Mental Health Push: The National Health Service (SNS) says it’s expanding public mental health care, with 314 crisis intervention beds now and a goal to exceed 500 specialized beds by end of 2026, plus new psychosocial centers in Higüey and Moca and more specialist teams to reduce stigma and speed up access. Education & Sports Spotlight: MINERD and INEFI received the “torch” for Santo Domingo 2026, stressing how school sports feed national pre-selections, with 40+ athletes coming through school games. Urban Lifestyle Upgrade: Santo Domingo’s mayor is expanding a sidewalk recovery program that turns blocked, illegally occupied spaces into safer linear parks, with cleanup and beautification plus murals planned for Villa Consuelo. Culture Abroad: The Dominican Book and Culture Festival in New York drew thousands over three days, with 120+ activities and a focus on Juan Pablo Duarte’s legacy; organizers already announced next year’s dates. Queer Cinema & DR Roots: Larimar Films backs “Echoes,” a queer period romance set on a Dominican sugar plantation that links present-day love with a forbidden 17th-century relationship. Public Health Diplomacy: Vice President Raquel Peña heads to Washington to meet U.S. Health Secretary RFK Jr. on prevention, chronic disease risk reduction, and stronger DR-U.S. health cooperation. Tourism Demand Signals: New data points to a tourism surge, with Canada and Europe driving growing arrivals in early 2026.