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During a press conference on October 17, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed questions from reporters, including inquiries about the recently concluded 23rd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad, Pakistan.

When asked to share the outcomes and highlights of the meeting, Mao Ning elaborated on the discussions that took place among the leaders. She noted that they engaged in thorough discussions regarding the future of cooperation among SCO member states in trade, culture, and other areas amidst evolving global circumstances, reaching significant agreements.

Mao highlighted that Premier Li Qiang further explained the importance of President Xi Jinping’s vision of building a unified, mutually trusting, peaceful, prosperous, friendly neighborhood, and a fair and just “Five Common Homes” for the SCO. She emphasized the call from various leaders to uphold the “Shanghai Spirit,” strengthen solidarity and collaboration, and ensure the implementation of the consensus achieved at the summit.

The participating leaders praised China’s vital contributions to the development of the SCO and the promotion of regional peace and stability, expressing their commitment to actively support China as it assumes the rotating presidency of the organization. They also reiterated their determination to deepen cooperation in areas such as security, trade, investment, finance, connectivity, and cultural exchanges, aiming to transform the SCO into a reliable foundation for the development and well-being of their nations.

On October 17, 2024, the Chengdu (Autumn) International Tea Expo officially kicked off in Chengdu. A highlight of this year’s event was the launch of the new book, “Tea Houses Through the Seasons: A Compendium of Chengdu’s Historic Teahouse Archives.”

Earlier this May, the “Chengdu Old Teahouse Archives” were honored with a place in the “Memory of the World — Asia and Pacific register.” In an effort to further explore the cultural value of this archive and enhance its impact on cultural heritage, the newly released book compiles representative documents related to various aspects of teahouse operations. This includes teahouse management, taxation related to teahouses, trade associations, labor unions, entertainment offerings in teahouses, charitable activities, and hygiene practices, all aimed at reflecting a comprehensive historical portrait.

Lü Yi, the director of the Chengdu Archives and a senior inspector, emphasized the multifaceted role of teahouses. He noted that they serve as complex public spaces that preserve a “living specimen” of diverse livelihoods in contemporary Chengdu. Teahouses coexist with urban development and contribute significantly to the lifestyle of the city’s residents, acting as both witnesses and participants in the city’s evolution. Moreover, they play a key role in cultural heritage preservation and drive urban development. Lü stated that this book represents not only an in-depth study of archival cultural heritage but also an exploration of how to enhance Chengdu’s unique cultural brand and promote the integration of culture and industry.

The 2024 Chengdu Tea Expo spans four days, running until October 20, and is themed “Autumn Fragrance of Tea – Sharing Health.” Covering an impressive area of 35,000 square meters, the expo features themed exhibition halls including the China Famous Tea Pavilion, Aesthetic Tea Utensils Hall, international and Hong Kong-Macau-Taiwan exhibition areas, and a series of tea-related events. With over 630 domestic and international exhibitors, the event showcases a comprehensive range of products from the entire tea industry chain, including six major types of tea, new tea beverages, tea-based food products, zisha pottery, ceramics, tea utensils, tea attire, tea furniture, and various handicrafts.

In Guardian Australia’s weekly interview about objects, the TV host and collector shares her ‘daggy’ stationery – and her childhood obsession with Humphrey Bogart
Read more Three Things interviews Get our weekend culture and lifestyle emailAs told to Katie CunninghamSun 20 Oct 2024 10.00 EDTLast modified on Sun 20 Oct 2024 19.10 EDTShareNo one loves stuff as much as Claudia Chan Shaw. In an age when many are devotedly decluttering their homes, the TV host is a proud “nostalgic maximalist”. She loves collecting – and has even built a career on delighting in the accumulation of strange, beautiful objects. Chan Shaw was formerly the host of the ABC program Collectors – where she met other Australians who share her passion – and has authored a book on the topic called Collectomania.
In keeping with her love of all things yesteryear, the Sydneysider is now the co-host of the TV series Antiques DownUnder, and runs art deco tours around the world. In all her years of collecting Chan Shaw counts one item as her most sacred find – a replica of an object from a Humphrey Bogart film. Here she tells about the beloved purchase and shares the stories of two other important belongings.
What I’d save from my house in a fireI was never one of the cool kids. At age 11, I became obsessed with Humphrey Bogart. It’s not unusual for young girls to have posters of their idols plastered to their bedroom walls – but Humphrey Bogart? A long-dead actor, not exactly known for his looks, famous for playing tough guys and gangsters in films from the 30s, 40s and 50s.
In the years that followed I haunted the Bogart film festivals, always sitting in the front row, tape recorder in hand, recording the entire movie (this was before video cameras existed!). I started collecting anything and everything Bogart-related: books, posters, soundtracks, lobby cards.
View image in fullscreenClaudia Chan Shaw with her replica Maltese Falcon, just like the one from the 1941 filmIf my house were on fire, the first thing I’d grab would be my most treasured item: a black plaster replica of a Maltese Falcon, just like the one from the 1941 Bogart film. In the early 1980s, with no internet, I tracked it down in San Francisco at a store called the Mystery Bookstore.
The original film prop sold a few years back for over $4m! Nowadays you can buy a replica Maltese Falcon online and have it delivered in a week. But I still hold on to my special falcon. It’s not worth much but to me it’s priceless.
My most useful objectI love stationery. I’m old school and still use a pen and notebook. When I was in primary school I was jealous of the kids who had the classic Bic four-colour retractable ballpoint pen in their pencil cases. Now I always have one in my handbag.
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It’s such a neat invention. It’s four pens in one – black, blue, red and green. It’s daggy and cool at the same time. With one click you can switch between colours and note taking becomes a magical, colourful experience. And the pen comes in medium point. I love a medium-point pen! Not a scratchy fine point.
It’s a conversation starter. Pull out a Bic four-colour pen in a meeting and it’s a real icebreaker. Colleagues exclaim, “Oh, I remember those pens! I didn’t know you could still get them.”
The item I most regret losingI had the most wonderful toys growing up. But when I hit my teenage years I decided it was time to be more grown up and sophisticated, so I sold off all my childhood treasures. I set up a stall at the Balmain markets and parted with my precious memories. By the end of the day I realised what a huge mistake I’d made. The toy I regret selling most is the Jumping Jeep, a 1960s battery-operated car made by the Japanese company Alps.
Three things with Sami Shah: ‘None of my watches tell me how many steps I’ve walked – I can imagine nothing more useless’Read moreThe Jumping Jeep was driven by a balding clown in a bowler hat, with goggly eyes for headlights and an accordion at the back that moved up and down, playing music. Whenever it hit something, the whole car would jump! It was such a colourful, noisy, joyous toy.
Letting go of my favourite toys is something I still regret. Since then I’ve been making up for it – overcompensating by collecting toys that remind me of my childhood and the TV shows I loved growing up.
I’ve spotted a few Jumping Jeeps online at auctions but for some reason I’ve never been able to bring myself to buy a replacement. This is the toy that got away.
Claudia Chan Shaw is leading two tours with Renaissance Tours: Art Deco to Art Now: Singapore in January 2025 and Art Nouveau and the Belle Époque in Europe in May 2025

An abandoned baby changes the lives of a doctor and his daughter in a beautifully written novel about second chances and familial love
Lucy PopescuSun 20 Oct 2024 06.00 EDTShareIn his latest novel, Niall Williams returns to the fictional village of Faha in west Ireland, the setting for 2019’s This Is Happiness. It’s December 1962, and in what the parish has come to call “the time of the child”, doctor Jack Troy and his eldest, unmarried daughter Ronnie find their lives upended when an abandoned baby girl, at death’s door, is brought to their home. Jack saves her life and Ronnie takes on the role of carer. They fall in love with the baby Ronnie names Noelle.
There is a cinematic quality to the opening chapter as Williams introduces us to his characters, the rhythm of their lives (“in Faha time did not go straight but round and round”) and the emotional landscape they inhabit: “The inveterate layering of all Irish life, where the most important things were never said, and depth was more valued than surface.”
While outwardly everything remains the same, interior lives are profoundly alteredThe tweed-wearing postmistress Mrs Prendergast likes to be “the first to spread the word” and will listen unabashedly to the parish’s telephone conversations while operating the switchboard. Every fair, Pat Quinlan drinks or gambles away everything he makes from the sale of his livestock. Father Tom is beginning to forget his sermons mid-sentence, and Mrs Crowe lies dying.
The rain, a constant presence in Faha, making “all the seasons one”, is imbued with human qualities such as “mournful”, “soft”, “blown”, “apologetic” and “stale”, and Williams vividly conveys the fortitude of the local community who “had the tidal eyes of estuary people and the translucent flesh that comes from living in absolute humidity”.
A slow-burning, finely crafted novel about second chances, humanity and familial love, Time of the Child rewards close reading. While outwardly everything remains the same, interior lives are profoundly altered. Williams’s descriptive language is extraordinary – his use of understatement and irony artfully deployed, his characterisation sublime. I find it astonishing that, despite his global success, he has yet to win a big award.
Time of the Child by Niall Williams is published by Bloomsbury (£16.99). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply

Celine Dion made an emotional return to the stage at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, captivating nearly 3.5 billion viewers with her powerful rendition of “The Prayer.” This performance marked her first public appearance in nearly three years after revealing her battle with a rare neurological disorder known as Stiff-Person Syndrome, which has caused severe muscle spasms and forced her to step back from performing.

However, recent reports have surfaced suggesting that Dion’s much-anticipated performance was not live. According to a report by *Liberation*, composer Étienne Grimaldi stated, “What we saw was indeed a modified audio recording.” An audio engineer corroborated this, noting that it was evident the sound was pre-recorded. Many experts have echoed this sentiment, indicating that Dion’s performance was, in fact, a pre-recording rather than a live rendition.

Despite the controversy, the emotional impact of her performance resonated deeply with fans worldwide, showcasing her signature soaring vocals that have made her an icon for decades.

AFPKenya's parliament has begun the final step to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office.
An overwhelming majority voted in the National Assembly last week to approve his impeachment, setting the stage for the two-day trial in the Senate that decides whether or not to oust him.
The deputy president faces 11 charges including corruption, inciting ethnic divisions and undermining government – all of which he denies.
The row follows his recent fallout with President William Ruto, who has remained silent about the matter.
Gachagua’s trial is being conducted before the full house of the Senate after it abandoned a process to set up an 11-member committee to investigate the charges.
Proceedings have started and the charges are due to be read out followed by opening statements from both sides.
Analysts expect the deputy president's impeachment to be upheld as the ruling party senators are likely to be backed by those from the main opposition as happened when the the lower house voted on the case.
Blunt and bold – Kenya's 'truth speaker' faces the sackBehind the fallout between Kenya's president and his deputyFrom 12:00 local time (09:00 GMT) on Wednesday, evidence by the National Assembly against Gachagua, including any witnesses, will be introduced and examined for three hours followed by another two hours of cross-examination.
On Thursday, the trial will resume to deal with the evidence and witnesses from Gachagua’s side until late afternoon.
At the conclusion of the process in the evening, senators will debate the motion for about two hours and then take a vote – scheduled to happen on Thursday night from 20:30 local time.
The Senate can decide to extend the process to Friday, the last day it can legally extend the matter.
At least two-thirds of the 67 Senate members must approve the motion for Gachagua to be removed from office.
Should that happen and his impeachment stands, he would be barred from ever holding public office.
He is expected to challenge the impeachment in the courts if it passes.
The deputy president has made numerous unsuccessful attempts to stop the impeachment process, with at least 26 court cases having been filed so far.
On Tuesday, a judge ruled that the court would not interfere and said the Senate should proceed with its constitutional mandate.
And just before the process began on Wednesday, a three-judge bench also declined a similar request.
Some of the grounds for Gachagua's impeachment include accusations that he acquired assets worth 5.2bn Kenyan shillings ($40m; £31m) in the two years since he became deputy president – allegedly acquired through corrupt means.
He has explained, including during his trial at the National Assembly, that most of the properties in question were from his late brother's estate.
The deputy president is a wealthy businessman from the vote-rich central Mount Kenya region.
In just five years, he rose from being a first-time MP to become the number two in Kenya's leadership, after Ruto picked him as his running mate in the August 2022 election.
At the time, he was battling corruption allegations in court which were later dropped after he came the deputy president.
His impeachment trial has dominated the discussions of many Kenyans and the media in recent weeks.
Some see the high political drama that the matter has elicited as a distraction from the economic concerns of the majority of Kenyans struggling with the high cost of living.
In June disgruntled Kenyans went to the streets in deadly protests that erupted over unpopular tax hikes, and which exposed a deep rift between Ruto and Gachagua.
Gachagua now stands accused of undermining the work of the security agencies in the wake of remarks he made at the time blaming the intelligence agency.

You may also be interested in:Kenyan president's humbling shows power of African youthNew faces of protest – Kenya's Gen Z anti-tax revolutionariesBatons, tear gas, live fire – Kenyans face police brutalityGetty Images/BBCGo to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

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Dysphoric milk ejection reflex or ‘D-MER’ may be as common as mastitis. Why don’t more people know about it?
Jenny PritchettFri 18 Oct 2024 12.00 EDTLast modified on Fri 18 Oct 2024 15.34 EDTShareIt was 2017. I was 40, and I’d just had my son, my first and only child. It was overwhelming: the extravagant newness of becoming a parent, meeting my kid, the travesty that is American postpartum care.
But there was something else I couldn’t identify. Multiple times a day, I was hit with a sudden and intense wave of sadness. I lost the ability to speak and to think clearly. If I was eating, I lost my appetite; if I wasn’t, I felt nauseous. All I could do was stop, close my eyes and wait for the feeling to pass, which it always did after a minute or two.
After three months, I started putting the pieces together: immediately after those intense waves of sadness, my breasts would get full and tingly – meaning my milk was letting down – my body’s way of telling me it was time to feed my son.
One despairing afternoon, I Googled: “Why am I sad when I breastfeed?” I knew I didn’t have postpartum depression – PPD was an ongoing condition, whereas these spikes of feeling came suddenly and, just as quickly, went away. Within minutes, I’d learned that I wasn’t crazy and what I was experiencing had a name: D-MER.
What is D-MER?Dysphoric milk ejection reflex, or “D-MER” – pronounced by saying all the letters rather than, for example, “deemer” – is “an anomaly of the milk ejection reflex that results in a brief but intense negative emotional response in the breastfeeding mother that lasts for usually 30 to 90 seconds”, says Alia Macrina Heise, a retired international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) who coined the term around 2008.
What causes D-MER?Macrina Heise, who experienced D-MER with her third child, says it’s probably caused by “inappropriate dopamine activity” right before a person’s milk lets down.
Two main hormones are involved in the lactation process, she explains: oxytocin and prolactin. Oxytocin – known for warm, fuzzy feelings – is what gets breast milk from the back of the breast out the nipple. At the same time that milk is moving out, the brain gets the message that more needs to be made – that’s what prolactin does. But prolactin and dopamine – also a hormone, and a neurotransmitter – have an inverse relationship in the body, meaning that if one goes up, the other must go down.
The prevailing theory is that, with people who experience D-MER, dopamine drops a little too far or too fast when prolactin levels go up – but “after dopamine restabilizes in the body … the mom feels fine again”, said Macrina Heise.
What does D-MER feel like?Every person with D-MER experiences a similar rush of intense emotion, Macrina Heise says, but the actual “emotional experience is different for each mom”.
Macrina Heise says she experienced “random and brief moments where I felt like I was doing everything wrong. I was the problem. Life was not safe. I was not a good person.” But that was the dopamine drop talking – not long afterward, the bad feelings went away.
Others might say they experience dread, anxiety, homesickness, “a pang” or suicidal ideation. “It’s all across the board, and some of that is severity, and some of that is emotion concepts,” she says, referring to how different people assign different words or concepts to bodily sensations.
Who experiences D-MER?“There’s no common denominator” for who experiences D-MER, says Macrina Heise. Anyone who is lactating can experience it, regardless of age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or any other demographic factor.
A person can experience it with any birth, Macrina Heise adds, although someone who experiences it with one birth is “overwhelmingly” likely to experience it with subsequent births.
Is D-MER rare?D-MER is often described as rare, but Macrina Heise says she doesn’t agree with that designation; as a 2023 study states: “It is only recently gaining recognition in the academic literature.” Other studies have estimated that between 3% and 13% of lactating people experience it. As is typical with women’s issues, there needs to be more research.
Samantha Shaw-Johnston, a perinatal and reproductive psychiatrist at the University of Michigan, says she’s only worked with two or three patients with D-MER in the last five years. But this isn’t necessarily an accurate reflection of the condition’s prevalence.
“​It’s still unclear what proportion of breastfeeding individuals do experience this, because so many people don’t even know about it,” she says.
“I think ‘rare’ is used because we’re still trying to soften it and not make it look like this horrible thing that could happen to you if you decide to breastfeed your baby,” Macrina Heise said. She believes that although more lactation consultants know about D-MER, they may not be proactive about sharing information due to “the very well-intended, but very misplaced mission of ‘breast is best’”.
Macrina Heise recalled an essay by Anna O’Neil that noted the first D-MER prevalence study showing a rate of 9.1%, whereas the prevalence rate for mastitis is generally 10%: “She said, every mother who starts breastfeeding knows what mastitis is, that she’s at risk for it, and what the warning signs are. How come this thing [D-MER] … doesn’t have the same awareness?”
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How do you treat D-MER?“Education is the most important thing” in responding to D-MER, says Macrina Heise.
The route to education is sadly similar for many people: lactating person has recurring, awful feeling; figures out it seems to be connected to nursing; Googles; finds Macrina Heise’s Facebook support group. Others may never realize they have, or have had, D-MER.
Motherhood is saying ‘I can’t do this any more’ – then doing itRead morePost after post from the Facebook group confirms that knowing the experience is real – and that the wave of bad feelings will always go away in seconds – makes nursing people feel less bad and less alone. It also allows people to make an informed decision about whether to hang in with breastfeeding or whether to stop.
One promising treatment suggested by members of the Facebook group is simply to drink a glass of cold water – a recommendation Macrina Heise has found corroboration for in sports medicine research studies. Athletes are interested in prolactin because lower levels of the hormone may mean lower fatigue. Cooling of the head, neck or face has been shown to lower prolactin levels during exercise, which – good for those with D-MER – raises dopamine because of that inverse relationship.
Other anecdotal remedies include taking a B vitamin complex, vitamin D or magnesium, although these have not been studied.
The most important aid is awareness, says Macrina Heise.
“We all have emotions that are real, but not true,” she says, “and how we then approach those emotions … is really important, because it chooses our response to it. Never is that anywhere more true than a mother with D-MER – because she does not need to wonder if she is in the wrong marriage. She does not need to wonder if she’s a good mother or a bad mother.”
Education is key, agrees Shaw-Johnston, as is understanding more about how our sympathetic nervous system fuels negative or intense emotions. “As soon as you become aware that it’s a biological process that’s happening and it’s not an individual failing, that helps decrease some of the distress around the experience,” she said.
Knowing it’s a temporary and physical phenomenon gives people the context they need to deal with it, agrees Macrina Heise: “‘This hurts, this feels like shit, but it’s gonna go away – and it means nothing.’”
Can healthcare providers help?Although 15% of pregnant people in the US get inadequate prenatal care, and an increasing number get none at all, a patient’s point of contact tends to be their OB-GYN. Shaw-Johnston says this is an opportunity for doctors to share information.
Her hospital, for example, gives pregnant people “a whole spiral-bound book” with information on everything from pregnancy symptoms to newborn care. Colleagues have discussed adding a mental health component that could address issues such as D-MER: “Just knowing about [perinatal mental health experiences] and knowing that they’re not something to be ashamed of … is extremely powerful.”
Jenny Pritchett, AKA Jenny True, is a copy editor at the Guardian US and the author of You Look Tired: An Excruciatingly Honest Guide to New Parenthood

During his recent inspection in Fujian, General Secretary Xi Jinping traveled north to continue his tour in Anhui, marking his third visit since the 18th National Congress. From October 17 to 18, he visited Anqing and Hefei, engaging in deep discussions in historic cultural districts and technology innovation parks. What key themes did the General Secretary focus on during this visit?

In his exploration of Liu Chi Alley in Tongcheng, Anqing, Xi Jinping began his journey with a cultural emphasis. This narrow alley, just two meters wide and a hundred meters long, is renowned worldwide for its story of “deference” and the philosophy of “harmony is precious.” The alley is steeped in history, dating back to the Qing Dynasty, when a dispute arose between neighbors over land. Instead of demanding strict boundaries, the family reached out to scholar Zhang Ying for mediation, who suggested that small concessions could result in greater harmony. This inspired both families to willingly yield their claims, transforming Liu Chi Alley into a lasting symbol of neighborly goodwill.

Xi emphasized the importance of promoting traditional Chinese virtues during his visit, urging that such historical wisdom be applied to contemporary social issues to foster a more harmonious society. He highlighted the significance of concepts like mutual respect and addressing community concerns.

Later, Xi visited Hefei’s Binhu Science City, a hub for technological innovation that has cultivated significant achievements in fields such as quantum information and fusion energy. He engaged with researchers and entrepreneurs, underscoring the critical role that science and technology must play in driving modernization in China.

His calls for Anhui to leverage its geographical advantages to align with multiple national development strategies were particularly noteworthy. He encouraged the province to actively participate in high-quality developments like the Belt and Road Initiative and to serve as a model for coordinated regional growth.

This series of inspections highlights Xi’s ongoing commitment to cultural heritage and scientific advancement as twin pillars supporting China’s modernization efforts. Throughout his visits, he emphasized the importance of fostering a culture of innovation, urging local leaders to embrace pioneering reforms and cultivate a new, holistic approach to governance and development.

As Xi Jinping continues his tour in Anhui, local officials are keenly aware of the responsibilities that come with the opportunity to showcase their province’s potential in contributing to national goals.

FemiAkintunde-Johnson
You cannot fault our current office holders of mental indolence – they are always planning and shuffling ideas and strategies in dealing with sundry issues bedeviling the nation. To what extent those schemes work positively is another matter entirely. Such is the latest brainwave of a 30-day conference for the Nigerian youth tucked into the president’s recent independence day broadcast. Hear him: “As we work to overcome the challenges of the day, we remain mindful of the next generation as we seek to galvanize their creative energy towards a better future. We lead today with the future we wish to bequeath to our children in focus, recognizing that we cannot design a future that belongs to them without making them its architects… Considering this, I am pleased to announce the gathering of a National Youth Conference….” And that ‘floated idea’ triggered our interest in today’s article.
In the past 25 years, Nigerian youth have witnessed political leadership that can only be described as a grand experiment in how not to run a country. What started in 1999 with the hopeful promise of democracy has devolved into a spectacle of cronyism, corruption, and mediocrity. It’s like watching a soap opera, except the plot never advances, the characters don’t develop, and the show’s producers (read: politicians) refuse to change the channel.
This generation, which has grown up seeing a country blessed with abundant natural resources and highly intelligent people, continues to ask themselves: “Why are we still poor?” It’s a valid question, considering the fact that Nigeria’s natural wealth is so vast, it’s as if the country hit the jackpot and soon after lost the winning ticket.
Their frustration is understandable, given the parade of malfeasance that has played out over the years. The instances of impunity by those in power are so numerous that they could fill an entire season of Game of Thrones – without the dragons, but with plenty of backstabbing.
Perhaps one of the most notorious scandals was the fuel subsidy fraud during Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Billions of dollars were allegedly siphoned off by marketers who claimed to have imported fuel that apparently vanished into thin air. One would think Nigeria has an invisible gas station where these imports were parked, because no one saw the fuel, but the funds – well, those disappeared faster than you can say “subsidy.”
And then there was the curious case of Abdulrasheed Maina, the Houdini of the Nigerian civil service. After being accused of embezzling billions meant for pensioners (yes, pensioners – because why stop at robbing the living when you can also take from retirees), Maina did the political equivalent of disappearing for a while, only to reappear, somehow, back in government service. It’s like when a character in a sitcom is written out, but then makes a surprise comeback – only, instead of applause, there was nationwide outrage.
Let’s not forget the Dasuki arms deal scandal, where $2.1 billion meant to buy weapons for soldiers fighting Boko Haram went poof – only this time, the funds didn’t just vanish; they reappeared in the pockets of political campaigners. Apparently, the real war wasn’t against terrorists but against term limits. Soldiers were left fighting Boko Haram with what, sticks and stones? Meanwhile, politicians fought their battles with bags of cash.
The 2020 EndSARS protests… Well, that was a plot twist no one saw coming. Young Nigerians, fed up with police brutality, took to the streets, demanding systemic change. The government responded in the most predictable way possible: by doubling down on brutality. The Lekki Toll Gate shooting became a tragic turning point, where instead of addressing the valid concerns of the protesters, the powers-that-be chose to act like overzealous bouncers at a nightclub no one wants to be in.
At this point, many young Nigerians are left asking, “Why can’t we elect the right leaders? Do we have bad luck? Are we cursed? Did someone spill palm oil in the wrong shrine?” It’s almost comical how consistently elections result in the same set of recycled, out-of-touch politicians. They switch offices like they are playing musical chairs, only the music stopped years ago, and they refuse to get up.
But Nigeria’s problems aren’t due to a supernatural curse. They are rooted in a very human-made system of political and economic mismanagement. Elections have often been hijacked by a wealthy elite who see public office as their birthright. The youths, tired of watching the same old cast of characters, are now trying to break into the game themselves. Unfortunately, the political arena is like a members-only club, and the bouncers (aka the aging politicians) aren’t letting any new face inside without a fight.
Many of these young Nigerians, especially those behind movements like #NotTooYoungToRun, are trying to bring fresh ideas and perspectives. But they face an uphill battle. The old guard, brusquely referred to as “discredited cretins” (you can almost hear the audience booing), have a vice grip on power. They sit in their offices, sipping champagne while the rest of the country runs on hope and prayers.
At times, it is enough to make you wonder if a coup d’état might be the only way to unseat these folks. But history has shown that coups, much like reality TV show reunions, tend to leave us with more drama and fewer solutions. So, what can be done?
There’s no magic wand that will fix things overnight, but there are paths Nigeria can take to rise from this endless loop of bad governance. One of the most crucial steps is electoral reform. The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in 2023 was a good start, but the process is still far from perfect. Nigeria needs to ensure that votes actually count, rather than disappear into the abyss alongside all those phantom fuel imports.
The youth must continue to stay engaged. EndSARS showed the world what happens when young people unite around a common cause. Now, they need to take that energy and channel it into grassroots politics, building from the ground up. Maybe instead of waiting for a messiah to emerge, young Nigerians need to run for office themselves and demand change from within the system.
Civil society also has a role to play. Strengthening anti-corruption agencies and promoting accountability is key to reining in the excesses of the ruling elite. But let us be honest: expecting the current crop of politicians to hold each other accountable is like expecting a cat to guard a bowl of fish. Civil society, independent organizations, and the judiciary must step in as external referees to blow the whistle when the game gets dirty.
Still, amidst all the cynicism, it’s worth remembering that Nigeria wasn’t always this way. At the dawn of independence in 1960, the country had leaders who, despite their flaws, at least appeared to care about nation-building. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for example, implemented free primary education in the Western Region, laying the foundation for a more enlightened populace. Who knew that years later, education would become something only a select few could afford, thanks to the same leaders who benefited from Awolowo’s policies?
Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, modernized Northern Nigeria, fostering unity and development. Today, he would likely be horrified by the state of governance in the country. Meanwhile, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first President, promoted education and Pan-Africanism. Imagine his surprise if he couldsee the current state of higher education, where strikes last longer than academic sessions.
Even Nigeria’s only Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, known for his humility and diplomacy, would likely shake his head at today’s leaders, who seem to think diplomacy means shouting the loudest at international conferences.
These leaders, though not without their flaws, had one thing in common: they saw public service as exactly that – service. Today’s leaders, on the other hand, seem to view it as a get-rich-quick scheme, with the only service they’re offering being to themselves.
So, can Nigeria rise again? It’s hard to say, but one thing is clear: the youth aren’t giving up. They’ve seen the worst, but they’ve also caught glimpses of what’s possible. And with enough determination, maybe – just maybe – they’ll finally get to change the channel on this long-running, tragicomedy of a political saga.

On October 14, the Financial Times (FT) released its 2024 global EMBA program rankings, highlighting Fudan University’s School of Management as a standout institution. All four of its evaluated programs made it into the global top 30, making Fudan the only business school on the list with four programs in this elite category. This achievement underscores the school’s global leadership in comprehensive, multi-dimensional rankings.

In the latest rankings, Fudan University’s EMBA program secured the 10th position globally, maintaining its status as the top Chinese program for three consecutive years. The Fudan-University of Washington EMBA program ranked third worldwide, boasting the highest salary levels globally. Additionally, the Fudan-Hong Kong University IMBA program placed 24th overall, and achieved the top spot among part-time MBA programs. Lastly, the Fudan-BI (Norway) International Cooperative MBA program rounded out the list at 30th, with notable recognition for having the best alumni network and the highest salary growth.

Since it began participating in these rankings in 2006, Fudan’s School of Management has seen a consistent upward trajectory. The FT rankings place significant emphasis on the research capabilities of the participating institutions, and Fudan’s performance in this area has been particularly noteworthy. Over the past four years, the school has improved its ranking from 64th to 46th, breaking into the global top 50 for the first time this year due to its exceptional research output.

The school has made it a priority to enhance its research framework, foster an environment conducive to academic inquiry, and stimulate research interests among faculty. There has been a growing trend of high-quality research published in top-tier international journals, driven by data and case studies from China. In 2023 alone, faculty applied for over a hundred research projects, with the total number of annual grants from the National Natural Science Foundation reaching new heights, alongside notable achievements in AI-related fields.

For the first time, this year’s FT global EMBA rankings included an indicator specifically assessing “alumni networks,” a testament to the importance these connections hold for students and graduates alike. All four of Fudan’s programs ranked in the global top 20 for this category, with the Fudan-BI International Cooperative MBA program taking the lead. This aspect reflects the substantial impact of Fudan’s extensive alumni network in empowering students and graduates through practical support and opportunities.

Currently, the school’s alumni network comprises over 60,000 members across various industries worldwide, providing an invaluable platform for career development and growth. Fudan has established an alumni center aimed at facilitating communication, resource-sharing, and emotional connections within its community, fostering a warm and united alumni family.

The network also plays a crucial role in empowering alumni businesses, helping them integrate into broader industry ecosystems, facilitating partnerships, and driving growth initiatives.