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With the participation of 23 member countries and under the motto “Justice on Time to Guarantee the Dignity of People,” the XXII Ibero-American Judicial Summit is taking place from Wednesday, 14 May through Friday, 16 May 2025 at the Eduardo Brito National Theater in Santo Domingo.
The gathering brings together legal experts from Latin America, Spain and Portugal. The objective is to strengthen judicial ties between member countries and generate common strategies for a more modern, accessible, and humane justice system.
President Luis Abinader will officially declare the summit open. Accompanying him will be Henry Molina, president of the Supreme Court of Justice and temporary secretary of the summit; Elena Martínez Rosso, minister of the Supreme Court of Uruguay and permanent secretary of the CJI; and Andrés Allamand, Ibero-American Secretary General.
The key themes of the conference are digital justice, ethics and transparency. The agenda includes debates on the...
In an editorial on 13 May 2025, Diario Libre executive editor Anibal de Castro focuses on the reality that the DR is a mixed race and ancestry country.
The editorialist writes:
“The election of Leo XIV as Supreme Pontiff has brought about more than just a name change at the Vatican summit. It has brought to the surface a history that many would prefer to ignore: the multiple, complex, and in this case, mestizo origins of the new leader of the Catholic Church.
The fact that the Pope has Dominican blood and Afro-descendant Creole heritage, and that one of his grandfathers was classified as “black” in 19th-century America, should not cause much surprise.
But it does: unfortunately, we continue to drag along a cultural discomfort —a visceral resistance— to accepting that the Dominican, the Catholic, and the universal can simultaneously be black, mestizo, Creole, and proudly diverse.
The case of Leo XIV confirms that origins do not hinder destiny, unless we decide to...
Weather forecasters are recommending people to be prepared for major hurricanes in the Caribbean. Colorado State University early forecast expects 17 named hurricanes, compared to the past (1991-2000) average of 14 named storms.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June through 30 November.
In the early seasonal forecast, the Colorado State University meteorologists are predicting 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
AccuWeather is predicting the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season could bring 13 to 18 named storms, 7 to 10 hurricanes, 3 to 5 major hurricanes and 3-6 direct US impacts.
The US National Hurricane Center will be issuing its Atlantic Season forecasts starting 15 May. This year, the NHC says it will be giving people 72-hour early advance advisories, instead of 48-hour warnings before the anticipated arrival of storm surge or tropical-storm-force winds on land.
There are expectations the new...
The Dominican Weather Office (Indomet) says a current trough and another on the way to Hispaniola island will bring scattered showers for most of the country. Hot temperatures are forecast for most of the day, with the temperature cooling down in the evening.
Read more in Spanish:
President Luis Abinader clarified during his weekly Monday press conference on 12 May 2025 that the meeting on 14 May 2025 at the Ministry of Defense with three former Dominican Presidents is about security. “We are not going to discuss immigration policies,” he clarified.
Former Presidents Danilo Medina (2012-2016, 2016-2020), Leonel Fernandez (1996-2000, 2004-2008, 2008-2012) and Hipolito Mejia (2000-2004) have been convened to discuss the Haiti issue given the scant advances in resolving the multidimensional crisis in Haiti and the impact of the situation on the Dominican Republic.
He said: “We will convene the Social Economic Council (CES) to discuss the best policies.” He said during the 14 May meeting he would share “information that I want them to hear and be aware of both of the present situation in Haiti and the gangs, the...
Visiting Kenya’s First Cabinet Secretary and Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Musalia Mudavadi signed a memorandum of understanding regarding medical evacuation, repatriation of injured personnel, and deceased Kenyans who are part of the MSS. “This agreement demonstrates our genuine commitment to those risking their lives for a safer future in Haiti and our region,” Minister Álvarez stated, adding that the Dominican Republic has already provided medical care to nearly two dozen MSS members, ensuring they receive dignified and respectful treatment.
The meeting took place with the Ministry of Foreign Relations on 12 May 2025. It marks the first political consultation between the two nations, addressing mutual interests such as trade, security, cultural exchange, and cooperation in regards to the Multinational Security Support Mission...
Minister of Industry & Commerce Victor (Ito) Bisono said that the measure in effect that bans the export of Dominican goods by the land border as of 12 May 2025 will not have a major impact on Dominican exports as these are already shipped to Haitian ports. He said the measure will impact Haitian truckers who import the goods by land from the Dominican Republic. Since the worsening of the security crisis in Haiti, Dominican goods transportation to Haiti have been handled by Haitian truckers.
El Dia reports that the Data Market platform indicates that the main Dominican exports to Haiti were T-shirts (9.1%), cotton textiles (7.4%), Portland cement (7.4%), steel rebar (6.6%), soya oil (5.1%). DR exports to Haiti in the first quarter were US$187 million, compared to US$112 million in 2024.
The Minister did not address the impact the ban will have on small vendors that...
President Luis Abinader announced a cash bonus of RD$1,500 to mothers included in the public welfare cards plans under the Social Cabinet of the Presidency (Superate). The President called the bonus a “cariñito.” The bonus will be delivered as of 21 May 2025, through Alimentate, Mio and Banco de Reservas distribution channels.
The Presidency also announced Inespre special markets would offer low-costing produce in time for the celebration of Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day in the Dominican Republic falls on the last Sunday in May. This year, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, 25 May 2025.
Mother’s Day is a good time to purchase appliances. Major stores have deals for the celebration.
Follow the story: La Semanal 12 May 2025
13 May 2025
The Central Bank reported on 12 May 2025 that remittances continue to be a strong component of the influx of hard currency to the Dominican Republic. Remittances from Dominicans living abroad continued to strengthen between January and April 2025, reaching a total of US$3.92 billion. This represents a significant 12.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Looking ahead, the BCRD forecasts continued growth in foreign exchange earnings for 2025, driven by tourism, remittances, exports, and FDI.
The Central Bank reports that remittances in April 2025 were US$954.6 million, marking an 11.0% jump from April 2024. These funds play a crucial role in the country’s development by stimulating consumption, investment, and support for vulnerable sectors.
Despite global economic uncertainty fueled by geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts, and volatile financial markets...
President Luis Abinader took advantage of the weekly Monday press conference on 12 May 2025 to announce that investigative journalist and lead editor of the Noticias SIN news service, Alicia Ortega is the 2025 choice of the Dominican Journalist and Unesco Award. The award was received by her daughter, journalist Jessica Hasbun.
The award was created in 2021 and is funded by the government’s Banco de Reservas. The Presidency did not announce the amount of the cash award.
The winner is chosen by the permanent delegation of the Dominican Republic to the Unesco with the participation of the Colegio Dominicano de Periodistas, the local journalism guild.
The award is announced on the occasion of the celebration of the World Freedom of the Press Day by the Unesco (3 May 2025), with the backing of the Ministry of Foreign Relations. Previous winners Jose Bujosa...
The president of the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) Vice Admiral Jose Manuel Cabrera Ulloa said that the shipment of three tons of marihuana seized at the East Haina Port had been loaded in Guatemala. He rejected the statement by the government of Guatemala that denied the shipment had been loaded in Guatemala.
“We limit ourselves to inform that the container was loaded in Guatemala. The security seal was placed by the exporter company and is the same with which the shipment arrived to Haina Port. We also have constancy that the merchandise was purchased by a Dominican citizen who appears as the owner of the shipment,” said Cabrera Ulloa on 12 May 2025.
In Guatemala, Minister Francisco Jimenez had denied the shipment of 3,004 packets of marihuana was from his country. Yet the Dominican authorities say they have evidence the shipment was loaded in Guatemala on 16 March and...
Tourism Minister David Collado announced RD$90 million in funds to enhance destination Santiago. Santiago is known as the country’s premium cigar capital, for its medical tourism facilities, gastronomy, cultural and ecotouristic attractions. Collado said the vision is to extend the brand to promote conventions and sports events.
Of the funds, RD$60 million will be used for improvements to the Monumento a los Heroes de la Restauracion, the iconic monument overlooking the city of Santiago. Another RD$30 million will be used to promote the Santiago branding, Visit Santiago. Also planned for this year are improvements to the historic center of the city, the Santiago Marathon and the Typical Music Festival.
Likewise, the Cibao International Airport in Santiago, privately-owned and operated, is presently undergoing an investment of US$800 million for its remodeling and...
The Ministry of Tourism reported 1,020,646 visitors in April 2025, a 7% increase over the same month in 2024.
Minister of Tourism David Collado noted during the monthly statistical presentation, held this time in Santiago, that the number of visitors in April 2025 of 7% from April 2024, is up 18% compared to April 2023, and 55% compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019.
The minister also highlighted that during the first four months of this year, the country has welcomed a record-breaking 4,369,288 visitors. The goal for this year is to set a 11 million tourist arrival record.
“This translates to a 4% growth compared to the same period last year, a 17% increase from 2023, and a remarkable 50% rise from 2019,” Collado stated.
Of these visitors, 3,069,832 arrived by air, and 1,299,456 by sea. The airport at Punta Cana led the way with 64% of air arrivals between...
President Luis Abinader was in Punta Cana on Friday, 9 May 2025 for the inauguration of the St. Regis Cap Cana Resort & Residences, a US$220 million Mariott International-operated project located at the Cap Cana residential and hotel community at the southern end of the beach destination.
Situated on one of Cap Cana’s beaches and overlooking the renowned Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada golf course, the resort features 200 deluxe rooms and 70 private residences.
The project was funded entirely by Dominican capital coordinated by Pioneer Investment Funds, executed and built by Campagna Ricart & Asociados, a leading architectural and engineering firm.
Tourism Minister Callado said at the opening that the new luxury hotel aligns with the country’s strategy to diversify its hospitality offerings: “This remarkable hotel underscores our commitment...
Igor Rodríguez Durán / IDAC
Igor Rodríguez Durán, director general of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) announced the upcoming installation of three new radars at airports in Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Puerto Plata.
In a statement, Rodríguez Durán emphasized that the radars aim to “further enhance air navigation and meteorological coverage in our country.” The new equipment will be deployed to service Las Américas International Airport (Santo Domingo), Cibao International Airport (Santiago), and General Gregorio Luperón International Airport (Puerto Plata).
The director general of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute (IDAC) says the modern radar doppler to service the Gregorio Luperon International Airport of Puerto Plata is being installed in the Isabel de Torres Mountain, the same where the Botanical Gardens are located at the top. The modern system will...
Arajet is already flying to Miami (MIA) and Newark (EWR) international airports. Boston will be Arajet’s third city in the United States. The airline also already flies to Puerto Rico (SJU).
The Boston Globe now announces the Dominican-based low-cost airline will land at the Logan International Airport (BOS) starting 20 November 2025. The direct flights will be on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
The one-ways are priced at a competitive US$170 between the two cities. Arajet includes a personal item weighing less than 15 pounds and charges US$20 for checked luggage and US$30 for carry-on.
The airline that began operations in 2022 now flies to 24 cities, in Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada. Those booking the Boston flight will be able to connect to other destinations in Latin America from the stopover at the Santo Domingo (SDQ) or from the Punta Cana (PUJ)...
Shaikha Al Nowais / Acento
World Tourism Organization secretary general Zurab Pololikashvili (Georgia), in the position since January 2018, seeks a third term as secretary general of the UN Tourism agency.
Nevertheless, reports are that the incumbent secretary general does not have the votes to win a third term. Moreover, there is no clear majority for any candidate.
The UN agency rules establish that 35 members are eligible to vote in the WTO Executive Council. Eighteen of these are needed for the secretary general position to be allocated in the first round.
The first round of voting is scheduled for 29-30 May 2025.
The contenders for the executive position at the leading UN tourism agency are:
Incumbent Zurab Pololikashvili (Georgia), Gloria Guevara Manzo (Mexico), Harry Theoharis (Greece), Mohammed Amin Adam (Ghana), Habib Ammar (Tunisia), and Shaikha...
President Luis Abinader will meet with former Presidents Danilo Medina (2012-2016 and 2016-2020), Leonel Fernández (1996-2000, 2004-2008, 2008-2012), and Hipólito Mejía (2000-2004) on Wednesday, 14 May 2025 at 4pm at the Ministry of Defense. The meeting comes in response to Abinader’s formal invitation sent on 30 April 2025, which was accepted by all three former Presidents.
The meeting was originally convened for the Presidential Palace, but it was later accepted by the three former statesmen to be held at the Ministry of Defense.
The Presidency reports the gathering will focus on national security in light of the growing instability in Haiti and its potential impact on the Dominican Republic. Abinader individually wrote to each former leader highlighting the urgency of the situation and the need for a unified national response. He...
First Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Minister of Kenya Musalia Mudavadi / Wikipedia
The Ministry of Foreign Relations (Mirex) reported that the First Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Minister of Kenya, Musalia Mudavadi, arrived on 9 May 2025 to Santo Domingo for talks with Dominican government officials. The visit is after he met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC on 7 May.
Mudavadi will meet with Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez to discuss bilateral issues. Following these meetings, on Tuesday, 13 May 2025 the Kenyan minister is scheduled to meet with President Luis Abinader.
Minister Mudavadi will also meet with Minister of Defense Carlos Antonio Fernandez Onofre. This is especially important given the fact that Kenya has over a thousand troops in neighboring Haiti, where the situation has been going downhill. There will be additional meetings with the...
Starting Monday, 12 May 2025, Haiti announced it will be enforcing a new regulation that prohibits the entry of foreign goods through its land border with the Dominican Republic, Diario Libre reports.
The measure, announced by Haiti’s Customs Agency (AGD), has sparked concern among importers, transporters, and traders on both sides of the border. It was initially scheduled to take effect on 7 April but was officially communicated through Circular No. DAJ/BM/AGD/03-25/00479 issued by AGD under instructions from Haiti’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Henceforth, all foreign goods transiting through Dominican territory must enter Haiti exclusively via maritime routes for customs processing. Land border crossings between the Dominican Republic and Haiti will no longer accept such cargo starting Monday.
The directive also warns that...
In the wake of tragic events in recent days where Haitians have been alleged perpetrators of violent acts, hundreds of people from the community of Estero Hondo in the northern province of Puerto Plata have united to march against the illegal trafficking and migration of Haitians, Listin Diario reports.
Dressed in black as a sign of mourning and carrying the Dominican flag, participants chanted “No more, not one more death.”
Residents decided to raise their voices after several families in the community have family members that have been victims to violent acts. The most recent case involved Bienvenido Acosta, 90, who lost his life after being assaulted at his residence with a fleeing Haitian national, the lead suspect.
Victims’ families joined the march, including Josefina Acosta, daughter of a victim. In statements to the media, she...
Since the beginning of the year, President Luis Abinader has traveled abroad at an average of once per month, Listin Diario reports.
In early January, he traveled to Puerto Rico for the inauguration of new governor Jennifer Gonzalez.
In February, Abinader traveled to Guyana in South America for the second time to attend an energy summit. Guyana has become an interesting part of Dominican foreign policy with proposals for assistance in agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, energy, and industry currently on the table since 2023.
The day after giving the required State of the Nation speech to Congress on 27 February, Abinader flew to Montevideo, Uruguay for the inauguration of President Yamandu Orsi. While he was there he met with Spain’s King Felipe VI and visited Uruguay’s ailing former president Jose (Pepe) Mujica in his residence.
Just days later, in early March...
President Luis Abinader witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding Friday, 9 May 2025 between the Dominican government, represented by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and DP World Dominicana, a Dubai, United Arabian Emirates company calling for an investment of US$760 million to expand the DP World Economic Zones Dominicana free zone park and increase the capacity of its port terminal located in Caucedo, half an hour from the capital city. The expansion is expected to generate US$4 billion in foreign investment.
Minister of Industry and Commerce Víctor Bisonó and DP World chairman and group CEO, Sultan Ahmed, emphasized the the Dominican Republic’s potential as a logistics hub, the significance of the investment in manufacturing when announcing a major cargo capacity expansion to position the country as the leading regional...
During the first four months of 2025, the cost of the basic food basket increased slightly across the different wage segments. The average cost of food was pegged at RD$46,728 overall in April. This represented a 0.66% increase since January.
For the lowest income quintile, the cost was set at RD$27,828.58 in January, and this went up to RD$27,968.34 in April, an increase of just 0.50%.
It should be noted that the minimum wage for workers varies according to the size of the company, with large companies paying nearly RD$28,000 and the very smallest companies paying a bit over RD$15,000.
According to the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, the year-to-year inflation rate has been 3.71% and within the 4.0%+/-1% since late in 2023. According to the results of a national survey in 2018, a bit over 70% of household incomes is the result of economic activities...
The Superintendent of Health and Labor Risks (Sisalril) has launched an educational campaign titled “Don’t fall for it” (No caigas en gancho) to alert affiliates of family health insurance plans regarding some shady practices of local health service providers called Administrators of Health Risks (ARS).
The idea behind this campaign is to alert affiliates to the possible use of possibly illegal enticements in order for the affiliate to change ARS/HMO. Such offers as money, pharmacy bonus or discounts, dental coverage or free doctor consults are among the tricky offers.
Sisalril warns its affiliates to avoid accepting a change of ARS/HMO without a real and informed agreement to the transfer, as this could well put health coverage at risk. While a current provider may be obliged to cover certain medical costs, a new provider could renege on the coverage.
The Superintendent noted that to switch...
Dominican Republic’s SOS (Sea-Land Symbiosis) is included in the finalists for the Institute of Food Technologists and Seeding The Future Foundations’s Growth Prize. The competition gathers proponents of solutions to some of the biggest issues impacting the global ag/food space today. SOS is working on solutions to dealing with seaweed that is impacting fishing and the tourism industry in the Dominican Republic.
The winners will be announced in June 2025. The three Growth Grant winners will receive US$100,000 each.
The five growth grant finalists are:• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Institute – Savanah Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI): Developing an NIR Tool for Rapid Screening of Aflatoxin-Resistant Groundnuts to Combat Aflatoxin Contamination (Ghana).• Munakyalo Agrofresh: Reducing Post-harvest Losses with Solar-Powered IoT Cooling Hubs and...
President Luis Abinader expects new Pope Leo XIV to visit the Dominican Republic soon. It would be his third visit.
It is now known that Robert Francis Prevost, on 11 September 1950 in Chicago, Illinois, of Spanish-speaking parents, and an Augustinian priest, has been at least twice to the Dominican Republic and is said to have a Dominican maternal grandfather.
At the time of his election to the Papacy, the 69-year old Cardinal Prevost was the Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops, named to this leadership position by the late Pope Francis in 2023. Previously, the American prelate had been the Prior General of the Augustinian Order, and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Following the protocol for the inauguration of the new Pope, Vice President Raquel Peña will travel to Rome to attend the mass marking the beginning of his pontificate at St. Peter’s...
Mary Perez de Marranzini, founder of the Dominican Republic’s Rehab Association, passed away on 8 May 2025. She was 98 years old.
She was a tiny woman, with a very common name: Mary Perez. Yet she was a giant, a truly magnificent individual that changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Dominicans.
Mary Perez had a son who suffered from polio. She found that there were no Dominican institutions that could aid people such as her son. She set out to change all that, and she founded the Dominican Rehabilitation Association in 1963.
Her determination and quiet forcefulness brought into existence the non-profit that today sees about 7,000 a day in 34 different centers around the entire Dominican Republic. It would be very difficult to find another such astounding civic work in the entire 180-year history of the Dominican Republic.
Not a fixture at society events, Mary...
Many Dominican stars have had a difficult time in the opening weeks of the Major League Baseball season. Rafael Devers is not at third base for the Boston Red Sox, and he is not happy. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed a great contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, but he has yet to put up numbers that would justify his mega-salary. Juan Soto needs to produce more for the NY Mets. Fernando Tatis Jr. is looking great and his team is happy with his performance.
With all these ups and downs, it is very encouraging to follow the ball player career of Freddy Peralta, fast-ball pitcher in his eighth season for the Milwaukee Brewers. From Moca, the young pitcher has had a fairly spectacular start. In eight outings as a starting pitcher, Peralta has registered four wins against two losses. However, his ERA is just 2.18, with 48 Ks and a WHIP of 1.04, all excellent numbers that put Peralta...
The world of esports witnessed a dominant performance on 11 May 2025 at the Evolution Championship Series known as Evo Japan 2025 by Dominican gamer Samuel “MenaRD” Mena. To win the event held at the Tokyo Big Sight East Exhibition Hall from Friday, 9 May to Sunday, 11 May, Mena defeated 7,194 competitors. The cash prize money win was US$12,070.54.
MenaRD becomes the first returning winner of the Evo Japan title in the history of the tournament. The Evo Japan defending champion was one of only three non-Japanese players to make it into the top eight.
This victory qualified Mena for the Capcom Championship that gathers the elite of the Street Fighter community. Capcom XII has a cash first prize award of US$1 million. The win in Tokyo also qualified him for the Esports World Cup with another millionaire prize award.
Mena RD claimed the Evo Japan 2025 title without...
President Luis Abinader met in Washington, D.C. with US Secretary General Marco Rubio on Wednesday, 7 May 2025. As reported in Diario Libre, the meeting focused on the deepening crisis in Haiti and other areas of mutual interest.
According to a statement from the Dominican Presidency, Abinader reiterated his call for increased international intervention in Haiti, emphasizing the urgent need to bolster support to stem that country’s worsening security situation.
The Abinader administration has stated that the crisis in Haiti is the leading problem affecting the Dominican Republic. The DR shares a 391 km land border with Haiti and carries a heavy burden with the collapse of security and social services in Haiti. The continued worsening of the multidimensional crisis in Haiti has increased migration to the Dominican Republic. Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez has...
The Dominican Republic and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a landmark cybersecurity cooperation agreement in Dubai during the GISEC Global 2025 event.
Luis Soto, director of the Dominican Republic’s National Cybersecurity Center (under the National Investigations Department – DNI), and Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, director of the UAE’s Cybersecurity Council, the top officials from both countries’ leading cybersecurity agencies, signed the agreement.
During the signing ceremony, both parties discussed potential initiatives to enhance the cybersecurity ecosystem in the Dominican Republic.
Al-Kuwaiti expressed genuine interest in deepening bilateral relations with the Dominican Republic and promoting increased exchange visits between the two nations. Soto emphasized the crucial role of cybersecurity in national security and highlighted the...
The resident representative of the World Bank in the Dominican Republic, Alexandria Valerio urged the Dominican Republic to step up the pace of locally riding the wave of technological progress to transform the labor market.
Valerio cites findings in the report “The Future of Work in Central America and the Dominican Republic” that indicate that automation can create new jobs that benefit both employees and businesses, with lower costs and increased productivity.
She stresses the challenges are multiple and mentions high levels of informality, a significant number of young people who are neither working nor studying (“ninis”), and persistent gender disparities in labor force participation. There is also a mismatch between the skills taught and those needed: nearly 40% of employers report difficulties filling vacancies due to a lack of technical skills or work experience.
Adding to these...
At a time when gold prices have surged, efforts to expand the gold production in the Dominican Republic have clashed with environmental concerns. Gold exports generate millions in taxes for the Dominican government. Earthworks publishes an update on the situation.
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Environmentalists are raising concerns over the Dominican government’s recent tree-planting initiative along the border with Haiti, questioning the emphasis on non-native flamboyant trees (Delonix regia), Diario Libre reports. President Luis Abinader himself participated in planting these trees as part of the “Framboyanes por mi Patria” reforestation effort.
While the campaign mainly includes native species such as Creole mahogany, cedar, and pigeonwood, environmental activist Nelson Bautista criticized the promotion of the flamboyants, which were purchased from private nurseries by the Ministry of Defense rather than sourced from the Ministry of Environment’s nurseries.
In an interview with Diario Libre, Bautista stated: “Although only a small fraction of the thousands of trees planned for the border were flamboyants, putting the environment minister and the President at the...
The Dominican Republic continues to enjoy a high Human Development Index (HDI), despite a slight dip in life expectancy at birth, according to the latest Human Development Report 2025 released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Globally, the HDI has slowed to its lowest level in 35 years, raising concerns among UNDP officials. “This unexpected decline is a cause for alarm and requires further investigation,” said Yancun Zhang, UNDP chief statistician.
The report shows the Dominican Republic’s HDI experienced a temporary setback between 2020 and 2021, followed by a significant rebound in 2022. While the index dropped slightly by 0.002 in 2023, reaching 0.754 in 2024, the country still ranks highly compared to previous years.
However, life expectancy at birth registered a minor decline, prompting UNDP experts to call for an investigation due...
On 6 May 2025, the Public Ministry, the prosecutor arm of the Attorney General Office seizedthe property where the Jet Set nightclub operated, following the devastating collapse that claimed the lives of more than 234 people and injured over 180 others during a live concert featuring merengue artist Rubby Pérez, who was among the fatalities. The tragedy occurred in the early hours of 8 April 2025.
Accompanied by attorneys for club owner Antonio Espaillat, including Miguel Valerio—who is coordinating the defense—the Public Ministry placed a “seized” sign on the establishment. When approached by journalists from Listín Diario, Valerio stated that this action is standard procedure during an investigation.
Meanwhile, complaints and reports from injured victims continue to pour into the National District Attorney’s Office.
Listin Diario reports that the Public...
There are growing concerns that the law aimed at protecting minors is inadvertently becoming a shield for young offenders. The reasoning behind the law is simple: the government decided that age reflected maturity, and since their brains have yet to develop fully, they should be given second chances. However, this law, intended to protect the young, has backfired on adults.
Given the low risks, rebellious teenagers have been committing crimes repeatedly. Ranging from stealing to even murder, minors have been exempt from the punishments they should be receiving.
Lawyer Amadeo Peralta called for reform of the Juvenile Code. He says as it is, it provides excessive guarantees for crimes by minors. The lawyer is legal counsel for the victims of a 17-year old boy who struck three members of a family with his vehicle, including the mother who died, and daughters left in critical...
Roberto Rodríguez Marchena, the known mastermind of political communication during the two terms of former President Danilo Medina, passed away on 6 May 2025 of a heart attack. He served as Medina’s director of communications during and after the presidency. He was 69 years old.
Listin Diario reports that Rodríguez Marchena was more than just a spokesperson for the government. He was the executive and strategic voice behind every state message during Medina’s two terms. He was an architect of political communication, playing a pivotal role in governmental communications and serving as a member of the PLD’s Political Committee.
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El Cierre Digital, a Spanish publication, speculates that emeritus King of Spain Juan Carlos I could travel to the Dominican Republic to coincide with the visit of his granddaughter, Princess Leonor who will be in the DR for five days (19-24 May 2025) as part of her naval training with the Juan Sebastian Elcano tallship that is touring the Americas.
Queen Letizia traveled to Panama, where the ship made a stopover, to meet with her daughter.
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