Once Upon A Time – June 9 – 1902 – 1st Automat Restaurant Opens At 818 Chestnut St, Philadelphia

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 9, 2023

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721 Odo of Aquitaine defeats a Umayyad Muslim army at the Battle of Toulouse

1549 Book of Common Prayer is adopted by the Church of England

1815 End of the Congress of Vienna: New European political situation is set

1856 500 Mormons leave Iowa City, Iowa, and head west for Salt Lake City, Utah, carrying all their possessions in two-wheeled handcarts

1977 Silver jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain celebrated with fireworks

2019 Over 1 million people protest in Hong Kong over proposed new extradition laws to China in one of largest-ever protests in the city

Historical Events Today Events in 2023

Today in Film & TV

1934 1st appearance of Donald Duck in a cartoon, “The Wise Little Hen”

Today in Music

1924 “Jelly-Roll Blues” is recorded by American jazz pioneer pianist and composer Jelly Roll Morton

Today in Sport

1973 105th Belmont: Ron Turcotte aboard Secretariat wins in 2:24, becoming the 1st Triple Crown winner in 25 years

1902 1st Automat restaurant opens at 818 Chestnut St, Philadelphia

1650 The Harvard Corporation, the more powerful of the two administrative boards of Harvard, is established. First legal corporation in the Americas.

Famous Weddings

1660 French King Louis XIV (21) marries Maria Theresa of Spain (21) at Saint-Jean-de-Luz

1908 Poet Joyce Kilmer (21) weds author Aline Murray (19)

1936 Novelist and journalist George Orwell (33) weds Eileen Maud O’Shaugnessy (30) at St. Mary’s Church

Naira Falls 1.02% After Closing Steady for 7days

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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June 8, 2023

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Nigeria’s currency on Thursday depreciated by 1.02 percent (N4.83/$1) at the Investors and Exporters (I&E) forex window, Nigeria’s official foreign exchange (FX) market.

After trading on Thursday the dollar was quoted at N469.50 compared to N464.67 quoted since May 31, 2023, I&E window, data from the FMDQ indicated.

The local currency further weakened against the dollar on Thursday, losing 0.39 percent (N3) at the parallel market, also known as black market.

During the trading session on Thursday the dollar was quoted at the rate of N763 as against N760 on Wednesday.

The naira depreciation followed strong demand for dollars by individuals for travel allowances and school fees.

Naira has since last week steadied at N464.67 per dollar at the Investors and Exporters forex window despite a decline in the market liquidity on Wednesday.

Most currency traders who participated at the foreign exchange auction on Wednesday maintained bids between N460/$1, lower and N467/$1, higher bid.

The daily foreign exchange market liquidity declined by 24.57 percent to $140.31 million on Wednesday from $186.02 million recorded on Tuesday, data from the FMDQ indicated.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023 signalled plans for a single exchange rate. He said monetary policy needs thorough house cleaning and that the Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate.

This will direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment and jobs that power the real economy.

“The naira volatility has underpinned our slow economic growth and fuelled an inefficient informal market,” Aminu Gwadabe, national president, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON).

Multiple exchange rates he said are ground and encourage illegal economic behaviour for rent seeking, currency substitution and hoarding, adding that the lack of unified exchange rates has acute shortages in the retail end sector of the market where the spikes and volatility is most pervasive.

“We as licensed retail exchange Business believe the unification will lead to a true market price discovery and enhance liquidity in our sub sector.

“To this end we advise the new president to embrace securitization of diaspora remittances by leveraging on the BDCs sub-sector as the most potent and effective transmission mechanisms of monetary policies in the retail end sector of the market,” Gwadabe said.

Stock Market Sustains loss as Waning Sentiment Continues on NGX

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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June 8, 2023

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The waning sentiment observed in the Nigerian stock market this week continued on Thursday.

As a result, the stock market decreased further by 0.12percent while investors maintained cautious approach to the market.

At the close of trading session on Thursday, the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) All-Share Index (ASI) and its equities Market Capitalisation – decreased further from 56,025.56 points and N30.506trillion respectively to 55,956.59 points and N30.468trillion.

Investors lost about N38billion at the close of trading session on Thursday. The market’s positive return year-to-date (YtD) printed lower at +9.18 percent.

John Holt led the league of laggards after its share price decreased from preceding day high of N1.55 to N1.40, losing 15kobo or 9.68 percent.

Also, Caverton Offshore Support Group decreased from a high of N1.40 to N1.30, losing 10kobo or 7.14 percent.

Coronation Insurance made the top laggards list after its share price moved down from preceding day high of 46kobo to 43kobo, losing 3kobo or 6.52 percent.

GSK was also down from a high of N7.55 to N7.15, shedding 40kobo or 5.30percent, while Stanbic IBTC decreased from N46.40 to N45, losing N1.40 or 3.02percent.

UBA, NPF Microfinance Bank, Access Corporation, Zenith Bank and Dangote Sugar Refinery were top-5 traded stocks as investors in
6,061 deals exchanged 531,784,757 shares valued at N7.682billion.

Africa’s investment in Blockchain technology increased by 1668% – report

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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June 8, 2023

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Blockchain technology investment in Africa increased by 1668 percent between 2021 and 2022, according to a report to be released by Emurgo Africa.

The report sponsored by the blockchain technology company is the first comprehensive state of Webinar 3:0 report in Africa, scheduled to be released on June 23, 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.FG approves Nigeria Blockchain Policy in a bid to create a digital Nigeria

According to a statement released by the company, the report highlights the rapidly-evolving landscape of Web 3.0 technologies in African countries, providing in-depth analysis of their impact, opportunities, and challenges and offering recommendations for fostering growth and measurable impact.

“Key findings from the report include the immense opportunities for the African continent through the adoption of Web 3.0 technologies, a 1,668 percent increase in investment in blockchain technology in Africa between 2021 and 2022, and the crucial importance of collaboration between industry stakeholders, policymakers, and regulators in fostering an environment conducive to the growth of Web 3.0 technologies,” the statement revealed.

The statement also pointed out that the report is positioned to close the knowledge gap in Web 3:0 technologies by examining the potential of these technologies to advance social and economic development in Africa, presenting a detailed view of the current landscape and future prospects of Web 3.0 technologies in the region, featuring real-world use cases, possibilities and obstacles connected with their adoption.

It explores various aspects of Web 3.0, such as decentralised finance (DeFi), blockchain technology, digital identity, smart contracts, and data privacy. It also investigates the regulatory environment, infrastructure, and access to technology in the target nations, identifying areas for development that will facilitate the growth and adoption of Web 3.0 technologies the statement said.

Commenting on the first-of-its-kind report Ahmed Amer, the blockchain company’s CEO lauded the potential of web3.0 to drive unprecedented development in Africa.

“The future of Web 3.0 technologies in Africa is bright, with the potential to drive unprecedented social, financial and economic development across the continent. This report emphasizes the critical importance of collaboration between stakeholders, policymakers, and regulators in fully realizing the transformative power of Web 3.0 technologies in Africa,” Amer said.

“Web 3.0 technologies are experiencing exponential growth and expansion in Africa, with the potential to bring transformative change to various industries such as trade and industry, financial services and lending, supply chain management and logistics and healthcare provision and accessibility. Factors such as regulatory clarity, infrastructure development, and collaboration between stakeholders will play a significant role in the widespread use and successful implementation of these technologies.”

Pupils Face Lost Decade in Education After Covid – MPs

By

Nzubechukwu Anodo

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June 8, 2023

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Members of UK parliament say pupils will face a lost decade of progress in schools in England after the Covid, if action is not taken.

Reports expressed alarm that it could take 10 years for the gap between disadvantaged children and others to narrow to what it was before Covid.

It urged the government to take faster and more effective action, such as improving uptake of a tutoring scheme designed to help students catch up.

The government said it had made £5bn available for education recovery.

About 13% of schools in England did not take part in the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) in 2021-22, affecting the education system.

The NTP provides primary and secondary schools with funding to subsidise tutoring, including one-to-one and group lessons.

The UK Department for Education (DfE) initially subsidized 75% of the costs which schools incurred for delivering the NTP, but this reduced to 60% this year and will go down to 50% next year.

Joint general secretary of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney said the government was in denial about the scale of the problems schools are facing.

Uganda Education Council Replaces Expired Courses in Institution

By

Nzubechukwu Anodo

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June 8, 2023

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The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has announced that the Expired courses will be changed to Due For Review in categorization of academic programs at universities and all tertiary institutions.

This was revealed during a press conference conveyed by the executive director of NCHE, Prof Mary Okwakol.

Recent reports stated that some of the academic programs at different universities and tertiary institutions were expired.

As previously reflected on NCHE website, at least 1,470 programs had expired over the past five years.

The affected programs included both graduate and undergraduate courses and the expiry period differed according to the academic institutions.

This has raised public concerns over the validity of accredited academic programs offered by NCHE.

The Executive director of NCHE, Prof Mary Okwakol, in a meetings with heads of degree awarding institutions and tertiary institutions, during which recommendations were suggested in regards to the categorization of academic programs.

Okwakol said the body, having taken into consideration the recommendations raised by the heads of institutions, have resolved to replace the word ‘Expiry’ with ‘Due For Review’ for programs whose re-assessment period has lapsed and have not been re-submitted to NCHE for review.

She also said that the council resolved to maintain the Under Review label for programme whose re-assessment had lapsed but have been submitted to NCHE.

Okwakol revealed that the council has also extended the period between accreditation and re-assessment to the equivalent of two equivalencies cycles plus one year, noting that During this period, a programs is recognized as accredited.

According to the NCHE, all the programs labeled Due for review must be submitted to the council by November 30, 2023 for re-assessment.

Kenya Examination Council Begins Recruitment of KCSE Practical Assessors

By

Nzubechukwu Anodo

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June 8, 2023

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Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has started the recruitment for teachers and college tutors to assess the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) oral and practical papers.

KNEC’s Chief Executive Officer, David Njengere stated that between June 6 and July 28, the Commission will be recruiting secondary school teachers and college tutors to serve as assessors for the KCSE oral and practical papers.

He said the selected professionals will be trained on the job during the assessment of the 2023 KCSE papers.

He said professionals will be recruited as KCSE assessors in Power Mechanics, Electricity, Aviation Technology, French, German and Arabic Oral, Kenya Sign Language (KSL) signing practical as well as Music practical.

He said to apply for the recruitment, a candidate must be a practicing tutor in the relevant subjects and must be registered or employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) or a recognized professional body.

He added that they should be recommended by their individual Heads of Institution, hold a diploma or higher in Education or in the pertinent fields of specialization and have taught for at least three years.

He said candidates can check for the application process and further information by visiting the KNEC examiners’ web page.

UNILAG Inaugurates Centre For Clinical Trials

By

Nzubechukwu Anodo

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June 8, 2023

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The University of Lagos (UNILAG), College of Medicine has inaugurated the Centre for Clinical Trials, Research and Implementation Science (CCTRIS), to enhance capacity in medical research.

The institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola said that Nigeria and Africa at large have not made great advances in clinical trials.

Ogunsola, who was represented by Prof. Lucian Chukwu said the center is coming at the right time to enhance research works in clinical trials and implementation science.

She said the area of clinical trials in the African continent has not been given its pride of place despite controlling a significant part of the global population.

She added that the implementation science of CCTRIS would assist in bridging the gap between theories and practicals.

Ogunsola urged the CCTRIS Director to ensure that the centre becomes a renowned facility in clinical research.

Provost of the College of Medicine, UNILAG, Prof. David Oke said medical research plays a pivotal role in positioning the institution at the centre of global institutions.

Oke, who was represented by Deputy Provost, Prof. Osaretin Ebuehi said the centre would focus on developing and facilitating innovative research and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions.

Director of the Centre, Prof. Bosede Afolabi, said CCTRIS aimed to become a leading institution in the field of clinical trials and implementation.

She said that the goal of the centre was also to develop capacity with postgraduate courses and conduct multidisciplinary research.

She added that the center would also provide administrative and project management services to the clinical research community in the country.

Singapore To Hold Final Horse Race After More Than 180 Years

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 8, 2023

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The more than 180-year-long history of horse racing in Singapore is set to draw to a close.

It has been announced that the small Southeast Asian nation’s only racecourse – Singapore Turf Club – will hold its final meeting next year.

The country’s government will take back the 120-hectare site, which will be used for public and private housing.

Queen Elizabeth II, who was an avid racegoer and racehorse breeder, has an event named after her at the course.

Her late Majesty presented the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Cup during a visit to Singapore in 1972. She attended the feature race a second time in 2006.

Queen Elizabeth II visited the Singapore Turf Club in 1972 and 2006

The sport was introduced to Singapore in 1842, when Scottish merchant William Henry Macleod Read and several other enthusiasts founded the Singapore Sporting Club.

They transformed a patch of semi-swampland in Farrer Park in central Singapore into a racecourse. In 1924, the site was renamed as the Singapore Turf Club.

Horse racing proved to be popular not only with Europeans, with meetings also attracting wealthy Malay and Chinese racegoers.

In 1933, as horse racing’s popularity increased on the island, the course was moved to a larger location at Bukit Timah in western Singapore.

Cars parked outside Singapore Turf Club’s Bukit Timah racecourse.

In March 2000, the Singapore Turf Club moved to its current location at Kranji, in the north of the island. The S$500m ($370.9m; £298m) racecourse has a five-storey grandstand, with capacity for 30,000 spectators.

However, the Singapore Turf Club has seen attendance decline over the past decade.

The country’s government said the land would be redeveloped for public and private housing to meet “future land use needs”.

The Ministry of National Development also said it would explore other uses for the land, including leisure and recreation facilities.

Jockeys compete in a race at the Singapore Turf Club’s Kranji Racecourse in May 2019.

Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano Erupts In Fiery Display

By

Angel Gimalo

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June 8, 2023

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The Kilauea volcano has erupted spewing massive flows of lava around the crater floor.

The US Geological Survey captured the volcanic activity on a webcam.

The last time Kilauea erupted was in January this year, with activity stretching into March.

Located in a closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.