Missing Ship Spotted Off African Coast

The Russian-crewed Arctic Sea has been spotted off the coast of West Africa today, say French officials who claim to have seen a ship resembling it near the Cape Verde islands. The Arctic Sea, last seen on July 30, is carrying $1.8 million in lumber and was due to deliver it to a port in Algeria, the Guardian reports. Watchers have suggested the hijacking could have been inspired by a Russian commercial dispute. (More Arctic Sea stories.)