El Niño and drought risk: Honduras has put 80% of the country—including Managua-linked Dry Corridor areas spanning Nicaragua—on El Niño drought alert, warning of crop losses, livestock deaths, and food insecurity through early next year. Regional growth pressures: ECLAC cut its Latin America and Caribbean 2026 growth forecast to 2.2% (2.5% in 2027), citing slower global growth and financial uncertainty—while Nicaragua is noted among countries projected to grow faster than the regional average. Nicaragua election crackdown condemned: The OAS approved an urgent foreign-ministers meeting to condemn Nicaragua’s move to permanently suspend presidential and legislative elections, with Brazil voting against and Mexico abstaining. Religious freedom under pressure: Evangelicals in Managua marked the 457th anniversary of the first Spanish Bible, amid reports of sustained restrictions on religious activity. TPS fallout with Nicaragua in the mix: U.S. courts cleared the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopians, and broader TPS rollbacks continue to include Nicaragua—raising deportation and work-authorisation fears for affected families. Mining and land impacts (context for Nicaragua’s debates): Separate reporting highlights how mining expansion and weak consultation fuel deforestation, water pollution, and community conflict—an issue closely tied to conservation and land rights across the region.