Water Security & Tourism Disruption: Puerto Rico’s drought has triggered 48-hour water outages for 180,000 customers in San Juan, with tourists scrambling to reschedule as July was the driest month in over 120 years. Hurricane Outlook: NOAA and 268Weather both point to a quieter 2026 Atlantic season tied to strengthening El Niño, but officials stress that “below-normal” still means dangerous landfalls—so Antigua and Barbuda should stay prepared. Marine Protection: Antigua and Barbuda’s queen conch closed season remains in effect until Aug. 31, with illegal harvesting and trade still punishable. Climate-Health Warning: PAHO flags El Niño risks for the region, including drought- and flood-linked waterborne illness, vector-borne disease, heat stress, and worsening air quality. Sustainable Tourism Skills: Saint Lucia’s OECS-backed sustainable terrestrial and marine ecosystems training just certified 13 tour guides, covering biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable tourism practices. EU Pressure on CBI: The EU has given five Caribbean states—including Antigua and Barbuda—until 2028 to reform or phase out citizenship-by-investment schemes or risk losing Schengen visa access. Local Environment & Waste: A call to change Carnival waste habits urges separating recyclables at the source so events leave behind less garbage and more recovered materials. Education Infrastructure: Antigua’s Ministry of Education and Board of Education are pushing school expansion works at Antigua Grammar and Clare Hall to ease overcrowding and upgrade practical learning spaces.