DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic
DR1.com is the leading English news source in the Dominican Republic for over 30 years.
Showing articles from the past 7 days. To read past articles, visit our DR1.com Daily News Forum.
Click here for DR1 Travel News
Seven men are now accused of drugging and gang-raping a 21-year old woman in the municipality of Villa González. Six of the men are in the custody of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Santiago province, another is on the run. The arrests came after a video of the assault went viral online, sparking public outrage.
The victim did not know what had happened to her until she saw the video online, several months later. The rape occurred in March 2025.
She would then present the complaint to the Police on Thursday, 28 August 2025, leading to the investigation by the Police and the arrest of the six.
The National Police announced the arrest of the six after an extensive search operation conducted in coordination with the Public Ministry. The operation was led by General Juan Bautista Jiménez Reinoso, director of the Central Cibao regional police force. He...
President Luis Abinader announced on Thursday, 28 August 2025, his administration has decided on the construction of the Santo Domingo Monorail. The mass transit system is part of a major infrastructure project designed to strengthen Greater Santo Domingo’s Integrated Transportation System (SIT-SD) and significantly improve urban mobility in the metropolitan area.
The project is still awaiting bidding and financing approval. The long-term plan includes a second phase of the monorail, a tram line, and new transfer hubs designed to improve connectivity between various modes of mass transit.
The monorail option was selected for its cost efficiency. The elevated design is projected to save approximately 35% in construction costs compared to traditional underground rail systems as the need for complex tunneling is eliminated.
The first phase of the monorail will span 10.5...
The Dominican Republic’s Supreme Court of Justice has confirmed a five-year prison sentence for former congresswoman Rosa Amalia Pilarte (PRM-La Vega) on charges of money laundering and financing terrorism. The full court’s decision, handed down on Friday, 29 August 2025, ratifies a previous ruling by the court’s Second Chamber.
The Second Chamber initially convicted the former legislator from the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) in May 2024. The case was heard under a privileged jurisdiction, which applies to high-ranking officials. The five judges of the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court voted unanimously against revoking the sentence.
In addition to the prison term at the Centro de Corrección y Rehabilitación Rafey Mujeres, in Santiago, the ruling also orders the confiscation of Pilarte’s assets, which include 13 properties, valued at RD$4 billion.
Pilarte’s...
Prosecutors and victim’s lawyers successfully appealed the previous ruling, reviving a decade-old case. The First Criminal Chamber of the National District Court of Appeals annulled a previous ruling that dismissed the case against Italian-Canadian businessman Antonio Carbone, who is accused of orchestrating a 2014 car bombing. The court ordered a new trial for Carbone on charges of attempted murder.
The new trial will be held before the same court that issued the original dismissal, the Second Collegiate Court of the National District, but with a new panel of judges.
The ruling was issued by a court panel led by judge Doris Josefina Pujols Ortiz, with judges Rafael Báez García and Daisy Indhira Montás Pimentel. They sided with the appeals filed by both the Public Ministry and the legal team for the alleged victim, former Puerto Plata-based Dream Casinos manager Fernando...
Avenida Duarte, one of the Dominican Republic’s busiest shopping thoroughfares, has now become a bustling marketplace for counterfeit goods, Diario Libre reports. From storefronts to makeshift sidewalk stalls, vendors openly sell knockoff “luxury brands” at irresistible prices. This booming business caters to consumers seeking the appearance of high-end status without the hefty price tag.
Although Dominican law (Industrial Property Law 20-00) explicitly prohibits the reproduction and unauthorized use of registered trademarks, enforcement is blatantly lax leading to the development of the avenue as a mecca for those seeking brand knockoffs.
The counterfeit goods range from sports brands to perfumes, handbags and to school backpacks.
Diario Libre reports that the dramatic price differences highlight more than just the low quality of the inputs used, but...
The Dominican Republic’s men basketball team saw its AmeriCup journey come to an end on Thursday, 28 August 2025 after a 94-82 loss to Brazil in the quarterfinals of the championship taking place in Managua, Nicaragua. Despite a promising start and a valiant effort, the Dominicans couldn’t overcome key absences and a late-game surge from the powerhouse Brazilian squad.
The Dominicans, led by their quick-witted guards, looked strong in the first half, but a late run by Brazil saw them trail 47-42 at halftime. In the third quarter, Brazil, a perennial contender in American basketball, extended their lead to a commanding 11 to 13 points, a margin that would prove too difficult for the Dominicans to close.
A glimmer of hope appeared early in the final quarter when Jassel Pérez sank two crucial three-pointers, cutting the deficit to 75-67. However, the...
Dominican sprinter Alexander Ogando secured a third-place finish in the 200-meter final at the Diamond League on Thursday, 28 August 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland. He clocked an official time of 20.14 seconds. The performance once again places the athlete from San Juan de la Maguana among the world’s elite sprinters, solidifying his presence on the international athletics circuit.
He came third after Noah Lyles (USA) 19.74 and Letsile Tebogo of Botswana who clocked in at 19.76.
Ogando is a Dominican Republic silver medallist in the 4 x 400m race during the Tokyo 2020 (2021) Olympic Games. He was the world champion in the event in the World Athletics Championships in 2022.
Salwa Eid Naser / Diario Libre
This time, Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrein, coached by Dominican coach Jose Ludwig Rubio, came in first in the Diamond League 400m final, clocking 48.70, a meet record. She had lost all previous confrontations with Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic.
In the Zurich Diamond League finals, Henriette Jaeger of Norway was third with a national record time of 49.49.
Marileidy Paulino was second, clocking 49.23 in the 400m finals. Previously, Paulino had won all her Diamond League races.
The competitors will meet again in Tokyo, for the World Athletics Championships from 13 to 21 September 2025. Paulino’s training has been geared towards winning the 400m in that event, the most important on the track calendar.
Paulino already is the owner of the 400m Olympic record in the women’s 400m, set in the final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she...
Franklin Mirabal / Diario Libre
A highly anticipated baseball showdown between the best professional baseball players from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico is set to take place starting 1pm at the New York Mets’ Citi Field in New York City on Saturday, 15 November 2025. The local official launch of the event was led by renowned sports marketer Franklin Mirabal and Manelik Castro, representing the National Federation of Professional Baseball Players.
The game will be dedicated to Robinson Canó, one of the most popular players known for his support of the Dominican Professional Baseball League (Lidom), the Caribbean Series, and the World Baseball Classic. A special farewell ceremony will be held for him at the famous New York baseball stadium.
The former All-Star Robinson Canó is scheduled to play his last professional game on American soil. To...
Director General Eduardo (Yayo) Sanz Lovatón / El Nuevo Diario
Eduardo (Yayo) Sanz Lovatón, director general of the Customs Agency, said on Tuesday, 26 August 2025 that the first flight of Amazon international cargo to its distribution center in Santo Domingo will arrive on 2 September 2025. He says the arrival of the flight will mark an important step towards the integration of the country to global online commerce.
“The Dominican Republic is now the main logistics hub in the Caribbean,” said Sanz Lovaton in making the announcement during a TV morning talk program.
He said the country has always had the advantage of geographic location. And for decades there has been economic stability, even in times of global slowdowns. What has made the difference, he highlighted, is the modernization of Customs procedures. From day one, the Abinader administration set its sight...
The Central Bank reports the Dominican Republic’s economy grew 2.9% in July 2025 compared to July 2024, according to preliminary data from the Monthly Economic Activity Indicator (IMAE). This marks an improvement from the 1.1% growth recorded in June and brings the cumulative growth for the first seven months of the year to 2.4%.
The 2.4% growth is below the normal standards for growth in the Dominican Republic. The central government and monetary authorities are taking actions to inject vitality into the economy, included increases in government capital spending.
A press release from the Central Bank reports that growth in July was driven by a strong performance in several key sectors:• Mining: This sector saw a significant 21.0% increase in July, thanks to higher volumes of gold and silver extraction.• Manufacturing free zones: The sector grew by 7.1% in July...
The Central Electoral Board (JCE) that is in charge of civil registry in the Dominican Republic has included the issuing of a pilot test of 800,000 digital cards (RD$244.7 million) in the approved Emdoc contract (for RD$3.36 billion) for the issuing of more than 9.4 million physical ID cards in 2025-2026.
The digital cards are a government-approved, digital version of your physical identification document that is stored securely on smartphones, allowing to verify identity both online and in person.
The digital credentials can be used for a variety of purposes, from accessing public and private services to conducting official transactions, with security features like biometrics and PINs protecting personal information.
The JCE has yet to explain who will get the first mobile ID cards.
Read...
US Consul General in the Dominican Republica, William D. Swaney / Revista Mercado
The newly arrived US Consul General in the Dominican William D. Swaney gave a press conference to announce he is back since July 2025. This is his third appointment to the country.
During the press conference on 27 August 2025, Swaney mentioned that the US Consulate in Santo Domingo is second in volume of visas processed to Mexico. He said around 200,000 visas were processed, including around 50,000 migrant visas in 2024.
He urged people to use the digital channels and to correctly fill out the forms. He also urged people to strictly comply with the terms of the visas.
In an interview with Diario Libre, Swaney highlighted that the maximum stay on a tourist visa is 90 to 180 days. He said that those who have exceeded their permitted stay, or use the tourist visa for seasonal work, or...
The largest mining company operating in the Dominican Republic, Barrick Pueblo Viejo announced the appointment of Gisselle Valera Florencio as president.
Barrick Pueblo Viejo’s operation in Sanchez Ramirez provinces is regarded as one of the world’s leading tier one gold mines. The Ministry of Environment has cleared the construction of a second tailings dam in the province for expanding gold production.
Valera Florencio had been carrying out the role after the resignation of Juana Barcelo.
A corporate lawyer, before her new appointment she had served as executive director for government affairs for Central America and the Caribbean at Barrick Pueblo Viejo. Previously, she worked for the Jimenez Peña law firm in Santo Domingo.
Valera Florencio reports directly to Barrick’s Chief Operating Officer for Latin America and Asia Pacific, Mark Hill.
A...
The timeless classics of Hollywood films will fill the main hall of the National Theater this Friday, 30 August.
Santo Domingo Philharmonic Orchestra, led by the renowned maestro Amaury Sánchez, is bringing the musical gala, “Todo Hollywood” to the National Theater. There will be guest performances in addition to the performance of the 60-musician-strong orchestra playing some of the greatest film scores of all times.
The show promises an immersive and nostalgic experience for movie lovers. The repertoire will include iconic scores from legendary films such as Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Gladiator, Spiderman, and Skyfall, among many others.
The concert is scheduled for Friday, 30 August 2025 at 8:30pm in the Carlos Piantini Hall of the Eduardo Brito National Theater.
The elite of the athletics world is meeting in Zurich, Switzerland for the Weltklasse Zurich, the grand finale of the Diamond League competitions. At Sechseläutenplatz (27 August) and Letzigrund Stadium (28 August), the world’s best athletes will battle for the prestigious Diamond Trophy in each category.
Paris Olympics gold medalist Marileidy Paulino is scheduled for the 400 m final on 28 August 2025.
Paulino is registered to race against Martina Weil of Chile, Lieke Klaver of The Netherlands, Amber Anning of Great Britain, Henriette Jaeger of Norway, Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrein, Isabella Whittaker of the USA and Natalia Bukowiecka of Poland. Her strongest contender is Salwa Eid Naser who is coached by Dominican Jose Ludwig Rubio.
In coordination with the Dominican Society of Infectology, and on the occasion of the International Day Against Dengue on 26 August 2025, the Ministry of Public Health relaunched its campaign: “Let’s Beat Dengue.” The campaign has been successful in reducing cases and deaths in 2024 and 2025. The effort is a joint stand in favor of preventing diseases by educating the general public.
The Ministry of Public Health under Minister Victor Atallah has been characterized for successful prevention efforts all year round. The relaunching of the dengue campaign comes with the slogan: Eliminate, Clean and Cover, key words that refer to the three effective ways of eliminating breeding grounds for the mosquito that transmits the tropical disease.
Read...
Drivers in the Dominican Republic now have a new, easy-to-remember number to call for roadside assistance. The Fideicomiso RD Vial has launched 511, a dedicated line for reporting emergencies and incidents on the nation’s main highways. This new number replaces the previous 829-688-1000 and is designed to provide a faster, more efficient response.
The launch of 511 is a significant step toward aligning the Dominican Republic’s road safety efforts with international standards. The new number is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), which includes countries like the United States and Canada. This adoption of an international standard aims to modernize the driving experience and improve accessibility to immediate help for motorists.
The 511 service is managed by the Integrated Roadside Assistance Service, which is operated by the Military and Police Commission...
There are many traffic laws in the Dominican Republic. The problem has not been the lack of laws; the problem has been the lax enforcement of the laws. The enforcement of the laws is left up to the General Transit and Land Transportation Safety Agency (Digesett).
The National Institute of Transit and Ground Transportation (Intrant) is now calling on all freight vehicle drivers in the Dominican Republic to strictly adhere to the use of the right-hand lane on highways and roads, in line with Law 63-17 on Mobility, Land Transport, Transit, and Road Safety.
Intrant also reminds drivers that freight vehicles may only use other lanes when overtaking is explicitly permitted.
The directive aims to streamline traffic flow, reduce accident risks, and prevent heavy vehicles from obstructing faster or overtaking lanes.
Intrant executive director Milton Morrison emphasized the...
The Dominican Republic’s labor market continues to show positive momentum, with a notable increase of 121,164 jobs from April to June 2024, the Central Bank reports. This growth was driven by a significant surge in formal employment, which added 164,598 new workers, while the informal sector saw a reduction of 43,434 workers.
According to data from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic’s National Continuous Labor Force Survey, key indicators of employment, unemployment, and informality are all reflecting a healthy market. The country has reached all-time highs in both the number of employed people and the employment rate, while the unemployment and informality rates have fallen to some of their lowest points since the survey began.
The total number of people employed in the Dominican economy reached 5,123,548 in the second quarter of 2025. This 121,164-person increase from...
Top defense officials from the United States and the Dominican Republic made a strategic tour of the Dominican-Haitian border on 26 August 2025, signaling a deepening of bilateral security cooperation.
Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos A. Fernández Onofre, and the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Joseph M. Humire, traveled the length of the border from Manzanillo to Dajabón. The visit underscored the two nations’ shared commitment to addressing regional security challenges.
During the tour, Minister Fernández Onofre, along with Major General Jorge Iván Camino Pérez, the Commanding General of the Army, and Brigadier General Jose Rodríguez Coste, the director of the Border Security Corps (Cesfront), briefed the American delegation. The discussions focused on operations to combat...
A recent social media post by lawyer Juan Carlos Acosta Pérez has ignited speculation about a significant discovery in the Dominican Republic, El Nacional reports.
Acosta announced on Facebook the possible presence of high concentrations of yttrium, a rare earth element, in the Pedernales province. The potential find is located in the Fiscal Reserve Ávila, a stretch of land running from Cabo Rojo to the Sierra de Bahoruco.
According to Acosta’s post, samples collected in the area show yttrium concentrations of up to 3,000 parts per million (ppm). If verified by independent analysis, this would be an exceptionally high figure compared to known deposits worldwide. To put this in perspective, 3,000 ppm is equivalent to approximately 3 kilograms of yttrium per metric ton of rock.
In his post, Acosta cited engineers and technicians who have allegedly been...
Dominican jazz fusion band Retro Jazz will kick off celebrations for its 15th anniversary with a special concert titled “Acordes del Alma” on Saturday, 6 September 2025, at the Máximo Avilés Blonda Hall of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Santo Domingo, N Digital reports.
The performance will launch a year-long series of events commemorating the group’s journey—a path marked by its innovative reinterpretations of Dominican classics through jazz. Led by renowned arranger, producer, and bassist Pengbian Sang, the ensemble has become a beloved fixture in the country’s contemporary music scene.
“When we started, I never imagined we’d make it this far—let alone have the audience’s continued support and affection for so long,” said Sang. He added that, if plans proceed as expected, the anniversary tour will conclude next year with a grand finale at the Teatro Nacional Eduardo...
President Luis Abinader launched the 2025-2026 school year on Monday, 25 August 2025 in Santo Domingo, welcoming more than 2,062,000 public students nationwide of 2,664,028 students that are registered for the next school year in the public, private and hybrid systems.
The ceremony took place at the newly inaugurated Casandra Damirón School in Santo Domingo Este.
The Presidency announces more than 6,000 new teachers have been hired for the 2025-26 school year. Likewise, the Trae school transportation program has been expanded.
The President announced that 100% of public school students would receive a school kit, underscoring that educational quality remains a priority. He also highlighted the reintroduction of civics and ethics courses into the extended school day to strengthen values and civic education.
Abinader encouraged students to treat their schools as...
The Transportation Cabinet of the Abinader Administration will launch the fourth phase of its left-turn restriction program this Sunday, 1 September 2025, targeting key intersections along John F. Kennedy and 27 de Febrero avenues. The traffic changes are part of the “RD Se Mueve” traffic management strategy aimed at easing congestion and improving road safety in the National District.
The ongoing initiative, which began with interventions at 13 major intersections in previous phases, has already cut travel times by more than 30% on avenues such as Lope de Vega, Tiradentes, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and Máximo Gómez.
In this new phase, traffic flow will be reorganized at the intersection of Máximo Gómez and John F. Kennedy, which will shift from a four-phase to a three-phase traffic signal operation. As a result, left turns from John F. Kennedy Avenue...
The Dominican government is maneuvering to reduce the damages of the shutdown of Falconbridge Dominicana (Falcondo), the mining firm that for decades has marked the livelihood of thousands in Monseñor Nouel province. Diario Libre looks into the case in the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) submitted on 22 July 2025 on violations of the 70-year old contract that has resulted in environmental damages for more than US$25 million.
El Informe con Alicia Ortega looks into what is happening now that the mining firm has shut down and the impact in the central province.
Follow the story in Spanish:
In the wake of a series of tragic incidents where at least seven children were killed by their own parents this August, Minister of Interior and Police Faride Raful has stated that the country has a significant “social debt” when it comes to mental health.
Just this Monday, 24 August, a young mother gave her three children, ages 11, 9 and 7 poisoned juice and then took her share. The father returned home to find his family dead.
Following a meeting with the Joint Task Force, which included President Luis Abinader and Public Health Minister Víctor Atallah, Raful addressed the issue, emphasizing that mental health had not been a priority for many years in the Dominican Republic. She stressed that while it is fundamentally a health issue, it has also become a matter of public safety, demanding a coordinated response to protect children and other vulnerable groups.
“Mental...
In a night of brilliant play, Dominican senior women’s volleyball team captain Brayelin Martinez led the Reinas del Caribe to defeat Mexico 3-0 (25-15, 25,17 and 25-20) during the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championships taking place in Thailand. The DR is ranked 10th and Mexico 26th by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
The competition runs from 22 August to 7 September across four host cities: Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai and Phuket. The 20th edition of the Women’s World Championship represents another historic first, as Southeast Asia welcomes a Volleyball World Championship for the first time in the sport’s history.
In the match on 24 August 2025, the DR shut out Mexico in Chiang Mai and topped the current pool standings on a perfect record of two straight-set victories. The DR had already defeated Colombia (3-0).
FIVB reported...
25-year old Alexander Ogando is trained by Félix Sánchez, the Dominican double Olympic champion. Sánchez is also Ogando’s mentor. Now, the hard work is bearing fruit as preparations are completed for the World Championships set for 13 to 21 September 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.
As part of his ongoing preparations for the World Championship, the Dominican sprinter last week added another major achievement to his career by winning the 200-meter race at the Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium, on Friday, 22 August. The 24-year-old clocked 20.16 seconds, edging out American Robert Gregory (20.19) and Nigerian Udodi Onwuzurike (20.29).
His next race is the 200 m Diamond League final on 28 August 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland. And then, the World Championships in Tokyo.
World Athletics website reports that this victory further cements Ogando’s rise in global athletics and highlights his role...
The brawl between Dominican and Argentine players that happened after the DR had defeated Argentina 84-83 on Monday, 24 August 2025 in Managua, Nicaragua during the AmeriCup 2025 has ended in the suspension of several key players. The suspensions will impact the teams.
Key player David Jones Garcia is suspended for two FIBA official Games. Juan Guerrero and Juan Suero are suspended for one FIBA official game. Angel Delgado is suspended for one FIBA Official Game for a probationary period of three years. If the player commits the same or similar offense during the probationary period, he will immediately be suspended one game, in addition to any sanction imposed for the new offense.
The penalties were released in an official FIBA statement that outlined details surrounding the aftermath of the Argentina-Dominican Republic game at the AmeriCup...
The Colonial City is under intense renovation works, but it is getting better every day. There is always a reason to come and see what is new.
People can look forward to the opening of the Museo del Merengue y la Bachata, scheduled to open in March 2026.
The location and the people behind the Museo del Merengue y la Bachata in the Colonial City practically guarantee its success. The museum will be located in the 16th Century edifice that had opened as the Hotel Frances on the corner of Arzobispo Meriño and Las Mercedes streets.
Louis Broker, the entrepreneur that brought Santo Domingo the iconic places of Pat’e Palo, Jalao and Lulu is now working with Lisa Ortega, the young architect whose design for the Dominican stand in Fitur recently won the best stand.
And there is Jose Antonio Rodriguez, the former Minister of Culture (2012-2016)...
The updated 2026 PGA Tour schedule outlines 35 official events. Among them, the Corales stop will once again welcome over a hundred professional golfers from around the world.
For its ninth consecutive year, the PGA Tour will be held at the Corales Puntacana Championship at the Puntacana Resort & Club’s Corales Golf Course. The Puntacana Championship will be played 13-19 July 2026.
As part of the PGA Tour’s ongoing strategic alliance with the DP World Tour (PGA European Tour), players from both circuits will be eligible to compete in the Corales tournament. The DP World Tour is the premier professional golf tour for men in Europe and beyond, known for its global destinations and schedule across five continents. It finalizes with the DP World Tour Championship takes place in Dubai and is contested by the top-ranked players.
DP World port and logistics operator from Dubai...
Are you a fan of merengue, bachata, salsa, rumba or son? People are giving good reviews to Lungomare, the Santo Domingo Sheraton restaurant lounge on the Malecon as a place to go to listen to live tropical music and do some dancing, too.
There is a steady stream of live performances.
On Wednesdays, there is karaoke from 9pm.
As a sampler, on Fridays in August, Johanna Almanzar and her Rumberos la Banda performs live as of 9pm.
The good news is that admission is free.
Call Lungomare at 829 643-6383 for reservations.
Read more in Spanish:
Disney Cruise Line has contracted for stops of its Disney Dream ship in Puerto Plata for the season of October 2026 to May 2027. Early bookings open on the Disney Cruise Line website as of 2 September 2025. This is the first time that Disney Cruise Line will call on Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.
The cruises that will stop in Puerto Plata begin in The Bahamas and end in Tortola from where the ship returns to the Bahamas. The stops are Disney Castaway Cay, Disney Lookout Cay and Nassau in The Bahamas, followed by Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), San Juan (Puerto Rico), St. Maarten and Tortola.
Read More:
Expedia has launched its Island Hot List and the Dominican Republic is included in the top three. The Dominican Republic is the leading tourism destination in the Caribbean. The DR is listed in third place behind Aruba, Bali (Indonesia), and followed by Fiji and Jamaica.
Expedia highlights these pluses for the top island destinations:• Aruba (Best for Year-Round Sunshine)• Bali, Indonesia (Best for Relaxation)• Dominican Republic (Best for Adventure)• Fiji (Best for Community)• Jamaica (Best for Culture)
The flight and hotel booking engine calls its Island Hot List a definitive guide to the best island destinations of the year. Expedia analyzes what matters most to travelers including standout stays, affordable prices, seamless flight access, and irresistible tourism appeal. Expedia explains that the inaugural curated report, released in July 2025, reveals global...
To read past articles, visit our DR1.com Daily News Forum.