DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic
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Arturo Báez Cordero / Diario Libre
Outstanding Dominican filmographer, 34-year old Arturo Baez Cordero died as a result of a fatal three-car crash in Gowanus, New Jersey (Bergen County). Described as a resident of Lodi, New Jersey, he was driving a Mercedes Benz that was rammed into by the driver of an Honda Odyssey at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 9th Street around 6:25pm on Sunday, 14 September 2025.
Baez Cordero is the son of legendary Dominican movie-maker Fernando Baez who had died in a tragic car accident on the Duarte Highway in the Dominican Republic on 3 July 2019. His mother is singer and architect Maria Cordero who lives and works in Santo Domingo.
The New Jersey Police say that the driver of the 38-year old Alexey Ivanov who was driving the Honda minivan was accompanied by his wife, a 38-year old woman and a 64-year old man, both who survived the...
The International Monetary Fund has issued its concluding statements after the routine annual review of the evolution of the Dominican economy. Overall, the IMF states that despite the uncertain external environment, “the DR is well positioned to weather the impact” and states that structural reforms to enhance competitiveness could bolster long-term growth.
The IMF states:• The Dominican Republic’s (DR) remarkable economic performance over the past two decades has been driven by strengthening policies and institutions, social and political stability, and business-friendly reforms. This has enabled the fastest rate of income convergence in Latin America and the Caribbean over this period.• Heightened global uncertainty and tighter external and domestic financing conditions have weighed on activity this year, but the authorities’ recent policies and the...
The Central Bank reports that remittances to the Dominican Republic are surging, with new data showing a strong start to 2025. Between January and August, the country received a total of US$7.92 billion in remittances, an 11.4% increase over the same period in 2024.
The momentum continued into August, with the month alone bringing in US$1.05 billion, a 9.9% jump compared to August of the previous year. This marks the third time in 2025 that monthly remittances have exceeded the US$1 billion mark, a significant milestone for the country’s economy.
According to the BCRD, the sustained flow of funds from the Dominican diaspora is a major economic driver, boosting consumption, investment, and providing crucial support for vulnerable sectors of society.
The Central Bank attributes much of this success to the robust performance of the US economy, which accounts for a dominant...
Economist Jaime Aristy Escuder outlines for Diario Libre the reason why the blackouts are back. Bottom line, the Abinader administration did not make the right decisions regarding plans for investing in power generation to meet the growing local demand. The Abinader administration chose instead to back private investors in the Manzanillo power complex in the northwest and fill in the void with the contracting of power barges known for their high cost of generation and polluting of local waters. Making matters worse, bad decisions made by those appointed to the government utilities have resulted in a deficit of US$1.8 billion.
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Alternate route to Núñez de Cáceres Avenue from John F. Kennedy Avenue / dr1
A new traffic rule has officially taken effect in Santo Domingo, banning left turns from John F. Kennedy Avenue onto Núñez de Cáceres Avenue. The change, which was implemented on Sunday, 14 September, is part of the “RD se Mueve” (Dominican Republic Moves) plan led by the Institute of Transit (Intrant). The goal is to ease congestion at one of the city’s busiest intersections.
Traffic agents were on site early Sunday morning to help direct confused drivers, many of whom were reportedly caught off guard by the new restrictions.
The new rule eliminates left turns from JFK Avenue onto Núñez de Cáceres in both directions (east to south and west to north). The traffic light cycle has also been shortened from four phases to three. Large traffic cones were placed to block off the lanes that...
A project from the Cartographic Institute is sparking controversy in the Dominican Republic, with local leaders in the province of Pedernales raising alarms. The proposal seeks to redraw the province’s borders, which community members fear will drastically shrink its territory and benefit powerful, outside interests.
Pedernales is a border province located in the southwestern part of the country, sharing a boundary with Haiti to the west. It’s known for its stunning coastline and potential for tourism development. However, according to information discussed with local mayors, the new plan would annex a significant portion of Pedernales’ land to the neighboring province of Barahona.
Community and local leaders are vehemently opposing the plan, claiming it’s a front for “dark interests” aiming to seize valuable land. In a widely shared social media message, residents issued a...
An audit by the Chamber of Accounts has revealed financial irregularities at the Dominican Port Authority (Apordom), including unauthorized spending, payments for services not rendered, and suspicious asset sales.
The investigation, which covered the period from January 2015 to December 2016, found discrepancies amounting to millions of Dominican pesos. The audit was ordered in 2017 but had been shelved until its recent publication.
Among the most significant findings were:• Irregular income records totaling RD$66.5 million.• Improper use of a corporate credit card by the executive director, amounting to RD$8 million.• Payments of RD$93.5 million to cleaning brigade personnel with no evidence of work performed.• Payments of RD$22.6 million to contracted staff who did not perform any duties.• Unauthorized supplementary payments of RD$20.3 million to officials.• Payments...
The World Bank Group has announced the appointment of Brazilian Susana Cordeiro Guerra as vice president for the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, a role she assumes immediately.
In her new position, Cordeiro Guerra will lead the Bank’s engagement with 31 countries across the region, overseeing a portfolio of ongoing operations valued at US$41.5 billion. She will be based at the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Cordeiro Guerra, the first Latin American woman to hold this post, brings extensive experience in development effectiveness, institutional strengthening, and innovative finance. Her appointment underscores the Bank’s focus on driving an agenda of job-led development, measurable outcomes, and increased public-private collaboration in the LAC region.
“As I step into this role, my priority is to support Latin America and the Caribbean in creating quality jobs that are the foundation of inclusive growth and poverty reduction,” Cordeiro Guerra...
Donni Santana Cuevas / Listin Diario
An editorial in Diario Libre reports that the Dominican Bar (CARD) has revoked the legal guarantees to former Dominican ambassador Donni Santana that would enable him to teach law to members of the bar. The CARD has decided to give the convicted lawyer a second chance. He had been serving a 20-year sentence for sexual abuse against his step daughter issued in 2018.
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Definitely it was not their date to leave this world. A driver and two passengers miraculously survived after a large boulder crashed onto their pickup truck while they were traveling on the La Vega–Jarabacoa highway. The incident occurred Saturday, 13 September 2025 in the morning as the vehicle was heading toward Jarabacoa.
The massive rock broke loose and fell onto the front of the truck, narrowly missing the windshield. Despite the severity of the accident, all three occupants sustained only minor injuries. They were helped at the scene by other drivers and taken to a local medical center for evaluation.
El Nacional reported that while official details about the cause of the rockfall have not been released, authorities believe weather conditions, the steep mountain slope, and a lack of protective barriers along some sections of the road may...
The long-time conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra announced he may well take on the challenge to present Handel’s Messiah at the National Theater. He mentioned how there is strength in choral singing here that would work well for the presenting of the difficult concert.
The Messiah has been described as a baroque piece, not classical, yet always a monument of hope, moving and joyful. It has been performed in Easter and Christmas. Several of the pieces are inspiring: Sure He Hath Born Our Griefs, For Unto Us a Child is Born, the Hallelujah Chorus, the Amen.
Mozart was asked to rearrange the piece almost 50 years after the original premiere, and began a long-running tradition of tinkering with the piece..Beethoven, whom the general public often considers to be the premier classical composer, is on record staying he considered Handel to be the greatest composer...
A lifelong dream and a whirlwind tour across the United States have earned Dominican baseball fanatic Jepssy Beltré a place in the Guinness World Records, Listin Diario reports. A working dentist, he took off a month to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in just 25 days, shattering the previous record of 29 stadiums.
Beltré, who initially aimed to complete his journey in 26 days, pushed through a punishing schedule fueled by passion, discipline, and meticulous planning. His final stop was Boston’s iconic Fenway Park, where the bitter rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox was on full display.
“It was, without a doubt, the most pleasant visit of all,” Beltré told the Listín Diario. “Boston is a top-tier organization, and the best part was that I could finish the trip and achieve the record there with my family.”
In a special moment...
Arajet is advertising low round trip fares to celebrate its third anniversary. From Las Americas International Airport (SDQ), Arajet is promoting fares of US$240 to Newark International (EWR), US$101 to Medellin (MDE), Cartagena and Bogota (BOG), US$190 to Miami (MIA), US$177 to Sao Paulo (GRU), US$121 to Lima (LIM), US$260 to Boston (BOS), US$134 to San Juan (SJU).
Also fare sales for flights from Punta Cana (PUJ) include US$510 to Buenos Aires (EZE), US$210 to Medellin, US$212 to Bogota, and US$263 to Cancun.
The airline began operations in September 2022 with flights to Central America and the Caribbean. South American flights would soon be added. In 2025, with the start of the new open skies agreement with the United States, the airline is adding airports in the United States.
Arajet has been key to the Abinader administration’s intention of turning the Dominican...
The Dominican Republic’s most significant literary event, the Santo Domingo International Book Fair (FILSD 2025) is set to open its doors this Thursday, 25 September and be held through Sunday, 5 October 2025 on the grounds of the Plaza de la Cultura.
Once again, the cultural extravaganza promises to deliver a vibrant celebration of culture, literature, and art. This year’s fair, the 27th edition, will honor one of the nation’s most influential historians, Frank Moya Pons, and place a special focus on children’s and young adult literature to inspire a new generation of readers.
FILSD 2025 will feature the Network of Book and Literary Festivals of Latin America as its guest of honor. This collaboration is expected to create a dynamic exchange of ideas and talent, bringing together prominent writers and publishers from across the region.
The fair’s...
The Colonial City of Santo Domingo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has become the first Dominican destination to join the Smart Destinations Network (DTI), a global initiative led by Spain’s Ministry of Tourism through the public company SEGITTUR.
The Smart Destinations Network is a Spanish governmental initiative whereby these destinations leverage innovation, technology, sustainability, and accessibility to improve the tourist experience and enhance local development. The network facilitates the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and resources, fostering a collaborative environment for destinations to adopt this new tourism management model and achieve their sustainability goals.
The historic district was officially recognized as a “Joined Smart Destination” for 2025-2027, receiving a certificate and a logo to display throughout the area. This designation marks the first...
On 11 September 2025, the Monetary Board unveiled new regulations aimed at overhauling the country’s foreign exchange framework and cracking down at speculation. The government has said there is no reason for the unusual spread in selling and buying prices of the foreign currency given the steady flow of hard currency generated by remittances, free trade zone operations and tourism receipts.
The Foreign Exchange Regulation was revised to require exchange transactions of more than US$10,000 or EUR100,000 to be registered. The Central Bank has also been granted authority to impose sanctions, including ban on carrying out transactions, on those who fail to comply with the new rules.
Among the key changes, the Monetary Board raised capital requirements for entities operating as foreign exchange intermediaries. Institutions will also be subject to stricter reserve obligations and...
The routine mission from the International Monetary Fund met late last week with the leaders of the private sector — the board of directors of the National Business Council (Conep). As reported, the talks covered perspectives for investment, sustained development, and structural issues.
The Conep stressed their allegiance to sustained growth, economic confidence, and their contribution to the overall development of the Dominican Republic.
Previous meetings held by the IMF included the Ministry of Hacienda and Economy, and the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic.
Hector Valdez Albizu chaired the final meeting of the IMF visit on Friday, 12 September 2025, and the IMF delegates were said to be happy to express their take on the Dominican situation.
While the subtext of the visit was said to be “under Article IV of the IMF,” IMF has yet to post an update on...
The National Health Insurance (Senasa) announced it is suspending the contracts of 10 private primary care centers that serve patients under the subsidized health plan. The move, effective immediately, will shift these centers from a fixed-rate payment model to a pay-per-service system. The announcement comes as the government health insurance plan seeks to unravel much criticized contracting with private medical providers. The scheme negatively impacted the resources of the government public health system.
Previously, the government had said the finances of the entity were hurting because of the expansion of two million people in the subsidized plan. Yet, new reports indicate actions under the Santiago Hazim management, many times to favor private entities, have weakened the finances.
According to a statement from Senasa, this decision is a response to the agency’s ongoing...
Color Vision reported a technical failure with the programming. The program later aired on 10pm that evening, one hour later. Meanwhile, the program continued as usual on her YouTube channel.
The program carried her recent update on irregularities on the Senasa, the government. Piera presented controversies that she says the government needs to explain on their contracting during the administration of Santiago Hazim. Hazim was in the position since when he was appointed in August 2020 during the first government of President Luis Abinader.
The Senasa irregularities are being described as the major corruption scandal of the Abinader administration.
While the government struggles with improving the quality of education, political patronage seems to continue to prevail.
In a striking paradox, a new report by investigative journalist Nuria Piera reveals a government-funded system continued to be filled by “ghost employees” and nepotism, while the illiteracy rate among young people is on the rise.
The Ministry of Education, which shoulders the largest payroll in the state, is again at the center of this scandal. With more than 120 billion pesos allocated for teacher salaries alone, the Ministry’s budget seems to being siphoned off by individuals who are not performing their duties. The evidence is clear: entire families are on the payroll without working, terminated employees continue to collect salaries, and “ghost” consultants receive lavish wages.
This system, which appears to have been historically designed to...
The 2025 Human Development Report for the Dominican Republic ranks the Dominican Republic 89th out of 193 countries. This is the same ranked reported for the DR in the 2021 and 2023 United Nations Human Development Reports.
The 2025 report highlights that the Human Development Index (HDI) has increased 32% since 1990, the year the UNDP began measuring it. This places the country in the category of “high human development.”
The report mentions that from 2010 to 2023, the Dominican Republic achieved a 1.7% annual reduction in inequality, which is faster than the 1% average for the Latin American and Caribbean region. Since 2018, the country has shown less inequality in relation to its HDI compared to the rest of the region.
Despite the positive aggregate figures, inequality continues to be a major obstacle to national development, limiting...
With communities around the country complaining of power outages, the installation of a new power barge off the coast of Azua might be welcomed. That was not the case for the new installation in Puerto Viejo, at Playa Los Negros on the Azua coast. There are now three generating units in that space.
However, locals are complaining that the power stations are a threat to the eco-system and are a source of noise contamination for the surrounding area.
The first power-generating barge went into operation back in 2023. The Ministry of the Environment has cited the facility on one occasion for a fuel spillage. The area has been plagued with power outages for many years, and it is recognized that these power barges, with contracts through 2026, are only a temporary solution.
Read more in...
Once again, there is the call to clean up the Ozama and Isabela rivers that are basically giant sewers at this time, accumulating mostly industrial waste.
However, this time it is the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, who is taking up the standard for the huge undertaking. Abinader signed Decree 531-25 that delineates the areas that are to become part of the project.
The areas will fall under the control of the Executor Unit for the Redesign of Barrios and Surroundings (URBE). The unit will have to respect the social and cultural conditions of the people who will be forced to move out from the riversides. There will be community interventions, meetings with community leaders, and solutions worked out with the residents.
This is clearly a repetition of what occurred during the removal of the Barquita barrio on the banks of the Ozama, where the population was moved to a newly created housing development appropriately named the New Barquita. Residents along...
The head of the National Health Service (SNS) that groups public hospitals, Dr. Mario Lama has reported to the Migration Policy Watchdog (OPM) that the reduction of 4,586 fewer maternity cases by Haitian women in the first eight months of 2025 has saved the SNS more than RD$4 billion. Lama also noted that the absence of Haitian patients has freed up beds and services as well as permitting greater efficiency in the nation’s public hospitals.
This recent trend that saves money for the hospitals which, in turn, allows them to keep a stock of disposable items that are often out of stock with higher numbers of maternity cases.
Lama based his numbers on estimates given to the press by former Public Health Minister, Daniel Rivera, who said that the cost of the Haitian maternity cases was between RD$10 and RD$15 billion per year.
Lama went on to say that so far in 2025...
The Dominican Consulate in Miami, Florida sponsored business meetings to foster increased trade between the Dominican Republic and Florida companies and ports of entry. The Consulate officials and promoters spoke of how the DR offers more than vacations, and presented options for investing in real estate, energy, transportation and trade free zones.
“The economic growth of our country is not a temporary situation; it has been sustained for 30 years. We have one of the most robust democratic systems in the region,” said Geanilda Vásquez, consul general of the Dominican Republic in Miami.
The Dominican Republic and Miami-Dade Economics and Investment Opportunities Forum was held on 3 September at the Dominican consulate in Brickell, and attracted county leaders and representatives of the Dominican community. The mission: to exchange ideas on how to bring the Dominican Republic and the United States, its main trading partner, closer together.
The Dominican Republic is...
“A Taste of Hope 2025” is the fifth fundraiser for UNICEF in the Dominican Republic.
The charitable dinner is scheduled for 16 and 17 September 2025 at the Hotel Embajador in Santo Domingo. This 2025, the event will be led by renowned chefs Carmen Angel, founder of Carmen Restaurante in Medellin, Colombia, and Saverio Stassi, executive chef of Ajualä in the Dominican Republic.
The funds raised will go directly to UNICEF’s programs in the Dominican Republic. These programs focus on critical issues like treating acute childhood malnutrition, reducing maternal and newborn mortality, improving education, protecting children from violence, and preventing child marriage and teen pregnancy.
The government has announced it will not be facilitating the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Stadium for shows and mega events until the completion of the summer Central American and Caribbean Games. The exceptions will be the use of the stadium for the Batalla de la Fe, a mega event organized by the evangelical churches and for the Bad Bunny concert. In both cases, only the stands will be used and there will be no ground seating or standing tickets to be sold.
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The Dominican senior women’s volleyball team is in Guadalajara, Mexico for the start of the Norceca Final Six Volleyball Championship.
This is the fifth edition of the Final Six, where the Dominican Republic’s Reinas del Caribe will face off against the United States, Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico and host Mexico. The opening match is on Monday, 15 September at the Unidad Deportiva López Mateos.
The prestigious tournament serves as part of the qualification pathway for both the 2026 Norceca Women’s Pan American Cup and the 2026 Norceca Women’s Continental Championship.
The Dominican Republic enters the competition as the defending champion, having captured the title three times (2021, 2022, 2024). The United States won the crown in 2023.
The competition format includes a round-robin preliminary phase, with the top four teams advancing to the crossover semifinals (2nd vs 3rd...
The New York Mets reported on how Juan Soto has set a new record for the New York Mets, when batting his 40th home run, on Saturday 13 September 2025.
With his Saturday home run in the seventh inning, he became the first player in team history to compile at least 40 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season. He set the record in the game the MetMets lost 3-2 to the Rangers on Saturday.
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Dominican Republic’s Paris Olympics gold medalist Marileidy Paulino moved to the semifinals in the World Athletics meet in Tokyo, Japan. Paulino qualified with a 49.85 time. The finals will be on 18 September 2025.
Paulino is performing in the Tokyo Olympic Stadium where in 2021 she won her first Olympic medal, a silver, competing in the 400m to an empty stadium.
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Top officials from the Dominican Republic’s Central Bank, Treasury, and Banking Superintendence met with leaders of the country’s financial sector to review the national economy. The meeting, which included Governor of the Central Bank Héctor Valdez Albizu, Treasury Minister Magín Díaz, and Banking Superintendent Alejandro Fernández, sought to review the economy’s performance and establish a unified approach to maintaining macroeconomic stability.
The meeting comes amid public concern over the recent dip of the Dominican peso against the US dollar. Valdez Albizu assured the public that the fluctuation is caused by a seasonal effect. He explained that there are no macroeconomic factors to justify the recent volatility, pointing to the annual surge in demand for US dollars in September as companies restock inventories for end-of-year sales.
Meanwhile, the fluctuation is a positive for tourist spending, exporters and buying power of remittances sent from abroad.
Valdez...
The Economic and Social Council (CES) has presented President Luis Abinader with its final report with recommendations on how to deal with the Haitian crisis and its implications for the Dominican Republic. The consolidated document, the result of a six-table dialogue involving a wide range of national sectors, was handed over at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, 9 September 2025.
The report, titled Final Consolidated Report of the Dialogue on the Haitian Crisis and its Implications for the Dominican Republic, emerged from discussions among representatives from the social, labor, business, and organized civil society sectors, as well as delegates from the President’s office and the three former Presidents.
Rafael Toribio, president of the CES, led the delegation that formally delivered a physical copy and a USB drive containing the report and the final minutes of the six...
The Ministry of Education (Minerd) is dramatically expanding its “English for a Better Life” program, aiming to benefit hundreds of thousands of students with critical language skills. The initiative, which includes a new digital platform for self-study, will be implemented in 321 new schools this year, bringing the total to 465.
This expansion is projected to provide language training to an additional 150,000 students, raising the total number of participants to 200,000. The program was first launched last year, reaching 50,000 high school seniors in 144 schools across the country. Its core objective is to equip students with the English proficiency needed to enhance their academic and professional opportunities after graduation.
The “English for a Better Life” program is a key part of the current administration’s 2025-2028 goals, and a central pillar of Minister of...
In a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court of the Dominican Republic has declared a law regulating the use of public force in embargo proceedings unconstitutional. The decision, which follows a direct action of unconstitutionality, puts an end to a legal framework that had been widely criticized for enabling abuse. Yet, the ruling says that Congress needs to pass a new law, and thus the old law will still be in effect for two years.
The court’s decision, outlined in Sentence TC/0743/25, found that Law No. 396-19 violated several key constitutional principles. The law had empowered the Public Ministry to authorize and direct the use of public force for seizing movable and immovable property, a role the court determined was unconstitutional.
According to the ruling, the law was fundamentally flawed for two main reasons. First, it failed to follow the proper legislative procedure...
Childhood obesity has surpassed being underweight as the leading form of malnutrition globally for the first time, according to the release of the Child Nutrition Report 2025 by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).
In the Dominican Republic, the 2019 Enhogar MICS survey had already found that 8% of children under five are overweight. The report also highlights a low rate of exclusive breastfeeding, with only 16% of infants receiving breast milk for their first six months, a number that, despite a slight improvement from 4.7% in 2014, remains critically low.
“In the country, malnutrition manifests as both stunted growth and childhood obesity,” said Anyoli Sanabria, Unicef’s interim representative in the Dominican Republic. “There is an urgent need for comprehensive policies that ensure healthy and affordable food.”
The study points to unhealthy food environments that...
Leonardo de Jesus Reyes Madera of the National Office for Seismic Assessment and Infrastructure and Building Vulnerabilities (Onesvie) said that the final technical report prepared by his office on the collapse of the roof of the JetSet Club in Santo Domingo would be made available this week. During an interview on Esta Noche con Mariasela, he said the conclusions in the final report are the same as in the preliminary report that was released in June 2025. The preliminary report had revealed that the overload of the roof had caused the 8 April 2025 tragedy. At least 236 persons died in the tragedy.
The final report includes the technical simulation that recreates the collapse.
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). The three...
In a first time, Mariasela Alvarez interviews First Lady Raquel Arbaje who shared with TV viewers her originality, sincerity and humility style. The First Lady spoke of her support to her husband.
Known for her accessibility, authenticity and spontaneity, First Lady Raquel Arbaje spoke of how she has always been an advocate that there is a need to communicate more about what is being accomplished in the Luis Abinader administration.
She spoke of why she signed a letter protesting a Penal Code passed in the Chamber of Deputies that earned the rejection of the president of the Chamber of Deputies. The First Lady said she is a devote Catholic, but acted in her condition as a citizen and president of the children’s cabinet in government.
Follow the interview: Esta Noche con Mariasela — Raquel Arbaje interview ...
On 9 September 2025, large numbers of people across the Dominican Republic received a test message, part of the new public warning program. The test program has been set up for Claro telecom Android phones.
The Dominican government has activated the first phase of its new National Alert System, a technological tool designed to send immediate and geolocated emergency messages to mobile phones across the country.
A technical test was conducted on Tuesday, 9 September 2025 to customers of the Claro Dominicana network and using Cell Broadcast (CB) technology. This system, unlike traditional SMS messages, guarantees a real-time alert by sending notifications directly to mobile devices in specific risk areas.
Cell broadcast is described as a public warning technology used to send mass alerts to mobile phones in a specific geographical area, even during...
An extensive feature in El Dia, known for its crime reporting, reveals that it appears that Dominican drug traffickers prefer to be extradited to the United States to face trial there and negotiate a plea bargain to avoid asset seizure. They then return to the Dominican Republic to enjoy their assets.
El Dia explains that despite the Dominican Republic’s Asset Forfeiture Law, enacted by the Executive Branch in 2022, the government has yet to draft the regulatory framework that would implement the law.
El Dia reports that while the Asset Forfeiture Law remains in legal limbo with its regulations still pending, drug traffickers who are wanted for prosecution find it more beneficial to face justice in the United States. Once they serve their sentence or reach a plea agreement with US authorities, they can return to the Dominican Republic and retain the wealth and property they...
A convicted former ambassador has been granted permission to teach emerging lawyers. A judge in San Cristóbal has granted a work permit to Donni Mayobanex Santana Cuevas, a former Dominican ambassador who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the sexual assault of his stepdaughter. The recent judicial order allows him to work as a professor at the National School of the Dominican Bar Association (CARD), N Digital reports.
The judge, José Manuel Arias of the Second Chamber of the Execution of the Sentence, issued the authorization, which had been sought in June. Juan Pérez Roa, the vice president of CARD, acted as a guarantor for Santana Cuevas.
The permit requires Santana Cuevas to teach at the CARD National School from Monday to Friday. On weekends and holidays, he is to remain under house arrest at a residence in the National District.
Santana Cuevas has served...
Reports are that former Tampa Rays star slugger Wander Franco was admitted to a mental health clinic. Police spokesman Diego Pesqueira said the request came from Franco’s family. Recently, Franco had made headlines accusing a hotel in Sosua of having stolen RD$1 million that he had left in the room.
Wander Franco was having one of the most successful careers and leading the Tampa Rays when in 2024 he became involved in a sex scandal with a minor. The court finally levied him with a two-year suspended sentence, but his baseball career in MLB seems to be ruled out.
On Tuesday, 9 September, Juan Soto of the New York Mets became the first player to reach the 30 home run and 30 bases stolen mark in the 2025 Major League Baseball season. He did the steal against catcher JT Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies. Soto’s record is now 38-30.
He became the fifth Met in the 30-30 club, joining Darryl Strawberry, Howard Johnson (three times), David Wright and Francisco Lindor as the only Mets to produce a season of at least 30 homers and 30 stolen bases.
Wikipedia highlights that In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 30–30 club is the group of 48 batters who have collected 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season.[1][2] Baseball Digest called the 30–30 club “the most celebrated feat that can be achieved by a player who has both power and speed.”[2][3] Six members have been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Diario Libre...
In a special event set for the Centro Cultural Taíno Casa del Cordón, renowned composer, conductor, and pianist José Antonio Molina will share his insights into the profound power of music. The conversation, titled “The Depths of Music: Between Creation and Interpretation,” will take place on Thursday, 11 September 2025 at 7pm and is open to the general public with no charge.
The open air patio where the talks are held is relatively small, so getting there early is essential to get a seat. The Thursday talk is one of several memorable talks coordinated by architect José Enrique Delmonte, who is the cultural advisor of the Centro Cultural Taino.
Molina, who serves as the long-standing director of the National Symphony Orchestra, is a celebrated figure in Dominican and international music. During the event, he will discuss how each performance is more than just a show—it’s an...
One of the most popular events of the year is the Festival del Chocolate organized by Dominican cacao producers, this 2025 from 8 to 14 September. The event is held at different venues with a wide variety of events, but the main center is Agora Mall, the capital city’s leading shopping mall that opens its first floor to the chocolate lovers event from 12 to 14 September. This is an opportunity to experience the scents, tastings, cooking sessions and general talks by chocolate connoisseurs.
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