Author: Lifestyle & Wellness Desk

Finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Washington this week were initially expected to focus on the global economy’s resilience following recent economic shocks. However, the agenda has shifted sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports, reigniting trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. The announcement unsettled financial markets and renewed fears of a wider trade war just as delegates from more than 190 countries gather for the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The discussions, which attract over 10,000 participants each year, are now expected to be dominated by concerns about the potential fallout from the escalating U.S.–China dispute. Trump’s threat came in response to China’s recent expansion of export controls on rare earth minerals. The new tariffs and export restrictions, slated to take effect on November 1, could unravel the fragile truce between Washington and Beijing that had helped stabilise global growth forecasts earlier this year. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sought to ease tensions on Monday, saying he remained confident that President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would meet later this month in South Korea. “The 100 per cent tariff does not have to happen,” Bessent said in an interview with Fox Business Network. “The relationship, despite last week’s announcement, remains constructive. Communication channels are open, and staff-level talks will continue during the IMF and World Bank meetings.” His comments helped calm markets after a turbulent end to the previous week. The Nasdaq Composite Index rebounded by more than two per cent in early Monday trading, recovering from a steep sell-off triggered by Trump’s initial remarks. Investor anxiety had been rising amid fears that heightened trade barriers could derail global supply chains and undermine gains driven by artificial intelligence-related investments. Meanwhile, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva acknowledged that while the global economy had shown “remarkable resilience” in the face of recent shocks, growth remained uneven and vulnerable to renewed trade frictions, tight monetary conditions, and slowing employment in advanced economies. “The outlook is fragile, with downside risks dominating the forecast,” Georgieva cautioned. The IMF is expected to release its latest World Economic Outlook this week, projecting global GDP growth of about 3 per cent for 2025 — only marginally below the pace recorded in 2024.

After months of calm in Nigeria’s public university system, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a two-week warning strike, citing the Federal Government’s failure to meet its long-standing demands. ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the action in Abuja on Monday, saying the strike, which began at midnight, followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government. Piwuna said that despite several meetings and assurances, the government failed to make meaningful progress on critical issues, including the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, payment of withheld salaries, and adequate funding for public universities. According to him, an emergency meeting held on October 10 between both parties yielded “provocative and inconsistent” proposals, which he described as a complete departure from earlier agreements reached under the Nimi Briggs-led committee. He warned that failure to meet the union’s demands after the two-week warning strike would lead to a total and indefinite industrial action. Meanwhile, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) distanced itself from the strike, saying its members would continue academic activities. CONUA National President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, said the union had no dispute with the government, stressing that industrial action would only disrupt academic progress. In a reaction, government officials expressed disappointment over ASUU’s decision, saying efforts had been made to address the lecturers’ concerns. According to sources in the Ministry of Education, the government negotiating team had scheduled follow-up meetings with ASUU before the union announced the strike. The development has sparked fresh anxiety among students and parents, who fear another prolonged disruption to academic activities across the country.

The Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR) will inaugurate its President-Elect, Catherine Nwosu, alongside other newly elected executives, during its 14th Annual Conference scheduled for November 1. This was disclosed in a statement issued over the weekend in Lagos by the outgoing President and Chairman of Council, Oluseyi Owoturo. According to the statement, the conference, themed “Unlocking Global Value: The Evolving Role of Capital Market Registrars in Trust, Efficiency and Innovation,” will feature the Vice President of Dangote Industries, Alake Olakunle, as keynote speaker. The Founder of Emerging Africa Group, Dr. Toyin Sanni, will also deliver a presentation titled “Strategic Differentiation Through Expertise: Elevating Registrar Services in Cross-Border and Complex Transactions.” Other panelists expected at the event include Abiodun Adebimpe of Rand Merchant Bank, Babatunde Majiyagbe of Stanbic Nominees, Fiona Ahieme of FBNQuest, Haruna Jalo-Waziri of CSCS Plc, and Mubo Olasoko of Meristem Nigeria. Nwosu, the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Prudential Plc, will be sworn in as the fourth President and Chairman of Council, succeeding Owoturo, who also serves as CEO of Coronation Registrars Ltd. The event will be chaired by Abdulsamad Rabiu, Founder and Chairman of BUA Group, with the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, serving as the special guest of honour.  

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Kano State has reported receiving 172 complaints of alleged human rights violations in September. State Coordinator, Alhaji Shehu Abdullahi, revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Kano. According to him, 122 of the cases have been resolved, while 50 are still pending. Abdullahi noted that 130 of the complaints involved violations of the rights of women and children. He added that 32 of the reported cases related to family neglect and domestic violence, while 10 involved economic and cultural rights, labour issues, and physical assault. He further explained that the commission has also intervened in several marital disputes, urging couples to exercise patience and handle family responsibilities with humility. Earlier this year, the commission had disclosed that it received 130 complaints of alleged rights abuses in March 2024, of which 111 were resolved and 19 remained pending. Most of those cases, he said, also centred on children’s and women’s rights, with additional reports concerning family neglect, domestic violence, and labour-related grievances. 

The Paris Masters is set to make its debut at its new home, La Défense Arena, later this month — a venue whose main court will rank as the second largest on the global tennis circuit, just behind the US Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium. The modern indoor arena, opened in 2017 in Paris’s western suburbs, also serves as the home ground for French rugby club Racing 92. Tournament director Cédric Pioline, speaking ahead of the 2025 edition scheduled for October 27 to November 2, revealed that the centre court will seat around 17,500 spectators. “That makes it the second biggest court in the world for annual tournaments, behind the US Open’s centre court,” the former world number five explained. Additional courts will host about 4,000 fans each, with a smaller third court accommodating a few hundred. Earlier this year, organisers signed a 10-year agreement to host the Masters 1000 event at La Défense Arena, aligning with ATP standards for top-tier tournaments. The move follows long-running concerns that the tournament’s previous home, Bercy Arena — which hosted the event since 1986 — could lead to a downgrade due to space limitations. “Without evolving, we risked losing Masters status within four or five years,” Pioline said. The new venue will offer more space for players and meet updated ATP specifications, including higher ceilings and larger court dimensions. “At Bercy, the outside courts were too tight for today’s level of athleticism, and the ceiling height fell short of the required 12 metres. Overall, it felt restrictive,” he noted. Pioline confirmed that one of the Paris Masters’ signature traditions — the dramatic player walk-ons — will continue, albeit with a refreshed design. “A new venue calls for a new show. It will be more vertical, more dynamic, and use laser-style lighting to create an immersive experience,” he said. The tournament director added that fans could look forward to seeing the sport’s top two players, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, compete for valuable ranking points as the season draws to a close. “The 1,000 ATP points up for grabs could be decisive in the race for the year-end number one,” Pioline said. Both players recently withdrew from tournaments in Asia due to injuries — Alcaraz after his Japan Open win and Sinner during the Shanghai Masters — but are expected to return for the packed late-season schedule, which includes the ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has relieved Dr. Maureen Ekhoragbon of her duties as Chairperson of the State Senior Secondary Education Board, with the decision taking immediate effect. The Secretary to the State Government, Ikhilor Musa, announced the development in a statement on Monday, naming Dr. Rita Otibho Erewele as the new chairperson. No reason was provided for Ekhoragbon’s removal. According to the statement, Erewele is “an accomplished educationist and administrator” with over 20 years of experience in Nigeria’s education sector. She holds a PhD in Educational Administration and Planning, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in education from the University of Benin. Erewele has held several leadership roles, including lecturer, education consultant, and senior education officer. Her work in policy formulation, teacher development, and curriculum improvement has earned her recognition for excellence in academic leadership and reform. Earlier this month, the Edo State Government announced the regularisation of 4,000 volunteer teachers under the EdoStar Teaching Programme and the recruitment of an additional 500 teachers to boost the state’s education workforce. Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, noted that the initiative demonstrates Governor Okpebholo’s commitment to rewarding service and addressing teacher shortages in public schools. “On October 15, we will issue appointment letters to about 4,000 EdoStar volunteer teachers who have been serving diligently for the past three years,” Iyamu said.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has cautioned domestic airlines against informing passengers that ticket refunds take up to four weeks, stressing that such practices violate its 14-day refund regulation. The authority also urged passengers who receive such notifications to forward the communications to its officials for investigation. In a statement issued on X on Monday, the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, emphasised that airlines must strictly adhere to the existing refund timeline. “Domestic airlines must stop telling passengers that their refund process takes four weeks. The NCAA regulations clearly state that refunds must be processed within 14 days, as outlined in Part 19 of the NCAA Regulations 2023. Operators cannot impose their own rules,” Achimugu stated. He further advised affected passengers to forward any such correspondence to michael.achimugu@ncaa.gov.ng

China’s government has condemned former President Donald Trump’s recent threat to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods as “a typical example of US double standards.” A spokesperson from China’s Commerce Ministry warned that if the US follows through with the threat, China may respond with unspecified “countermeasures,” adding that it is “not afraid” of a potential trade war. The warning came after Trump criticized China’s tightened export controls on rare earth minerals, accusing Beijing of becoming “very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “captive.” He also threatened to cancel a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month. Trump’s comments on Friday sent shockwaves through financial markets, causing the S&P 500 to drop 2.7%, its largest decline since April, and reigniting fears of a renewed US-China trade conflict. Earlier this year in May, both countries agreed to roll back some triple-digit tariffs that had threatened to halt trade between them. However, US tariffs on Chinese imports still remain at around 30% higher than at the start of the year, while China imposes a 10% tariff on US goods. China’s Commerce Ministry responded with strong criticism of US export restrictions on chips and semiconductors, defending its own export controls on rare earths as legitimate measures to protect national security. The spokesperson accused the US of “overstretching the concept of national security,” abusing export controls, and applying discriminatory practices against China. “Resorting to tariff threats is not the right way to engage with China,” the official said. “China’s stance on a trade war has been clear: we do not want one, but we are not afraid of one.” China recently tightened export regulations on rare earths and other crucial materials used in advanced technologies such as solar panels and smartphones. As the dominant global supplier, controlling about 90% of rare earth processing, this move is seen as a strategic step in the trade dispute. Observers suggest that the recent exchange of statements may be efforts by both sides to strengthen their negotiating positions ahead of future talks. It remains uncertain whether the expected meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping at the upcoming summit in South Korea will proceed as planned.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike across all public universities in Nigeria. ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the industrial action during a press conference held Sunday at the University of Abuja. “There is nothing on ground to prevent the implementation of ASUU-NEC’s resolution. Therefore, all ASUU branches are directed to withdraw their services from midnight, Monday, October 13, 2025,” Piwuna stated. The strike, he emphasized, will be total and comprehensive, in line with the decision reached at the union’s last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. This latest development comes despite ongoing negotiations with the Federal Government aimed at resolving disputes around staff welfare, funding, and the long-standing 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement. Last week, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa revealed that the government was in the final phase of talks with ASUU and other unions. He cited recent efforts including the release of N50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances and an additional N150 billion captured in the 2025 budget for university infrastructure needs, to be disbursed in three phases. ASUU, however, insists that the government’s actions so far are insufficient to address its core demands.

Thousands of supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline Islamist party, began marching towards Islamabad on Saturday following violent anti-Israel protests in Lahore. The unrest erupted during demonstrations against a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which TLP strongly opposes. The protests, which started Thursday in Lahore, escalated on Friday as demonstrators clashed with police. Officers responded with batons and tear gas after being pelted with stones, according to AFP reporters. At least 50 police officers were injured, authorities said. TLP claimed some of its members were killed, though this has not been independently confirmed. TLP organizers say the march aims to show solidarity with Palestinians, not to present demands. “We are not negotiating with the government,” said senior TLP member Allama Muhammad Irfan. “We just want to support Gaza.” In anticipation of the group’s arrival, Islamabad authorities blocked major roads with shipping containers and suspended mobile internet services. The capital is about 370 kilometers (230 miles) from Lahore. Deputy Interior Minister Tallal Chaudry vowed to prevent the group from entering the city, stating, “There is no room for any radical activity in Islamabad.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, calling it a “historic opportunity for lasting peace,” and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting Palestinian rights through diplomatic means. TLP, which has no seats in parliament but a history of mobilizing large, disruptive protests, often pressures the government with anti-Western rhetoric and demands, including calls to expel foreign envoys. Pakistan does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel.