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The spiralling cost of living in Nigeria

Consumers in West Africa's largest economy feel the pinch; Haiti's days of chaos; why South Korea's birth rate is plunging; and cleaning the Vatican's most precious artworks.

Pascale Harter introduces reportage and analysis from 成人论坛 correspondents and reporters in Nigeria, Haiti, South Korea and the Vatican City.

With fuel subsidies abolished, the naira at an all-time low and prices shooting up, the economy in Nigeria is in a state of crisis. Even food is now out of reach for some - and even the middle class are feeling the pinch. Mayeni Jones reports from Lagos on the scenes testing Nigerians' resilience.

The Haitian capital Port au Prince has been plagued by criminal gangs for many years - but this month there was a dramatic surge of criminal violence as armed groups ran rampage through the streets, breaking into prisons and attacking the city's airport. Harold Isaac describes what it was like to live through these chaotic days - when some of Haitians' worst fears came true.

South Korea is a global test case for population shrinkage, as the number of births keeps sliding lower every year. Jean Mackenzie went to talk to some of the women who've decided not to have children, and heard how many of them feel the decision was made for them by a punishing work culture and rigid ideas about motherhood.

And amid the splendour of the Vatican City, Sara Monetta goes for an extremely close-up look at the restoration and preservation work being done in the Sistine Chapel - and learns why keeping its treasures in good condition is a never-ending and high-pressure job.

Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison

(Image:A protestor holds placards during a protest in Abuja Credit:(Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP) (Photo by KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty Images)

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23 minutes

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Mon 11 Mar 2024 21:06GMT

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