Marine Hazard: A shallow 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck about 45 km east of Castries early Sunday, with minor tremors felt across Saint Lucia, Martinique, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines; no damage or injuries were reported, though scientists say details may change as analysis continues. Ocean & Climate Impact: Seaweed “sargassum” is blanketing Caribbean and Gulf coastlines, with scientists reporting about 27 million metric tons in July; this year is unusual because the algae is growing locally in large quantities, not just arriving by currents—experts link the surge to warming waters, runoff, and changing winds and currents, raising risks for marine life and tourism. Regional Business & Resilience: CariCham (Caribbean Chambers of Commerce) elected Kiran Maharaj as new chair, with Martinique’s Vanessa Victorin as vice-chair, emphasizing trade facilitation, advocacy, and disaster risk reduction. Caribbean Insurance Gap: A Lloyd’s-commissioned study highlights that farmers, fishers, and tourism workers in hurricane-exposed Caribbean states often lack insurance and must replace losses themselves, pointing to delays in aid reaching households and small businesses. Tax & Tech for Growth: CARICOM’s tax administrators meet in Guyana to push “smart, data-driven and AI-enabled” tax systems, with CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett stressing more resilient, home-grown financing as external support becomes less certain. Waste & Youth Recycling: Flow Grenada and the Grenada Green Group launched school recycling bins to cut plastic pollution and ease pressure on a local dump site, with support from the Liberty Caribbean Foundation.