Agentic AI in the region: Future Caribbean kicks off its inaugural Agentic AI Assembly in Barbados (July 10–12), bringing together builders, investors and researchers for hands-on work on open-source AI agents, with live streaming and satellite events across the Caribbean. Digital government skills: A new Global Government Forum study says governments need digital capability across the whole civil service, not just technical staff—pushing training that scales and translates into real practice. Health data modernization: Barbados’ Ministry of Health and Wellness, with PAHO/WHO support, runs a Public Health Datathon to map health databases and improve interoperability for faster, better decisions. Workforce for an AI era: HRMAB launches its Workforce 2030: Ready or Not conference, arguing organisations must upskill now as AI reshapes roles and hiring. Climate science at Ragged Point: Scientists mark 60 years of dust monitoring and are now studying whether Saharan dust could influence sargassum growth, alongside known impacts on allergies and hurricanes. Regional travel tech: Barbados and Guyana begin passport-free travel using national ID cards (with under-16s still needing passports), implemented in under six weeks. Food and inflation pressure: CARICOM intensifies cost-of-living efforts, including exploring tech that lets shoppers compare supermarket prices, while an IMF analysis flags a 21% rise in food and non-alcoholic beverage costs since 2020. Agriculture update: Commercial rice production starts in Barbados, aiming to bring upland rice to local tables. Security leadership: Barbados Police Service appoints new senior command officers as Commissioner Sonia Boyce outlines a modern, community-centred, intelligence-led policing vision.