Lawmakers, civil society groups ask for equipment for military

Nigeria's government says the rise will only affect 1.5 million consumers, mostly manufacturers. But analysts believe the hike will lead to higher inflation and result in job losses and closures of businesses.

A decade on, the world has largely forgotten about the Chibok girls, who were kidnapped by Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamist militants. But for victims and their families, like Solomon Maina, who is still waiting for news about his daughter, the tragedy is ongoing.

The country's ruling junta is stepping up cooperation with Moscow, after expelling French troops last year. Also in the programme, at least three people have been killed in a shootout between militiamen and police in the Ethiopian capital. Among the dead are fighters from a rebel militia known as Fano. Plus, the art of remembering: painters in Rwanda are keeping the memory of genocide victims alive by drawing their inspiration from photographs.

The global economy has so far shrugged off the Iranian strike on Israel. Important markets like oil had already priced in a possible attack, while gold and stock markets only moved slightly.

The global defense budget saw its largest yearly increase in 14 years in 2023, according to the think tank SIPRI. Russia's war in Ukraine, the China-Taiwan crisis and other global conflicts played a significant role.

The British Parliament is once again voting on a plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the flights will go ahead "come what may."