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NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.
Troubled refugee boat on the Mediterranean
At least 31 refugees who were trying to cross to Europe from Libya drowned on Saturday, a Libyan military spokesperson said.
Capt. Ayoub Qasim, Libyan Naval Forces spokesman, told Anadolu Agency that coast guard teams reached the bodies of 31 refugees east of the capital Tripoli.
A total of 35 others were rescued, Qasim added.
The boat carrying the refugees had left the Libyan coast on Friday night, but sunk while it was trying to reach Europe, he added.
Qasim said that there were children among the victims and all the refugees were African nationals.
According to the UN, nearly 151,000 refugees entered Europe by the Mediterranean so far in 2017, compared to some 335,000 by this point period last year.
Over 19,000 migrants have been rescued or intercepted in Libyan waters so far in 2017, according to the UN. (Anadolu Agency)
