Workforce & Tourism: Technology and tourism firms are reporting better staff retention in the Dominican Republic, with turnover in tourism-linked roles estimated at about 25%–30%, while informality remains a drag on formal employment (only 2.5M of 5.2M workers are in formal jobs). Critical Minerals: The Dominican Republic and the U.S. signed a framework to cooperate on critical minerals and rare earths, aiming to protect supply chains and unlock new investment and project financing. Tourism Tax Take: Tourism-linked tax revenue has tripled over the last decade, reaching over RD$45B, driven by broader spending across agriculture, manufacturing, commerce, transport, and construction. Public Health Watch: Health authorities say there are no anthrax cases in the DR, but they’ve strengthened preventive surveillance after suspected cutaneous anthrax cases in Haiti. Real Estate Costs: Apartment prices can triple depending on municipality and neighborhood, with Santo Domingo de Guzmán and premium sectors like Paraíso and Piantini leading the highest per-square-meter values. Food & Agriculture Trade: Canada regained access to the Dominican beef market after an audit confirmed Canada’s inspection and animal-health controls. Energy Retail Dispute: Gas station owners plan to disconnect Verifone services nationwide on Sept. 25, citing high electronic payment costs. Tourism Skills Pipeline: Turio, a new specialized tourism academy, launched to train and professionalize talent across management, operations, hospitality, tech, innovation, and sustainability. Trade & Compliance: Merchants are urging DGII to tighten oversight of Chinese-owned businesses over alleged unfair competition and tax or import valuation gaps.