DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

On Monday, 23 February 2026, around 10:50am, a major failure in the National Interconnected Electric System (SENI) caused a massive blackout across the Dominican Republic, heavily impacting Greater Santo Domingo and several other provinces. The government said most power would be resumed by midnight.

The national blackout is the second in four months. The previous was in 11 November 2025.

According to official reports from the Dominican Electricity Transmission Company (ETED) and the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the blackout was triggered by a technical failure on the 138 kV Hainamosa–Villa Duarte transmission line. Specifically, the incident involved the explosion of a circuit breaker at the Hainamosa substation around 10:50am.

The technical failure was exacerbated when the system’s protection mechanisms, including the busbar differential protection, failed to activate. This...

The Hatillo Dam (Presa de Hatillo) in the Dominican Republic is currently facing a severe environmental crisis characterized by an unusual green coloration and high levels of toxicity. Based on the reports and scientific investigations from February 2026, here is a summary of the situation regarding the dam, the pollution, and the role of mining.

Nairobi Viloria for Te Lo Explico looked into the “green water” phenomenon impacting the Hatillo Dam. What is known is that the dam’s water has turned a bright, oily green. Investigative reports by journalist Nairobi Viloria and various scientific institutes (UASD and private laboratories) have identified the primary cause as eutrophication, a process where excess nutrients trigger a massive “bloom” of algae and cyanobacteria. The study reveals a cyanobacteria called Microcystis is dominant. It creates an oily, green layer on...

According to the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), a cold front and an associated trough are currently impacting the Dominican Republic.

The cold front, currently located over the eastern portion of Cuba, is moving toward the south/southeast and interacting with a trough over the Dominican Republic. This combination is expected to produce significant cloud cover and varying intensities of rainfall across much of the country.

The Weather Institute says moderate to heavy showers, isolated thunderstorms, and occasional wind gusts can be expected. These conditions will be most prominent in the northern, northeastern, and southeastern regions, as well as the Cordillera Central and the border area.

A noticeable drop in temperatures is expected, particularly during the night and early morning hours. This cooling trend is being driven by the arrival of a fresh...

Karl-Anthony Towns is solidifying his status as one of the elite players in the NBA this season. The Dominican national team star currently now leads the entire NBA league with 39 double-doubles during the 2025-2026 campaign.

As he works to bring an NBA championship back to New York for the first time in over half a century, Towns has distinguished himself as one of only five players currently averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. This dominant performance makes him a lock for All-NBA honors at the conclusion of the season.

In the race for double-doubles, Towns holds a slim lead over Jalen Johnson of the Hawks (38) and Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets (36). His season highlights include a massive 40-point, 13-rebound performance against Minnesota and an 18-rebound game against the Charlotte Hornets.

US sports media is keeping close tabs on Towns. As reported...

As the sun sets over the turquoise waters of Juanillo Beach, the rhythmic “thwack” of tennis balls is set to replace the gentle lapping of waves in Cap Cana in southern Punta Cana. The second edition of the República Dominicana Open – Copa Cap Cana is returning from 9 to 15 March 2026, solidifying this Caribbean “destination city” as a premier stop on the professional tennis circuit.

In making the announcement, Minister of Tourism David Collado highlighted the event is part of the country’s diversification of tourism. Sports tourism is a growing segment for the Dominican tourism industry. The country has invested heavily in prime sports facilities that together with abundant and good quality accommodation and some of the best air connections in the world puts the Dominican Republic on the sports map as a choice location for sports events.

The Copa Cap Cana is not...

The Dominican Republic solidified its status as a global powerhouse in the tobacco industry last year, reaching 142 countries worldwide and generating record-breaking export revenues.

According to the National Tobacco Institute (Intabaco), the sector saw a significant financial uptick in 2025. Exports of tobacco and its derivatives rose by US$19 million (approximately RD$1.18 billion), marking a 1.4% increase over the previous year. Total export value climbed from US$1.34 billion in 2024 to a staggering US$1.36 billion in 2025. As reported, in 2025, 287 export firms shipped the cigars abroad, with 11 distinct categories of tobacco and derivatives currently exported.

The booming tobacco industry is also an opportunity for cigar lovers to visit where the cigars to see the entire production process, from the sorting of raw leaves to the final hand-rolling and packaging...

The major snowstorm impacting the northeastern coast of the United States has resulted in cancellations of flights impacting travel plans of thousands. The storm has resulted in thousands of no shows for accommodations.

On the positive side for many, the snowstorm has also forcibly extended the stays of thousands of visitors who were caught in the Dominican Republic and were impeded to take their flights back as originally scheduled.

Read More:

• CBS News
• NY1
• Noticias SIN

The Dominican Association of Hotels and Tourism (Asonahores) has officially announced the dates for the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) 2026. The Barcelo Bavaro Convention Center will host the event from 22 to 24 April 2026.

DATE is the most important national tourism event of the year. The tourism exchange brings together all of the actors in the Dominican tourism ecosystem: tour operators, hotels, spas, boutique hotels, transportation services, translation services, and publications.

As the country’s leading B2B tourism marketplace, it connects international travel agents and tour operators with local hotels, receptive operators, and tourism service providers.

The 26th edition is expected to be a major catalyst for investment, following a 2025 event that saw over 8,000 business appointments. It serves as the primary “global showcase” for the Dominican Republic’s tourism identity...

27 February 2026 is a national holiday, marking Independence Day in the Dominican Republic. Because it falls on a Friday, it makes for a long weekend this year.

Those heading for beach, inner cities and mountain areas from the main cities, should take note and avoid peak hours leaving the city on the previous Thursday in the afternoon. Likewise, commuters are recommended to return early on Sunday, to avoid similar bottlenecks of people returning to the main cities.

The next two long weekends are those produced by the Good Friday holiday that falls on 3 April and the Friday, 1 May Labor Day holiday.

Read More:

• Ministry of Labor
• DR1 News

The announcement that Google is going to invest US$500 million in a project in the Dominican Republic made headlines all across every newspaper and social platform in the country over the weekend. The announcement strengthened the country’s positioning as a connectivity bridge between North, Central and South America. The DR already has excellent air and maritime connections.

Abinader signed Decree 113-26 declaring digital infrastructure a national priority and streamlining permitting for subsea cable systems. The government’s pitch is geographic: the Dominican Republic sits at the junction of data flows between North, Central and South America, a natural routing point that has been underserved by existing infrastructure.

The new digital exchange hub and subsea cable ring in the Dominican Republic is Google’s first such facility outside the United States, first in...

President Luis Abinader, alongside the director of the Water and Sewerage Corporation of Santo Domingo (CAASD), Felipe “Fellito” Suberví, officially put into service the historic expansion of the Barrera de Salinidad Oriental Aqueduct on Sunday, 22 February 2026. The project, now the largest pumping aqueduct in the Dominican Republic, is set to deliver over 136 million gallons of drinking water daily, directly impacting nearly two million residents in Santo Domingo East and Santo Domingo North.

The expansion represents a critical milestone for the capital’s water security, addressing decades of service instability. According to official reports, the facility’s production has been boosted to six cubic meters per second, a significant leap intended to guarantee a steady supply for the next 20 years.

A legacy project revitalizedWhile the current...

Rafael Salazar Rodríguez / El Día

Rafael Salazar Rodriguez, the head of the Dominican Hydro-Electric Company (EGEHID), told interviewers of El Matinal on Channel 5 that studies are underway for the construction and implementation of desalination plants in the province of La Altagracia due to the high demand for drinking water in the tourist areas along that coastline. He said that there are some short-term projects under study for the tourist areas. He said that such projects are certainly feasible in areas such as Bavaro and Punta Cana.

The major issues surrounding desalination of ocean water are costs and brine (salmuera), the end product after desalination. As a possible solution for the first of these issues, Salazar Rodriguez said that wind and wave energy processes were being studied to reduce the costs of desalination. He did not mention the issues regarding the brine, which...

The Ministry of Environment of the Dominican Republic has officially transitioned toward a “smart ministry” model, according to its 2025-2026 performance report. A release from the Presidency, explains that under the leadership of Minister Paíno Henríquez, the Presidency reports that the agency has successfully merged aggressive conservation tactics with technological modernization to balance environmental protection with national economic development. Paino Henriquez has been minister since August 2024. Previously, he was a corporate lawyer.

Conservation and reforestation milestonesOn the conservation front, the ministry achieved record-breaking figures by planting 20.2 million trees, covering approximately 365,000 tareas (628.86 square meters) across the country. These efforts were bolstered by a 67% reduction in land affected by forest fires, a success attributed to the...

The Abinader administration announced the purchase of four Tejo-class coastal patrol vessels for the Dominican Navy. The equipment is promoted as essential to the patrolling of Dominican waters. The Dominican Republic is located in the center of the Caribbean a geographic position that makes it especially vulnerable to maritime crime and those who seek to use the country as a transshipment point.

President Luis Abinader has justified the acquisition as part of broader national security spending increases driven by external factors, including regional drug trafficking routes and cross-border criminal activity. The vessels will strengthen Dominican maritime security and counter drug trafficking operations in the Caribbean.

The Ministry of Defense is making the purchase for €24,000,000, or an individual price of six million euros. The purchase was reportedly...

In an effort to get an early start into the 2028 presidential election, the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), led by former President Danilo Medina, officially approved eight pre-candidates. During a meeting of the Central Committee on Sunday, 22 February 2026, it was established that the definitive candidate will be selected during the last quarter of 2026. The Dominican electoral law establishes that the presidential pre campaign for securing the party nominations opens 5 July 2027.

The official list of the eight approved pre-candidates includes Francisco Javier García, Francisco Domínguez Brito, and Charles Mariotti, who had previously expressed their interest. They are joined by Gonzalo Castillo, Ramón Ventura Camejo, Luis de León, Manfred Mata, and Mario Bruno Gonzales.

PLD Party vice president Ariel Jimenez and 2024 presidential candidate Abel...

In ten days, 5 March 2026, the World Baseball Classic will begin, matching 20 national teams, in four pools, to deliver a world champion for 2026. The teams will play in stadiums in Tokyo, San Juan, Houston, and Miami.

According to the experts, the Dominican team is a powerhouse and certainly a favorite to dispute the crown against the likes of Japan with Shohei Ohtani, and the United States with American League MVP Aaron Judge and Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes.

Listin Diario reports on those who are seeing similarities between Team DR and the famous 1927 New York Yankees that were led by Babe Ruth, and Lou Gehrig. Local sportswriters are comparing the 2026 team to the Yankee’s famous “Murderer’s Row” of Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri.

It’s that Team DR has Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Julio...

Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez / El Día

President Luis Abinader has received an official invitation from US President Donald Trump to attend a high-level summit scheduled for 7 March 2026 in Miami, Florida, Dominican officials confirmed on Wednesday, 18 February. As reported, six other heads of state have been invited. These are Javier Milei (Argentina), Rodrigo Paz (Bolivia), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador), Nayib Bukele (El Salvador), Nasry Asfura (Honduras) and Santiago Peña (Paraguay).

The formal notification arrived Tuesday, 17 February, ending weeks of speculation regarding the gathering. Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez confirmed the news during a luncheon with the Corripio Communications Group, noting that the Presidential Palace is currently preparing a public statement on the meeting.

The Miami meeting effectively reshapes the regional diplomatic calendar, as it follows the...

Major General Andrés Modesto Cruz, Police Minister Faride Raful and Former Police Director Ramón A. Guzman / Listín Diario

Major General Andrés Modesto Cruz Cruz in his first statements after assuming command of the National Police on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 spoke of his commitment to further depressing the country’s crime rates.

The director emphasized his firm commitment to protecting the nation’s best interests and stated that institutional reforms are already “tangible and perceptible”.

Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful highlighted during the swearing in ceremony that the new leadership inherits a strengthening security landscape, noting a significant reduction in the homicide rate to just 7.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Major General Cruz Cruz is not a newcomer to high-level strategy. Before this historic promotion, he...

Maira Morla Pineda has officially taken office as the new director general of the National Institute of Vocational and Technical Training (Infotep), marking a leadership transition. Her predecessor was appointed Minister of Higher Education.

The transition occurred after the former head of the institution was tapped by the Executive Branch to lead the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (MESCYT). Morla Pineda, who previously served as the institution’s deputy director general, was sworn in during a ceremony presided over by the Minister of Labor Eddy Olivares and the president of the Infotep board of directors.

During the inauguration, officials emphasized the importance of continuity within the agency, which is responsible for the country’s vocational education and labor force training. Morla Pineda, a veteran of the institution with years of experience in...

President Luis Abinader and First Lady Raquel Arbaje are scheduled to receive the Dominican Republic’s newly redesigned driver’s license on 26 February 2026, marking another significant step in the government’s ongoing overhaul of national identification documents.

The transition to the new licensing format follows the recent rollout of the electronic passport and the updated national identity card (cédula). These initiatives are part of a broader modernization strategy aimed at enhancing document security through advanced technology.

The implementation of the new license also aligns with the National Pact for Road Safety, an executive initiative declared of “high national interest.” Under this plan, the government intends to introduce a points-based licensing system later this year to improve traffic discipline and reduce road fatalities across the country.

President Luis...

The Dominican Republic is overhauling its driver’s license system. Starting Thursday, 26 February 2026, the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant) will officially launch the new driver’s license, with President Luis Abinader receiving the first one.

The new license is being issued by Consorcio Mobility ID, the new government licenses services contractor. The new driver document incorporates international security standards meeting ISO/IES 18013-5.

If you are planning to renew or apply for a new license, the transition schedule is:23-26 February 2026: Service is exclusive to the public and private transport sector (bus drivers, mass transit, etc.).2 March 2026: General public service begin at Phase I locations.Next two months: Phase II expansion to remaining provinces and additional international consulates.

Where to go: Santo Domingo & National District...

The Observatory of Migration Policies (OPM), created by decree 215-25 of 20 April, presented its first preliminary report after three months of fieldwork and verification of progress in the application of the 15 migration measures announced by President Luis Abinader.

The Executive Commission, headed by Miguel Franjul, delivered two reports: one on the missions carried out and another on the level of compliance with the measures. The OPM detailed that it began work with the formation of a technical committee and the approval of its Work Plan, Internal Regulations, Action Route and Communication Strategy.

Field visits included: Dajabón (first groundbreaking of the second phase of the border wall expansion), a tour of the entire border strip from Pedernales to Montecristi to verify security and control, inspections of the Nuestra Señora de La...

Miguel Franjul, president of the Observatory of Migratory Policies, has sounded an alarm over what he describes as a coordinated effort by international organizations to force the Dominican Republic into fundamentally altering its nationality laws. Miguel Franjul is also executive editor Listin Diario newspaper.

According to Franjul, there are clear “signs of conspiracy” aimed at compelling the nation to abandon its long-standing adherence to the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood) in favor of policies that would mandate automatic citizenship for children of undocumented migrants.

The core of the dispute: Jus sanguinis vs. international pressure

Franjul asserts that the Dominican Republic is facing a “persistent and multifaceted” offensive from external actors. These entities, he claims, are seeking to undermine the nation’s sovereign right to define...

The stage of Dominicana’s Got Talent was set ablaze as Da Republik Junior emerged victorious in a high-stakes finale that captivated the nation on 18 February 2026. The group won the RD$3 million cash award and national recognition to the effort in favor of Dominican youths.

The group, widely regarded as the artistic heirs to the original Da Republik company that reached the semifinals of America’s Got Talent in 2018, beat out fellow finalists with a display of precision, energy, and urban flair.

The path to victory: The Golden BuzzerThe group’s championship run was foreshadowed early in the season during an emotional audition that left the judges and audience stunned. It was judge Waddys Jáquez who granted the group their direct pass to the semifinals by pressing the prestigious Golden Buzzer. “War is Declared”: Jáquez, known for his notoriously strict standards, was visibly...

President Luis Abinader has appointed Major General Andrés Modesto Cruz Cruz as the new Director General of the National Police, effective 17 February 2026. The move was formalized through Decree 111-26.

Cruz Cruz, who previously served as the institution’s Inspector General, succeeds Major General Ramón Antonio Guzmán Peralta. Under the same decree, Guzmán Peralta has been placed into retirement and will transition into a new role as the police advisor to the Executive Branch.

The Police law orders the appointment of a new chief every two years. The appointment is grounded in the Constitution and Law 590-16 (the Organic Law of the National Police), which authorizes the President to select a director general from among active-duty general officers.

Cruz Cruz had been the Police Inspector General at the time of his appointment. He has also directed the Police Internal Affairs department (2023-2026) and served as the regional director for the southern region.

He is an...

It would seem the Dominican Republic is now equipping to prevent or confront an invasion of Haitian gangs. The equipping has taken place in the Abinader administraiton, as previously the Armed Forces did not have any equipment to tackle security challenges from Haiti. During the recent presentation of the equipment, the press releases did not specify the concerns beghind the mega expenditures for defense.

President Luis Abinader and Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, presented the comprehensive military upgrades underway, part of a progressive plan to bolster the nation’s institutional defense capabilities.

The military equipment is intended to reinforce the strategic framework of the national defense system, specifically targeting improvements in command, control, communications, and cyber defense.

Lieutenant...

In a ceremony that celebrated a lifetime of intellectual rigor and creative mastery, writer and diplomat Pedro Vergés was formally presented with the 2026 National Literature Prize on the evening of 17 February 2026. The event, held at the Carlos Piantini Hall of the Eduardo Brito National Theater, marks the highest distinction in Dominican literature.

The award, co-sponsored by the Corripio Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, was presented by José Luis Corripio Estrada (Don Pepín) and Minister of Culture Roberto Ángel Salcedo. The Corripio Foundation is the sponsor of the event.

In his acceptance speech, Vergés issued a poignant call to action, urging the literary community to combat the “alarming trivialization” of modern literature and to strengthen critical thinking as a “public responsibility”.

Vergés, who had served as Minister of Culture from 2016 to...

The Dominican Republic is on the verge of reclaiming its status as a self-sufficient coffee producer, driven by high-yielding, disease-resistant plant varieties introduced over the last decade and rising coffee export prices.

Leonidas Batista, executive director of the Dominican Coffee Institute (Indocafé), told local media that the rapid growth of these new plantations is significantly reducing the nation’s reliance on foreign beans. Local roasters, he noted, are now importing only minimal quantities as domestic supply strengthens.

The rising prices of coffee are behind the new efforts to increase production. Production went from 1,218,126 quintals for the 2016-2020 period generating US$31.6 million. From 2020-2024/25 period, total production has increased to 2,641,155 quintals generating US$152 million.

Batista highlighted that last year alone, coffee exports reached US$48 million...

Commuters in Santo Domingo will be testing the Integrated Fare System (SIT) where metro and specific bus services that now offers extended mass transit routes service for the same RD$35 fare.

Frinette Rodríguez, communications director for the SIT, told Listin Diario the system is designed to allow users to pay for both the bus and the Metro using a single contactless credit or debit card.

Users must use contactless bank cards at specifically marked turnstiles to validate the integrated rate.

The pilot program currently includes the following bus corridors:• Independencia (the newest addition)• Núñez de Cáceres• Winston Churchill• Charles de Gaulle

To facilitate these transfers, specific turnstiles have been enabled at 11 Metro stations and one Teleférico station:• Line 1: Centro de los Héroes, Juan Bosch, and Mamá Tingó.• Line 2: María...

The grand finale of Dominicana’s Got Talent is set to take center stage on 18 February 2026, as the hit reality competition reaches its long-awaited conclusion. After a rigorous season featuring more than 200 diverse acts, ranging from vocal powerhouses and intricate dance troupes to unconventional performance art, the final contestants are prepared to battle for the ultimate title and RD$3 million cash award.

Audiences across the nation can tune in to the live broadcast on Color Visión, Channel 9 at 8pm. This closing showcase promises a high-energy display of the Dominican Republic’s most exceptional local talent, marking the culmination of months of auditions and elimination rounds. The reality has platforms where viewers can vote for their favorites.

The Dominican Republic’s senior men’s basketball team is entering the final stages of preparation for the second window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers. The Dominican team is in Group A of these World Cup Qualifiers alongside the United States, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

With a 1-1 record in the current cycle, the national squad aims to secure its fifth consecutive World Cup appearance under the leadership of head coach Néstor “Che” García, who is from Argentina.

Coach García is scheduled to arrive in the country on 18 February 2026 to lead an intensive three-session training camp before the team travels for the upcoming current qualifying window.

Team general manager Junior Páez confirmed that while a 24-man preliminary roster has been released, the final 12-man lineup will likely be announced just 24 hours before game time to account for last-minute adjustments.

A major storyline for this...