Education & Scholarships: President Abinader awarded 1,500 international scholarships and announced the “Excellence Without Barriers” push for 5,000 more undergraduate awards, urging students to return and help drive national development. Youth & Community Care: Los Alcarrizos mayor Junior Santos announced a new children’s community camp starting Aug. 11 for nearly 3,000 kids ages 6–12, mixing sports, culture, and practical guidance like hygiene and substance-use prevention. Health & Rights: SISALRIL says it has disbursed over RD$1.175 billion in breastfeeding subsidies to 58,959 working mothers, spotlighting World Breastfeeding Week and postpartum mental health support. Disaster Readiness: Santo Domingo hosted a regional seminar on strategic disaster preparedness for airports and ports, bringing together civil protection, aviation, and emergency teams to strengthen resilience and coordination. Culture & Music: Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra 2 performed sold-out concerts in Santiago and Santo Domingo with Fundación Sinfonía, featuring Dominican musicians and ending with a Juan Luis Guerra encore. Sports & Inclusion: A Santo Domingo 2026-style spotlight on sport for all: visually-impaired athletes are competing in the NBBA World Series in Aurora, showing how communication and trust power beep baseball. Immigration Policy Watch (US): Reports say the Trump administration is rolling out visa bonds up to $250,000 for some Dominican applicants deemed likely to become a public charge—an issue already hitting consular offices in the region. First Lady Support: Raquel Arbaje said she will reach out to families seeking help for a liver-transplant case and a teen needing VNS surgery for refractory epilepsy. Church & Sound Tech: Monte de Dios in Santo Domingo opened with a major L-Acoustics system, positioning it as the Caribbean’s largest Christian church by capacity. Arts & Film: Haitian-cinema history gets a spotlight as “Black Zombie” (Maya Annik Bedward) continues festival momentum ahead of its Sept. 11 US release.