The President of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the ambassador of the Dominican Republic, José Singer told WION that an urgent global response is needed to tackle the global coronavirus crisis. He added that the UNSC has an important role to play. The Dominican Republic is the chair of the council for the current month and decides the agenda of the top United Nations body. Speaking from New York, Ambassador Singer said, "COVID-19 is racing its way around the world. There’s growing concern about the unprecedented magnitude of its outbreak globally and its impact on international peace and security."

WION Exclusive conversation with UNSC President José Singer

Facing acute&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;shortages&nbsp;in their own country,&nbsp;Haitians&nbsp;took a chance to cross the border into the&nbsp;Dominican&nbsp;Republic&nbsp;in search of&nbsp;petrol&nbsp;on Monday.

Dozens were seen crossing the border and gathering around a&nbsp;petrol&nbsp;station in Dajabon, the capital city of the Dajabon province in the&nbsp;Dominican&nbsp;Republic, on the border with Haiti.

Haitians&nbsp;complained they need&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;to survive, while police in the&nbsp;Dominican&nbsp;Republic&nbsp;tighten their grip on security.

A dispute between Haiti and a US&nbsp;energy trading firm has to lead to long blackouts and&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;shortages&nbsp;in the Caribbean nation, feeding anger at President Jovenel Moise's government following the collapse of a supply deal with Venezuela last year.

The Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, Haiti long relied on&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;shipments from nearby OPEC member Venezuela, which offered cheap financing to several Caribbean nations to buy its gasoline, diesel and other products through a program called Petrocaribe.

But the scheme fell apart last year due to economic turmoil in Venezuela, forcing Haiti, a nation of 11 million people to return to international markets.

The result has put upward pressure on the prices of goods.

Facing acute fuel shortages in their own country, Haitians took a chance to cross the border into the Dominican Republic in search of petrol on Monday. Dozens were seen crossing the border and gathering around a petrol station in Dajabon, the capital city of the Dajabon province in the Dominican Republic, on the border with Haiti.

Facing acute fuel shortages in their own country, Haitians took a chance to cross the border into the Dominican Republic in search of petrol on Monday. Dozens were seen crossing the border and gathering around a petrol station in Dajabon, the capital city of the Dajabon province in the Dominican Republic, on the border with Haiti. Haitians complained they need fuel to survive, while police in the Dominican Republic tighten their grip on security. A dispute between Haiti and a US energy trading firm has to lead to long blackouts and fuel shortages in the Caribbean nation, feeding anger at President Jovenel Moise's government following the collapse of a supply deal with Venezuela last year. The Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, Haiti long relied on fuel shipments from nearby OPEC member Venezuela, which offered cheap financing to several Caribbean nations to buy its gasoline, diesel and other products through a program called Petrocaribe. But the scheme fell apart last year due to economic turmoil in Venezuela, forcing Haiti, a nation of 11 million people to return to international markets. The result has put upward pressure on the prices of goods.

Fuel shortages drive Haitians into the Dominican Republic for petrol

The Dominican Republic recently launched a stamp commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. To know more about the historic and current ties that India has with the Caribbean nation, WION spoke to the ambassador of Dominican Republic to India, Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos. Former Indian diplomat and show host Arun K. Singh talks to Mr. Castellanos about his 13-year-long tenure in India, and the role that his home country can play in India's strategy for the Latin American & Caribbean region.

The Diplomacy Show with the Ambassador of Dominican Republic to India

US authorities are scrambling to get to the bottom of a rash of deaths of US tourists in the Dominican Republic, with the number of reported fatalities over the past year now rising to six.

Three people whose deaths have been confirmed all arrived on May 25 in San Pedro de Macoris, a seaside resort in the south of the Caribbean country, Dominican authorities said.

Miranda Schaup-Werner, 41, booked a room with her husband at the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville hotel. She lost consciousness on the day of her arrival after going out on the balcony. She could not be revived by her husband or hotel medical staff.

Cynthia Day, 49, and Edward Holmes, 63, stayed in an adjacent hotel, Grand Bahia Principe La Romana. The couple from Maryland was found dead on May 30 in their room by hotel staff.

According to the Dominican Prosecutor's Office, the three victims died of respiratory failure and pulmonary edema. Schaup-Werner also had a heart attack.

News of the deaths has drawn attention to earlier deaths of American tourists at island resorts that received no publicity at the time -- some now suspect -- may have been part of a pattern.

The sister of Yvette Monique Short told a Philadelphia television station that the 51-year-old died last June at the Bahia Principe after having a drink from the minibar in her room.

Two other deaths that have recently come to light occurred more than a year apart at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in the resort town of Punta Cana.

Robert Wallace, a 67-year-old from California, died there April 14, after drinking a Scotch from his minibar and falling ill, his niece Chloe Arnold told Fox News.

"He started feeling very sick, he had blood in his urine and stool right afterward," she said.

David Harrison, 45, had died at the same hotel in July 2018. His widow, Dawn McCoy, initially accepted that he succumbed to a heart attack, as she was told, but now questions it.

"When all these people started passing, I stopped and thought to myself, 'How can all these people have the same cause of death as David?' " she told The Washington Post.

Steven Bullock, a lawyer for Day's family, said autopsies and tests will be performed on Day and Holmes in the US.

Asked about contacts with Dominican police and authorities, Bullock said "it has been very, very difficult. We haven't heard enough and that's part of the problem.&nbsp;

"We don't seem to be getting anything (from police). We have some reporters on the ground that are assisting us in gathering information that might be available," he told AFP.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Colorado couple Kaylynn Knull and Tom Schwander told CNN that they suffered from headaches, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea after encountering a strong smell of chemicals in the La Romana hotel in June 2018.

According to tests done on their return home, they could have been exposed to pesticides used against ants and cockroaches.

The couple, who lodged a complaint, believes that the product has spread through the air conditioning system.

US authorities are scrambling to get to the bottom of a rash of deaths of US tourists in the Dominican Republic, with the number of reported fatalities over the past year now rising to six.

US authorities are scrambling to get to the bottom of a rash of deaths of US tourists in the Dominican Republic, with the number of reported fatalities over the past year now rising to six. Three people whose deaths have been confirmed all arrived on May 25 in San Pedro de Macoris, a seaside resort in the south of the Caribbean country, Dominican authorities said. Miranda Schaup-Werner, 41, booked a room with her husband at the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville hotel. She lost consciousness on the day of her arrival after going out on the balcony. She could not be revived by her husband or hotel medical staff. Cynthia Day, 49, and Edward Holmes, 63, stayed in an adjacent hotel, Grand Bahia Principe La Romana. The couple from Maryland was found dead on May 30 in their room by hotel staff. According to the Dominican Prosecutor's Office, the three victims died of respiratory failure and pulmonary edema. Schaup-Werner also had a heart attack. News of the deaths has drawn attention to earlier deaths of American tourists at island resorts that received no publicity at the time -- some now suspect -- may have been part of a pattern. The sister of Yvette Monique Short told a Philadelphia television station that the 51-year-old died last June at the Bahia Principe after having a drink from the minibar in her room. Two other deaths that have recently come to light occurred more than a year apart at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in the resort town of Punta Cana. Robert Wallace, a 67-year-old from California, died there April 14, after drinking a Scotch from his minibar and falling ill, his niece Chloe Arnold told Fox News. "He started feeling very sick, he had blood in his urine and stool right afterward," she said. David Harrison, 45, had died at the same hotel in July 2018. His widow, Dawn McCoy, initially accepted that he succumbed to a heart attack, as she was told, but now questions it. "When all these people started passing, I stopped and thought to myself, 'How can all these people have the same cause of death as David?' " she told The Washington Post. Steven Bullock, a lawyer for Day's family, said autopsies and tests will be performed on Day and Holmes in the US. Asked about contacts with Dominican police and authorities, Bullock said "it has been very, very difficult. We haven't heard enough and that's part of the problem. "We don't seem to be getting anything (from police). We have some reporters on the ground that are assisting us in gathering information that might be available," he told AFP. Meanwhile, Colorado couple Kaylynn Knull and Tom Schwander told CNN that they suffered from headaches, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea after encountering a strong smell of chemicals in the La Romana hotel in June 2018. According to tests done on their return home, they could have been exposed to pesticides used against ants and cockroaches. The couple, who lodged a complaint, believes that the product has spread through the air conditioning system.

Probe underway over mysterious deaths of US tourists in Dominican Republic

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said today that the Dominican Republic has signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the Communist state.

"We have taken the decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, with the conviction that this decision will be extraordinarily positive for the future of our country," an official statement from the Dominican Republic said.

The Dominican Republic added that it was breaking relations with Taiwan.

Taiwan's foreign minister, Joseph Wu, condemned the Dominican Republic for establishing official links with China.

"Its decision to switch allegiance was because of financial incentives from China," Wu said.

Taiwan has decided to recall all its officials after the announcement of Dominican Republic to establish relations with China.

"President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic has ignored our long-term partnership, the wishes of the people of the Dominican Republic, and the years of development assistance provided by Taiwan, to accept false promises of investment and aid by China," Wu said.

The Caribbean nation had established relations with Taiwan in the 1940s.

Taiwan "strongly condemns China's objectionable decision to use dollar diplomacy to convert Taiwan's diplomatic allies. Beijing's attempts at foreign policy have only served to drive a wedge between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, erode mutual trust and further harm the feelings of the people of Taiwan", he added.

The Dominican Republic added that it was breaking relations with Taiwan

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said today that the Dominican Republic has signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the Communist state. "We have taken the decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, with the conviction that this decision will be extraordinarily positive for the future of our country," an official statement from the Dominican Republic said. The Dominican Republic added that it was breaking relations with Taiwan. Taiwan's foreign minister, Joseph Wu, condemned the Dominican Republic for establishing official links with China. "Its decision to switch allegiance was because of financial incentives from China," Wu said. Taiwan has decided to recall all its officials after the announcement of Dominican Republic to establish relations with China. "President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic has ignored our long-term partnership, the wishes of the people of the Dominican Republic, and the years of development assistance provided by Taiwan, to accept false promises of investment and aid by China," Wu said. The Caribbean nation had established relations with Taiwan in the 1940s. Taiwan "strongly condemns China's objectionable decision to use dollar diplomacy to convert Taiwan's diplomatic allies. Beijing's attempts at foreign policy have only served to drive a wedge between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, erode mutual trust and further harm the feelings of the people of Taiwan", he added.

Dominican Republic establishes ties with China, to break relations with Taiwan

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nuclear-accord-trump-hints-at-real-agreement-with-iran-133873">Nuclear accord: Trump hints at 'real agreement' with Iran</a>

Amid speculation US president will pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, Trump said doing so will send the right message ahead of talks with North Korea. "I think it sends the right message," Trump told reporters on whether it would send a wrong message to Kim's regime as the two nations get ready for summit talks.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-postpones-steel-tariff-decision-for-canada-eu-mexico-133863">Trump postpones steel tariff decision for Canada, EU, Mexico</a>

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has postponed a decision on imposing steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, the European Union and Mexico until June 1, and has reached an agreement in principle with Argentina, Australia and Brazil, a source familiar with the decision said on Monday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/dominican-republic-establishes-ties-with-china-to-break-relations-with-taiwan-133869">Dominican</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/dominican-republic-establishes-ties-with-china-to-break-relations-with-taiwan-133869"> Republic establishes ties with China, to break relations with Taiwan</a>

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said today that the Dominican Republic has signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the Communist state.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-envoys-meet-with-myanmar-leader-over-refugee-crisis-133870">UN envoys meet with Myanmar leader over </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-envoys-meet-with-myanmar-leader-over-refugee-crisis-133870">refugee</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-envoys-meet-with-myanmar-leader-over-refugee-crisis-133870"> crisis</a>

Myanmar's government leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with United Nations Security Council envoys on Monday over the plight of nearly 700,000 mainly Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh amid a military crackdown, pledging to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended the meeting.

<a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal">Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures </a><a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal">US</a><a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal"> to scrap </a><a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal">deal</a>

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday stepped up pressure on the United States to pull out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, presenting what he called evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme in a prime-time address on Israeli TV.

Nuclear accord: Trump hints at 'real agreement' with Iran Amid speculation US president will pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, Trump said doing so will send the right message ahead of talks with North Korea. "I think it sends the right message," Trump told reporters on whether it would send a wrong message to Kim's regime as the two nations get ready for summit talks. Trump postpones steel tariff decision for Canada, EU, Mexico US President Donald Trump has postponed a decision on imposing steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, the European Union and Mexico until June 1, and has reached an agreement in principle with Argentina, Australia and Brazil, a source familiar with the decision said on Monday. Dominican Republic establishes ties with China, to break relations with Taiwan Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said today that the Dominican Republic has signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the Communist state. UN envoys meet with Myanmar leader over refugee crisis Myanmar's government leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with United Nations Security Council envoys on Monday over the plight of nearly 700,000 mainly Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh amid a military crackdown, pledging to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended the meeting. Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday stepped up pressure on the United States to pull out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, presenting what he called evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme in a prime-time address on Israeli TV.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Venezuela&#39;s opposition said on Tuesday that this week&#39;s planned political dialogue in the Dominican Republic with President Nicolas Maduro&#39;s government was being postponed because regional guarantors were not going.

&quot;The international negotiation process cannot go ahead until the foreign ministers are invited,&quot; opposition negotiator Luis Florido said, referring to the potential presence of Latin American foreign ministers at the talks.

Negotiations to ease a bitter and long-running political crisis in the OPEC nation had been scheduled for Wednesday. Previous dialogue efforts have ended in recriminations between the two sides with no concrete progress.

The opposition coalition had previously accused the Maduro government of blocking the presence of foreign ministers at this week&#39;s talks, but on Tuesday said it appeared to be more a scheduling problem.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/preview/article/24168">Also read:&nbsp;S&amp;P declares Venezuela in &#39;selective default&#39;</a>

There was no immediate response from officials.

The opposition&#39;s principal demand is for free and fair conditions for the 2018 presidential election.

It also wants freedom for jailed activists, autonomy for the opposition-led Congress, and a foreign humanitarian aid corridor to help alleviate&nbsp;Venezuela&#39;s unprecedented economic crisis.

Maduro accuses his opponents of conspiring with the United States and a right-wing international campaign to oust his socialist government via a coup. The government is seeking guarantees against violence and recognition of the pro-Maduro Constituent Assembly that has overridden Congress.

At least 125 people died in four months of often violent protests against Maduro earlier this year. Foes say he is a dictator who has wrecked a once-prosperous economy.

Maduro and his allies have accused the opposition of preferring violence to dialogue.

Debt refinancing talks with international investors had begun successfully in Caracas on Monday, the government said, though creditors said the discussions were fruitless.

The opposition coalition had previously accused the Maduro government of blocking the presence of foreign ministers at this week's talks, but on Tuesday said it appeared to be more a scheduling problem.

Venezuela's opposition said on Tuesday that this week's planned political dialogue in the Dominican Republic with President Nicolas Maduro's government was being postponed because regional guarantors were not going. "The international negotiation process cannot go ahead until the foreign ministers are invited," opposition negotiator Luis Florido said, referring to the potential presence of Latin American foreign ministers at the talks. Negotiations to ease a bitter and long-running political crisis in the OPEC nation had been scheduled for Wednesday. Previous dialogue efforts have ended in recriminations between the two sides with no concrete progress. The opposition coalition had previously accused the Maduro government of blocking the presence of foreign ministers at this week's talks, but on Tuesday said it appeared to be more a scheduling problem. Also read: S&P declares Venezuela in 'selective default' There was no immediate response from officials. The opposition's principal demand is for free and fair conditions for the 2018 presidential election. It also wants freedom for jailed activists, autonomy for the opposition-led Congress, and a foreign humanitarian aid corridor to help alleviate Venezuela's unprecedented economic crisis. Maduro accuses his opponents of conspiring with the United States and a right-wing international campaign to oust his socialist government via a coup. The government is seeking guarantees against violence and recognition of the pro-Maduro Constituent Assembly that has overridden Congress. At least 125 people died in four months of often violent protests against Maduro earlier this year. Foes say he is a dictator who has wrecked a once-prosperous economy. Maduro and his allies have accused the opposition of preferring violence to dialogue. Debt refinancing talks with international investors had begun successfully in Caracas on Monday, the government said, though creditors said the discussions were fruitless.

Venezuela opposition says talks with government delayed

River flooding&nbsp;continued to&nbsp;cause&nbsp;damage&nbsp;as of Sunday in the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hurricane-maria-lashes-dominican-republic-after-direct-hit-on-puerto-rico-20479">Dominican&nbsp;Republic&nbsp;days after Hurricane Maria</a> lashed the eastern and northeastern coast of the country.

Thousands of people were still out of their homes, almost 1 million had no water, and 57 communities were experiencing communication outage, a report from the Emergency Operations Center (COE) said on Sunday.

The most recent river to overflow was Yuna, the largest in&nbsp;Dominican&nbsp;territory, isolating 15 communities from the provinces of Duarte and Sanchez Ramirez in the northeast, and paralyzing a stretch of road that connects the tourist city Samana in the northeast with the capital of Santo Domingo, according to Agencia EFE sources.

A total of 15,076 people had to stay in homes of relatives or friends, and another 941 were in official shelters after the disaster destroyed 188 homes, affected 861 and flooded 4,588.

Because&nbsp;of the hurricane, 942,185 people had no drinking water, while thousands&nbsp;continued to live in the dark due to power cut.

The&nbsp;Dominican&nbsp;Air Force&nbsp;continued its rescue operations in flooded areas.

Hurricane Maria landed in Dominica on Sept. 18 at a speed of 260 kilometres per hour, killing at least 15 people and leaving at least another 20 missing.

Although Maria has moved away toward North Carolina of the United States, the&nbsp;Dominican national l Office of Meteorology&nbsp;continued to maintain flood warnings for 12 provinces as rains would&nbsp;continue&nbsp;to pour in some areas of the country.

Thousands of people were still out of their homes, almost 1 million had no water, and 57 communities were experiencing communication outage, a report from the Emergency Operations Center (COE) said on Sunday.

River flooding continued to cause damage as of Sunday in the Dominican Republic days after Hurricane Maria lashed the eastern and northeastern coast of the country. Thousands of people were still out of their homes, almost 1 million had no water, and 57 communities were experiencing communication outage, a report from the Emergency Operations Center (COE) said on Sunday. The most recent river to overflow was Yuna, the largest in Dominican territory, isolating 15 communities from the provinces of Duarte and Sanchez Ramirez in the northeast, and paralyzing a stretch of road that connects the tourist city Samana in the northeast with the capital of Santo Domingo, according to Agencia EFE sources. A total of 15,076 people had to stay in homes of relatives or friends, and another 941 were in official shelters after the disaster destroyed 188 homes, affected 861 and flooded 4,588. Because of the hurricane, 942,185 people had no drinking water, while thousands continued to live in the dark due to power cut. The Dominican Air Force continued its rescue operations in flooded areas. Hurricane Maria landed in Dominica on Sept. 18 at a speed of 260 kilometres per hour, killing at least 15 people and leaving at least another 20 missing. Although Maria has moved away toward North Carolina of the United States, the Dominican national l Office of Meteorology continued to maintain flood warnings for 12 provinces as rains would continue to pour in some areas of the country.

Hurricane-triggered floods continue to cause damage in the Dominican Republic

Hurricane Maria thrashed parts of the Dominican Republic with heavy rain and high winds as it passed near its east and north coasts on Thursday after making a direct hit on Puerto Rico that caused severe flooding and cut power to the entire island.

Maria has killed at least 10 people as it raged through the Caribbean, the second major hurricane to do so this month, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said it was headed toward the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas, bringing dangerous storm surges and torrential rain.

It ripped roofs off almost all structures on the island country of Dominica, where seven people were confirmed dead. The toll is expected to climb when searches resume at daybreak.

Maria was ranked a Category 4 storm, near the top end of the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of up to 155 miles per hour (250 km per hour), when it hit Puerto Rico on Wednesday as the strongest storm to hit the U.S. territory in nearly 90 years.

It ripped apart homes, snapped power lines and turned roadways into torrents laden with debris as it cut a diagonal swath across the island.

The entire island of 3.4 million people was under a flash flood warning early on Thursday as the storm was forecast to dump 20 to 30 inches (50 to 76 cm) of rain on much of Puerto Rico through Friday, according to the NHC.

The island&#39;s governor, Ricardo Rossello, said the only fatality immediately reported was a man struck by a piece of lumber hurled by high winds.

&quot;It&#39;s nothing short of a major disaster,&quot; Rossello said in a CNN interview, adding it may take months for the island&#39;s electricity to be completely restored. Earlier he imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew for the island.

The streets of Puerto Rico&#39;s historic Old Town in the capital, San Juan, were strewn with broken balconies, air conditioning units, shattered lamp posts, fallen power lines and dead birds. Few trees escaped unscathed.

The island&#39;s recovery could be complicated by its financial woes as it faces the largest municipal debt crisis in U.S. history. Both its government and the public utility have filed for bankruptcy protection amid disputes with creditors.

Maria weakened as it went over land in Puerto Rico and picked up strength early on Thursday as it passed over warm Caribbean waters.

It was a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) about 70 miles (110 kms) north of Punta Cana, on the east coast of the Dominican Republic, at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT), the NHC said.

Punta Cana, a popular tourist area, was hit with wind gusts of 58 mph (93 kph) and Maria was forecast to bring storm surges, when hurricanes push ocean water dangerously over normal levels, of up to 6 feet (1.83 m) in the Dominican Republic, it said.

Maria was expected to pick up strength as it churns toward the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas. Storm surges on the islands could be as high as 12 feet (3.66 m), it said.

Maria would then move north in the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend and there was no indication as to whether it would hit the continental United States.

It was classified a Category 5 storm when it struck Dominica on Monday night with devastating force.

Based on an aerial survey, about 95 percent of roofs in Dominica, one of the poorest countries in the Caribbean with a population of about 73,000, were damaged or destroyed by Maria, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. It added damage to the island could be in the billions of dollars.

Hartley Henry, principal adviser to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, said on Wednesday: &quot;The country is in a daze.&quot;

Passing early Wednesday just west of St. Croix, home to about 55,000 people, Maria damaged an estimated 65 percent to 70 percent of the island&#39;s buildings, said Holland Redfield, who served six terms in the U.S. Virgin Islands Senate.

President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in the U.S. Virgin Islands and ordered federal aid to supplement recovery efforts, the White House said.

The U.S. and British Virgin Islands were also hit this month by Hurricane Irma, which ranked as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record. It left a trail of destruction in several Caribbean islands and Florida this month, killing at least 84 people.

Photos posted on Facebook from St. Croix by Virgin Islands&#39; local public television station, WTJX-TV, showed fallen utility and telephone poles, tangled wires, uprooted trees and storm shutters ripped from buildings.

In the French territory of Guadeloupe, many roads were blocked and 40 percent of the population was without power, France&#39;s overseas territories ministry said.

Maria has killed at least 10 people as it raged through the Caribbean, the second major hurricane to do so this month.

Hurricane Maria thrashed parts of the Dominican Republic with heavy rain and high winds as it passed near its east and north coasts on Thursday after making a direct hit on Puerto Rico that caused severe flooding and cut power to the entire island. Maria has killed at least 10 people as it raged through the Caribbean, the second major hurricane to do so this month, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said it was headed toward the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas, bringing dangerous storm surges and torrential rain. It ripped roofs off almost all structures on the island country of Dominica, where seven people were confirmed dead. The toll is expected to climb when searches resume at daybreak. Maria was ranked a Category 4 storm, near the top end of the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of up to 155 miles per hour (250 km per hour), when it hit Puerto Rico on Wednesday as the strongest storm to hit the U.S. territory in nearly 90 years. It ripped apart homes, snapped power lines and turned roadways into torrents laden with debris as it cut a diagonal swath across the island. The entire island of 3.4 million people was under a flash flood warning early on Thursday as the storm was forecast to dump 20 to 30 inches (50 to 76 cm) of rain on much of Puerto Rico through Friday, according to the NHC. The island's governor, Ricardo Rossello, said the only fatality immediately reported was a man struck by a piece of lumber hurled by high winds. "It's nothing short of a major disaster," Rossello said in a CNN interview, adding it may take months for the island's electricity to be completely restored. Earlier he imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew for the island. The streets of Puerto Rico's historic Old Town in the capital, San Juan, were strewn with broken balconies, air conditioning units, shattered lamp posts, fallen power lines and dead birds. Few trees escaped unscathed. The island's recovery could be complicated by its financial woes as it faces the largest municipal debt crisis in U.S. history. Both its government and the public utility have filed for bankruptcy protection amid disputes with creditors. Maria weakened as it went over land in Puerto Rico and picked up strength early on Thursday as it passed over warm Caribbean waters. It was a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) about 70 miles (110 kms) north of Punta Cana, on the east coast of the Dominican Republic, at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT), the NHC said. Punta Cana, a popular tourist area, was hit with wind gusts of 58 mph (93 kph) and Maria was forecast to bring storm surges, when hurricanes push ocean water dangerously over normal levels, of up to 6 feet (1.83 m) in the Dominican Republic, it said. Maria was expected to pick up strength as it churns toward the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas. Storm surges on the islands could be as high as 12 feet (3.66 m), it said. Maria would then move north in the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend and there was no indication as to whether it would hit the continental United States. It was classified a Category 5 storm when it struck Dominica on Monday night with devastating force. Based on an aerial survey, about 95 percent of roofs in Dominica, one of the poorest countries in the Caribbean with a population of about 73,000, were damaged or destroyed by Maria, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said. It added damage to the island could be in the billions of dollars. Hartley Henry, principal adviser to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, said on Wednesday: "The country is in a daze." Passing early Wednesday just west of St. Croix, home to about 55,000 people, Maria damaged an estimated 65 percent to 70 percent of the island's buildings, said Holland Redfield, who served six terms in the U.S. Virgin Islands Senate. President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in the U.S. Virgin Islands and ordered federal aid to supplement recovery efforts, the White House said. The U.S. and British Virgin Islands were also hit this month by Hurricane Irma, which ranked as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record. It left a trail of destruction in several Caribbean islands and Florida this month, killing at least 84 people. Photos posted on Facebook from St. Croix by Virgin Islands' local public television station, WTJX-TV, showed fallen utility and telephone poles, tangled wires, uprooted trees and storm shutters ripped from buildings. In the French territory of Guadeloupe, many roads were blocked and 40 percent of the population was without power, France's overseas territories ministry said.

Hurricane Maria lashes Dominican Republic after Puerto Rico

In a shocking development from the Dominican Republic, two radio journalists were shot after gunmen opened fire during a news bulletin which was being broadcast on Facebook Live.

According to the Guardian, Lu&iacute;s Manuel Medina, the presenter of the news programme Milenio Caliente, was killed while on air on Tuesday morning, while producer and director Leo Mart&iacute;nez was shot dead in an adjacent office at the radio station FM 103.5.

Gunfire could be heard during the Facebook Live video, along with a woman yelling &quot;Shots! Shots! Shots!&quot; before the transmission abruptly cuts off.

Police said the shooting occurred in San Pedro de Macor&iacute;s. Three men have been arrested, but none have been charged, as the Police says they do not have a motive yet.&nbsp;

(ANI)&nbsp;

Two radio journalists were shot after gunmen opened fire during a news bulletin which was being broadcast on Facebook Live

In a shocking development from the Dominican Republic, two radio journalists were shot after gunmen opened fire during a news bulletin which was being broadcast on Facebook Live. According to the Guardian, Luís Manuel Medina, the presenter of the news programme Milenio Caliente, was killed while on air on Tuesday morning, while producer and director Leo Martínez was shot dead in an adjacent office at the radio station FM 103.5. Gunfire could be heard during the Facebook Live video, along with a woman yelling "Shots! Shots! Shots!" before the transmission abruptly cuts off. Police said the shooting occurred in San Pedro de Macorís. Three men have been arrested, but none have been charged, as the Police says they do not have a motive yet. (ANI)

Journalists shot dead during Facebook Live in Dominican Republic

More than 130,000 people of Haitian origin living in the Dominican Republic risk deportation because it is nearly impossible for them to renew their temporary residency permits, a migrant aid group official said. 
 
From June 2015 to May 2016, 106,000 Haitians were deported or left the Dominican Republic, according to the latest statistics from Amnesty International. 
 
The Intentional Organization for Migration found that 1,516 unaccompanied minors were expelled from the Dominican Republic during that time, in violation of an agreement with Haiti in 1999. 
 
A 2013 Dominican Republic court ruling said people born there to parents without legal residency would no longer be considered Dominican. Most are of Haitian origin. 
 
The Dominican Republic began enforcing the policy last summer. Some of those deported had never lived in Haiti. 
 
The decision has hurt ties between the two countries that share the island of Hispaniola. 
 
For many Haitians, the treatment amounts to racism against black people by Dominicans, most of whom are lighter skinned and of mixed heritage. 
 
More than 250,000 people - mostly those born to Haitian parents - became stateless under the court ruling. 
 
A Dominican program allowed more than 130,000 people of Haitian origin to obtain a residency permit, but it is only valid for a year. 
 
Those who aren&#39;t able to renew their permits by July 18 face deportation. 
 
&quot;The Dominican authorities did not want to solve this problem once and for all,&quot; said Lissaint Antoine of the Jesuit Refugee and Migrant Organization. 
 
&quot;The majority of these 130,000 people don&#39;t have the financial means or the documents that would allow them to renew their permits.&quot; 
 
Migrant rights groups have denounced the specifics of the residency program. 
 
&quot;To qualify, people were asked to present proof of employment, but the residency permit doesn&#39;t give them the right to work,&quot; Antoine said. 
 
Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas, crippled by long-term political instability and a devastating quake in 2010. 
(AFP)

The residency permit to over 130,000 Haitians was valid only for a year. People who aren't able to renew them by July 18 face deportation

More than 130,000 people of Haitian origin living in the Dominican Republic risk deportation because it is nearly impossible for them to renew their temporary residency permits, a migrant aid group official said. From June 2015 to May 2016, 106,000 Haitians were deported or left the Dominican Republic, according to the latest statistics from Amnesty International. The Intentional Organization for Migration found that 1,516 unaccompanied minors were expelled from the Dominican Republic during that time, in violation of an agreement with Haiti in 1999. A 2013 Dominican Republic court ruling said people born there to parents without legal residency would no longer be considered Dominican. Most are of Haitian origin. The Dominican Republic began enforcing the policy last summer. Some of those deported had never lived in Haiti. The decision has hurt ties between the two countries that share the island of Hispaniola. For many Haitians, the treatment amounts to racism against black people by Dominicans, most of whom are lighter skinned and of mixed heritage. More than 250,000 people - mostly those born to Haitian parents - became stateless under the court ruling. A Dominican program allowed more than 130,000 people of Haitian origin to obtain a residency permit, but it is only valid for a year. Those who aren't able to renew their permits by July 18 face deportation. "The Dominican authorities did not want to solve this problem once and for all," said Lissaint Antoine of the Jesuit Refugee and Migrant Organization. "The majority of these 130,000 people don't have the financial means or the documents that would allow them to renew their permits." Migrant rights groups have denounced the specifics of the residency program. "To qualify, people were asked to present proof of employment, but the residency permit doesn't give them the right to work," Antoine said. Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas, crippled by long-term political instability and a devastating quake in 2010. (AFP)

130,000 Haitians face deportation from Dominican Republic

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