Telecom & Digital Economy: Indotel’s Guido Gómez Mazara told CANTO in Punta Cana that the DR wants to boost competitiveness and inclusion through major digital investment—more than US$500M for digital infrastructure, expanded 4G/5G, and new submarine cable connectivity—while pushing a national AI strategy and tighter spectrum management. Regional Digital Sovereignty: Economic Affairs Minister Jerome Fitzgerald urged Caribbean governments to coordinate on a “digital sovereignty” pact to avoid “digital colonization,” proposing shared cloud and compute infrastructure backed by multiple cable routes. Governance & Oversight: A Diario Libre audit found the Agriculture Ministry accounted for only RD$4.34B of RD$7.51B in payments (Sep 2023–Dec 2024) and that most reviewed procurement lacked proper documentation. Legislative Accountability: Diario Libre also reports senators racked up 103 excused absences across 26 sessions, with no recorded unjustified absences. Elections & Party Politics: PRM’s new organization secretary Gloria Reyes says the party should set clear rules for internal competition ahead of 2028 primaries. Sports & Public Spending: The government will pay RD$75.5M+ in incentives for Santo Domingo 2026 medalists, and Abinader will host a recognition luncheon for athletes. Seismic Safety Debate: An architect warns it’s inaccurate to claim all DR buildings are earthquake-ready; safety depends on construction era, rules at the time, and whether they were followed. Migration & U.S. Ties: The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo is ranked second globally for immigrant visa processing, and the DR is also tied to a new U.S. bond pilot for some applicants. Disaster Response: The DR opened a collection center at the 27 de Febrero Naval Base to support Colombia after the 7.4 earthquake and is monitoring the safety of Dominicans in-country. Infrastructure & Tech: Google announced new Americas Connect subsea cables with the Dominican Republic as a key junction, including links to Panama, Chile, Bermuda, and Florida. Weather Alert: COE placed Greater Santo Domingo and San Cristóbal under green alert for a tropical wave bringing afternoon rain and thunderstorms.