At least 13 people died after a makeshift boat with 23 people on board ran into difficulties off Spain's Canary Islands, according to rescue services. Rescuers said five more passengers were in a critical condition, having drifted at sea for more than a week without food. The bodies of 13 passengers were located at sea, rescuers said after the boat was intercepted by a fishing vessel some 150 miles off the island of Hierro, the most southwesterly of the island chain in the North Atlantic.

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A report by a government-led working group released last week said the Finnish government must step up efforts to combat human trafficking in Finland, a target destination for hundreds of victims of the phenomenon each year.  The majority of victims of human trafficking in Finland are adult women and men, but the possibility of child victims crossing the Nordic country's borders cannot be ruled out, according to the study.   The report showed that most often, the victims end up being exploited in prostitution rings or in the illegal labor market.