![Street vendors cross a flooded street during Tropical Storm Laura in Port-au-Prince, Haiti [Dieu Nalio Chery/AP Photo]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/94df6af9d21c49478abd971ce702ca8f_18.jpeg?resize=570%2C380)
Tropical Storm Laura causes destruction in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as it trails Hurricane Marco.
Dominican Republic
Opposition candidate Luis Abinader has been sworn in as president as the Caribbean country confirms more than 70,000 COVID-19 cases.
![US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attended the swearing in of Dominican President Luis Abinader [The Associated Press]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/c4153822b6a34dd29d48989272fc0d4a_18.jpeg?resize=570%2C380)
US top diplomat attends ceremony days after Caribbean nation was the only to back US bid to extend Iran arms embargo.
![Abinader's inaguration marks the start of a new era not only for the Dominican Republic, but also for Dominican-US relations, writes Romero [Tatiana Fernandez/AP Photo]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/9cd7516c4610499d8750d72ff5847c37_18.jpeg?resize=570%2C380)
Under Abinader’s leadership, the Dominican Republic is set to form stronger economic and diplomatic ties with the US.
![Hurricane Isaias hit the Bahamas, where many residents are still living in temporary shelters from last year's Hurricane Dorian, on Saturday [Tim Aylen/AP]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/36eed3fdebb14ac7b62ed286cbac9beb_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
The storm has already caused widespread damage in several Caribbean island nations already grappling with coronavirus.
![Abinader is a US-educated economist and tourism industry leader, with no prior experience in government [Ricardo Rojas/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/0e85c3d1c21b45d69ea19447ea29e01c_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
With 60 percent of votes counted, opposition candidate Luis Abinader claims win in presidential poll held amid pandemic.
![Voters are choosing who can best tackle the pandemic's impact on the Caribbean's largest economy [Ricardo Rojas/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/e8c74507dbf646f6a451e7e30188e053_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Polls suggest Dominican Liberation Party is set to lose power after 16 years over its mismanagement of the outbreak.
![The Dominican Republic has recorded more than 34,000 coronavirus infections since the outbreak began [AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/d956f20f5a554ddcbaf46e04970cecea_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
The Caribbean nation of 10 million lifted a coronavirus state of emergency as candidates made their final drive.
![Dominican Revolutionary Party candidate Luis Abinader speaks to the media in Santo Domingo [File: Kena Betancur/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/d111e9070a664697b68eb0af4cbf645d_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Country is one of the worst-affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Latin America, with 1 of every 500 people infected.
![This satellite image obtained from NOAA/RAMMB, shows Tropical Storm Dorian as it approaches on August 27, 2019 [Handout/NOAA/RAMMB/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/63547d5371514d25bb6e0893192f9869_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Dorian is forecast to be near hurricane strength as it moves towards Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
![David Ortiz ranks 17th in Major League Baseball history in career home runs [File: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images]](/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/226d5243259c485c8df5c4f08ada5615_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Former Boston Red Sox great David Ortiz expected to make full recovery after gunman shot him from behind.
![US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents enter an apartment complex looking for a specific undocumented immigrant convicted of a felony during an early morning operation in Dallas [File: LM Otero/AP Photo]](/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/3a7f125b238f42749ab6a0625f53bc71_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Charges mark latest skirmish over immigration enforcement between Trump and local gov’ts that resist his crackdown.
![Damage in Dominican Republic from easterly wave [Jean Suriel]](/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/06ab5f36e2e5460fbe72118b36db0a21_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Africa builds them. The Atlantic winds them up. Some of them become hurricanes.
![It was a ‘perfect storm’ for high seas: strong winds, a long fetch [Thais Llorca/EPA-EFE]](/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/70fd2979eb2747ecac1d01b37697dd08_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Puerto Rico bore the brunt of 10 metre high waves that also affected other islands in the region.