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By Elizabeth Adegbesan The Naira today depreciated to N1, 375 per dollar from N1, 370 in the parallel market on Wednesday.  The naira also depreciated to N1, 331 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NFEM. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the naira rose to N1, 331 per dollar from N1, 329.56 per dollar on Wednesday, indicating N1.44 depreciation for the local currency. Consequently, the margin between the parallel and official markets widened to N44 per dollar from N40.44 per dollar on Wednesday.

Bank of Japan raises benchmark interest rate from 1 to 1.25 percent, pledging to help counter inflation risks.Published On 18 Sep 202618 Sep 2026The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has raised interest rates by 0.25 to 1.25 percent, pushing borrowing costs to their highest level in 31 years, amid rising inflation and wages, and pressure from Washington.The move on Friday marked the first hike since June, and takes interest rates closer to levels the BoJ deems neutral to the economy, marking another step away from decades of ultra-low rates that cemented the yen’s status as a cheap global funding currency.Japan is…

United States immigration policies have pushed visa applications from Nigeria to the lowest level in four years. An analysis by Business Day, based on data from the US Department of State, shows that the number of non-immigrant US visas issued to Nigerians fell by 50.2 percent to 48,669 in 2025, from 97,369 in 2022. The analysis draws on data from the US Department of State across more than 40 non-immigrant visa classes. It shows that the decline in visa issuances in 2025 from 2022 coincides with a series of sweeping immigration and consular policy shifts introduced following Donald Trump’s return…

In a statement Thursday, Willie Underwood, President of the American Medical Association, called Kennedy’s new slate of members “a significant departure from the Task Force’s traditional membership.” USPSTF’s “credibility has been built on a membership grounded in prevention and primary care—the physicians who routinely deliver preventive services and understand how recommendations translate into clinical practice,” Underwood said. “We believe maintaining a strong primary care voice must remain central to its work.” He added that as this new panel gets to work, its recommendations must also “continue to be based on a transparent, rigorous, independent scientific process.” That transparency is already…

There is a sizeable group of Lib Dem MPs, and members of its frontbench, who openly question whether their problem is not with the message, nor the strategy, but with Davey, the leader.”I think he’s holding us back,” said one of the party’s spokespeople who is planning a tilt at the leadership if a race is triggered.”The atmosphere is ripe for a leadership challenge,” another MP, talking of the frustrations in the party, said. “But we don’t have a Wes Streeting,” they added, referring to Labour’s defence secretary whose challenge to Sir Keir Starmer undermined his leadership.”There is a lack…

Chinese firms increased their reliance on science publications after the US restricted their access to proprietary information.Credit: Wang Li/VCG via GettyChinese firms that were restricted from accessing specific technologies created in the United States increased their use of science publications to boost innovation, according to an analysis of patent citations and scientific publications1 in Science today.Researchers examined how Chinese firms adjusted their ways of accessing knowledge after the US government put them on an ‘Entity List’. The list prevents those on it from licensing certain materials and engaging with joint research and development projects. The US government says that the…

By Olusegun Adeniyi On 18th September 1976, a young economist freshly out of the University of Leicester married the woman of his dream. Today in Lagos, the Chairman of Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc, Mr Remi Makanjuola and his wife, Yoyinsola, will mark their golden wedding anniversary. But as if one milestone is not enough, the lady of the house will also turn 75 next week Saturday, the 26th. It is therefore a season of celebrations for the Makanjuolas. Five years ago, I marked ‘Lateephat Yoyinsola Makanjuola at 70.’ I wrote then of her uncommon humility despite an enviable pedigree,…

Russians are going to the polls to elect a new State Duma in a tightly controlled vote stripped of meaningful competition and with little doubt about the result.Vladimir Putin’s United Russia is expected to extend the grip on parliament it has held for 23 years, alongside a handful of nominal opposition parties that reliably vote with the Kremlin on the issues that matter. The three-day vote begins on Friday, with results expected after polls close on Sunday.For all the predictability of the outcome, the first Duma election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 is taking place against the…

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has rejected Nigeria’s request for an increase in its allocation for the 2027 Hajj, leaving the country with a total quota of 50,000 pilgrims. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) disclosed this in a statement signed by its management on Thursday in Abuja. The Commission said it had formally approached the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to request additional slots in response to increasing demand from prospective Nigerian pilgrims. It explained that the request was also made in response to appeals from several state pilgrims’ welfare boards seeking increased allocations to enable more…

Dike Onwuamaeze The GSM Association (GSMA) has called on African governments to come up with favourable fiscal and monetary policies that would enable mobile networks to realise the projected $76 billion investment in network infrastructure in Africa between 2025 and 2030. This call was made recently by Senior Director, Public Policy & Communications, GSMA, Ms. Caroline Mbugua, who said that global satellite mobile (GSM) service will contribute $290 billion to the African economy in 2030. Mbagua said that the sector contributed $240 billion to the continent’s economy, which about 7.8 per cent of Africa GDP, supported 13 million jobs and…