DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic continues to need to spend more on its security due to external factors – mainly dealing with crime from Haiti and drug trafficking. President Luis Abinader announced he will be signing an agreement with Portugal as early as this week to acquire at least two, and potentially four, offshore patrol vessels. President Luis Abinader announced that these new additions to the Dominican fleet will significantly bolster the nation’s efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.

The agreement is the culmination of a year-long process, stemming from Abinader’s visit to Portugal approximately 12 months ago. Since then, the deal has been under continuous negotiation.

“From that visit, we have now reached an agreement to acquire at least two, perhaps even four, offshore patrol boats, which we did not previously possess in the Dominican...

On the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, 13 June 2025, Public Health Minister Víctor Atallah announced he is working so that blood and its derivatives be covered in the country’s social security system. He stressed that blood should be considered a right, not a commodity, and should be freely accessible.

“We are going to do everything possible so that this precious liquid be covered by our social security system,” Atallah stated, highlighting the Ministry of Health’s efforts to amend the Dominican Social Security System (SDSS) Law No. 87-01.

During the same event, held to commemorate World Blood Donor Day, the Ministry of Health and the National Hemocenter showcased considerable advancements in blood collection and distribution across the Dominican Republic. So far this year, over 5,000 blood components have been delivered, with nearly 3,000 pints collected in April and May 2025...

The government continues to crack down on electricity fraud. EdeEste reports the dismantling 8,863 electricity fraud installations in just May 2025. The installations enabled low cost power service for households and businesses located in eastern Santo Domingo and La Romana.

EdeEste mentions irregularities in the electricity installations of the large night spots of Dope Room and Zona G Lounge & Bar by Fogoo in the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. Also mentioned by name are the businesses of JR Pichardo Sport and Cafeteria Yessenia in Los Tres Brazos.

In La Romana, Ede Este mentions irregularities were found in the power access to the Colmado El Clásico and Súper Colmado Velásquez.

On 13 June 2025, Minister of Public Works Eduardo Estrella personally visited Constanza to oversee the government’s response to recent landslides on the Constanza mountain road, specifically on the Casabito-Constanza road, the main access to the prime farming area.

Accompanied by vice ministers of Supervision, Infrastructure, Maintenance, and Regional Affairs, along with a team of specialized technicians, Estrella’s presence underscored the Ministry’s commitment to addressing the critical situation.

The Ministry of Public Works (MOPC) has been actively involved in continuous monitoring of the terrain and clearing debris caused by intense rains in the past two months. At kilometer 10, the site of the most significant landslide, a single-lane traffic flow has been established with proper signage. Geotechnical and structural engineers are conducting studies to implement a...

A critical dialogue addressing the multifaceted Haitian crisis and its implications for the Dominican Republic is slated to commence on Monday, 23 June 2025 at 2pm, at the Universidad del Caribe (Unicaribe). This initiative, spearheaded by the Economic and Social Council (CES), aims to comprehensively tackle the challenges stemming from Haiti’s ongoing instability and its direct impact on Dominican national interests.

The “Dialogue on the Haitian Crisis and its Implications for the Dominican Republic” will kick off with six simultaneous thematic tables, designed to ensure a thorough examination of key areas:• Migration• Bilateral trade• Border community development• National security• International relations• Labor issues

Each thematic table will feature a moderator and two rapporteurs appointed by the CES. Initial working groups for each table will comprise 14...

In a significant breakthrough, the National Police, working in conjunction with the Public Ministry, the prosecution arm of the Attorney General Office, has successfully recovered a substantial quantity of stolen electrical materials intended for the extension of Santo Domingo’s Metro Line 2, Diario Libre reports. The valuable cables, worth approximately 300,000 euros, were intercepted just as they were about to be shipped out of the country, reportedly bound for China.

The recovery comes as construction on the Metro line extension to Los Alcarrizos enters its final stages.

According to the investigation, the theft occurred on 8 June 2025. Authorities allege that a security employee at the warehouse, in collaboration with Enercido Viola Familia, a former security employee, and Jonathan Enmanuel Vásquez Núñez, conspired to disable the electrical...

Cuesta Brava board of residents is on a media tour to tell about the blatant environmental violations taking place as developers seek to build a major residential project in area off limits. Cuesta Brava is a northern Santo Domingo province residential area located with magnificent views of the Isabela River.

The residents complain that the City Hall of the National District (ADN) and the Ministry of Environment have bent in favor of the developers, despite the violation to the laws.

The Cuesta Brava Neighborhood Association, located in Arroyo Hondo, appealed to President Luis Abinader on Monday, 16 June 2025 to intervene and halt the “environmental disaster” occurring in the area. This disaster, they assert, is caused by the cutting of trees and the extraction of gravel and other materials for the construction of “Balcones de la Rivera,” a 144-apartment project that includes...

An overload of the roof of the JetSet Club resulted in its collapse killing at least 236 persons and injuring more than 180 others on 8 April 2025, the technical report is presented by National Office for Seismic Assessment and Infrastructure and Building Vulnerabilities (Onesvie) that was commissioned by President Luis Abinader. 7 Dias publishes a downloadable report issued by the investigative engineering committee.

The preliminary technical report that seeks to explain the first conclusions on the causes of the collapse of the roof of the JetSet Club was presented on 11 June with a final report still pending without an established date. The preliminary report was prepared by Leonardo de Jesus Reyes Madera, and Maximo Jose Corominas Quezada (Presoled SRL) and California-based Eduardo A. Fierro (BFP Engineers) named by the Attorney General Office. The three are forensic...

The Attorney General Office issued a press release that concludes the managers of the JetSet Club knowingly acted with negligence and lack of responsibility, yet despite the severity of the evidence, the prosecutors give a category of involuntary homicide to the collapse of the roof that killed at least 236 persons and injured another 180 on 8 April 2025. If the prosecutors maintain the category of involuntary manslaughter in the case, the accused face a maximum sentence of two years in jail.

A recent preliminary report commissioned by the National Office for Seismic Assessment and Infrastructure and Building Vulnerabilities (Onesvie) and presented on 11 June 2025 provides evidence of years of structural modifications and overloading of the roof that eventually resulted in its collapse on that tragic evening with a full house crowd inside. The report is...

This Thursday, 19 June 2025 is a national holiday in the Dominican Republic. Given that it falls on a Thursday, many who can will turn it into a long weekend especially for domestic tourism. Take special care when driving to and from the urban centers on Sunday to avoid delays due to the extra traffic.

The 19th of June will commemorate the Roman Catholic Church Corpus Christi Day. The feast commemorates the Last Supper and emphasizes the belief that the consecrated bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. The feast originated in the 13th century, largely due to the efforts of Saint Juliana of Liège, who had visions related to the Eucharist.

As with most Catholic religious dates in the Dominican Republic, the celebration is not movable.

Arajet, the locally-based low cost airline, has begun daily flights between Newark International Airport (EWR) and Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International Airport (SDQ). The flights deliver strong fare competition to the route, with travelers hopeful the days of very expensive fares to the New York area will now be in the past. Other nonstop flights to the NY/NJ area are by Delta, United and JetBlue.

Flight DM 2310, carrying 185 passengers, arrived at 10:30am on Monday, 16 June 2025, with Tourism Minister David Collado; the director of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation, Igor Rodríguez; and the founder and CEO of Arajet, Víctor Pacheco on board. They raised the flags of the Dominican Republic and New Jersey from the cockpit as a symbol of the opening of this new destination on the aircraft’s network. This makes it the third US destination, along...

Summer brings the traditional Cabarete Jazz Festival to the north coast shore. This 20 and 21 June 2025, the leading cultural event will take place at the sea-fronting Pampillonia Sea Garden, a venue that ensures even if it rains, the event will go on. Cabarete is half an hour from Puerto Plata city on the north coast.

The jazz festival opens on Friday, 20 June with a retro event with the performance of Conrad Wittkop playing vinyls from the 70s. Next comes fellow Dominican Mache Mache group with its mix of salsa, funk and urban music.

On Saturday, 21 June, Cuban jazz icon, trumpeter Arturo Sandoval will take the stage together with Paquito D’Rivera, another legend of global jazz. Both are Grammy Award winners. Others performing that evening are Dominican singer-composers Pavel Nuñez, Leton Pe, and Josean Jacobo will also perform. Duo Finetta is in charge of the...

Tourism expert Juan Llado in a recent feature in Acento on 12 June 2025 raises the issue of private investors interested in building a new cruise terminal for the capital city of Santo Domingo. Llado looks into the failed attempt by the Inversiones Turisticas de Sans Souci (ITSS) company to install one on the Ozama River. This initiative did not succeed because of the difficulties in dealing with all the debris and garbage that the river brings. Likewise, the proposed 40-floor residential towers included in the development were objected by Unesco that oversees the Colonial City given the Cultural Heritage of Humanity status of the historic city area.

Now, there are different offers for the construction of a large cruise ship terminal on the south side of the sea, connected to the sea-bordering Malecon (George Washington Avenue). The offers come at a time when the Dominican...

The Brazil-Caribbean Summit that took place 13 and 14 June 2025 in Brasilia concluded with a significant pledge of US$290 million for Haiti and renewed promises of international support for the beleaguered Caribbean nation. Haiti’s deepening economic, political, social, and humanitarian crisis was a central focus of the discussions.

During the event, several heads of government for the Caribbean accepted the invitation to meet made by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and called for more support for the UN-backed security mission in Haiti.

The summit saw attendance from a host of regional leaders, including Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali. Also present were the Prime Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, along with Cuba’s Vice President Salvador Valdés...

After a week spent traveling in Europe and Brazil, President Luis Abinader returned to the Dominican Republic. On this trip he was accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje.

During the time spent in Europe, the Dominican President met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Jordan’s King Abdala II, as well as the heads of the World Trade Organization and the World Labor Organization in Switzerland.

In Brazil, Abinader met with President Lula da Silva and signed agreements of cooperation and collaboration.

Among the leading talking points in all of these meetings was regional stability and the situation in Haiti, social justice and regional and international cooperation. Local issues such as the sargassum seaweed that covers many of the beaches not only in the Dominican Republic and other tourist destinations was mentioned. Other big issues that were...

The Dominican Republic and Brazil solidified their commitment to enhanced bilateral cooperation with the signing of several agreements during the visit of President Luis Abinader and Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez to Brasilia, Brazil for the Brazil-Caribbean Summit on 13 and 14 June 2025. The two governments signed two memorandums of understanding aimed at bolstering public sector efficiency and refining diplomatic education.

The agreements seek to modernize state governance and foster a more effective, inclusive, reliable, and sustainable public sector that prioritizes citizen-centric services. Key areas of focus include digital government, innovation, human resource management, and the promotion of diversity.

Additionally, both nations have agreed to expand academic training opportunities for their diplomatic corps. This will emphasize...

María Isabel Castillo Báez, the newly appointed ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United States, officially presented her credentials to President Donald J. Trump in a formal ceremony held in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday, 11 June 2025.

This presentation formally enables Ambassador Castillo Báez to fully assume her duties as the Dominican government’s representative to the US administration, adhering to international diplomatic protocols and marking the official start of her mission in Washington, D.C.

In statements shared via social media, Ambassador Castillo Báez reiterated her commitment to strengthening ties between the Dominican Republic and the United States. She emphasized key areas of shared strategic interest, including trade, security, and migration.

Castillo Báez previously made history as the first...

According to the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic stats, industrial free zone exports were 60.7% of all exports, just slightly below the totals for 2023.

These numbers are a reflection of the competitiveness of this model of manufacturing versus the more traditional models.

This is evidenced by the fact that local manufacturing produced only 39.3% of exports, something that experts see as demonstrating the need for more support to manufacturing outside of the duty-free parks.

These observations are followed by a call for tax reforms that will provide incentives for more modern production processes in the local scene.

El Caribe reports that 61% of the inputs used in the local free zone manufacturing plants comes from the United States, the Dominican Republic’s main trading partner. 10% comes from China.

Read more in...

Sisalril, the acronym for the Superintendent of Labor Health and Risks, has over 7,500 cases of prostate cancer diagnosis on record. Since January, there have been 1,000 new cases registered. This data was released last week as part of the commemoration of World Prostate Cancer Day.

According to the information from the Family Health Insurance (SFS), most of the new cases were persons who recently had come under the subsidized coverage of the program.

As a result of these numbers, Sisalril is urging all men to have regular checkups to detect this pathology in a timely fashion when it is most treatable. Regular checkups are not an option, but rather a necessity, according to the health authorities.

Of the total number of cases on file for 2025, there are a little over 3,700 that are covered under the subsidized program and a bit over 3,800 that are covered under the...

Many workers in the Dominican Republic have more than one place of employment. And this is becoming more and more common.

The numbers offered by the Ministry of Economics, Planning, and Development (MEPyD) show that the tendency to have more than one job grew 15.6% since last year.

The health sector, local manufacturing, transportation, and commerce were also sectors that saw an increased number of people with more than one place of employment.

On the other hand, the hospitality sector of bars, hotels, and restaurants, and the industrial free zone sector saw a reduction of people with more than one job. The government recently approved a major increase in the minimum wage precisely for these sectors.

Given the fact that the total number of persons employed in the Dominican Republic is well over 5.1 million, greater salaries and more jobs equate to a better overall...

The judge of the Office of Permanent Attention of the National District, Rigoberto Sena, ordered the postponement of the pre-trial custody for the accused in the collapse of the roof of JetSet Club on 8 April 2025 that resulted in the death of at least 236 persons and the injuries of more than 180 persons. The defense lawyers in the case argued that they had not been notified of the charges levied by the Prosecution Department of the Attorney General Office that is under Wilson Camacho.

The new hearing was postponed for Wednesday, 18 June at 11am. More than 80 legal suits have been presented against the ownership of the nightclub, and also against the government for lack of oversight. In the case, Antonio Espaillat and his sister Maribel were arrested on Friday, 13 June 2025.

The prosecutors have accepted new evidence of witnesses to substantiate claims that the owners...

The Dominican Meteorological Institute (Indomet) forecasts widespread rain today across the northeast, southeast, and southwest regions, as well as the Central Mountain Range and border areas.

Indomet reports that the precipitation will begin this morning, driven by a combination of a trough, moisture carried by the prevailing easterly winds, and localized atmospheric effects.

Provinces that could be affected by these rains include La Altagracia, Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, Sánchez Ramírez, Duarte, La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, Azua, Peravia, Barahona, and Santo Domingo.

Read more in Spanish:

• Indomet

The movie is called “”Air Cocaine” and revolves around a real cocaine bust in Punta Cana back in 2013. Two French pilots in a private jet carrying 26 suitcases raised suspicions with Customs agents at the Punta Cana airport.

The question was simple: Who needs 26 suitcases for a 48-hour stay at Punta Cana? And so began one of the strangest and now cinematic drug cases on file.

The boarded suitcases held 700kg of cocaine, bound for Saint Tropez on board the luxury jet piloted by two veteran French pilots: Pascal Fauret and Bruno Odos.

In the Netflix documental called “Air Cocaine” the series details the events with solid research, black humor, and the film clearly establishes that some doubts were left unresolved.

In June of 2013, when the case broke in the local news, it seemed unreal. Four persons, two pilots arrested on the tarmac before takeoff, and a huge amount of...

The Winter League Professional Baseball and the Lidom championship, with the best of local baseball, starts on Wednesday, 15 October 2025. There will be opening games at the ballparks in San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago and Santo Domingo.

As might be expected, the first games will be between regional rivals. The Toros of La Romana will go against the Estrellas in San Pedro de Macoris. The Leones de Escogido, last year’s champions and also the Caribbean Series champs, will match the Tigres de Licey in the Quisqueya Ballpark. In Santiago, the Aguilas Cibaeñas will receive the Gigantes del Cibao from San Francisco de Macoris.

This year’s tournament will follow the normal setup of a 50-game regular season, a Round Robin playoff round between the top four teams, and probably a best-of-nine final championship series.

It appears that the Aguilas and the Gigantes might play...

After completing a busy agenda in France, President Luis Abinader is scheduled to travel to Brasilia, Brazil on 12 June 2025 to attend the Brazil-Caribbean Summit hosted by Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday and Saturday, 13-14 June.

The Dominican Republic and Cuba are the two invited countries to the Brazilian summit that groups the 15 countries that are members of the Caricom Community (Caricom), mostly the English-speaking Caribbean and Haiti. The event will take place at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, the Brazilian capital.

International organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Latin American and Caribbean Development Bank (CAF), and the Association of Caribbean States will also take part.

The summit’s agenda centers on five key themes — food and nutrition security, climate change, energy transition, risk...

Reports from Haiti are that drones would have killed more than 100 members of Haitian gangs in the past 48 hours. The Haitian Presidential Transition Council recently contracted foreign mercenaries to combat the gangs that control Port-au-Prince.

Moreso, in a press conference on 10 June, chief prosecutor in Port-au-Prince Frantz Monclair announced the freezing of bank accounts of individuals sanctioned under the United Nations resolutions: Jimmy Chérizier, alias “Barbecue,” Johnson André, alias “Izo,” Renel Destina, alias “Ti Lapli,” Wilson Joseph, alias “Lanmò San Jou,” Vitelhomme Innocent, Luckson Elan, and former Deputy Victor Prophane, as reported in Haiti Libre.

To justify this decision, he recalled that the Haitian government is a founding member of the United Nations and that Security Council resolutions are binding on the Haitian government. Regarding the other...

President Luis Abinader and Director of WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

After attending the 3rd UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France, President Luis Abinader traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to participate in activities of the World Trade Organization. President Abinader was accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje.

In Geneva he met with the director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The Presidency reported that she commended the DR for its achievements in economic management and diversification.

During a meeting with President Luis Abinader at the WTO headquarters, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala congratulated the President on the country’s progress in areas such as e-commerce and environmental preservation. She also highlighted the Dominican Republic’s success in macroeconomic management, which she described as essential for economic growth...

Traveling to Geneva after attending the 3rd UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France, President Luis Abinader received a prestigious recognition on 11 June 2025 during the 113th International Labor Organization (ILO) Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, highlighting his unwavering commitment to the rights, dignity, and welfare of the nation’s workforce.

The President was accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje, Labor Minister Eddy Olivares, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Switzerland Pablo Valentín, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Switzerland Iván Ogando,

The honor, presented by representatives from Dominican trade unions and international organizations representing over 180 million workers globally, acknowledged President Abinader’s government for strengthening social dialogue and promoting human and labor development in the country.

Gabriel del Río, president of Human Development at the Autonomous Classist Trade Union Confederation (CASC)...

Acting President Raquel Peña was present for the launch on 11 June 2025 of a new government initiative designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among young Dominicans. Vice President Peña is filling in for President Abinader who is abroad.

The Ministry of Youth program seeks to empower them to develop solutions for local challenges.

During the ceremony, the Peña urged young people to seize the opportunities presented by the new program, emphasizing that the program represents a strong commitment to their talent, creativity, and transformative potential.

“This is an investment in you, in your talent and your ability to create value. You are the protagonists of our country’s present and future,” Peña declared in her address, highlighting the government’s faith in the nation’s youth.

The program’s ambitious scope includes ten regional hackathons that...

The Office for Transport Reorganization (Opret) in charge of the Santo Domingo Metro announced on 10 June 2025 the completion of the full railway track installation for the new Line 2C, a 7.3-kilometer extension that includes an elevated viaduct, an underground tunnel, and an operational tail section housing the train turnaround system. The subway line is way behind schedule, but advances seem to be made to meet the announcement made by President Luis Abinader that it would be open to the public in February 2026.

The 7.3-kilometer Line 2C extension includes five new stations and is part of Santo Domingo’s integrated Metro-Teleférico system. By linking Los Alcarrizos to the city center via an elevated viaduct and underground tunnel, the project aims to revolutionize regional connectivity, offering rapid transit to over a million residents while improving traffic...

Barrick announced the reaching of agreements to benefit community members that need to be relocated for the company to build the authorized second tailings dam for the continued operations of the Pueblo Viejo gold mine in Sanchez Ramirez province.

A press release from the company establishes: “Pueblo Viejo, the Government of the Dominican Republic, and representatives of affected communities have held dialogues in recent months, mediated by the Public Defender and observed by the Catholic Church. This “Commission” was convened to address outstanding issues linked to the resettlement process for the Pueblo Viejo mine’s expansion project. Today the Commission had successfully resolved the key issues and executed an agreement.”

A court hearing is pending for 24 June 2025 to hear demands by environmental groups for a halt to the construction of the second toxic waste tailings dam in...

Small banana producers cannot afford the high cost of producing for European export markets and as a result there is a 44% drop in exports over the past three years, spokespeople for the Dominican Association of Banano Producers (Adobanano) explained to Fresh Fruit Portal. The sector is also impacted by a decrease in foreign manual labor and climate change.

“We’re made up of 1,300 plantain growers who produce around 390 containers weekly,” Gil Blas Martínez, Adobanano’s president told Fresh Fruit Portal. “Our industry has seen a decrease in exports from US$363 million to US$202 million in only three years.”

Likewise, Adobanano’s executive director, Martín Eduardo Peña Taveras, said one of the major challenges is that the processes required to export plantains to the European Union—the country’s leading importer—have become increasingly expensive. These price hikes are hurting small...

A recent report in Diario Libre by journalist Adalberto de la Rosa exposes the systemic challenge informal parking entrepreneurs represent to the general public. He looks into how they exploit public infrastructure without legal accountability. While authorities acknowledge the issue, they do little. Their responses to the inquiries for the Diario Libre story were that they remain limited to administrative measures and collaboration with law enforcement, leaving a gap in addressing the root causes of this informal economy.

Informal parking entrepreneurs in the Dominican Republic have turned public streets into private business zones by blocking spaces in high-traffic areas (e.g., hospitals, parks, event venues, and churches) to charge unauthorized parking fees. These operators, known as “parqueadores,” have taken charge of public spaces without legal authorization, oversight...

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Two months after the 8 April 2025 collapse of the roof of the very popular tropical music JetSet Club, the government designated Onesvie (The National Office for Seismic Assessment and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings) sent its report on the happening and possible causes to the Attorney General Office that is carrying out the investigations in the case. At least 236 persons who that evening were attending a Rubby Perez merengue concert are reported dead in the tragedy.

Parallel to this development, the lawyer for Gregory Adames, the company operations man at the JetSet Club, says his client had warned the owner of the club, Antonio Espaillat about the roof problems and urged the shutdown of the show that night.

The alert came after a slab of roof had collapsed injuring frequent customer Remberto Duran, who survived, but today mourns the life of...

With his term soon to end, Indian ambassador Rabu Abaggani in an interview with El Nuevo Diario expressed his gratitude to the country where he learned Spanish. Abaggani has served since January 2022 to present. He has praise for the country’s “charming warmth”.

In the interview he highlighted how he traveled all around the country, and how the place he found most impressive was climbing to the top of Duarte Peak, regarded as the tallest mountain in the Caribbean. He called the natural beauty of the country “a dream turned reality.” He recalls his visits to Montecristi, Pedernales, Bahia de las Aguilas, Monte Plata, Samana, Las Terrenas and Punta Cana.

He described most of the Dominicans he met when traveling all around the country as simple, kind, loving and very open-hearted.

He spoke of the little known trade relations between both countries. The Dominican Republic...

Socorro Castellanos, the well-known trailblazing communicator and broadcaster, passed away on 11 June 2025, after battling with lung cancer for many years. She was 84 years old. She is regarded as one of the most iconic voices in Dominican radio and television. Born in Santiago de los Caballeros in 1941, she began her career in the 1960s and became a pioneer in producing shows targeted towards women, families, and the home, breaking ground on both radio and television.

Castellanos produced and hosted landmark programs such as “Buenas Tardes a la Orden,” “Revista Eva,” “El Show del Mediodía,” and “Punto Final.” She also created children’s programs like “El jardín de Tintinola,” “Bobalina,” and “Don Crispín,” and authored the cookbook “Sabor de mi tierra.”

One of the first women to achieve prominence in a field largely dominated by men, Castellanos paved the way for...

Netflix has aired Air Cocaine, a documentary that looks into the story of four Frenchmen and 700 kg of cocaine in 26 cases found on board a private jet at Punta Cana International Airport. The mini-series of three episodes tells the story of the aborted shipment, who could have been involved, the sentenced Frenchmen and how they escaped the country.

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• Netflix
• Listin Diario
• IMDB

What does a team without the same budget do to compete with the big boys of Major League Baseball?

The Milwaukee Brewers has consistently competed with baseball’s big boys in recent years but has yet to win a World Series. The team’s strategy now is focused on their state-of-the-art baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.

While all MLB teams have these academies, Sports Illustrated tells the story of how the Milwaukee Brewers are doing these differently striking early deals with emerging talent. The plan is paying off and the team has made it to the playoffs in six of the last seven years, showcasing how small-market teams can thrive by prioritizing international talent and fostering a supportive environment for their athletes.

The Dominican Republic senior soccer team will be playing in its first Gold Cup on Saturday, 14 June, earning the slot after a perfect campaign in League B of the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League. The team is under Argentinian manager Marcelo Neveleff.

The Concacaf Gold Cup is the premier men’s senior national team soccer tournament for the North, Central American, and Caribbean region. It is held every two years since 1991.

The 18th Concacaf Gold Cup will take place from 14 June through 6 July 2025 to determine the next champion of the region.

The Dominican soccer team won its six encounters in Group D alongside Bermuda, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda. The team won 3-2 at Bermuda in its opening match, followed by 2-nil win at home against Dominica and 5-nil wins in its two fixtures against Antigua and Barbuda. The team closed the group stage with a...

President Luis Abinader says that the government of France is willing to finance the larger part of the cost of the next phases of the Greater Santo Domingo mass transit plan. The city of Santo Domingo is practically collapsed under major traffic bottlenecks.

The ambitious Metro Train project for Santo Domingo aims to alleviate congestion and mobility issues in the capital city and its surrounding provinces. The project, already in the planning stages by the Trust for the Development of Mass Transportation in the Dominican Republic (Fitram) requires substantial funding. The French government has agreed to finance up to 85% of the Santo Domingo Metro Train and the Comprehensive Transport Plan initiated by Dominican authorities.

Project phases and benefitsAs outlined on Fitram’s website, the project is divided into two phases. The first phase will connect the...

Minister of Education Luis Miguel de Camps has unveiled a comprehensive plan for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. His vision centers on a management model that prioritizes students, teachers, families, civil society, and public servants. De Camps emphasized that improving the education system requires the active participation of all sectors.

De Camps took over the position for the start of the second term of President Luis Abinader. In Abinader’s first term, De Camps served as minister of labor.

De Camps presented the Ministry of Education’s “Roadmap 2025–2028” that aims to transform the pre-university system with a strong focus on core skills. The National Initial Literacy Plan seeks to ensure that 70% of third-grade students achieve mastery in reading and mathematics. To support this, there will be a renewed emphasis on teacher evaluation and...

Source: INTEC

Thinking of the collective good and what it means to be a citizen will be back in schools with a curriculum change announced by the new minister of Education.

Education Minister Luis Miguel de Camps announced that the subject of Ethics and Civics is being reintroduced into the national curriculum and will be a mandatory course for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

De Camps emphasized that value-based education extends beyond mere content delivery, aiming to shape responsible citizens. This initiative, he stated, reflects a commitment to establishing the subject as a specific and compulsory component of the educational framework.

“This particular point has been one of the most prominent elements in all the conversations we’ve had in recent months,” De Camps remarked, highlighting the widespread support for the move.

The minister clarified that the introduction...

Eduardo Sanz Lovatón / DGA

Dominican exports have demonstrated robust growth this year, with figures reaching an impressive US$5.64 billion to May 2025, driven by increased shipments to key markets such as the United States and Haiti, the Customs Agency reports.

In a remarkable achievement, Dominican exports hit a historic high in May 2025, totaling US$1.378 million. This represents a significant 13.4% increase compared to the same month last year, underscoring the resilience of the nation’s trade sector amidst ongoing geopolitical and commercial pressures impacting global commerce.

Cumulatively, for the first five months of the year, exports have maintained a strong upward trajectory, reaching the aforementioned US$5.64 billion. This accumulated figure reflects an 8.6% growth rate. Free trade zones have been a significant contributor to this success, accounting for 62.5% of...

The Migration Agency has kept the pressure on and for the first time this 2025 has been stopping all sorts of transporters and people traffickers assisting Haitians in their travel to the Dominican Republic. In the past, the military and the Migration Agency would have looked the other way. Recently, El Nacional reported a bus was detained with 77 undocumented Haitian nationals.

Given the increasing migration pressures, the number of arrests by the local authorities is on the rise. SUV, trucks and buses of all sizes are being stopped several times a week, with the undocumented Haitians arrested for deportation. The effort comes at a very high cost to Dominican taxpayers.

Hospital services demand on the declineThe pressures and arrests have resulted in a decline in the number of Haitians requesting the free services at public hospitals. The DR was on the way to...

A crucial court hearing concerning a lawsuit against mining giant Barrick Gold has been postponed until 24 June 2025, as environmental organizations press for the suspension of the company’s operations and the halt of a controversial new tailings dam project, Listin Diario reports. The Ministry of Environment cleared the construction of the second tailings dam in the province, but this has met with protests from community members and environmental groups.

Judge Lauda del Carmen Canaán of the First Chamber of the Superior Administrative Tribunal granted the delay at the request of the Ministry of Environment’s representative, allowing the plaintiffs more time to thoroughly examine the case file.

The lawsuit, filed on 19 May 2025 by the Institute of Lawyers for Environmental Protection (Insaproma) and other groups, seeks to suspend Barrick Gold’s activities in the Zambrana community, located in Cotuí, Sánchez Ramírez province. The legal action also aims to prevent the...

Po Xie / El Día

Judge Fátima Veloz of the National District’s Permanent Attention Court on Saturday, 7 June 2025, set a bond of RD$100,000 (RD$10,000 in cash) and periodic check-ins for Chinese businessman Po Xie, owner of the Mudan store on Av. Duarte. Xie is accused of assaulting a lawyer from the Migration Agency (DGM) during an inspection that led to the detention of 35 undocumented immigrants.

Freddy Manuel Díaz, Xie’s lawyer, provided the information.

The prosecution had asked for a RD$200,000-peso (RD$20,000 cash deposit) cash bond, a travel ban without prior judicial authorization, and periodic appearances before the investigating prosecutor.

Xie had been arrested on 5 June at around 2pm in the San Carlos neighborhood of the National District, pursuant to a judicial order issued for the alleged assault.

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Antonio Espaillat / N Digital Multimedia

A former employee of the once very popular Santo Domingo nightclub Jet Set has revealed he repeatedly warned owner Antonio Espaillat about the deteriorating condition of the club’s roof before its catastrophic collapse two months ago. At least 236 people are reported dead and more than 150 injured when the roof collapsed after midnight on 8 April 2025, marking it as the worst civilian disaster in Dominican history.

Gregory Adames, identified as one of 68 plaintiffs now pursuing legal action against Espaillat and the club’s other partners, made the disclosure during an interrogation on Tuesday, 10 June 2025 by a team of prosecutors led by Wilson Camacho, head of the Public Ministry’s Prosecution Department.

During the interrogation, Adames reportedly presented compelling evidence, including text messages and videos he would have sent...

Renowned musician and songwriter Rafael Solano marked his 94th birthday with a special concert featuring several artists who performed his compositions, El Dia reports. The event, “A Puerto Plata por Amor” (To Puerto Plata with Love), took place at the Plaza Independencia and drew audiences from across the country.

The concert showcased a diverse range of musical genres, with performances by Cecilia García, Niní Cáffaro and Adalgisa Pantaleón, all of whom have shared a musical bond with Solano throughout their careers. Other notable singers included Fátima Franco, Flor Canela, Paín Bencosme, and Rubén Mirabal, accompanied by saxophonists Juan Colón and Sandy Gabriel and a band with 20 musicians.

Solano himself attended the entire concert, relishing in hearing his creations performed by the invited artists and reminiscing about his musical beginnings in the very same park where...