providing expertise to fellow African nations. ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu expressed the commission's readiness to extend support to African anti-corruption bodies, emphasising the potential advantages of collaborative endeavours, local news outlet the Observer reported.

Return of ethnic descendants

Namibia is prepared to welcome back descendants of the Ovaherero ethnic group who had sought refuge from the atrocities of German colonial rule in the early 20th century. The Namibian government has allocated five commercial farms to facilitate the resettlement of nearly 100 returning Ovaherero individuals, allowing them to reconnect with their ancestral heritage and homeland, VOA reports.

The Kariba dam lies on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Lusaka, the capital.

It was built in the 1950s to generate electricity by trapping water from the Zambezi River. However, after months of drought and rising temperatures, the dam is barely operating.

The lake now has insufficient water to run the country’s hydroelectric turbines and is facing the possibility of a shutdown for the first time since its construction.

It is currently running at less than 10% of its normal capacity, with only one of six turbines operating on the Zambian side.

The power shortage has led to regular outages, with small and medium businesses bearing the brunt of the crisis.

 In some cases, these outages last for days, affecting daily life and severely impacting small and medium start-up businesses .

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy has assured that the government is working tirelessly to prevent future occurrences of load shedding by 2026.

“Two years from now, Zambia will be a net exporter of power. We are not sleeping. In two years, hold me accountable,” Mumba was quoted .

ZESCO, the state-owned power company is also receiving funding to address power shortages.

As part of these efforts, more than 23 diesel generators arrived in the country last month, to be installed at various locations in markets around Lusaka.

Zimbabwe and other southern African nations have been severely impacted by an El Niño -induced drought. This extreme weather event has devastated crops, leading to widespread food shortages. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), millions of Zimbabweans are at risk of food insecurity.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) explained it is necessary to feed starving communities. Tinashe Farawo, a spokesperson for ZimParks, emphasised that the cull targets elephants in overpopulated areas where human-wildlife conflict is prevalent.

"We are facing a dire situation where people are starving, and we need to take action to ensure their survival," Farawo said.

Additionally, the director general for the facility, Fulton Mangwanya told AFP that the country has every right to carry out the decision.

"We are going to cull, find 200 but those that die because of climate change are even more than 200. So if we cull 200 and and we find it's not enough, we have got every sovereign right to kill more because we have got over 85,000 elephants almost close to 100,000. We are supposed to be having something like maybe around 60,000 or less."

Zimbabwe's decision echoes a similar move by neighbouring Namibia, where authorities approved culling 700 wild animals, including elephants, to help feed people affected by severe drought conditions.