Climate & Weather Watch: CariCOF warns El Niño is strengthening while Caribbean seas stay warm, raising the odds of heatwaves, slower-to-recover drought in parts of the Lesser Antilles, and flooding risk from heavy rain later in 2026. Sargassum Response: OECS delegates, with EU support, visited Martinique and Guadeloupe to scale up practical sargassum collection and “valorisation” models across Eastern Caribbean states, aiming to cut impacts on coasts, health, and tourism while creating blue-economy value. Chemicals & Health: A new look at FAO pesticide-use data flags Saint Lucia as 6th globally for pesticide intensity, and links the concern to cancer risks—echoing regional research that found higher pesticide exposure among banana workers in Guadeloupe/Martinique tied to greater prostate and blood-cancer risk. Regional Security: At an Antilles Regional Security Conference in Martinique, leaders argued security must include climate resilience, cybersecurity, food and energy security, and maritime protection—not just policing. Health Systems & Rights: Claire Hédon is leaving the Defender of Rights after a term marked by rising complaints, including persistent access problems to water, healthcare, education, and public services in overseas territories such as Guadeloupe. Disease Control: Scientists report genetic changes in the schistosomiasis parasite that may reduce response to praziquantel, urging ongoing genomic surveillance to protect treatment effectiveness.