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The Ministry of Environment (SEMARENA) has issued Resolution 011-2009 that bans the hunting of native birds and mammals in the country. Environment Minister Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal specifies that the capture of wild animals for research could only be done with special permits granted for projects that had been approved by the Ministry. The resolution prohibits capturing, killing, disturbing or trapping of wild fauna as well as collecting eggs, nests or anything else related to these creatures. The resolution does not cover species introduced to the country such as mongoose, black rats, Norway rats, mice and wild dogs and cats. Fernandez Mirabal said that the aim of the resolution is to eliminate the practice of indiscriminate hunting that threatens the country’s biodiversity. There is particular pressure on parrots and parakeets, solenodons and hutias. Deputy Minister Eleuterio Martinez told Hoy reporters that the resolution is also aimed at protecting migratory birds [...]

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The Ministry of Public Works reports that traffic has now been restored to Constanza. A mudslide caused by recent heavy rains had blocked the road.

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The governmental Banco de Reservas has set the prime rate for the farm sector, manufacturing industries, construction, and micro, small and medium-scale businesses at 15% to 17%. The reduction is aimed at stimulating growth in the productive sectors, improving the business climate and promoting economic development.
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Bank administrator Daniel Toribio made the announcement during a press conference attended by Central Bank Governor Hector Valdez Albizu. Valdez Albizu says this means a reduction in interest charges of up to 5% on some loans. Valdez Albizu is optimistic that the measure will stimulate commercial banks to follow suit and lower their interest rates.
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Furthermore, Toribio said that all the 20-year and up to RD$12 million mortgage loans approved during this month will get a special 15% rate that will be fixed until the end of the year. He said that beginning this year the interest rate will fluctuate with the [...]

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Fausto Rosario Adames of Clave newspaper gives some insights into President Leonel Fernandez’s recent five-day trip to Cuba, where he met with former leader Fidel Castro and President Raul Castro.
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Journalist Rosario Adames points out that Fernandez is just one of many Latin American statesmen who have traveled to Cuba in the last two months to be photographed with the Cuban legend. Others before him have been Cristina Fernandez (Argentina), Michelle Bachelet (Chile), Luis Ignacio Lula Da Silva (Brazil), Martin Torrijos (Panama,), Alvaro Colom (Guatemala), Rafael Correa (Ecuador) and Jose Manuel Zelaya (Honduras). That does not include frequent visits by Hugo Chavez (Venezuela) and Evo Morales (Bolivia).
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Rosario Adames says that so far the US government has not issued an official statement on the meetings between the Latin American Presidents with Castro and his brother, Raul.
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When the visits began it was thought that they were bidding [...]

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President Leonel Fernandez spoke at the 11th Meeting of Economists in Havana, Cuba yesterday, focusing on what he considers insufficient measures taken in view of the persistent global crisis.
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See his speech in Spanish at a href=http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/article.aspx?id=10496www.presidencia.gob.do/app/article.aspx?id=10496/a
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Meanwhile, representatives of the Dominican Republic and Cuba promised to make efforts to double trade from US$100 million to US$200 million. Dominican and Cuban officials pledged to sign a Medium-Range Trade Agreement. The issues were tackled at the Bilateral Discussions on Foreign Trade, Investment and Cooperation. During the meeting, the officials talked about promoting trade in professional services, health, training and technical consulting, as well as the possibility of providing joint service packages to other Caribbean nations such as Haiti. They also held talks about increased trade in farm products and agro-industrial products, and to resolve any roadblocks not related to tariffs for certain export products from the Dominican Republic, such [...]

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Authorities charged singer Chris Brown on Thursday with felony counts of assault and making criminal threats, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said.div class=”feedflare”
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Now that President Obama has set the timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, the debate has begun over its possible consequences.div class=”feedflare”
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A 28-year-old Vancouver man is recovering in hospital after being shot Thursday morning while he was sleeping in his home, Vancouver police say.

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Investigators arrested three high school students in suburban Atlanta on Thursday after police said they were warned that one of the students planned to “do harm” at the school with a weapon, police said.div class=”feedflare”
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Health officials have confirmed a 21st death in the Maple Leaf tainted-meat disaster.

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