Prison Mental Health Overhaul: President Luis Abinader swore in a new Dominican committee for penitentiary mental health, aiming to expand care for inmates and staff, including new specialized beds, psychosocial centers, and mental-health prisons in Azua, La Vega, and San Pedro de Macorís. Cybercrime Crackdown: DICAT arrested two people in separate electronic fraud and illicit transfer cases, including a scheme tied to Instagram and Telegram. Education & Literacy Push: MINERD held the National Reading Festival, spotlighting early literacy progress nationwide with participation from top education officials and the First Lady. Agriculture Modernization: TNR and Confenagro signed an agreement to train producers and boost irrigation technology for more efficient, sustainable farming. Social Security Improvements: DIDA recognized 31 “good practices” from 15 entities to strengthen risk management and health services for social security affiliates. Sports & Community: Abasado announced its Women’s Superior Basketball Tournament 2026 for Aug. 12, with four clubs competing. Infrastructure & Climate Finance: The Senate approved US$600M for Punta Cana-Bávaro climate resilience and water/sanitation upgrades, while Edesur began importing six transformers from China for RD$469.8M. Baseball Stadium Plan: A government commission recommended an MLB-standard stadium in Santo Domingo’s Ensanche La Fe, with a 20,000–21,000 capacity and a public-private financing model. U.S. Forced-Labor Tariff Threat: The U.S. Trade Representative proposed Section 301 duties tied to forced-labor enforcement failures, listing the Dominican Republic among the 60 economies under review. Local Procurement Questions: A housing ministry tender to rebuild a short Mirador Norte Park perimeter fence segment drew transparency concerns over a high per-meter cost.