Sports Diplomacy & Recognition: Venezuela’s Delcy Rodríguez praised athletes after Valledupar 2026 and Santo Domingo 2026, while President (E) Delcy Rodríguez also ratified Venezuela’s bid to host the 2030 Central American and Caribbean Games. Coconut Industry: The DR will host DominiCoco 2026, the country’s first Coconut Summit, Aug. 13 in Santo Domingo, focusing on irrigation, processing, pest control, and investment across the coconut value chain. Municipal Cooperation: Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico’s Aguadilla signed a sister-city agreement covering trade, tourism, education, culture, environmental protection, and public-space restoration. Disaster Response (Regional): A 7.4 earthquake hit western Colombia; Colombia declared a national disaster and mourning as casualties and damage were reported across multiple departments. Connectivity & Digital Economy: Google announced “Americas Connect,” with three new subsea cable systems (Alisios, Canoa, OlaLuz) making the DR a central hub for more resilient internet links across the Americas. Health: The Ministry of Public Health received 436,990 vaccine doses to strengthen the Expanded Program on Immunization for children. Tourism Jobs: Asonahores says over 90% of hotel workers in the DR are Dominican, highlighting tourism’s employment and local purchasing impact. Economy Watch: Economists weighed DR growth, public debt, and structural reforms after 4.5% expansion in the first half of 2026. Governance Scrutiny: A Controller audit found major documentation gaps in Agriculture Ministry spending, while senators reported many excused absences. Infrastructure & Safety: Experts warned DR buildings may not be fully prepared for major seismic events, depending on construction era and compliance. Diaspora Sports: The Juan Pablo Duarte Games return Aug. 14–23 in New York, bringing 2,000+ athletes and Dominican communities together.