News Americas, New York, NY, April 30, 2025: A 44-year-old Haitian woman in U.S. immigration custody has died at a Florida detention center, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed.

Marie Ange Blaise, a Haitian woman held in U.S. immigration custody, has died at a Florida detention center; ICE has launched an investigation into her death.

Marie Ange Blaise was pronounced dead at 8:35 p.m. on Friday, April 25, at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, Florida, according to a statement issued by ICE on Tuesday. The cause of death remains under investigation.

ICE said it has notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. The Haitian consulate in Miami was also informed of Blaise’s death.

Blaise had reportedly entered the U.S. without legal admission or parole. She first came into contact with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on February 12 at the Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, as she attempted to board a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina. Authorities issued her a Notice of Expedited Removal that same day due to her lack of a valid immigrant visa.

She was taken into ICE custody two days later and initially detained at a staging facility in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She was then transferred to the Richwood Correctional Center in Oakdale, Louisiana, before arriving at the Broward Transitional Center on April 5.

ICE policy mandates that in-custody deaths be reported to Congress, advocacy organizations, and the media within two business days. Additionally, a comprehensive report must be completed within 90 days as required by federal law.

The agency emphasized that all individuals in ICE custody are provided with comprehensive medical care, including 24-hour emergency services, throughout their detention.

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News Americas, New York, NY, April 30, 2025: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made history this week as he arrived in the Dominican Republic for the first official visit by a top Russian diplomat, signaling a deepening of diplomatic and strategic ties between Moscow and Santo Domingo.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived at the Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on April 29, 2025. (Photo by EDDY VITTINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Lavrov landed at Las Américas International Airport at 10:10 p.m. on Tuesday and was welcomed by Russia’s designated ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Alexey Seredin, alongside Dominican Ambassador to Russia, Alexander Arias. The visit follows Lavrov’s participation in the BRICS foreign ministers’ summit in Brazil.

This morning, April 30, 2025, Lavrov held a closed-door bilateral meeting with Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX) in Santo Domingo.

According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry, the discussions will center on strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including political dialogue, trade, economic and investment initiatives, tourism, cultural and humanitarian exchanges, and legal framework development. The ministers will also exchange views on current global and regional challenges, with analysts noting the ongoing crisis in neighboring Haiti may be included given Russia’s permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

“The Dominican Republic is a promising partner in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “We highly value our traditionally friendly ties based on the principles of mutual respect and constructive dialogue.”

The visit coincides with the inauguration of the Russian Embassy in Santo Domingo—a significant step forward in deepening Russia-Dominican Republic relations. Ambassador-Designate Alexey Seredin formally assumed duties on April 14, 2025, after presenting his credentials to Foreign Minister Álvarez.

Tourism continues to be a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation. Following the 2020 implementation of a mutual visa-free travel agreement, the Dominican Republic quickly became a favored destination for Russian tourists. In 2021, over 166,000 Russians visited the Caribbean nation, placing it among the top 20 destinations for Russian travelers, despite a nearly 38% drop due to global travel restrictions.

The partnership also includes educational collaboration. Each year, the Russian government awards scholarships to Dominican students to study at Russian universities, with a quota of 15 scholarships set for the 2024–2025 academic year. Today, more than 3,200 Dominicans are graduates of Soviet and Russian universities.

Moscow and Santo Domingo also collaborate on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations. The Dominican Republic supported several Russian-led resolutions during the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly, including measures against the glorification of Nazism, advocating for a weapons-free outer space, and commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Additionally, the Dominican delegation backed the resolution titled “Eradication of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations.”

ABU DHABI, UAE, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF), organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, has launched its activities, offering a platform for cultures and innovations of the world to converge, interact, and explore new horizons of knowledge.

Continuing until 5 May 2025 under the theme ‘Knowledge Illuminates Our Community’, the fair brings 1,400 exhibitors from 96 countries, offering a comprehensive programme of 2,000 activities that cater to all community members, while spotlighting Caribbean culture as Guest of Honour, in recognition of its intellectual distinction and impact on global culture.

Moreover, ADIBF 2025 celebrates Ibn Sina as its Focus Personality, marking the 1,000-year anniversary of his book The Canon of Medicine, and highlighting his legacy as one of the scientists that contributed most to humanity’s advancement. It also features One Thousand and One Nights as Book of the World, underlining its timeless, cross-cultural, and enduring influence.

The fair welcomes 20 countries participating for the first time. It also introduces the ‘On the Path of Knowledge’ initiative, honours pioneers of Arab publishing, and welcomes prominent writers, thinkers, publishers, and content creators from the Arab region and the world to present various activities under five themes: Society, Fantasy, Sustainability, Arab Sciences, and Artificial Intelligence & Innovation. The exhibition also hosts the Poetry Majlis, which celebrates diverse poetic experiences with prominent poets, authors, and experts for 10 days.

Additionally, ADIBF 2025 hosts the third season of Podcast from Abu Dhabi, presenting high-quality content that discusses the evolving literary scene, while launching its inaugural ‘Digitising Creativity’ conference, which explores where AI and art intersect and how emerging technologies affect content creation.

Visitors can enjoy arts, entertainment, photography, and the World’s Cuisine experience, while children and youth can join workshops that blend learning and fun, with scientific and creative activities that develop their skills and strengthen their connection to their cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, the Under the Ghaf’s Shade experience offers readings from selected books, followed by book signings with guest authors, whereas the Business Lounge connects publishers and content creators to encourage collaboration in the industry.

Furthermore, the ADIBF Professional Programme offers a platform for supporting the publishing and creative industries, embracing the latest trends including AI and digital technologies. Meanwhile, the Digital Square offers activities and initiatives aimed at developing the publishing sector.

The ADIBF will launch initiatives to promote reading and creativity, and support the Arabic language, in line with the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s vision to nurture emerging literary talent, enrich the Arabic library, and build a community of avid readers, capable of producing Arabic content for the digital era.

News Americas, New York, NY, April 26, 2025: The Trinidad and Tobago-born, University of the West Indies-trained Chief Medical Examiner of the State of Delaware, Dr. Gary L. Collins, has been confirmed to conduct the autopsy on 11-year-old Guyanese pre-teen Adrianna Younge, whose tragic death has sent shockwaves across Guyana and the global Guyanese diaspora.

Dr. Gary L. Collins, the Trinidadian-born Chief Medical Examiner of Delaware, will lead the autopsy of Guyanese 11-year-old Adrianna Younge amid calls for transparency.

Dr. Collins, a highly respected forensic pathologist, was selected following the Younge family’s request for an independent post-mortem examination to ensure transparency and impartiality. With a distinguished career that includes serving as Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the City of Philadelphia, Dr. Collins has certified the manner and cause of death in over 4,000 cases. He completed his medical education at the University of the West Indies before advancing his training at the University of South Florida and Drexel University College of Medicine. He is board-certified in anatomic, clinical, and forensic pathology.

As second-in-command of Delaware’s Medical Examiner’s Office for the past two years, Dr. Collins has supervised forensic operations, collaborating closely with investigators and autopsy technicians. His extensive experience and impeccable credentials bring renewed hope for a thorough, transparent process.

The autopsy is set to be conducted on Monday. Younge had disappeared during a family outing at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, on Wednesday. Despite intensive searches that day, her body was not discovered until Thursday morning, floating in the hotel’s pool. The shocking discovery, coupled with visible signs of violence on her body, has fueled nationwide protests and calls for justice.

The tragic death of 11-year-old Guyanese pre-teen Adrianna Younge has sent shockwaves across Guyana and the global Guyanese diaspora.

President Irfaan Ali, addressing the grieving family directly, reaffirmed his administration’s full commitment to transparency. “All of us want the truth, and that is the only thing I’m interested in,” he said during his second visit to the Younge family, emphasizing that all their requests regarding the autopsy would be honored.

The Guyana Police Force has pledged cooperation and confirmed that both the independent pathologist and a police-appointed medical examiner will be present during the procedure. The police also announced that former Region Three Police Commander Khalid Mandall has been sent on leave as investigations intensify.

Public outrage escalated Thursday after irate villagers set fire to the Double Day Hotel and the home of its owner, underscoring long-standing frustrations tied to previous incidents at the property. The discovery of Adrianna’s body – with visible injuries – has revived chilling memories of a similar unsolved death at the same hotel over a decade ago.

Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage and tracking a vehicle of interest as the investigation continues. Meanwhile, the Younge family and the broader Guyanese community await answers, hopeful that with Dr. Collins’ independent expertise, the truth surrounding Adrianna’s tragic death will soon come to light.