DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful defended the work carried out by authorities during the Christmas and New Year celebrations to reduce tragedies and injuries.

Raful expressed gratitude for the exemplary behavior displayed by the vast majority of Dominicans during the festive period.

She concluded her remarks by asserting that the country is much more than chaos and entertainment.

During the Christmas holidays, Minister Raful took a firm stance against allowing “colmadones,” convenience stores and other businesses (except bars) to operate beyond the legally permitted hours. Her actions drew backlash from some business owners in the nightlife industry.

Authorities also took action to disperse unauthorized parties or “teteos” held in the streets, which were causing significant noise pollution in several parts of the country.

The Ministry of Interior and Police...

The Christmas and New Year’s holiday period were overall deadly this year, despite the efforts by government agencies to supervise, control, and regulate traffic and accidents. Unfortunately, the 43,000 volunteers and government employees who worked throughout the holidays on the highways and express roads could not curtail the number of accidents (262) nor the ever-rising death toll of 42.

The emergency teams, traffic control officers and volunteer assistants carried out over 30,000 operations to help people.

An important statistic is the fact that of the 262 accidents (up from 247 in 2023), some 206 involved motorcycles. One of the latest accidents to be reported was the death of an entire family, father, mother and young child, on the highway to Puerto Plata as their motorcycle crashed.

As a result of all of this chaos, local hospitals were flooded with...

Digesett director, General Osoria de la Cruz says the institution cannot place limits on circulation of motorcyclists in the Dominican Republic. He responded to an editorial in Listin Diario, “The Deadly Epidemic of Two Wheels”, that highlighted that reckless motorcyclist driving is behind the present-day epidemic with motorcycles involved in nine out of 10 traffic accidents.

The Digesett website says that the agency is in charge of road safety in the Dominican Republic. It plans and coordinates traffic management, oversight, supervision, and the design and implementation of mobility and safety controls. Digesett website says the agency monitors the enforcement of traffic laws to prevent accidents and reports violations of Law 63-17. The organization also conducts operations to reduce reckless driving behaviors and urges citizens to respect traffic laws...

President Luis Abinader traveled to Puerto Rico to be present for the inauguration of Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon as governor of Puerto Rico for the next four years. It is a tradition for the Dominican President to attend the inaugural. President Abinader traveled with Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez early in the morning and returned later in the day.

Abinader was the only President to attend. El Nuevo Dia reported that Albert Bryan of the US Virgin Islands attended.

Puerto Rico’s newly sworn-in governor, Jenniffer González Colón, announced her commitment to further strengthening the relationship between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic during her administration.

Speaking at her inauguration ceremony, González Colón acknowledged the presence of Dominican President Luis Abinader and Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez.

“I am honored by the presence of President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic,” González Colón said. “I want to emphasize that Puerto Rico and...

Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who has the voting rolls that prove he won the July 2024 presidential election in Venezuela, has included a stop in the Dominican Republic on his Americas tour. The tour began with consecutive stopovers in Buenos Aires, Argentina for a meeting with President Javier Millei and in Montevideo, Uruguay for a meeting with President Luis Lacalle Pou, both on Saturday, 4 January 2025.

On Sunday, 5 January, he arrived to the United States and met with US President Joe Biden on 6 January.

He is expected to fly to Panama on Wednesday, 8 January for a meeting with President Jose Raul Mulino. Mulino has offered asylum to President Nicolas Maduro who the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela has confirmed will be sworn in on 10 January for a third consecutive term.

Next, the Dominican Republic was added to Gonzalez Urrutia’s agenda. He is expected...

The Dominican government reports spending RD$83.9 billion on subsidies to the different entities of the national electricity system in 2024, Diario Libre reports. This is over 10% more than the previous year and the government says it is due to poor transmission lines, theft of electricity, and a lack of investment in basic infrastructure.

In the Dominican Republic, a majority of people don’t pay for the power service, or are on special single rate plans. The new electricity authorities want to change this situation to reduce the heavy burden of the electricity costs.

The subsidies also reflect the bulging payroll and perks of those who work in the government-owned utilities and power headquarters.

Spokespersons from all of the major economic sectors have pointed out the need to modernize the national grid and provide cheaper electricity. Official sources admit...

Mayor Carolina Mejía presided over the fifth annual “Plastics for Toys” initiative, where over 3.7 million plastic bottles were collected at the Municipal Palace of the National District.

Thousands of families lined up on the eve of Three Kings’ Day on 5 January 2025 to exchange 500 plastic bottles for a bicycle or 300 for a scooter, bringing joy to children with their new toys.

The mayor expressed immense satisfaction with the efforts of her municipal team and the support of sponsors who made the event possible once again. “Seeing the joy on the faces of our children is what public service is all about,” said Mejía. “It gives us the strength to keep going because those smiles, that joy of receiving a reward for collecting bottles, is also a great reward for us.”

Mejía highlighted new organizational and security measures implemented this year, including...

Pastor Ezequiel Molina sparked significant controversy in the Dominican Republic with statements suggesting that women who work outside the home are neglecting their domestic responsibilities. During the 2025 La Batalla de la Fe sermon at the National Evangelical Concentration event at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium on 1 January 2025, he claimed, “behind every successful woman, there is a neglected home.”

The remark met with immediate backlash from various sectors, particularly women politicians, women’s rights advocates and journalists. Critics argued that Molina’s comments perpetuate harmful stereotypes about women’s roles and ignore broader societal issues such as economic hardship and gender-based violence. A group of female journalists condemned his statements, emphasizing that they overlook the structural challenges many women face, including the high cost of living and the...

Despite most United States’ governmental agencies being closed on Thursday 9 January due to the funeral services for 100-year old former US President Jimmy Carter, the US Consulate announced that visa appointments will not be rescheduled and instead will be kept in the Sambil Mall, Diario Libre reported.

An Executive Act calls for the close of all government offices on Thursday to honor the deceased former president. Nonetheless, the appointments at the VAC should be kept as planned.

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States from 1976 to 1980. He lost his re-election bid to Ronald Reagan.

Read more in Spanish:

• Diario Libre

Romel Roque Guillén / Listin Diario

A simple fender-bender turned into a fisticuffs match that resulted I the death of one of the two men. Romel Roque Guillen Cabrera, a radio host, was knocked down and hit his head against the pavement, resulting in his death.

The aggressor, Evaristo Luciano Alvarez Ventura was sentenced by the Court for Permanent Attention in Santiago to one year of preventive custody on homicide charges.

The incident occurred after a small accident between two cars on a street in Villa Gonzalez in the province of Santiago. The two drivers argued, and Alvarez Ventura gave a mortal punch to the deceased, sending him to the pavement.

Prosecutors for the state called for immediate preventive custody for the assailant. This is a case where two lives were ruined over a traffic accident. Road rage might seem silly on YouTube, but in real life it can be...

A grateful Zoe Saldana was moved with sentiment when accepting the Golden Globe Award for Best Female Supporting Actor In Any Motion Picture for her performance in the French film, Emilia Perez. This award was the film’s first win to be announced during the 5 January evening awards ceremony.

With tears and choked by emotion, 46-year old Saldana gave credit to the team at Emilia Perez and her fellow nominees Ariana Grande In Wicked, Felicity Jones in The Brutalist, Margarett Qualley in The Substance, Isabella Rosselini in Conclave and Selena Gomez in Emilia Perez.

Before thanking her cast and crew, Saldaña gave a shout out to her fellow nominees. “I am so grateful,” she exclaimed fighting back tears. “I know this is competition but all that I have witnessed is of us showing up for each other and it’s just so beautiful.”

As reported, after thanking all her...

The conflict between the Dominican government and Romeo Santos centers on his song “La Suegra,” which was banned by the National Commission of Public Shows and Radio (CNEPR). The CNEPR prohibited the song’s broadcast, claiming its language was “inappropriate, inconsiderate, and aggressive,” and that it contained verses that incite violence.

Giovanny Cruz, the interim president of the CNEPR, warned Santos and concert organizer Saymond Díaz that his performance was a direct challenge to state authority

In response to this censorship, Santos has defended his song as a celebration of Dominican culture and bachata’s essence. He has openly criticized the authorities during his concerts for the ban, labeling those who requested it as “fools” and “misguided.”

The controversy escalated when Santos performed “La Suegra” at a recent concert at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium...

Starting on Monday, 6 January 2025, the Berklee College of Music will be at the recently re-modeled National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo. Some 200 young Dominican musicians will receive hands-on, personal instruction from some of the great staff at Berklee during workshops, classes and practice sessions.

Berklee en Santo Domingo 2025 is presented by the AES Dominicana Foundation, the Ministry of Culture and the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo. The program is held from 6 to 11 January 2025.

There will be several lectures presented by the Berklee staff to the general public, and there will be recitals and a concert at the end of the visit.

Berklee is the school that “produced” Juan Luis Guerra, and Leon Yamil, Grammy Awards winners with a major presence in Latin American music.

There are scholarships for deserving young musicians...

The Tigres del Licey, that barely made the cutoff for the round-robin now has 4 wins and one loss after a good weekend. The Licey leads in the round-robin series, followed by the Estrellas Orientales (3-2) that had won the regular series in the 2024-2025 Dominican Professional Baseball Winter League. The round-robin tournament is underway to choose the best two of four teams.

The Leones del Escogido (2-3) and the Aguilas Cibaeñas (1-4) lag behind but still have time to make the cutoff for the finals on Tuesday, 21 January 2025.

The Estrellas Orientales are managed by Fernando Tatis and the Escogido Lions by Albert Pujols in his debut with a professional team.

Expect a full house at the Quisqueya Ball Park on Tuesday, 7 January as the city teams, the Escogido and Tigres del Licey clash again.

Minister of Tourism David Collado was at the Punta Cana International Airport on Sunday, 29 December 2024 to receive the Dominican Republic’s tourist number 11 million. The new annual record in tourist arrivals consolidates the country’s position as regional leader in tourism, the Ministry of Tourism reports.

Tourism Minister David Collado welcomed the milestone visitor, Bruce Pirt, in a vibrant ceremony at Punta Cana International Airport. Pirt. Pirt arrived with his wife Kathryn and two daughters, Melissa and Anna, on an Air Transat flight from Canada.

Pirt, clearly surprised and delighted, described the Dominican Republic as a “wonderful country,” recalling it as the destination where he and his wife celebrated their wedding 20 years ago. He was returning to commemorate their anniversary with his family.

Frank Rainieri, founder and president of the board of...

The Open Skies Agreement with the United States goes into effect in January 2025, according to the X (formerly Twitter) account of President Luis Abinader. The announcement stated that the Dominican Republic has fulfilled the enactment requirements of the agreement signed in August 2024 by Minister of Tourism David Collado and the United States Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez.

The agreement allows a greater connection between the two countries, increases competition, expands routes, and reduces costs for travelers. The agreement covers freight as well as non-commercial layovers and combined flights. The agreement has been deliberated by the Constitutional Court and declared to be legal in all aspects. It also passed in Congress.

Arajet, a Dominican-based airline, has announced plans to fly to New York, Miami...

Overall, this agreement signifies a significant step forward in aviation cooperation between the Dominican Republic and Argentina, promising to enhance travel, trade, and tourism.

In the significant move to modernize the legal regulatory framework for air transport services between the Dominican Republic and Argentina, aviation authorities from both nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and an Air Services Agreement (ASA) on 13 December 2024. These documents will facilitate increased flight frequency, stimulate tourism and attract new investments.

Expect more Argentineans to travel to the Dominican Republic now that both governments agreed on new rules that remove restrictions and give airlines the freedom to determine the number of flights they operate based on market conditions and the time of the year. The change aims to enhance sector...

Those staying in the Juan Dolio area can always go shopping in San Pedro de Macoris, the nearest city, and now they can tour the just renovated San Pedro boardwalk. Take note that San Pedro is also home to the Estrellas Orientales, that is battling to be one of the two teams to play the finals in the 2024-2025 Dominican Winter Professional Baseball Championship.

President Luis Abinader was in San Pedro de Macoris on Saturday, 21 December 2024 for the official opening of the boardwalk with Tourism Minister David Collado. The project was carried out by the Committee for the Execution of Infrastructure in Tourist Zones (Ceiztur) at a cost of RD$290.5 million.

As Saturday night fell, hundreds gathered at the new malecón to enjoy artistic performances and the vibrant atmosphere. “This is truly amazing, a great place to enjoy with family and friends,” said one man...

Hyatt of the United States and Grupo Piñero of Spain announced the finalizing of a strategic joint venture for Hyatt to manage and market Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts-branded properties and own the Bahia Principe brand. The announcement comes at a time when the US market is consolidated as the most important source of visitors for the Dominican Republic.

The 50/50 joint venture increases Hyatt’s all-inclusive room portfolio by approximately 30%. The agreement brings 22 resorts totaling approximately 12,000 rooms, including 21 resorts under the Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts brand located across the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, and Spain, as well as the exclusive Cayo Levantado Resort in the Dominican Republic to Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection.

The conclusion of the negotiations were announced concurrently on 27 December 2024 from both...

Zel Punta Cana by Melia opened on 12 December 2024 in the central Bavaro area of Punta Cana. The all-inclusive resort marks the expansion of the tennis legend Rafael Nadal’s lifestyle all-inclusive hotel brand in the Americas. The brand had first launched in Mallorca and Costa Brava, Spain.

Right on a white-sand beach, Zel Punta Cana invites guests to experience the white sand beach and play on quality tennis courts, while enjoying the comforts of the hotel designed in a blend of the Mediterranean lifestyle and Caribbean Island charm.

The all-inclusive resort boasts 190 guest rooms designed to accommodate couples, groups of friends, and families.

The five tennis courts are designed for beginners and elite players in mind, with coaching available for both levels. A Fitness Residency is scheduled to offer classes and activities include running, pilates, and yoga. The...

The pre-Hispanic culture on the island of Hispaniola is featured at the exhibits now shown at the Casa del Cordon, a very well-preserved house of the earliest Spanish settlement of Santo Domingo.

The exhibit features some 350 pieces of Taino artifacts that are on-loan to the Taino House Cultural Center at the Casa del Cordon.

The exhibits were prepared by archeologist Carlos Leon, and features items that represent a “pre-Hispanic civilization that populated a good proportion of the Antilles until the 16th Century.

The new exhibition is sponsored by the Banco Popular and offers visitors insights into life on this island 600 years ago.

Alongside the Taino exhibits are samples of the pre-Taino inhabitants, which recent studies carried out by the University of Harvard and the University of Winnipeg have shown were people who originated in...

House Beautiful recently carried a feature giving insights into places south of Florida, USA that it recommends people check into for investing in a vacation home or retirement dwelling. House Beautiful reports on the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos and the Dominican Republic as alternatives for sun-seekers.

The magazine quotes H. Michael Heuser, broker manager of Coldwell Banker in Punta Cana: “The number of US Citizens living in the Dominican Republic has continued to grow annually by approximately 10 percent over the last few years.” He attributes the growth to the island’s beauty, relatively low cost of living, excellent healthcare, and retirement visa program.

According to Heuser, purchasing a home in the Dominican Republic is easier than ever, and many condo developments are offering a tax exemption that waves the...

Eladio Gonzalez writes in Travel & Leisure Español about the luxury places to stay in the Dominican Republic. On his list is Amanera and Ani Private Resorts in Maria Trinidad Sanchez on the north coast, Tortuga Bay and Eden Roc in eastern Punta Cana, Casa de Campo in southeastern La Romana, and Colonial City boutique hotels in southcentral Santo Domingo.

The article also mentions the boutique hotels, Cayo Levantado and The Peninsula (now closed to visitors) in Samana.

Read more in Spanish:

• Travel & Leisure
• Diario Libre

President Luis Abinader is expected to travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Thursday, 2 January 2025 to attend the inauguration of the island’s new governor, Jenniffer A. González Colón.

The President is scheduled to depart early in the morning, arriving in time for the noon swearing-in ceremony.

Accompanying President Abinader will be Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez, the director of the Tax Agency (DGII) Luis Valdez, Vice Foreign Minister for Consular and Migration Affairs Opinio Díaz Vargas, the director of the President’s Office Noelia Shephard, and the director of CUSEP, General Jimmy Arias. The Dominican consul in Puerto Rico, César Cedeño, and the President’s press director Daniel Garcia Archibald are also part of the official delegation.

President Abinader is scheduled to return to the Dominican Republic later in the afternoon.

Read more in...

The Center for Emergency Operations (COE) released on 1 January 2025 the report on the casualties and incidents that occurred over the New Year’s Eve celebrations. The agency reported 82 traffic accidents, resulting in nine fatalities and 99 injuries.

A significant portion of these accidents involved motorcycles, with 68 of the total incidents involving two-wheeled vehicles. Seven of the fatalities occurred outside of designated safety zones.

Beyond traffic incidents, the COE also responded to a surge in alcohol-related emergencies. First responders attended to 145 cases of alcohol poisoning, including 29 minors between the ages of 12 and 17. Additionally, 19 cases of food poisoning were reported. The provinces of Puerto Plata, La Altagracia, Peravia, San Cristóbal, the National District, Santo Domingo, and San Pedro de Macorís saw the highest number of...

Santo Domingo’s waterfront is set to undergo a major transformation as the National District City Hall has opened bids for the fifth phase of the Malecón Deportivo project, Listin Diario reports. This ambitious undertaking aims to revitalize a 1.7-kilometer western stretch of the Malecon (Av. George Washington Avenue), extending from Av. Núñez de Cáceres to Calle Gaviota in the Miramar neighborhood.

The project, estimated to cost RD$350 million, is slated for completion within a year. It will feature a wide range of improvements, including enhanced public lighting, new sidewalks and bike lanes, and various recreational facilities such as basketball and volleyball courts. A dog park, children’s playground, and expanded parking areas will also be added to cater to the needs of the community.

Mayor Carolina Mejía had announced the project in February 2024 as an extension...

According to a report from the Customs Agency (DGA), more than 300,000 Dominican travelers took advantage of the traditional “holiday grace” offered by the agency. Traditionally, the Customs Agency has allowed returning Dominicans to bring duty-free gifts for family and friends. The Customs Agency increased the limit of duty-free items from US$3,000 to US$5,000 worth of goods for the 2024-25 season.

As reported, at the Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo, over 310,000 returning Dominicans had taken advantage of this opportunity during the pre-Christmas period, and several thousands more were expected to do the same before the grace period ends on 15 January 2025.

Some conditions apply. First of all, the US$5,000 limit is based on the FOB prices; second, the goods must not be for commercial use, for example, they cannot be US$5,000 worth of...

During the third summit of the Alliance for Development in Democracy (ADD) held in Panama on 19 December 2024, the Dominican Republic reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional supply chains and promoting sustainable development. The Dominican delegation was led by Industry & Commerce Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó, who was accompanied by Johannes Kelner, the Deputy Minister of Free Zones and Special Regimes.

The summit focused on reviewing progress and defining priorities for 2025, underscoring the Dominican Republic’s role as the third-largest trading partner of the United States. This positions the country as a key ally in promoting economic stability and securing supply chains in the region.

“Our commitment is to support the strategy promoted by the Alliance, integrating the economy into critical sectors...

The Dominican Republic’s economy continues to surge, with a projected growth rate that outpaces its Latin American counterparts. According to the Central Bank, the country’s economy expanded by an average of 5.1% in the first eleven months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

Key drivers of this robust growth include the tourism, financial services, and manufacturing sectors. The tourism industry, in particular, has seen a significant uptick, driven by increased visitor arrivals. The financial sector has also expanded, supported by a rise in credit to the private sector.

The Central Bank also attributes the growth to the strong US economy and effective local government policies. The robust performance of the US economy has positively impacted the Dominican Republic through increased remittances, tourism, and foreign direct investment.

Breakdown of...

The Central Bank (BCRD) has decided to lower its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.75% per year, effective 27 December 2024. This decision was made following a monetary policy meeting held on that date.

The Central Bank cited recent developments in the global economy, including interest rate cuts in advanced economies and increased global uncertainty, as factors influencing its decision. Additionally, the BCRD noted the strong performance of the Dominican economy, coupled with stable inflation that has remained within the target range of 4.0% ± 1.0% throughout the year.

To support this move, the Central Bank explains that it has implemented additional measures to increase liquidity in the financial system. These include expanding repo facilities, eliminating provisions for interbank transactions, and releasing legal reserve requirements.

The BCRD’s...

The National Budget 2025 authorizes the Dominican government to seek over $6.55 billion in international financing for 37 key infrastructure projects in 2025 mainly for transportation, water, sanitation, energy, and education, Diario Libre reports.

Among the most significant projects is the construction of a monorail in Santiago de los Caballeros, for which the government will seek a US$500 million loan. Additionally, the expansion of Santo Domingo’s Metro Line 2 calls for borrowing for US$371.5 million.

To finance these and other projects, the Dominican Republic plans to tap into resources from various international financial institutions, including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the Andean Development Corporation...

Unseasonably heavy rains have disrupted the holiday season in northern regions of the Dominican Republic, where flooding caused by persistent downpours has damaged homes and displaced residents.

During a visit to Puerto Plata province yesterday, Acting President Raquel Peña announced that 3,469 families affected by the severe flooding will receive a RD$5,000 family support bonus. The program has a budget totaling RD$17,345,000.

She said that a regional office of the Ministry of Public Works would be set up as of 7 January 2025 to accelerate reparations in the area.

Peña visited the Gregorio Luperón General Hospital and Villa Melecia in the municipality of Villa Montellano, both of which experienced flooding, as well as Cabarete in Sosúa. In Espaillat province, Peña toured the municipal district of Veragua in the municipality of Gaspar...

Lawyer and writer Federico Jovine Bermudez writes in Listin Diario that the Abinader administration’s Km 9 road improvements are a tale of broken promises and impunity. He recounts the many times that Minister of Public Works Deligne Ascención, or his deputies, have come forth to announce completion dates for the road section. The Km 9 grid is where the the country’s main highway (Duarte) heads north from the capital city, but it is also the point where Greater Santo Domingo’s bypasses interconnect, making it the most traveled in the country.

In his opinion piece in Listin Diario, Jovine complains that the minister lies about the completion dates, offers no explanations for the delays and that there are no consequences.

Jovine recalls that on 24 February 2022, President Luis Abinader launched the expansion of the Duarte Highway’s Km 9 interconnection...

Members of the Customs Agency (DGA) seized a freight container that originated in Brooklyn, New York, and its contents: over three million cigarettes and thousands of rounds of ammunition. The false customs declaration stated the container contained “different packages, including household goods, PPE (Personal Protection Equipment), and other stuff.” The 6,000 rounds of ammunition were for pistols (9mm) and shotguns (12, 16, and 20 gauge).

According to the DGA, the total customs bill would have been over RD$16 million.

It should be noted that there has been an increasing incidence of contraband cigarettes during the year, as reports of seizures along the border with Haiti continue to appear almost weekly.

The Customs Agency reports having seized 67 million cigarettes in 2024 that would have evaded taxes of RD$394 million.

Diario Libre editorializes on how...

Despite increased efforts to combat gender-based violence in recent years, including the establishment of women’s shelters and awareness campaigns, femicides remain a pressing issue in the Dominican Republic, Listin Diario reports.

As 2024 drew to a close, at least 56 women were murdered by current or former spouses. June was the deadliest month of the year, marking a tragic peak in this ongoing crisis.

These senseless killings have sent shockwaves through the nation, leaving countless families grieving. The grim statistics have solidified the Dominican Republic’s position as the second country with the highest femicide rate in Latin America, surpassed only by Honduras, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The Department of Statistics of the Attorney General’s Office recorded 49 femicides up to September: seven deaths in...

At least two persons have lost their lives during incidents now known as ‘road-rage’, a phenomena of modern-day driving on the streets and highways in many countries.

Here in the Dominican Republic, a radio host was killed during an altercation after what is known in the United States as a ‘fender bender’ incident in the small town of Villa Gonzalez, in Santiago province. After contact was made, the two drivers got out of their cars and began a heated discussion that changed into a physical conflict, with one of the men striking the other in the face, causing a fall that injured the head of the victim, causing his death. The aggressor has been caught and arraigned on homicide charges pending further investigations.

In another, even more tragic situation, a dispute between two motorcycle drivers provoked one of them to begin shooting at the other and one of the shots...

A comprehensive investigation conducted by National Police’s explosives experts has concluded that a propane gas leak was the cause of a deadly explosion that leveled a building in Sosúa, claiming the life of 37-year-old Carmen Joselyne Lora Caminero, as reported in El Caribe.

According to the report, the blast occurred as attorney Lora was preparing coffee in the offices of Lisa Legal Solutions, located within the Villa Ana María complex. The firm is owned by German-Dominican lawyer Eva Lisa Ewest.

The two-story building was entirely destroyed in the incident, leaving Lora with severe burns. She was rushed to the Metropolitan Hospital of Santiago (HOMS), but she did not survive her injuries. Additionally, a minibus operating the Puerto Plata-Río San Juan route was damaged in the blast, resulting in minor injuries to two passengers.

The explosion sent shockwaves...

The Gigantes del Cibao and the Toros del Este were eliminated as the regular season of the Dominican Winter Professional Baseball Championship came to a close on 29 December 2024. The Estrellas Orientales won the regular season with a record of 30 wins and 20 losses. The Aguilas Cibaeñas were second with 28-22, followed by the Tigres del Licey with 27-22. The Leones del Escogido, that had led the first part of the regular season, happily was able to grab the key fourth place and make it to the second round.

The round robin to decide the playoff teams begins on 2 January 2025. The last time the four Dominican baseball powerhouses—Estrellas Orientales, Águilas Cibaeñas, Tigres del Licey, and Leones del Escogido—faced off in the round robin phase of the Liga Dominicana de Béisbol (Lidom) was during the 1999-2000 season.

The semifinal is a round of 18 games and two...

The first three of four concerts programmed by bachata music band Aventura and its most popular performer, Romeo Santos, were successfully held on 27, 28 and 29 December 2024 at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Center in Santo Domingo to full house crowds of around 50,000 persons per night. This is a new record for a performance at the stadium.

Aventura is the bachata group made up by cousins Romeo, Lenny, Max and Henry.

Mily Quezada and Natti Natasha were guest performers.

Aventura’s last performance of the Cerrando Ciclos tour is scheduled for 5 January 2025 at the same venue.

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• El Dia
• El Dia
• Tu Boleta