Volcano Watch: Mount Pelée, Martinique’s deadly 1902 volcano, is showing renewed unrest as the Martinique Volcanological and Seismological Observatory recorded 124 volcanic earthquakes in the week to July 31 (up from 45 the prior week) and 331 across July, alongside ongoing ground swelling near the summit; the observatory says the short-term chance of eruptive activity remains low, but medium-term evolution can’t be ruled out. Public Health Lab Capacity: Eastern Caribbean lab teams boosted skills for rapid detection of epidemic-prone diseases after a PAHO/WHO workshop on molecular diagnostics in Barbados, training staff (including Martinique participants) in standardized testing for measles, leptospirosis and hantavirus with a One Health approach. Marine Environment: Seaweed (sargassum) is smothering Caribbean and Gulf coastlines as scientists report unusually large growth in the region this year, with 27 million metric tons recorded in July—raising risks for marine life and tourism. Sustainable Land & Soil: A new Petite Martinique project is set to strengthen sustainable land and soil management, improve water security and reduce drought impacts, funded by the Global Environment Facility and executed by UNEP, with restoration activities including seedling nurseries and farmer-managed plots. Regional Tech & Security: The U.S. unveiled a submarine cable initiative for the Caribbean and Central America, urging governments to use “trusted” providers and offering legal/technical help—while Cuba is excluded. Energy Governance Debate: In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, former ministers criticized geothermal decision-making and electricity policy, alleging cabinet-level misunderstanding and technical gaps. Plastic Pollution Spillover: Foreign plastic waste is piling up along the Caribbean due to ocean currents and trade winds, with experts warning the problem needs regional cooperation beyond any single island’s plastic ban.