The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 22 pips to 7.1283 against the dollar on Tuesday.
In China’s spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two per cent from the central parity rate each trading day.
The central parity rate of the yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.
The United Nations has warned against the risks of smartphones in schools, stating only technology that supports learning is merited in schools.
The UN’s education, science and culture agency, Unesco, said mobile devices can cause distraction, risk pupil privacy and lead to cyber-bullying
The agency said less than one-in-four countries have laws or policies banning phones in schools.
In the UK, head teachers set the rules but restrictions apply in most schools.
Read Also: Kenyan Govt to Arrest Parents Keeping Children From School
The author of the 2023 Global Education Monitor report, Manos Antoninis said study found examples of smartphone use in school that is distracting students from learning and increasing risks to their privacy at the same time.
He said students should not be shielded from technology entirely but countries need to give better guidance on what type of technology should be allowed in school.
Several studies have shown that banning mobile phones from schools improves academic performance.
Lexi, 16 year, said her previous head teacher allowed the educational use of phones in school but said students would often use them for social media instead.
She argued that while smartphones could be used for bullying, they could also help create a sense of connection.
The Federal Government on Monday kicked – off the construction of an Aviation Cargo Village on the link road connecting the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
While carrying out the ground breaking ceremony at the Mafoloku axis of the metropolis, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Kabir Yusuf , said the move was part of efforts aimed at addressing most challenges militating against massive avia-cargo exports.
The facility occupies land measuring 27.357. 137 square metres, Yusuf said, would be a one-stop shop for the processing, packaging, certification laboratory services, data gathering for traceability of products and produce meant for air freighting.
He said the facility had become compelling because Nigeria needs to grow its non- oil export value chain.
He said: “This ground-breaking ceremony marking the beginning of a new phase in Avia-Cargo facilitation in our airports was taken by FAAN Management to address the challenges that hinder our capacity to process enough cargo in our airports.’’
“These challenges were identified at the end of the first Aviation and Cargo Conference in 2021.
“Establishing an Avia-Cargo Village was identified as one of the quick wins in addressing the rejection of our avia-cargo exports, and thus, increasing our exports and earnings.
“By this feat FAAN management is truly determined to implementing the recommendations put forward by the committee set up by the government to ensure Nigeria takes its rightful position in Avia-Cargo exports in Africa within the next few years.
“You can be assured that in the next couple years, Cargo planes will be departing from our airports fully loaded with goods that meet destination standards and acceptance.”
Also speaking at the event, coordinator, aviacargo roadmap committee Mr Ikechi Uko said the ground breaking ceremony is a small step for agency and the committee members but a giant step for Nigeria.
“I want use this opportunity to thank FAAN, the management staff, for what they have done. This is a small step for those of us here but it is a magic leap not just for FAAN but for Nigeria. We are number 5 in Africa, when we ought to be number one and this today starts the journey to number one aviation cargo hub Africa. I thank the Managing Director for bringing this to fruition and the whole committee members for supporting this project since we started. And the next time we will be here, there will be evidence of what we have done today.”
Conducting stakeholders and journalists on a tour of the village, FAAN’s General Manager, Land and Survey, Dr. Olorunnisola Michael Oluwatayo, said the cargo village has size of 27,000 square meters.
He said the village is large enough to accommodate all the exports processes at the airport.
The President of the Republic of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune has honored the top-raking candidates at the Baccalaureate examination (June 2023 session), awarding them medals, gifts and financial rewards.
The ceremony took place at the People’s Palace with senior state officials and members of the government present, as well as the families of the winners.
Read Also: Russia And Algeria Tighten Strategic Ties
President Tebboune also honored Mohamed Lamine Chaouchi from the province of Algiers, who obtained his Baccalaureate in the mathematics stream with an average of 19.13, as well as Ines Sekfali in the mathematics-techniques stream, with an average of 19.12/20.
Abdelwahed Bousaid from Naama, enrolled at Oran School of the Cadets of the Nation “Martyr Hamdani Adda”, known as “Si Othmane”, who obtained an average of 19.02 in Mathematics, was also honored by President Tebboune.
In the category of students with special needs, the President of the Republic awarded a distinction to Alaa Menasria from Biskra (motor disability), who ranked first nationally in the experimental sciences stream, with an average of 18.02.
Secretary-General of world football-governing body, FIFA, Ms Fatma Samoura on Monday in Brisbane commended the Super Falcons of Nigeria for reaching the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, saying their feat has brought joy to women’s football as a whole with their elegance and self-assuredness on the pitch, as well as African women football and the African girl-child.
The 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland meant the Falcons finished unbeaten in their Group B, a first-ever for an African team at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“I must say that personally, I am proud of you. As you know, I am the first woman to be Secretary General of FIFA since the organization was founded in 1904, and I am also an African. So, I am easily excited by any accomplishment that glorifies women’s football and African football,” Samoura said as she addressed the nine-time African champions at the dressing room after the match at Lang Park.
READ ALSO:Transfer: Iwobi’s Everton intensify bid to return Iheanacho to Premier League
In company with Nigeria’s leader of delegation, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu (NFF 1st Vice President) and NFF Board Members Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen, Alhaji Babagana Kalli and Ms Aisha Falode, Samoura said the performance of the Falcons is a terrific inspiration to other African teams at the tournament.
“You have won one match here, as Morocco and Zambia, but you are the only team that has made it to the knock-out stage yet. I am also excited because when FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced my name as the new FIFA Secretary-General, I was in Nigeria working for the United Nations. So, Nigeria is a second home for me.
“You should continue to believe in yourselves and play as a team, and be ready to lift the African flag higher in this tournament.”
Gelson Fernandes, the Director for Africa at FIFA, himself a former Swiss international player, urged the Super Falcons to retain their self-belief and be ready to confront and surmount every obstacle on their way to the Final.
The naira Monday weakened to N871 per United States’ dollar at the parallel section of the foreign exchange (FX) market.
The figure represents a depreciation of N6 or 0.7 per cent compared to the N865/$ it traded last week.
Bureaux De Change (BDC) operators, popularly known as ‘abokis’, who spoke in Victoria Island, Lagos, quoted the buying rate of the greenback at N865 and the selling price at N871 per dollar, leaving a N6 profit margin.
Aliyu, a currency trader in the Agbara area of Ogun State, said that buying and selling prices stood at N865/$ and N870/$.
He said there was still high demand for the greenback in the street market.
At the investors and exporters (I&E) forex window, the local currency appreciated by 2.43 percent to close at N756.94/$ on Monday, according to details on FMDQ Securities Exchange – a platform where FX is traded.
The currency has closed at N775.76 to a dollar on Friday.
Since the government unified the exchange rate windows, the naira has consistently experienced fluctuations at the official window.
Recently, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), an arm of The Economist of London, predicted that the Federal Government would go back to a system where they have more control over the exchange rate.
The UK-based platform said the move would be taken to try and stop the naira from losing its value much further.
“The CBN lacks experience in conducting monetary policy under a float, and the need to control rapidly increasing inflation will become more acute over time.”
“Our forecast is finely balanced, but we expect a return to heavier exchange-rate management from the second half of 2023 as the naira slides beyond N800:US$1 from N770:US$1 in early July,” EIU said.
Premier League side Everton are interested in signing Super Eagles and Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho.
The 26-year-old, who has a year left on his contract with the Foxes has been linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium since the start of the transfer window.
Iheanacho joined Leicester from Manchester City in the summer of 2017 but has struggled to secure a regular place in the team. He made 10 goals involvements for Leicester City last campaign in the league despite starting just 11 times in his 28 appearances.
However, Everton have showed interest in the Nigerian international, and he is highly regarded by the Toffees manager Sean Dyche according to bbc.com.
The Merseysiders are expected to make a first approach soon to Leicester City after they suffered a blow in their pursuit of long-term target El Bilal Toure, who chose to join Serie A side Atalanta.
The need for a new striker at the club has been evident by their struggles in front of goal last season, where they scored 34 goals in 38 Premier league games and they have identified the Super Eagles striker as a reinforcement for their frontline ahead of the new season.
Securing the move Goodison Park will be good for Iheanacho as this will avoid him playing in the English Championship with Leicester City next season.
In a legal resolution that echoes the tense confrontations over draconian restrictions on the faith community in parts of the United States during the COVID-19 lockdowns, a city in Idaho has agreed to a settlement of $300,000 following the arrest of Christians who were singing hymns outdoors as a form of protest.
The lawsuit was filed by Gabriel Rench and Sean and Rachel Bohnet against the city of Moscow, Idaho, and several of its employees in response to a gathering that took place at City Hall in September 2020.
The Idaho Counties Risk Management Program, the city’s liability insurance provider, determined that a financial settlement was the best way to resolve the suit and avoid lengthy litigation.
Under the terms of the agreement, the ICRMP will pay $300,000, and all claims against the city and the employees named in the lawsuit will be dismissed, along with a release of all liability, as stated in a July 14 press release by the city of Moscow.
Rench was awarded the settlement for violations of their constitutional rights. The settlement was signed by the city’s supervisor Gary Riedner, city attorneys Mia Bautista and Elizabeth Warner, Moscow Chief of Police James Fry, and city employees Will Krasselt, Megan Vincello, and Jake Lee, according to a statement by Rench.
Rench, who came to Moscow in 2002 to attend the University of Idaho, voiced his relief at the resolution while expressing concern over the cost to city taxpayers. “I am glad this shameful saga is over, but unfortunately at a high cost to the city taxpayers. I estimate that the city spent about $500,000 of city resources on this fight, including the mediated settlement,” he said.
Following their progression to the round of 16 at the ongoing Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand on Monday, the entire 23-woman Super Falcons squad are guaranteed $1,380,000 (N1,062,600,000, as at Monday’s exchange rate) as prize money from world body FIFA for the biggest edition of the tournament.
The Nigerians booked their spot in the round of 16 of the competition for the third time in nine appearances after a goalless draw against the Republic of Ireland in their last group game on Monday to place second behind co-hosts Australia in Group B.
Randy Waldrum’s ladies finished with five points, one point behind The Matildas, who thumped Canada 4-0 in their last game as well to move ahead of Nigeria.
After securing a goalless draw in their first game against Olympic champions Canada, the Falcons followed it up with a stunning 3-2 win over co-hosts Australia, before finishing the job with the stalemate against the already eliminated Ireland.
The Falcons also ended the group stage unbeaten to become the only African country among the continent’s four representatives at the tournament.
The Falcons will know their round of 16 foes — Group D winners — who are likely going to be European champions England or Denmark on Tuesday (today).
For progressing, each member of the 23-woman Falcons squad will get a whopping $60,000 (N46.2m as at Monday’s exchange rate), $30, 000 being their prize money in the group stage and another $30,000 for reaching the last 16.
All players of the 32 teams at the tournament were guaranteed $30,000 for appearing in the group stage and the Falcons will now top it up with another $30,000 when they file out in the round of 16 next Monday.
“That is a lot of money, and it can be used for a lot of things. I know definitely a lot of my teammates are happy for that money. I’m definitely happy for that money,” Falcons right-back Michelle Alozie, said.
Further progress into the quarter-finals will attract an additional $30,000, just as the money rises significantly to $165,000 in the semi-finals.
The players who win the Women’s World Cup will pocket $270,000, the runners-up will get $195,000 and players from the third-placed side will be given $180,000 each.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup is the biggest edition ever, with FIFA expanding the tournament to 32 teams and also increasing the prize money significantly.
Last June, FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced that the world body would dole out $110m in prize money to the 32 participating teams, which is close to a four-fold increase from the $30m in 2019, allocated for 24 teams.
All the 732 players in the new scheme is guaranteed to receive $30,000, while the 23 players in the winning team will pocket $270,000 each — the first time ever that women players will receive guaranteed pay at a World Cup.
The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation has donated $2 million to the Smithsonian American Art Museum to support its fellowship program, marking the largest donation the program has received in its 53-year history and completing a $10 million capital campaign for it.
The gift will be used to create an endowment for a fellowship focused on modern and contemporary American art, to be called the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Fellowship. The first Frankenthaler Foundation Fellowship will be awarded for the 2024–25 academic year, with applications due on November 1, 2023.
Read More: Researchers Uncover Infrared Image Of Magritte Painting Resembling Wife, Muse
Housed within SAAM’s Research and Scholars Center, the fellowship is available for scholars at all levels, from doctoral students to established scholars, as part of the research necessary to complete a dissertation or a book. In addition to endowing the new fellowship, the $2 million gift will also be used for professional development resources for all fellows active in the Research and Scholars Center.
“Writing a dissertation or book can be a lonely and tedious process,” SAAM director Stephanie Stebich said.“ It takes a very long time, and much of it is spent alone traveling between various libraries and archives. There is also a history of scholars carefully guarding their work. SAAM’s fellowship program is a sort of antidote to this isolation—it is a nurturing space where scholars learn from each other, deepening and expanding their thinking.”
Stebich was appointed the museum’s director in spring 2017 and launched the $10 million capital campaign the following year, in the run up to the fellowship program’s 50th anniversary in 2020. She realized that its “outsized impact as an educational and research institution” meant that it required greater funds to continue its scholarly work.
© 2026 LN247. All Rights Reserved
