2007 – Page 327

Travel to Spain became more expensive beginning this month. The cost of a visa to Spain jumped in price from RD$1,330 to RD$2,380 on 1 January. The Spanish Embassy did not explain the reasons for the 78% increase in visa fees. El Caribe reports that the increase may well be explained by the large numbers …

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Two hundred deaf children, the first of over a thousand, received their hearing aids as part of a joint initiative by Isla Dominicana and the Starkey Hearing Foundation. One hundred adults also benefited from the program. Volunteers fitted the children with the hearing aids and also gave out toys, batteries and lunch boxes for the …

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Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez has been admitted to the Plaza de la Salud medical center in Santo Domingo. The Cardinal had gone in for a routine check up and was diagnosed with an artery obstruction for which he needs to undergo surgery. Dr. Pedro Urena, spokesman for the hospital’s Cedimat center said that …

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The now traditional Concert for Our Lady of Grace, the patron of the Dominican Republic, will be held at the Basilica in Higuey on Wednesday. Maestro Julio De Windt will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra in works by Vivaldi, Wagner, Dinicu and Hahn. Soloists are Pavel Vucjcic on violin and Remy Vargas on the saxophone. …

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Miguel Tejada has been given the green light to ensure that the Aguilas Cibaenas make it to the finals and get a good chance of winning the Professional Winter Baseball season. The team to beat this year seems to be the underdogs, the Gigantes de San Francisco, that have edged out the legendary Santiago champions …

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Over the weekend, the Tigres del Licey were able to win a couple of games and the Aguilas were happy to just be able to play one game. As a result, Licey got close to the Aguilas for a final play-off spot, but as a result of yesterday’s great performance from star Jose Lima, the …

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Last night at 7pm, President Leonel Fernandez returned from his trip to Nicaragua where he attended the inauguration of President Daniel Ortega. During his visit to Nicaragua, President Fernandez met personally with Ortega and they both discussed strategies for reducing poverty. It is also reported that Ortega asked for Fernandez’s opinion on Nicaragua’s energy issues, …

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Center of Exports and Investments (CEI-RD) Director Eddy Martinez is reporting that the DR exported US$1.32 billion as of November 2006. He forecast US$1.4 billion in exports for all of 2006. Exports have been increasing, going from US$897 million in 2004 to US$1.08 billion in 2005 and US$1.32 billion in 2006. Sugar by products, minerals …

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Today’s Diario Libre carries a photo of a large double-decker London bus in the UK capital. On the side of the bus, spanning its length, is a large advertisement for vacation opportunities in the Dominican Republic. The caption under the photo explains that the advertisement was highlighting the attractiveness of the DR as a tourist …

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The government has eliminated the 16% ITBIS (VAT) tax on fertilizers, agricultural chemicals and machinery. The objective is to restore competitiveness to the agriculture sector and consolidate it as the country’s third most important economic force. The decision was made after a meeting of government officials, at the urging of the president of the Commission …

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