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Kidnapping, the industry bringing Nigeria to its knees
Kidnapping, the industry bringing Nigeria to its knees

It was past midnight when a dozen men armed with AK47s stormed into Mohammed's home just outside Nigeria's capital Abuja to kidnap the truck driver and his wife. In a daring case earlier this year, gunmen kidnapped 72 passengers from a train from the capital Abuja, many of them well-off.

'Floating artists' offer hope to strife-torn Mali
'Floating artists' offer hope to strife-torn Mali

Twilight settles on Bamako, and traffic starts to clog the roads on the banks of the mighty Niger River. "Floating artists" aboard a specially adapted vessel would move up and down the Niger, a river that nourishes West Africa from Guinea to Nigeria.

Crime, far-right set tone in Swedish nail-biter vote
Crime, far-right set tone in Swedish nail-biter vote

Sweden's right-wing parties hope to unseat the ruling Social Democrats in Sunday's general election, relying for the first time on far-right support in a tight race where crime tops the agenda. To form a government the Social Democrats can rely on support from the Greens, Left and Centre parties, while the Moderates, Christian Democrats, Liberals and Sweden Democrats make up the right-wing bloc.

Heatwave batters Spain's Mediterranean mussel crop
Heatwave batters Spain's Mediterranean mussel crop

"There's nothing left here," sighs Javier Franch as he shakes the heavy rope of mussels he's just pulled to the surface in northeastern Spain. And this extreme summer, when Spain endured 42 days of heatwave -- a record three times the average over the past decade, the AEMET national forecaster says -- has also left its mark below the surface of the water.

Queen Elizabeth's death 'great loss' for the world: Japan PM
Queen Elizabeth's death 'great loss' for the world: Japan PM

The death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is a "great loss" for the entire world, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday, expressing his "deep sorrow". "The death of the queen, who led Britain through turbulent times in the world, is a great loss not only for the British people but also the international community," he told reporters.

UN chief in Pakistan to boost flood aid for devastated millions
UN chief in Pakistan to boost flood aid for devastated millions

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres began a two-day visit to flood-hit Pakistan Friday that officials hope will boost global support for a humanitarian crisis affecting millions. In a tweet en route to Pakistan, Guterres said he wanted to "be with the people in their time of need, galvanize international support and bring global focus on the disastrous repercussions of climate change".