The death toll from the explosion at the Saratoga Hotel in Havana rises to 40; World Bank: Dominican Republic needs more resources to finance public spending; World Bank and Ministry of Economy present program for Dominican Republic's economic transformation; United States suspends tariffs on Ukrainian steel for one year; Government spent RD$51.115 billion more than in 2021; Modern meteorological system for pilots installed at Punta Cana airport; Another murder remains shrouded in mystery; OAS begins visit to the Dominican Republic to promote the role of women in politics; Saltwater desalination plant to be installed at Las Américas Airport due to shortages; Study cites advantages of creating a digital currency in the country; Rodrigo Chaves faces sanctions for harassment of the Costa Rican presidency; Ministry of Foreign Affairs receives family members of Dominican driver kidnapped in Haiti; Riot in Ecuadorian prison leaves at least 43 inmates dead.
The death toll from the explosion at the Saratoga Hotel in Havana has risen to 40
The death toll from the explosion at the Saratoga Hotel in Havana reached 40 on Monday afternoon, according to the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP). The number rose by nine in the last 24 hours after rescuers gained access to the building's double basement, where some workers were suspected of being trapped. Among the dead, ranging in age from 10 to 77, were four children and a pregnant woman. All were Cuban, except for a 29-year-old Spanish woman
World Bank: The Dominican Republic needs more resources to finance public spending
The fiscal deficit is expected to decrease from 2.7% to 2.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) during the period 2021-2026, but the Dominican Republic needs greater fiscal space for health services, social protection networks, public investments, building reserves against natural disasters and ensuring a downward debt trajectory, the World Bank Group argues in its new report for the Country Partnership Framework, through which it plans to invest $1.8 billion in development projects.
World Bank and Economy Ministry present program for economic transformation of the Dominican Republic
The World Bank Group and its counterpart in the Dominican Republic, the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPyD), presented yesterday the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF), the World Bank's strategy that defines support for the nation's development priorities for the next five years and that contemplates financing of up to $1.8 billion for development projects.
The United States suspends tariffs on Ukrainian steel for one year
The United States has decided to suspend tariffs on steel from Ukraine for one year to support exports from the country devastated by the war declared by Russia, which invaded on February 24, the Commerce Department announced. "The Ukrainian steel industry is particularly important to the country's economy. It employs one in 13 Ukrainians, in well-paying jobs," the department emphasized in a statement.
The government spent RD$51,115 million more than in 2021
The total amount spent by the government up to April 29 was RD$299,592.6 million, some RD$51,115.2 million more than the same period in 2021, economist Nelson Suárez said yesterday. He explained that the economic distribution of spending shows that current expenditures consumed 91.72%, amounting to RD$274,783.6 million, and capital expenditures 8.28%, amounting to RD$10,289.6 million. The main expenditure items according to their nature in the first four months of 2022 are: current and capital transfers with RD$122,037.4 million (40.73% of the total), expenses on salaries and contributions that consumed 26.24% of the total, amounting to RD$78,621.9 million, interest payments, 19.05% of the total and 18.66% of tax revenues.
A modern weather system for pilots has been installed at Punta Cana airport
President Luis Abinader will inaugurate the most advanced radar system in the Dominican Republic in the coming days. This system will provide exclusive meteorological services to pilots of commercial and private aircraft operating to and from the country's airports. Héctor Porcella, interim director of the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), explained that the radar, which will operate at Punta Cana International Airport, is currently undergoing testing and is ready to enter service.
Another murder remains shrouded in mystery
A year ago, blacksmith José Guillermo Méndez (Pitulí) left work to go home, a journey during which he was detained and taken to the Las 800 police station in the Los Ríos sector of the National District. His arrest occurred around 11:00 p.m. on May 30, 2021, as Pitulí was walking home, located two blocks from his workplace. The next day, he was found dead in his cell. The initial police version was that the 42-year-old man hanged himself in his cell. His family claims that his body was covered in bruises from the beatings he received.
OAS begins visit to the Dominican Republic to promote the role of women in politics
A working group from the Organization of American States (OAS) began a visit to the Dominican Republic on Monday to promote women's participation in politics. The High-Level Group for Strengthening Women's Political Participation, led by former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, held several meetings with local authorities regarding the implementation of recommendations made by OAS electoral observation missions.
A saltwater desalination plant will be installed at Las Américas Airport due to water shortages.
The general director of Aeropuertos Dominicanos XXI Aerodom, Monika Infante de Henríquez, revealed that to alleviate the water shortage problem at the terminal, a saltwater desalination plant is being installed as an alternative to mitigate the scarcity of the precious liquid at AILA.
The study cites advantages of creating digital currency in the country
Research suggests that for the Dominican Republic, the use of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) is a good alternative for innovation, without legalizing Bitcoin, as in El Salvador, but rather creating a currency that complements the Dominican peso.
Rodrigo Chaves, regarding the sanction for harassment of the presidency of Costa Rica
Conservative and right-wing, Rodrigo Chaves entered politics like a rocket. At high speed, he evaded accusations of sexual harassment, captivated the discontented with his economic credentials, and became the 49th president in Costa Rica's republican history.
Mirex receives relatives of Dominican driver kidnapped in Haiti
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mirex) reported that it met on Monday with the family of the Dominican citizen who was driving the bus hijacked in Haiti, which was carrying Turkish and Haitian nationals. The Deputy Minister for Consular and Migration Affairs, Jatzel Román, shared with the family the steps to be taken to find a solution to the situation as quickly as possible.
Riot in Ecuadorian prison leaves at least 43 inmates dead
At least 43 inmates were killed in a riot at a prison in central Ecuador, a country plagued by rampant drug trafficking and criminal violence, authorities said Monday.
Sources: Hoy, El Día, Diario Libre, Listín Diario
