Mr Sarkozy and others deny that the EU or France paid any ransom money for the medics' release.

ECONOMIST: The curious case of the Bulgarian medics

Why don't banks offer mortgages that automatically refinance, without forcing you to pay ransom money to title insurers and appraisers?

FORBES: Magazine Article

Desperate families will give up everything to find the ransom money that will win the release of a father, a brother.

CNN: In Syria, searching for loved one taken away

The BBC's Joseph Odhiambo in Mombasa says that on at least two prior occasions the ransom money was delivered to the hijacked vessels via air-drops.

BBC: Guns and soldiers on the high seas

Most kidnappers are criminal gangs looking for ransom money.

NPR: Waiting for News About Jill Carroll

That is terrible for Nigeria, less so for Europe and North America: AQIM often targets foreign aid workers and contractors (usually to raise ransom money), but it has shown little interest in targets outside north-west Africa.

ECONOMIST: Jihadist terrorism

Jealously, Patty Ann holds onto the Taylors' deed as ransom for more money, even though the Taylors paid for the house and gave her husband a big fee besides.

WSJ: Review: Racism fuels poignant 'Luck Of The Irish'

For most of this time, the country has been at war and piracy has now become an attractive way of making money, with ransom payments reaching tens of millions of dollars.

BBC: South Africa families plead with Somali pirates

Their father borrowed money all over town to ransom his sons.

NEWYORKER: Silver or Lead

But agreeing a ransom leads to an even bigger headache - getting the money to the pirates.

BBC: Ransom drop-off

The boat with 16 fishermen aboard was seized for ransom two weeks ago, but was let go without money exchanging hands.

NPR: 10 Things To Know For Today