| The Dominican Sun |
| "Daily Dominican Republic News in English Since 2004" |
| Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 |
.png)      |
|
|
|
Orange awarded Best Global Operator
Story Text & Photos © 2009 by Dominican Today Jan 6 2009 15:02PM
|
|
 Dominican Today -
London.– Orange was awarded three of the telecom industry’s highest accolades at the annual World Communication Awards (WCA), held in London. For the third
consecutive year, Orange Business Services was awarded ‘Best Global Operator’
and for the second year, Orange was awarded ‘Best Mobile Operator’. David
Molony, Principal Analyst at Ovum and WCA Chair of Judges said, “We
were pleased to award Best Global Operator to Orange Business Services
for a whole series of reasons, including its impressive service
expansions into new markets like Russia, where it is building a whole
new network. The evidence of how they were able to leverage their core
competencies to outpace the market level of growth for ICT was
striking.”
Meanwhile, Orange customers in the Dominican Republic can already have the 3G iPhone, which, according to the company, builds on the features that made its predecessor such a huge success: revolutionary mobile phone with touchscreen, iPod function, real internet access, and email.
Read original at Dominican Today.
|
(Posted 15:02 Tuesday by DRSol NewsHound)
Comments • Send to Friend • Printable • View Full
|
|
Dominican accident prevention body proposed
Story Text & Photos © 2009 by Dominican Today Jan 6 2009 15:01PM
|
|
 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo.- The director of the National Road Safety and Accident Prevention Institute, Nicanor Almánzar, says that the government should set up a body aimed at preventin g road accidents, as the funds his institute receives from the National Health and Social Security system (SENASA) all go towards medical treatment.
He estimated that the State invests some RD$1 billion in treating accident victims each year and that now is the time for the government to create an institution that will formally work on prevention.
Nicanor Almánzar called for a formal accident prevention plan coordinated by all the bodies working on the issue.
He pointed out that road accidents are one of the main causes of death in the country and that prevention programs were badly needed. He said that such a plan would require the involvement of the Health Insurance Providers (ARS), the government, the National Social Security Council, the Public Health Ministry, the National Police and other connected entities.
He said that this new body could be called the “National Road Accident Prevention Council”.
Read original at Dominican Today.
|
(Posted 15:01 Tuesday by DRSol NewsHound)
Comments • Send to Friend • Printable • View Full
|
|
Dominican merengue star recovering from dengue
Story Text & Photos © 2009 by Dominican Today Jan 6 2009 15:01PM
|
|
 Dominican Today -
Santo Domingo.- Rafa Rosario, the lead singer of leading Dominican merengue band Los Hermanos Rosario is due to be discharged from a Santo Domingo clinic after responding positively to treatment for dengue fever. He was hospitalized on Friday and found to be suffering from classic dengue. As a result, Los Hermanos Rosario had to call off several performances scheduled for the weekend at several venues around the country. The merengue star thanked fans for their good wishes and said that, “thank God I am recovering and will be discharged in the next few hours”. Rafa Rosario said he hoped to be back on stage soon.
Read original at Dominican Today.
|
(Posted 15:01 Tuesday by DRSol NewsHound)
Comments • Send to Friend • Printable • View Full
|
|
Dominican Immigration chief sticks to his guns, says Haitians must return
Story Text & Photos © 2009 by Dominican Today Jan 6 2009 15:01PM
|
|
 Dominican Today -
SANTO DOMINGO. - Immigration director Jose Sanz Jiminián today said the 450 Haitians who occupy a Catholic church in Dajabón (northwest), under the protection of the priest Regino Martinez who demands they be allowed to reenter the country, are in a state of illegality and will have to return to Haiti.
He said “99.9 percent” of the foreigners in the church don’t have the ID card Immigration issues, and it’s the only authority that decides who remains in Dominican territory.
The official said Law 285-04 authorizes only Immigration to determine the illegality of foreigners. He said the Haitians took advantage of Dajabón’s markets held Mondays and Fridays to occupy the church.
He also denounced that many agricultural businessperson in the zone are accomplices of the situation, since they hire Haitians illegally and don’t report them.
Meanwhile Dajabón mayor Sonia Mateo said to solve the problem the Government should install an Office of Haitian Affairs in the zone to issue the ID cards for those foreigners.
She said the situation occurs every year at this date, when thousands of Haitians return to their country during Christmas and New Year, and then try to return to this country to work in January.
Haitians agree to leave occupied church
The around 500 Haitians who occupied the church Nuestra Señora del Rosario Monday decided to leave after reaching an agreement with the de Immigration Agency, Border Security Corp, the Army, and the NGO Solidaridad Fronteriza.
Read original at Dominican Today.
|
(Posted 15:01 Tuesday by DRSol NewsHound)
Comments • Send to Friend • Printable • View Full
|
|
Baseball update
Story Text & Photos © 2009 by DR1 Jan 6 2009 15:01PM
|
|
|
DR1 - Things are getting interesting as the Dominican Winter League round robin tournament enters its final stages. The Gigantes, who in previous years have had monstrous late-year collapses, have maintained their status, winning five of their eight tournament games, and taking the top position in the standings. The Tigres have stayed on the heels of the Gigantes, also winning five of their eight games. The Tigres have looked strong as of late, after a shaky regular season. Surprisingly enough the Toros are still in the playoff hunt, being only 1.5 games out of the lead. And in an odd twist the Aguilas, last year`s tournament champions, are sitting in the cellar with a 2-5 record. In last night`s action the Tigres continued to add to the Aguilas` misery with and 8-2 pounding at the Estadio Cibao while the Gigantes gave the Toros a pounding with a 6-1 victory.
<br>
<b>The Standings</b>
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class=norm>
<tr>
<td align=center><b>Team</td>
<td align=center><b>W-L</td>
<td align=center><b>Avg.</td>
<td align=center><b>Games Behind</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td >GIGANTES</td>
<td align=right>5 - 3</td>
<td align=right>.625</td>
<td align=right>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td >TIGRES</td>
<td align=right>5 - 3</td>
<td align=right>.625</td>
<td align=right>--</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td >TOROS</td>
<td align=right>4 - 5</td>
<td align=right>.444</td>
<td align=right>1.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td >AGUILAS</td>
<td align=right>2 - 5</td>
<td align=right>.286</td>
<td align=right>2.5</td>
</tr>
</table> Read original at DR1.
|
(Posted 15:01 Tuesday by DRSol NewsHound)
Comments • Send to Friend • Printable • View Full
|
|
UASD copycat found
Story Text & Photos © 2009 by DR1 Jan 6 2009 15:00PM
|
|
|
DR1 - Advertising student Ibrahim Rodriguez has been identified as the creator of a fake UASD University webpage. Rodriguez, a Cuban national, is reported to be a web designer. No word on whether he will be charged with anything, however Rodriguez claims no wrongdoing and says he was only trying the help UASD students. It was originally reported that a webpage <a href="http://www.UASD.com.do">www.UASD.com.do</a> with a similar layout to the UASD`s official site (<a href="http://www.UASD.edu.do">www.UASD.edu.do</a>) was being used by students and was feared to have interfered with upcoming registrations. The copycat page is still up with a message from Rodriguez, where he defends his actions. Read original at DR1.
|
(Posted 15:00 Tuesday by DRSol NewsHound)
Comments • Send to Friend • Printable • View Full
|
|
Constitutionalists continue fight
Story Text & Photos © 2009 by DR1 Jan 6 2009 15:00PM
|
|
|
DR1 - The hunger strike by Constitutionalist soldiers who were promised a pension by President Leonel Fernandez is now in its 12th day. Hoy reports that the protestors` health is quickly deteriorating. Originally 22 men started the hunger strikes and now only five remain. They claim that President Fernandez promised to give them pensions as former Armed Forces members. The men fought on the side of the Constitutional government during the civil strife in the DR in the 1960s. Read original at DR1.
|
(Posted 15:00 Tuesday by DRSol NewsHound)
Comments • Send to Friend • Printable • View Full
|
|
Farms to become jails
Story Text & Photos © 2009 by DR1 Jan 6 2009 15:00PM
|
|
|
DR1 - The State General Prosecutor`s Office has announced that farms once owned by former military captain Quirino Ernesto Paulino Castillo would be turned into jails. Two jails will be built on the properties formerly owned by the extradited drug trafficker in the province of San Juan de la Maguana, covering a total area of 3,800 tareas. No details on the size of the facilities or whether they would be high, medium or low-security prisons. Though Quirino was extradited to the US for illegally trafficking drugs, the US and Dominican governments agreed that the DR government would receive all properties and assets formerly owned by Paulino Castillo. Not all is bad news for the Paulino family though. Diario Libre reported last week that the Dominican state will return RD$200 million in assets and all of Paulino`s properties in Elias Pina to the family. Eighteen of Quirino`s relatives will also be allowed to leave the DR to live in the US, as part of a plea deal made by Quirino. The family begins its departure on 15 January. Read original at DR1.
|
(Posted 15:00 Tuesday by DRSol NewsHound)
Comments • Send to Friend • Printable • View Full
|
|
Death penalty?
Story Text & Photos © 2009 by DR1 Jan 6 2009 15:00PM
|
|
|
DR1 - From January to September 2008, 343 deaths occurred in exchanges of fire with the Police. Most of the killings took place in Santo Domingo, San Cristobal, Santiago, Puerto Plata, Espaillat (Moca) and La Altagracia provinces. The Police say the people killed were all criminals. El Caribe newspaper reports that 20 were killed in crossfire incidents last week alone.
<br>
Father Rogelio Cruz says that violence is not controlled by killing, but by providing young people with social and educational alternatives. He recalled the success of the sports, music and information technology educational programs he organized when he served as parish priest at the Cristo Rey slum area.
<br>
Sociologist Ramon Tejada Holguin said that these extrajudicial killings are wrong. He said there is evidence that people without criminal records have also died in the shootings.
<br>
But Police Chief Rafael Guillermo Guzman Fermin says, "I will continue to fight organized crime in a direct manner without a second thought for lawbreakers," he told El Caribe.
<br>
The Police deny reports that recent civilian deaths at the hands of police are extrajudicial executions. Police Chief Guzman, quoted in Hoy, is unapologetic about the shootings. He said that the criminals are known to shoot at police, military personnel and hardworking citizens. He said the police would not stop doing its job and that criminals must know that they will pay for breaking the law. Read original at DR1.
|
(Posted 15:00 Tuesday by DRSol NewsHound)
Comments • Send to Friend • Printable • View Full
|
|
Fernandez explains pardons
Story Text & Photos © 2009 by DR1 Jan 6 2009 15:00PM
|
|
|
DR1 - President Leonel Fernandez called a press conference over the holiday break to give his reasons for pardoning convicted Baninter banker Vivian Lubrano and four men convicted for the Plan Renove transport fraud. Lubrano had been sentenced to five years in jail for her active role in the RD$55 billion scam by the bank in 2003, and the pardoned transport union leaders were accused of billions worth of profiteering at taxpayers` expense, backed up by reports issued by the General Controllers office. The government spent millions in public money to prosecute the cases. President Fernandez said his decision was based on humanitarian reasons due to their delicate health conditions. President Fernandez had not called a press conference open to questions from the press in years.
<br>
The press conference came on the heels of reports that after being pardoned on 22 December, Lubrano left the Abel Gonzalez clinic where she had been staying instead of at the Najayo Jail and was spotted getting her hair highlighted at a beauty salon in Jarabacoa, a mountain resort area. Following the public uproar in the wake of the presidential pardons, Lubrano returned to the Abel Gonzalez clinic and is now reported to be considering an overseas trip for medical treatment for a heart condition. Read original at DR1.
|
(Posted 15:00 Tuesday by DRSol NewsHound)
Comments • Send to Friend • Printable • View Full
|
|
