Ebo Taylor, a Ghanaian highlife music pioneer, died at the age of 90, his son announced on Sunday, a day after the launch of an Ebo Taylor music festival. Meanwhile, in Guinea's capital, Conakry, heavy gunfire was reported near the central prison, prompting a deployment of security forces, and Britain's Prime Minister is facing calls to resign over ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Additionally, Japan's Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, is set to pursue a conservative agenda following the ruling party's landslide election victory, and Iran is experiencing a near-total internet blackout impacting its higher education system.
Taylor, who was considered a definitive force behind the highlife genre, passed away a month after his 90th birthday, leaving behind an unmatched artistic legacy, according to his son, Kweku Taylor. The musician was celebrated for his contributions to Ghanaian music, with some calling him the greatest rhythm guitarist in history. He was photographed at the Womad festival in 2014.
In Conakry, the gunfire near the central prison on Tuesday triggered a significant security response. Media reports indicated that sustained gunshots were heard, though the source of the gunfire and the cause of the incident remained unclear. A witness reported seeing military pick-up trucks and an armored carrier deployed around the Kaloum administrative district, where the presidential palace is also located, according to the Reuters news agency. Authorities had not yet released an official statement on the matter.
Across the globe, Britain's Prime Minister is facing pressure to resign due to the naming of a friend of Jeffrey Epstein as ambassador to the U.S. Furthermore, police are investigating if the king's brother passed trade secrets to Epstein, according to NPR.
In Japan, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is poised to implement a conservative agenda after the party secured a supermajority in the lower house elections on February 8, 2026.
Finally, Iran is grappling with a near-total internet blackout that began on January 8, impacting the country's higher education system. The restrictions are reminiscent of a five-day internet blackout in 2019, which raised concerns about digital isolation, according to Nature News. It is unclear how universities are operating, if at all, during this period.
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