Central American & Caribbean Games: Santo Domingo 2026 is officially kicking off this Friday with a sold-out opening ceremony at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, featuring 1,100 drones, 500+ lasers, and an interactive show with 30,000 LED wristbands, as more than 6,000 athletes from 37 countries compete through Aug. 8. Cultural Heritage Law: The Dominican Senate approved a Cultural Heritage Protection and Acquisition bill to safeguard the nation’s tangible and intangible assets, from archaeological sites and monuments to folklore and historic structures. Seismic Preparedness: FUDEC is urging stronger earthquake education, noting key fault lines like the Septentrional and Enriquillo faults and calling for better building assessments and citizen readiness. Travel & Lifestyle: New travel connectivity is on the way—Cathay Pacific will add Santo Domingo to its network via Madrid (with Iberia), while luxury travel keeps evolving with fresh resort openings and high-end guest-gift trends. Family & Culture in the Spotlight: Cardi B shared rare Dominican countryside moments with her kids, including Spanish-speaking clips and farm fun. Nature & Pets: Experts warn the Caribbean parrot pet trade is pushing native species toward extinction, including in the Dominican Republic.