Fifty-three people are dead or missing after a migrant boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya, the UN migration agency reported on Monday. The boat overturned north of Zuwara on Friday, leaving only two survivors, according to the International Organization for Migration. This tragedy adds to the already high number of migrant deaths this year attempting to cross the central Mediterranean route.
The incident highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants and asylum seekers seeking to reach Europe. The UN agency did not provide details on the cause of the capsizing. The central Mediterranean route is known as one of the deadliest migration paths in the world.
In other news, Ghanaian highlife pioneer and guitarist Ebo Taylor passed away at the age of 90. His son, Kweku Taylor, announced the news on Sunday, calling his father "a giant" and "a colossus of African music." Taylor, who was considered a definitive force behind the highlife genre, died a day after the launch of an Ebo Taylor music festival and exactly a month after his 90th birthday. He was known for his significant contributions to Ghanaian music, with many considering him the greatest rhythm guitarist in history.
Meanwhile, Spain and Portugal were hit by a third deadly storm in two weeks. Storm Marta swept across the Iberian peninsula over the weekend, following the devastating impacts of Storms Kristin and Leonardo. The storms brought deadly flooding and caused major damage across the region.
In international affairs, a recent survey indicated that nearly three-quarters of Pakistanis support deploying troops to the Gaza Strip as part of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF). The poll, conducted by Gallup Pakistan, comes as media reports suggest Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the first formal meeting of United States President Donald Trump's Board of Peace on February 19.
Finally, the French government is launching a campaign to encourage all 29-year-old citizens to have babies. This initiative is part of a 16-point plan aimed at increasing the country's fertility rates. Health officials stated the goal is to prevent potential fertility problems later in life. The plan also includes more free egg-freezing centers.
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