In 2014, Obiageli Ezekwesili captured the world’s attention with #BringBackOurGirls, a campaign to rescue 276 schoolgirls who had been kidnapped in Chibok, Nigeria, by the militant group Boko Haram. In announcing a presidential bid on Oct. 7, the former World Bank official now hopes to upend establishment politics in Africa’s most populous country.

AGAINST THE MACHINE

Ezekwesili’s work for the Chibok girls, half of whom are still missing, has earned her popularity and a reputation as a “dogged” advocate, says Leena Koni Hoffmann, an associate fellow at think tank Chatham House. Short-listed for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for her anticorruption activism, she also appeals to those concerned about graft scandals in the main parties. Between them, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have governed Nigeria since it returned to civilian rule in 1999. Entering the race just months before the vote, Ezekwesili faces an uphill strugg..

Populist political parties have made big gains in a number of European countries in recent years, but Italy is the first large euro-zone economy where a government openly hostile to the E.U. has taken charge. The coalition in power there, the Five Star Movement (5SM) and the League, is in office at least in part because it’s willing to blame Brussels for many of the country’s current problems. The latest face-off is over the content of Italy’s national budget.

The European Commission, the executive body of the E.U., wants Italy to keep its debt under control as part of fiscal rules governing every country that uses the euro. The Italian government wants a looser budget because 5SM wants to spend money on a “guaranteed basic income” scheme popular in Italy’s poorer southern provinces, and the League–led by powerful Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini–wants to give wealthier northern supporters a tax cut. Italy’s national debt is already 131% of GDP, the second highest level in the eur..

(CHICAGO) — The Obama Foundation is launching an initiative aimed at boosting educational opportunities for girls around the world.

Former first lady Michelle Obama on Thursday announced the launch of the Global Girls Alliance that will work with organizations worldwide to increase public awareness and action.

Obama says the alliance aims to lifting up grassroots leaders all over the world who want to clear away the hurdles that many girls face when trying to get an education.

The Chicago-based foundation says more than 98 million adolescent girls worldwide don’t go to school. The alliance’s website highlights programs around the world and offers ways for the public to support those programs.

The Obama Foundation was started in 2014 with the aim of continuing “the great, unfinished project of renewal and global progress.”