Crop Over Celebrity Spotlight: Rihanna returned to Barbados for Grand Kadooment Day, closing out Crop Over in a crystal-dripping, jewel-and-feather costume by local designer Lauren Astin, dancing through the parade with A$AP Rocky and sparking a frenzy online after a viral night-out clip. Festival Economy & Logistics: Crop Over weekend brought strong visitor numbers and vendor sales, but organisers and the entertainment industry are calling for more venues and better planning as overlapping events strain the schedule. Culture in the Spotlight: Grand Kadooment drew praise for a smooth, largely incident-free finale, while some residents debated whether culture and storytelling are getting crowded out by spectacle. Regional Arts Planning: CARICOM held talks with Guyana on preparations for CARIFESTA 2027, focusing on culture programming and youth development. Health & Community Leadership: At the 53rd Regional Nursing Body meeting in Guyana, Barbados Chief Nursing Officer Annastacia Jordan highlighted nurses’ resilience and leadership amid workforce and disaster pressures. Education & Youth Development: Barbados’ Oceania Innovation Hub and the Ministry of Education are advancing globally recognised certification plans through ocean and climate schools, aiming to build skills for the blue economy. Public Safety: Police charged a 21-year-old man in Christ Church with rape of a minor and murder, with a court appearance scheduled. Climate Resilience: China announced a US$66 million investment in Barbados water reclamation and climate resilience projects, while regional reporting also flags escalating climate impacts across the Caribbean.