After completing all 19 of its Action Plan items, Nigeria is now one step closer to leaving the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
A significant step forward in the global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework is the country’s legal and institutional reforms that have resulted in compliance with 36 of the 40 FATF Recommendations.
At the opening of the National Task Force’s four-day retreat in Abuja, the Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Bakari, highlighted this progress.
Hafsat Bakari, the NFIU’s head,
READ ALSO: NFIU, NFIU, and Nigeria Nears Exit from the FATF Grey List
Bakari stressed the value of being prepared for the FATF Africa Joint Group’s trip to New York City next month.
Senior government departments, MDAs, including law enforcement, regulatory, intelligence, and prosecutorial bodies, gathered for the retreat. Ola Olukoyede, the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Musa Aliyu, the head of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), among others, were present.
The retreat’s goal is to ensure that all MDAs are able to confidently present and defend the FATF assessors’ reports, reforms, and data.
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Bakari urged all participants to continue to work together and demonstrate that Nigeria’s reforms are both feasible and viable beyond the confines of grey list monitoring. The onsite assessment, scheduled for the following month, represents the first step toward full integration into the world financial system.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has made a defiant statement in his first statements since a ceasefire with Israel, saying that Iran will “never surrender” to the United States.
In one of his statements, the American president said Iran had to give up. Surrender ! In a statement and televised speech released by state media on Thursday, Khamenei said, “It is no longer a question of enrichment, nor of the nuclear industry, but rather of Iran’s surrender.” “Such a situation (surrender) will never occur. It won’t ever occur.
It was Khamenei’s first public appearance since June 19 when a ceasefire put an end to a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, which was the foe’s most bloody and destructive confrontation.
The speech comes amid conflicting reports in the US about how much damage was done by US strikes on important Iranian nuclear sites in the conflict at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The strikes “obliterated” nuclear facilities, according to US President Donald Trump.
Khamenei claimed Trump “exaggerated” the impact of the attacks and that the US “lost nothing” from the conflict, while claiming that US strikes “did nothing significant” to Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In response to Iran’s missile launch at the largest US base in the Middle East, which left no casualties, he said, “The Islamic republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap the face of America.”
Khamenei also addressed the country’s armed forces, according to Resul Serdar, who is a reporter from Tehran, to congratulate them and refute Iran’s claims that the army has been “huge blows” from Israeli attacks.
Iranians who fled Tehran during the war have since gradually returned to the city, according to Serdar, “because they believe this was just the first wave of the war.”
Many people are skeptical about Iran’s air defense systems’ effectiveness and believe that the US and Israel might launch an attack on the country in the future.
According to Khamenei, the Iranian army successfully attacked both military and non-military positions, causing significant damage to Israel. Serdar added that “if Israel attacks us once more, they will see a further destruction”
In his speech, Khamenei did not threaten Israel or the United States with military action, but he did state that the nation’s nuclear program was still largely in place, according to Serdar, in contrast to US assertions.
He claimed that Iran would continue to support its nuclear program and that the majority of the sites were still operational.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Israel as a “historic victory” on Tuesday as both Iran and Israel won the 12-day conflict.
Iran has also stated that it is open to engaging in nuclear negotiations with Washington.
According to Tehran’s health ministry, at least 627 civilians were killed in Israel’s attacks, and 28 were killed in Israel’s attacks, according to official figures from the Iranian government.
Tadhg Furlong pronounced himself ready for the challenges of a third Lions tour ahead of Saturday’s first game on Australian soil against Western Force here in Perth.
The 32 year-old is a veteran of the last two tours to New Zealand in 2017, which ended in a draw, and South Africa four years ago, when the Lions lost.
The Leinster prop, however, was a stalwart of both series playing in all six tests matches and he’d like to extend that run Down Under.
“Would it be cool to say that I played in all three again?
” Yeah, it would. Is it something that motivates me at the minute? No.
“I think obviously after the result last weekend, we’re looking straight ahead for this Saturday, so it’s just about trying to get my best out onto the pitch and trying to get results with the lads”, explained Furlong.
Not so long ago there were doubts Furlong would make the squad. A calf strain was the latest in a long line of injuries that kept him sidelined for most of last season missing Leinster’s URC win a couple of weeks ago.
“There wasn’t a big bang and it was like you’re out for six months and you’re trying to scramble back.
” They’re all kind of short-term injuries, and you’re always trying to get back for this game or that game, and I suppose I was fully invested in the end of the season with Leinster, so it wasn’t ever feeling of you wouldn’t get back fit for something.
“It’s more a feeling of would you get picked, have you done enough?
Furlong will pack down in the front row against Western Force alongside his Leinster team mate and now Lions captain Dan Sheehan.
” I suppose knowing Dan, he doesn’t overthink it a whole lot, and he always plays well, and I think he has the respect of the group.
“I’m delighted for him as a friend and a teammate.
” He was a big old hooker and I remember him coming into a few scrum sessions.
Finding your slot, what’s comfortable, and what works for you is difficult.
Brave content creator Tanner Martin has said goodbye to his followers on social media just days after becoming a dad, saying he was excited to see what new adventures the afterlife had in store for him
The 30-year-old told fans he’d had a “heck of a life”(Image: Instagram)
The arrival of a first baby should be one of the happiest times in a couple’s life. But when Tanner Martin and Shay Wright welcomed their daughter AmyLou the moment was surely bittersweet, for the influencer was nearing the end of his five year journey with colorectal cancer.
Tanner, 30, died just over a month after the arrival of his bundle of joy and in an unusual step, he delivered the news of his passing himself in a pre-recorded video. Smiling at the camera in the footage posted by wife Shay, the content creator said: “Hey, it’s me, Tanner. If you’re watching this, I am dead.”
With a laugh to soften the news, Tanner bravely added: “I had a heck of a life. I decided to make this video announcing my death because I saw someone did that, like, a year or so ago, and I think it’s a good opportunity to get all your thoughts out.
READ MORE: Nihal Candan dead: Reality star dies age 30 after anorexia battle
Tanner announced his passing in a brave, uplifting video(Image: Instagram)
Signs of Tanner’s condition were evident in the video, with his voice weak and raspy. But his words were filled with positivity, with the influencer saying: “You guys, life was awesome. I really enjoyed it while I was here.
“Hopefully, I believe there’s something after this,” he continued. “I’m excited to meet those people, and hopefully we’re hanging out now and making fun of all you nerds. There’s just a lot of people that for the afterlife, I’m excited to see them, and excited to see them not in pain and just happy.”
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Knowing that the end was approaching, Tanner spent his final days soldiering through treat
The couple shared intimate footage of their bittersweet parenting journey (Image: instagram.com/tannerandshay/)
ment and spending precious moments with his newborn.
On May 11, he told his Instagram followers: “Just thought I’d hop on here and give you guys a quick update,” he began in the clip.
“The chemo makes me really hoarse, so I sound like a different me. But I’m doing okay, just tired. Guess what’s happening. Guess who arrives in six days,” he said, grabbing two little baby slippers alluding to the birth of his daughter.
“Anyway, that’s what I wanted to share. I stop my chemo for a week tomorrow because it’s three weeks on, one week off. Very excited for that… anyways, that’s my update. Love you.”
The influencer was diagnosed with colorectal cancer five years ago(Image: instagram.com/tannerandshay/)
Tanner was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer after he began experiencing stomach aches in 2020 and had trouble going to the bathroom. The disease had already spread to his liver by the time it was discovered and after battling sepsis for eight months in 2023, it spread to his lungs and he was given between two and five years to live.
Announcing Shay’s pregnancy in November 2024, the couple acknowledged concerns about Tanner’s imminent passing.
AmyLou arrived as a result of IVF on May 15 and a video showed the influencer meeting his daughter, whispering: “Sweetheart, I’ve been so excited to meet you. I love you so much… I’ve been waiting for this for so long.”
Tanner and Shay were married for six years(Image: Instagram)
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In his posthumous video, he thanked fans for their support and “helping to make the last years of my life here on earth like fun and enjoyable and helping me be comfortable”. Movingly, Tanner added that he had come to terms with his death.
This doctor in Gaza attempted to save children who had been torn apart at GHF aid sites by Israeli bombs and bullets. She questioned how the world could continue to starve people while she spoke to Al Jazeera.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that Jofra Archer has been added to England’s squad for the second Test against India, which will take place on July 2 in Edgbaston.
After missing for a while due to a recurring elbow issue and back stress fracture, the 30-year-old makes his first appearance in England’s Test lineup since the 2021 tour of India.
Archer, who has 42 wickets in 13 Test matches, made his county championship debut on Sunday against Sussex for the first time in four years.
His most recent appearance for England was against South Africa in a one-day international at the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan in March.
The inclusion of the pacer makes the only change to the England squad that surpassed India’s thrilling five-wicket victory at Headingley on Tuesday to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Ben Stokes (captain), Jofra Archer (captain), Shoaib Bashir, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jamie Overton, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, and Chris Woakes make the England squad.
Jofra Archer is 𝑩𝑨𝑪𝑲 🔥
Our squad for the second Test against India has recently changed.
