How Buhari bid outgoing Denmark Ambassador farewell at State House, Abuja

Suspected bandits in the early hours of Tuesday attacked the staff quarters of the University of Abuja, abducting four staff of the institution along with their children.

Since August, a new British ambassador to France has been in post. Menna Rawlings has taken up the job at a time when the two countries have butted heads over various issues, from migration to Northern Ireland to fishing, while still bound together on other international issues – including the COP26 climate summit and as permanent members of the UN Security Council. Speaking to FRANCE 24 in a week when around 1,000 undocumented migrants crossed from France to England in small boats in a single day, she defended British border policy and spoke out about the ongoing disputes over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Friday. Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Friday.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣

Radwan Fouad Jomaa fled Syria and settled in Denmark, but now he is being told to return to Damascus. Radwan Fouad Jomaa lives in Denmark with his wife and three kids. Now Denmark is saying his hometown, Damascus, is safe again and he and his family must go home.

FRANCE 24 spoke to Lu Shaye, the Chinese ambassador to France. He insisted Beijing was prioritising "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, but said the Chinese authorities had "not ruled out the use of force" – not with the intention of targeting "the people of Taiwan", but rather to dissuade "separatists in Taiwan" and certain "foreign forces". The Chinese diplomat also said he was "sure" there would be no mass surge in Covid-19 cases during the Winter Olympics, which open in Beijing on February 4.

Police in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have detained members of a group allegedly linked to the killing of Italy's ambassador last year as well as more recent kidnappings of NGO workers, a provincial police chief said on Tuesday.

There are major factors involved when it comes to where to reside in Nigeria. From employment opportunities, cost of living, transportation, and a host of others. The two top cities that come to mind are Lagos and Abuja. GuardianTV went on to the street of Lagos and Abuja to ask Nigerian's to chose a N400,000 job in Lagos or a N300,000 job in Abuja?

Danish troops are set to leave Mali after the military government made several calls for their "immediate withdrawal." It marks a further deterioration in Mali's relationship with the EU.

Denmark has accused coup generals of playing a dirty political game after the junta withdrew the invitation to deploy Danish troops. Denmark has announced the country would withdraw its newly deployed contingent of 90 troops from Mali after repeated demands by the poor Sahel country's military junta.

Relations between France and Mali take a dramatic turn for the worse as Bamako gives the French ambassador to the country just 72 hours to leave. Also, after a three-year freeze, Rwanda finally opens its border with Uganda. And we end in South Africa, where Kommetdieding or the "people's horse" is winning Cape Town's prestigious races.

Denmark is lifting restrictions it had imposed to try to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials in Beijing are reporting more cases around the Olympics, just days before the Games open.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday.⁣