Santo Domingo.-The Draft Organic Antitrust and Economic Competition Law, which modifies Law no. 42-08 on the Defense of Competition, represents a transcendental step for the modernization of competition law in the Dominican Republic, whose essential purpose is to guarantee that economic success responds to merit, innovation and efficiency, and not to privileges or anti-competitive practices. This was stated by the president of the National Commission for the Defense of Competition (ProCompetencia), María Elena Vásquez Taveras, when giving the conference “The modernization of competition law i…

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Electric Transmission Company (ETED) dedicated the second edition of its Energy and Sustainability Room to the analysis of the strategic role of data centers in the country's energy and digital transition, highlighting their growing impact on the planning and operation of modern electrical systems. The activity was led by Hafet Guerrero, director of Technology and Telecommunications at ETED, who explained how data centers have gone from being support facilities to becoming critical components for operational continuity, cybersecurity and strategic decision making…

Santo Domingo.- The National Drug Council (CND), through the Dominican Drug Observatory (ODD), developed a broad work agenda together with a high-level mission of the Inter-American Commission for Drug Abuse Control (Cicad) of the Organization of American States (OAS), made up of international experts in research, demand reduction and combating organized crime. The president of the National Drug Council, Alejandro de Jesús Abreu, highlighted the permanent support provided by the OAS-Cicad to the country and highlighted that for more than two decades this organization has been a strategic ally…

Santo Domingo.-President Luis Abinader will develop a work agenda this Saturday in the Monte Plata province, where he will inaugurate the Hato San Pedro-Rincón Claro highway, in the municipality of Sabana Grande de Boyá; the reconstruction of the Monte Plata–Cevicos highway and the roof of the José Pantaleón Castillo Educational Center. These works will contribute to improving connectivity and strengthening educational and sports infrastructure, in addition to raising the quality of life of the province's residents. In addition, he will hold meetings with young students and representatives of…

Bonao.– Those deprived of liberty will not only have a decent place to serve their sentences, but also a space where they can prepare to achieve effective reintegration into society, after the start of construction work on the new Correction and Rehabilitation Center (CCR) of Bonao, in the Monseñor Nouel province. The Minister of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (Mivhed), Víctor Bisonó, led the start of work on this prison infrastructure, with the capacity to house 700 inmates, with areas for security, education, rehabilitation and general services. During the start of the work, Minister Bison…

Santo Domingo.– With the aim of reinforcing the protection of the health and safety of workers, the Ministry of Labor issued Resolution No. 09-26, which establishes new provisions for the installation, equipment and operation of first aid kits and first aid stations in workplaces throughout the country. The measure, signed by Minister Eddy Olivares Ortega, updates the current regulatory framework and replaces Resolution 03-2019, aligning national requirements with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations and the best international practices in terms of prevention and response to workpla…

San Cristóbal.- Edesur Dominicana increased the capacity of the electricity service with the commissioning of a higher power transformer at the Yaguate Electrical Substation, San Cristóbal, where it invested some RD 25.3 million, in order to meet the growing energy demand and improve the quality of supply to its customers. The installed capacity was increased from 18.5 to 28 megavolt amperes (MVA), which will allow greater operational flexibility to face contingencies and future system expansions. The electrical infrastructure will continue to operate at levels of 69 kilovolts (kV) in high v…

Berlin, June 19 (SANA)The Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced Friday that Syria has been selected as the partner country for the next edition of theArab-German Business Forum, a move that reflects growing economic engagement and renewed integration into Arab-European cooperation frameworks, according to a statement carried by SANA. The announcement was made during the current forum’s activities in Berlin, attended by Syria’s charge d’affaires inBerlin, Mohammad Baraa Shukri, along with a wide gathering of Arab and international economic and diplomatic representatives. Syri…

Washington, June 19 (SANA)A senior U.S. official said on Friday that Israel andHezbollahhad agreed to a ceasefire that took effect at 4 p.m. local time. Reuters quoted the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, as saying that the two sides had reached an agreement following mediation by theUnited Statesand Qatar, with assistance from Iran. “We understand that after the exchange of fire earlier today, Israel and Hezbollah entered into a ceasefire,” the official said. Earlier on Friday, 24 people were killed and 39 others injured, according to a preliminary toll, in intensive Israeli …

Oslo, June 19 (SANA)Norway’s government announced on Friday plans to introduce legislation banning Norwegian citizens and companies from trading in goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Reuters quotedNorwegian Foreign MinisterEspen Barth Eide as saying that the proposed law is intended to prevent individuals and businessmen in Norway from benefiting from or supporting activities linked to illegal Israeli settlement activity in Palestine. The legislation, which is expected to be approved by the Norwegian parliament, would impose broad restrictions on t…

Baku, June 19 (SANA)Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh said Syria is pressing ahead with economic and financial reforms aimed at attracting investment, supporting economic recovery and strengthening cooperation with regional and international financial institutions. Speaking during a session titled “Recovery and Resilience” on the sidelines of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) annual meetings inBaku, Barnieh said the government is working to improve the business environment and create conditions conducive to investment and sustainable growth. He said Syria’s priorities include implemen…

Damascus, June 19 (SANA)Syrian internal security forces have arrested former Brigadier General Rafiq Ahmad Kalthoum as part of ongoing efforts to pursue those involved in crimes and violations against the Syrian people, theInterior Ministrysaid Friday. According to the ministry, documented data show that Kalthoum rose through military ranks to become a brigadier general and held several sensitive command positions in the deposed regime’s forces. In 2011, he served as chief of staff of the 116th Brigade in the Air Defense Administration in al-Qutayfah, before taking command of the same brigad…

Damascus, June 19 (SANA)Syrian Justice MinisterMazhar al-Waismet with a delegation from the UN’s International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to discuss cooperation in criminal investigations and evidence collection, theJustice Ministrysaid Friday. During the meeting at the ministry’s headquarters in Damascus, the two sides discussed forming joint workshops aimed at strengthening legal capacities in criminal investigations and evidence collection to supporttransitional justiceand ensure fair trials in line with international standards, according to a ministry statement on Telegra…

Beirut, June 19 (SANA)Lebanese PresidentJoseph Aounheld a phone call Friday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the current situation inLebanonand the region in light of recent developments, stressing the need for a comprehensive halt to Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, Aoun emphasized that achieving a comprehensive ceasefire is a fundamental prerequisite for advancing Lebanese-US-Israeli negotiations scheduled to take place in Washington next week. The talks aim to restore Lebanon’s security, stability, sovereignty and territor…

Cairo, June 19 (SANA)The foreign ministers ofEgypt,Saudi Arabia,TürkiyeandPakistanwill hold a meeting in Cairo on Sunday to discuss regional developments and enhance joint coordination, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced Friday. According to a ministry statement cited by AFP, the ministers will discussregional developmentsand exchange views on issues related to peace, security and stability. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said the meeting would be followed by an “expanded talks session” and a press conference. The meeting comes hours after Switzerland announced the indefinite postponement of…

Beirut, June 19 (SANA)Lebanon‘sMinistry of Healthannounced on Friday that the death toll from intensiveIsraeli airstrikescarried out since midnight had risen to 47, while 97 others were injured.The Health Emergency Operations Center said the strikes hit several towns and villages across the country. The casualties included women and children. The ministry said the total number of people killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory since March 2 has risen to 3,980, with 12,001 others injured.

San Jose, June 19 (SANA)Costa Rican President Laura Fernándezand members of her accompanying delegation were evacuated to a secure location on Friday after a powerful explosion was heard near the site of an inspection tour in the Crucitas de Cutris area. Public Security Minister Gerald Campos said the blast occurred as the presidential delegation was returning from an inspection tour of areas impacted by unlawful mining activity in Crucitas de Cutris, in the San Carlos region. Security forces immediately activated emergency protocols and moved the president, cabinet members, and lawmakers ac…

Damascus, June 19 (SANA)Romanian airline Dan Air will begin operating direct scheduled flights between Bucharest andAleppostarting July 1, the Syrian Civil Aviation and Air Transport Authority announced Friday. The launch of the new route is part of efforts to expand air connectivity with European countries and support air transport to and from Syria, facilitating passenger movement and enhancing economic and tourism exchange, the authority said in a statement. The Civil Aviation Authority is working to expand the air connectivity network with European countries to boost travel, facilitate t…

Damascus, June 19 (SANA)The head of the Foreign Relations Committee and member of the Union of Syrian Chambers of Commerce, Anas al-Bou, met on Friday with Aziz Alper Biten, director general of external relations and theEuropean Unionat the Turkish Health Ministry, and his accompanying delegation to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in the health sector and its role in supporting economic development, the union said. During the meeting at the union’s headquarters in Damascus, both sides stressed the importance of strengthening coordination and expanding health cooperation to develop medical…

Damascus, June 19 (SANA)SyriaandTürkiyesigned a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in the health sector, developing coordination and exchange of expertise, and buildinghealthcare capacitiesbetween the two countries. The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Health in Damascus bySyrian Health Minister Musab al-Aliand his Turkish counterpartKemal Memişoğlu. The MoU stipulates cooperation in public health, hospital management, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, vaccines, health legislation, genetics and medical laboratories, and the developm…