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Nigeria's vigilantes take on Boko Haram. 23 July 2013Last updated at 20:33 ET Vigilante groups have formed in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri to fight the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, a move welcomed by the military as it battles to quell the insurgency, as the BBC's Will Ross reports.

Nigeria's vigilantes take on Boko Haram

Military checkpoints have been a common sight in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri - the birthplace of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram - for several years. But these days the people asking the questions at the ubiquitous roadblocks are often not in uniform. They are civilians who are adding their muscle to the fight against Boko Haram, which is waging a military campaign to create an Islamic state across Nigeria. More than 2,000 people have been killed since it launched an insurgency in 2009. "When the situation became too bad to endure, we decided to find the Boko Haram members ourselves," said Mohammed, who was stopping and searching cars at one of the checkpoints. Abubakar Shekau of Nigeria's Boko Haram 'may be dead' 19 August 2013Last updated at 14:04 ET Abubakar Shekau has led the insurgency since 2009 Nigeria's militant Islamist leader Abubakar Shekau may have been killed by the security forces during a shoot-out, an army spokesman has said.

Abubakar Shekau of Nigeria's Boko Haram 'may be dead'

An "intelligence report" showed that Shekau, the leader of the Boko Haram group, may have died between 25 July and 3 August, Lt-Col Sagir Musa said. Boko Haram, which has waged an insurgency in Nigeria since 2009, has not commented on the statement. Australia to send asylum-seekers to PNG. 19 July 2013Last updated at 07:53 ET Mr Rudd said the message was "loud and clear" Asylum-seekers arriving by boat will no longer be resettled in Australia but will go to Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced.

Australia to send asylum-seekers to PNG

The news came as Mr Rudd set out an overhaul of asylum policy ahead of a general election expected shortly.

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Seized N Korean ship: Cuban weapons on board. 17 July 2013Last updated at 12:14 ET The ship was seized by authorities in Panama after military cargo was found hidden in a shipment of sugar Cuba has admitted being behind a stash of weapons found on board a North Korean ship seized in the Panama Canal.

Seized N Korean ship: Cuban weapons on board

The Cuban foreign ministry said the ship was carrying obsolete Soviet-era arms from Cuba for repair in North Korea. The ship was seized by Panama last week after "undeclared military cargo" was found hidden in a shipment of sugar. United Nations sanctions prohibit the supply of arms to North Korea in the dispute over its nuclear programme. A Cuban foreign ministry statement said Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to "peace, disarmament, including nuclear disarmament, and respect for international law".

It said the vessel was carrying 240 tonnes of obsolete defensive weapons - two anti-aircraft missile complexes, nine missiles in parts and spares, two MiG-21bis fighter planes and 15 MiG engines. Continue reading the main story Analysis. Bangladesh Pollution, Told in Colors and Smells. China's economic growth at 7.5% in April to June period. Bangladesh Islamist Ghulam Azam found guilty of war crimes. Charting the effect of China's cooldown. 14 July 2013Last updated at 23:16 GMT By John Sudworth BBC News, Shanghai John Sudworth reports on China's economic slowdown Since it opened in 2006, Rongsheng shipyard on China's eastern coast has always been a symbol of the country's economy.

Charting the effect of China's cooldown

First, as a monument to China's rising industrial power fuelled by a huge investment boom - a glut of lending and spending on an ever-increasing scale poured into buildings, bridges, homes and industry. Rongsheng was part of that boom. It is one of China's biggest shipyards, opened in 2006, and its huge gantries and cranes are capable of building some of the world's biggest ships.

A decade ago, from almost nothing, China declared that it wanted to be the biggest shipbuilding nation in the world by 2015. China top official meets Hong Kong lawmakers. 16 July 2013Last updated at 05:30 ET Zhang Xiaoming's visit was the first such meeting since Hong Kong's handover to China in 1997, as Juliana Liu reports China's top representative in Hong Kong has had lunch with pro-democracy lawmakers, in what is being seen as an unprecedented meeting.

China top official meets Hong Kong lawmakers

Zhang Xiaoming, head of the city's Beijing liaison office, met members of Hong Kong's Legislative Council from across the political spectrum. China's finance minister signals growth may fall below 7% 12 July 2013Last updated at 11:12 GMT.

China's finance minister signals growth may fall below 7%

China reports weaker than expected trade data. 10 July 2013Last updated at 07:22 ET Manufacturing and export sectors are key drivers of China's economic growth China has reported an unexpected fall in its exports and imports, adding to concerns of a slowdown in its economy.

China reports weaker than expected trade data

Exports fell 3.1% in June from a year earlier, indicating weak global demand for Chinese goods. Most analysts had expected a 4% increase in shipments. Imports fell 0.7% from a year ago, showing a subdued domestic demand. George Zimmerman not guilty of Trayvon Martin murder. 14 July 2013Last updated at 04:21 ET The case prompted a debate about racial profiling, as David Willis reports George Zimmerman, the Florida neighbourhood watchman who shot dead an unarmed black 17-year-old male last year, has been found not guilty.

George Zimmerman not guilty of Trayvon Martin murder

Lawyers for Mr Zimmerman, 29, argued he acted in self-defence and with justifiable use of deadly force in the death of Trayvon Martin. The jury retired on Friday to consider its verdict on charges of either second-degree murder or manslaughter. The case sparked a fierce debate about racial profiling in the US. Spontaneous protest marches were staged overnight in US cities including San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington and Atlanta, US media reported. Police and community leaders appealed for calm in Sanford, the Florida town where the shooting took place.

Bhutan PDP opposition party wins election. 13 July 2013Last updated at 13:47 ET Turnout was high, at an estimated 80% The opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) has won the second-ever parliamentary election in Bhutan.

Bhutan PDP opposition party wins election

The PDP beat the ruling Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) party, which has strong links to the king. The turnout was high at about 80%, said officials. The kingdom's struggling economy and ties with neighbouring India were key issues in the campaign. The country has been a democracy since 2008, when the king voluntarily relinquished his absolute power. Burma signs treaty with Wa ethnic group. 13 July 2013Last updated at 10:57 ET Burma's government and rebels from the ethnic Wa guerrilla group have reached a peace deal, state media has reported. A delegation was sent to the remote Wa region in Shan state, which borders China, said the Kyemon Daily newspaper. The military and the United Wa State Army (UWSA) agreed to hold regular meetings and withdraw to positions they occupied before a recent stand-off. The move came as part of a government effort to reach agreements with all the country's ethnic groups.

For decades, Burma, also known as Myanmar, has faced rebellions from several minority groups, seeking autonomy. The UWSA is believed to be the largest, with a fighting force numbering as many as 30,000. It reached an agreement once before with the former military regime in 1989, but recently tensions flared after the Burmese military surrounded Wa territory. Opium trade. Thousands flee DR Congo flee after Uganda's ADF raid.

13 July 2013Last updated at 16:20 GMT Nee Malisawa, mother of seven, has fled the violence with her whole family More than 30,000 people have fled DR Congo after a group of Ugandan rebels attacked a border town, says the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR. The Allied Democratic Forces raided the town of Kamango on Thursday, according to the Ugandan army spokesman. The Congolese national army has now retaken Kamango. Malala Yousafzai: Battling for an education in Pakistan. 11 July 2013Last updated at 11:58 GMT By Orla Guerin BBC News, Pakistan Latest figures show Pakistan has the second highest number of children out of school in the world. When a Taliban gunman shot Malala Yousafzai last October, the bullet travelled beyond her native Swat Valley in northern Pakistan.

It echoed around the globe, and ricocheted through another conservative community in the north - with surprising results. First there was fear, says local aid worker, Qurratul Ain Sheikh, sitting in a school courtyard perched on a hilltop. "After the Malala issue so many parents, especially mothers, did not allow their daughters to come to school," she said. Belfast trouble: Police attacked for second night. 13 July 2013Last updated at 22:10 GMT The police have come under attack in north Belfast for a second night The police have been attacked with petrol bombs in north Belfast as trouble flared for the second consecutive night.

Stones, bottles and fireworks have also been thrown at officers in the Woodvale area. Water cannon have been deployed. It follows serious rioting on Friday night when 32 police officers and an MP were injured. English wine: Is sparkling wine better in England than France? Egypt Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie arrest ordered. Egypt 'freezes assets' of Muslim Brotherhood leaders. Egypt's upheaval raises middle-class brain drain fears. 9 July 2013Last updated at 19:22 ET By Simon Atkinson Business reporter, BBC News, Cairo. Egypt's Christians Face Violence After Morsi Ouster. CAIRO -- With a mob of Muslim extremists on their tail, the Christian businessman and his nephew climbed up on the roof and ran for their lives, jumping from building to building in their southern Egyptian village. Finally they ran out of rooftops. Forced back onto the street, they were overwhelmed by several dozen men. The attackers hacked them with axes and beat them with clubs and tree limbs, killing Emile Naseem, 41.

The nephew survived with wounds to his shoulders and head and recounted the chase to The Associated Press. The mob's rampage through the village of Nagaa Hassan, burning dozens of Christian houses and stabbing to death three other Christians as well, came two days after the military ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi from power. Some Christians are paying the price for their activism against Morsi and his Islamist allies in a backlash over his ouster last week. Egypt's Coptic Christians pay price of political tumult.

Egypt prepares for rival Ramadan protests. Will Egypt's post-Morsi era be safer for women? Egypt investigating complaints against ousted Morsi. Brotherhood’s Scorched-Earth Strategy Provokes More Bloodshed. Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi flee from tear gas and rubber bullets fired by riot police during clashes, on a bridge in Cairo, Aug. 14, 2013. 64 arrested at 'Moral Monday' abortion access protest in North Carolina. Ireland's parliament approves 'life-saving' abortion. Who is affected by big currency movements? Turkey parliament curtails army powers. Istanbul's Troubled Gardens: Yedikule's Lettuce. Istanbul's Troubled Gardens: Gezi Park's Flowers. South Sudan: 'independence is not as beautiful as we thought'