This is a summary of the print editions of the week in which we will highlight the news that was of greatest interest and relevance of these editions, starting from last Monday, August 1, until yesterday’s printed edition, Saturday.
Monday, August 01
Central Bank raises 50 points to the monetary policy interest rate
The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD), at its monetary policy meeting in July 2022, it decided to increase its monetary policy interest rate by 50 basis points from 7.25% to 7.75% per year. In this way, the rate of the permanent liquidity expansion facility (1-day Repos) went from 7.75% to 8.25% per year and the remunerated deposit rate (Overnight)from 6.75% to 7.25% per year.
According to a press release, this decision is based on an exhaustive evaluation of the recent behavior of the world economy and its impact on inflation, influenced by geopolitical conflicts and global cost shocks. In that order, price dynamics continue to be affected by external factors that are more persistent than expected, associated with the extraordinary increase in the prices of oil and other raw materials, as well as the high costs of international container transport and other disruptions in supply chains. In addition, domestic inflation has been influenced by the second-round effects of these external components, to the extent that aggregate demand has recovered significantly in relation to pre-pandemic levels.
You can expand here: Central Bank increases monetary policy rate
Tuesday, August 02
Educational reform will impact 35,000 agents at all levels
President Louis Abinaderyesterday led the launch of the “Strategic Plan for the Educational Reform of the National Police”, which will address aspects of citizen security and will impact 35,000 agents in their different hierarchies.
It will be done by 1,400 courses taught by 160 teachers with suitable profiles selected from different universities.
In an act held in the volleyball pavilion of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, the head of state announced that, as part of the initiative, a three-month educational package will be implemented this month to compensate for the current training deficiencies of the agents in service.
Read full note here: Educational reform will impact 35,000 police officers at all levels
Wednesday, August 03
Nancy Pelosi defies Chinese threats with visit to Taiwan
The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, arrived in South Korea to continue his Asian tour, after his lightning visit to Taiwan that sparked strong criticism from Beijing and reprisals against the island.
The US forces plane in which Pelosi is traveling landed today at the Osan air base (south of Seoul) at 9:26 p.m. local time (12:26 GMT) from Taipei.where the president of the House of Representatives met this Wednesday with the Taiwanese president, Tsai Ing-wen.
American politics is scheduled to meet this Thursday in Seoul with his his South Korean counterpart, Kim Jin-pyo, before traveling to Japan that same day, which will be the last stop on his Asian tour.
Read full note: Nancy Pelosi defies Chinese threats with visit to Taiwan
Thursday, August 04
The noises in the management of Roberto Fulcar in front of the MINERD
Roberto Fulcarit was until last night Minister of Education. Article 3 of the decree 414-22 appoints him as minister without portfolio and delivers the Ministry of Education (MINERD) a Angel Hernandez; who will be in charge of that institution from now on as established in the same regulations.
During his managementFulcar had to face several situations that placed him in the eye of public attention; and that caused the antipathy towards his management to grow in different sectors.
These are some of the cases that generated the most rejection towards the management of Roberto Fulcar at MINERD:
The orchids of the MINERD
Perhaps the first questioning of Fulcar’s management vis-à-vis the MINERD was the publication of a tender for RD$692,828.00 for the orchid acquisition (flower arrangements) to be placed in the headquarters offices. Fulcar would respond that this process came from the previous administration and the acquisition was cancelled.
Expand here: The noises in the management of Roberto Fulcar in front of the MINERD
Friday August 05
Government hands over the Billini hospital in Ciudad Colonial
Yesterday, the Government inaugurated the remodeling of the Padre Billini teaching hospital, in the Colonial City, in which it said they invested RD$2.175 million and announced the start of services starting Monday.
The inaugural act was led by President Luis Abinader, together with the Minister of Public Health, Daniel Rivera; and the Housing and Buildings, Carlos Bonilla.
The remodeling of the hospital center was under the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing and Buildings. The architectural infrastructure was built in 1572, and this recent repair started in 2018.
Bonilla explained that the hospital has a care area for adolescents, an outpatient clinic, an emergency room, a pharmacy, a blood bank, a laboratory, 12 doctor’s offices, a tuberculosis unit, intensive care, pathology, and general services, 57 beds for internment, and a diabetic foot, among other facilities.
Read more: Government delivers the Billini hospital in Colonial City
Saturday August 06
China suspends several cooperations with the US and sanctions Pelosi for her trip
China today announced eight measures in protest of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan on Wednesday, including the suspension of cooperation in matters such as the judiciary, climate change and some security mechanisms.
Cooperation in the repatriation of illegal immigrants, in criminal judicial assistance, in drug control, in the fight against transnational crimes and the talks on the fight against climate change of the two countries are suspended.
Likewise, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reported the cancellation of telephone calls between the leaders of military commands and of the work meetings between the defense portfolios of both powers and those of the Military Maritime Security Consultation Mechanism.