HIV Alert Ahead of VincyMas: St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ministry of Health says new HIV infections are rising, with the highest numbers among ages 25–29 and men over 60, and urges testing and condom use—reminding people you can’t tell by appearance and that safer sex is key during the carnival season. Disaster Risk Funding: Government moved to authorize a US$20M Disaster Risk Management loan from the OPEC Fund (OFID), framed as budget support to strengthen resilience, adaptation, and fiscal transparency. Agriculture & Health Tech Boost: FAO-backed funding of EC$1.3M will support data-driven farming and coastal risk work, including agriculture drones and geospatial tools to spot crop threats faster. OECS Leadership: OECS reappointed Dr. Didacus Jules for a fourth term as Director General, citing progress on food sovereignty, digital transformation, and healthier communities. Mental Health & Courts: Health leadership drew praise for mental-health related training plans, while legal voices flagged court document delays and ongoing concerns around access to psychiatric reports. Violence & Public Safety: Police charged a 21-year-old man over a June 23 murder in Lowmans Leeward, and separately are investigating a fatal shooting in Canouan. Youth Prevention: A new “steps project” aims to help students resist peer pressure and grooming, with police saying prevention must start before harm occurs.