Following the implementation of significant changes to the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing systems, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has stated that the country is on track to leave the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
Following the FATF plenary session in Strasbourg, France, NFIU Director Hafsat Bakari revealed this in a statement.
Wale Edun, the minister of finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, led the delegation of Nigeria to the meeting.
Countries on the FATF’s “grey list” are those whose anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing systems are in decline.
To avoid negative economic and reputational effects, nations on the list are expected to address these gaps as soon as possible.
EFCC Chair Tells Nigerian Students, “Internet Fraud Not A Shortcut To Wealth,” READ ALSO.
The NFIU claims that various branches of government coordinated their efforts.
The National Security Advisor, the Interior Ministry, the Justice Ministry, and the Office of the President are just a few of the organizations.
The implementation involved multiple organizations, according to Bakari, who also serves as the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Anti-Money Laundering’s secretariat lead.
The Department of State Services (DSS), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are just a few examples.
On the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump spoke about sanctions against Russia for their fourth-year war in Ukraine and the purchase of Kyiv weapons.
On Wednesday, Zelenskyy said he and Trump discussed how to “protec our people” and “real peace.”
The meeting, which reportedly lasted for 50 minutes, came after Zelenskyy failed to meet Trump earlier this month in Canada when the US president abruptly left a G7 summit as the Iran-Iran conflict raged, just days before the US military launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
Trump stated at a press conference that he had spoken at the NATO summit that he had spoken with Putin about ending the conflict and that he had potential that Russian president Vladimir Putin had territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine.
Zelenskyy earlier stated that Moscow and Kyiv are not moving closer to a ceasefire, saying that “Russians have once more openly and completely cynically declared they are “not in the mood” for a ceasefire. Russia wants to fight. This indicates that they are working very hard to maintain their appearances or that the pressure being applied by the world isn’t still hurting them.
Prior to the summit, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that the security bloc’s “military edge is aggressively challenged by a rapidly rearming Russia, supported by Chinese technology, and armed with Iranian and North Korean weapons.”
Rutte was direct about Putin, saying, “I don’t trust the guy,” adding that the Russian leader wouldn’t approve of the outcome of the NATO summit.
As a response to Trump’s and Europe’s growing security concerns, NATO endorsed a higher defense spending goal of 5% of GDP by 2035.
Putin will remain at home
Putin won’t attend the BRICS summit in Brazil on Tuesday because an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) is still hung over him, according to Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin aide for foreign policy.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion and conflict against Ukraine in 2023, but the ICC issued the warrant shortly after. A war crime, Putin is accused of deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine to Russia.
Moscow, which did not sign the ICC’s founding treaty, has categorically refute the accusations of war crimes, and the Kremlin has declared the warrant null and void. However, Putin has always erred on the side of caution when considering the possibility of him being detained if he travels to a nation that is a signatory to the ICC treaty and only travels where he is safe from being detained.
Despite Mongolian being an ICC member, Putin’s official visit to Mongolia ended in sectarian mode last September, as his hosts ignored the arrest warrant.
The US was also quoted as saying on Wednesday that the country was still holding back on removing barriers to the operation of their respective embassies because efforts to normalize relations between the two had stalled following initial indications that Trump’s second term as US president would cause tensions to significantly wane under former US President Joe Biden’s administration.
The conflict continues apace.
In the most recent developments in the war, Russian missile attacks on southeast Ukraine on Tuesday caused the death of 17 people in the city of Dnipro and the injuries of more than 200 others, causing damage to dozens of structures and infrastructure.
In the city of Samara, two people were killed by Russian forces.
Russia claims that it has seen dozens of drones flying over its territory, including the Voronezh region near the eastern Ukrainian border.
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim of South Asian origin, stunned political observers in dealing a crushing defeat to heavyweight former Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday, as he appeared poised to become the Democratic candidate for mayor of the United States’ biggest city.
If Mamdani, a state assemblyman, wins the mayoral election in November, he will become the first Muslim, Indian-origin mayor in New York City’s history.
As vote counts poured in, Mamdani invoked Nelson Mandela as he tweeted early Wednesday morning: “It always seems impossible until it’s done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honoured to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City.”
Cuomo, the former governor of New York State, who resigned in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal, addressed an event in Manhattan after calling Mamdani to congratulate him. “Tonight was Assemblyman Mamdani’s night, and he put together a great campaign,” he said. “And he touched young people, and inspired them, and moved them, and got them to come out and vote. And he really ran a highly impactful campaign.”
In Mamdani’s expected win, political analysts believe there are larger lessons for the Democratic Party, still grappling with its loss in the 2024 presidential and Congressional elections.
So who is Zohran Mamdani? What were his poll promises, and how did he upset poll predictions to emerge the likely winner of the Democratic primary? And what are his views on Gaza, a major campaign issue this year?
What happened in the Democratic primary?
In the first-choice round of ranked-choice voting in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary on June 24, Mamdani led with 43.5 percent of the vote, nearly 432,000 votes, while Cuomo followed with 36.4 percent, or 361,800 votes.
Comptroller Brad Lander, another progressive contender, came in third with 11.3 percent, and the remaining votes were split among other minor candidates.
Since no candidate secured more than 50 percent of first-choice votes, New York’s ranked-choice system kicked in. Candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated in successive rounds, and their supporters’ second-choice preferences were redistributed.
Mamdani reportedly picked up a significant share of Lander’s voters and other progressives, pushing him on the path to cross the majority threshold. While it might be days before final results are declared, Mamdani’s win appears all but certain, as demonstrated by Cuomo’s concession.
Candidate for New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani is greeted by a supporter on the subway following a campaign stop in New York City, US, April 1, 2025 [REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (Reuters)]
Was Mamdani’s win expected?
Not really. In the weeks leading up to the Democratic mayoral primary, most major polls projected Cuomo as the frontrunner, though they did show support for Mamdani picking up as the election drew closer.
A Marist Poll conducted on June 18, just six days before the primary, showed Cuomo leading the pack with 38 percent of first-choice votes. Mamdani trailed with 27 percent. The poll also simulated ranked-choice outcomes and forecast that Cuomo would eventually reach a 55 percent majority in later rounds, suggesting strong second- and third-choice support among voters.
Similarly, an earlier Emerson College poll from late May showed Cuomo held 37 percent of the first-choice vote, while Mamdani came in at 17 percent. A more dated Siena/AARP poll from April put Cuomo even further ahead, with 39 percent of the vote compared with Mamdani’s 15 percent.
Cuomo had name recognition that is almost unmatched in New York – his father, Mario Cuomo, was also a governor of the state. He had a well-funded campaign that flooded airwaves and mailboxes across the city.
But Mamdani’s grassroots campaign – powered by volunteers, small-dollar donations, and strong turnout among younger voters – proved decisive. He targeted working-class New Yorkers, particularly in Queens, Brooklyn, and parts of Manhattan.
Cuomo and other Democrats had criticised Mamdani as unfit for the NYC mayor’s office, arguing he lacked the administrative experience to navigate the city’s complex bureaucracy and manage crises effectively. On Tuesday, it became clear that their pitch did not work.
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Zohran Kwame Mamdani is a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist and the son of Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani and Indian filmmaker Mira Nair.
Born in Kampala, Mamdani moved to New York at the age of seven. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in Maine. Prior to entering politics, he worked as a housing counselor, assisting low-income families in preventing evictions.
In the 2020 New York State Assembly election, he was elected from the 36th district, representing Astoria, Queens.
Early this year, he married Rama Duwaji, a 27-year-old Syrian artist based in Brooklyn. Her work has been featured in publications like The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and VICE, and she also engages in animation and ceramics.
New York mayoral candidate, State Representative Zohran Mamdani, kisses the hand of his wife Rama Duwaji as they celebrate during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 [Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/AFP]
What are his views on the Gaza war?
Mamdani has been among the most vocal American elected officials criticising Israel’s war on Gaza. In an October 31, 2024, post on X, Mamdani stated, “I will always be clear in my language and based in facts: Israel is committing a genocide.”
He has also been a strong supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. At an event in Manhattan earlier this month, he linked that support to “the core of my politics, which is non-violence”.
A headline moment in his campaign came during a December 2024 interview with Mehdi Hasan, when he was asked what he would do if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited New York. Mamdani replied bluntly: “As mayor, I would have Netanyahu arrested if he came to New York!”
“This is a city [where] our values are in line with international law. It’s time that our actions are also,” he told Hasan.
Mamdani also refused to distance himself from the slogan “Globalize the Intifada”, a phrase that many Jewish leaders and conservative commentators have criticised as inflammatory and accused of being anti-Semitic.
Responding to questions about the slogan, Mamdani said on a June 2025 episode of The Bulwark podcast: “As a Muslim man who grew up post‑9/11, I’m all too familiar (with) the way in which Arabic words can be twisted, can be distorted, can be used to justify any kind of meaning.” He added that the slogan was rather about solidarity with oppressed people globally – not a call to violence.
Cuomo’s campaign also picked up on Mamdani’s Muslim identity and criticised his pro-Palestine stand, alleging he has engaged in anti-Semitism. New York, where the United Nations has its headquarters, is home to the largest Jewish community in the world, outside Israel.
In a June 2025 interview, while addressing Islamophobic threats he had received, Mamdani said: “There is no room for anti-Semitism in this city or country.” He has repeatedly stressed that his critique is directed at the US and Israeli governments’ policies, not at Jews.
Mamdani’s campaign was driven by more than 22,000 grassroots volunteers and endorsements from progressive heavyweights like Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the Working Families Party.
What are some of his other key promises?
Mamdani’s campaign for the New York City mayor position is centered on an ambitious and progressive policy platform aimed at redistributing wealth, expanding public services, and transforming urban life.
One of his flagship proposals is to make all city buses free by 2027. Mamdani has pointed to the success of pilot programmes where fare-free buses led to higher ridership and fewer assaults on drivers.
Housing is another pillar of Mamdani’s platform, where he proposes a rent freeze on all rent-stabilised apartments and plans to establish a Social Housing Development Agency that would build publicly-owned, permanently affordable housing. He has called for stronger tenant protections and has proposed rolling back rent hikes in city-owned properties.
Mamdani has also proposed opening one municipally owned grocery store in each borough, where communities underserved by commercial chains can access affordable, healthy food options. He has pledged to expand free school-meal programmes to include city colleges, and to offer universal childcare and early education programs.
To pay for it all, Mamdani has pitched major tax reforms: Raising the corporate tax rate from 7.25 percent to 11.5 percent, and imposing a 2 percent surcharge on individuals earning more than $1m per year. According to his campaign, these measures could generate up to $9.4bn annually.
On public safety, Mamdani proposed shifting resources away from the New York Police Department towards a new Department of Community Safety, which would house mental health professionals, crisis responders and outreach workers.
Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani prepares before the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the Gerald W. Lynch Theater in New York City., US, June 12, 2025 [Vincent Alban/Pool via REUTERS]
What’s next – and is Mamdani going to be the next mayor?
The general mayoral election for New York City will take place on November 4 this year. Mamdani will face Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, who previously lost the 2021 mayoral race by a wide margin.
Once the primary results are formally announced, Mamdani will become the Democratic Party’s nominee for the November election. Given New York City’s overwhelming Democratic majority – Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 6 to 1 – he will be the firm favourite to become the city’s next mayor.
After Mo Chara was subjected to a counter-terrorism police investigation for supporting Palestine, the outspoken Irish language group Kneecap has gained media attention for its most recent court case.
Kneecap’s Glastonbury performance ‘won’t be broadcast live on BBC’ after calls to pull performance(Image: Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima)
Irish rap group Kneecap are ‘not likely’ to have their upcoming Glastonbury performance shown on the BBC, following controversy over band member Mo Chara’s court case this week. Mo Chara, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged with brandishing a flag backing banned militant group Hezbollah at a gig in November 2024.
On June 18, the 27-year-old faced Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where Paul Weller and other musicians gathered outside. The incident occurred following the band’s O2 Forum performance in Kentish Town, London.
However Kneecap branded the case against their bandmate as a “witch hunt” in a post on X after they were investigated by counter-terrorism police in May for videos allegedly showing Liam saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”. Meanwhile, hundreds of protestors held placards reading “Free Mo Chara”, and “Defend Kneecap,” while respected musicians showed public support for the band.
The rapper’s performance at Glastonbury was under scrutiny as well, but the show will continue as planned ahead of this weekend’s festival due to the rapper’s bail later in the summer. He told fans in Westminster that he would visit Glastonbury on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Irish language group Kneecap are due to perform at Glastonbury this weekend(Image: Redferns)
If anyone watches the BBC, you can watch it on the BBC. In September, we’ll be at Wembley. But most importantly, Palestine is free and free.
Continue reading the article.
Even Prime Minister Keir Starmer has waded into the situation, amid rising tensions in the Middle East. When asked by the Sun whether the band should play the festival, he replied: “No, I don’t.
“I believe we must come down on this very clearly,” he said. Because there is a court case ongoing, I won’t say too much, but I don’t believe that’s appropriate.
However, they are still scheduled to perform on Saturday at the West Holts stage, but neither the BBC’s listings nor their schedules indicate that they will be there. Just before the broadcast is scheduled to begin, BBC Two will begin airing Glastonbury coverage at 5 p.m., with Kneecap scheduled for 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Although iPlayer coverage is available throughout, with highlights shown each day in the evenings on BBC One – the band are also not listed for either platform. The BBC’s schedule is finalised and can be changed up nto and even during the festival, but so far, there is no sign of Kneecap.
A BBC spokesperson told Yahoo UK: “As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers. Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines. Decisions about our output will be made in the lead up to the festival.”
In an open letter, campaign group Love Music Hate Racism, Primal Scream, and Toddla T, the wife of former Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, criticized their upcoming performance. More than 30 “music industry individuals” are alleged to have signed the plea, which calls for Kneecap’s Glasto appearance to be canceled.
Johnny Marr, a member of The Smiths, added to the group’s growing support base before the court date, which is scheduled for August. The legendary guitarist called for an “end to the atrocities and a free Palestine” in a statement posted on social media. He praised musicians who “use their platform to speak out against injustice.”
He capped his passionate letter with “Oppression fears artistic expression.” I respect all musicians who use their platforms to protest injustice, advocate for equality, and empower the oppressed. I join my fellow musicians and my audience in calling for a free Palestine and an immediate end to the atrocities. “Johnny Marr”
The fixtures for the 2025-26 English Football League season will be released at 12:00 BST on Thursday.
Relegated Premier League sides Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester will be joined in the Championship by promoted Birmingham, Charlton and Wrexham, who return to the second tier for the first time in more than 40 years after three straight promotions.
In League One, Cardiff and Plymouth will be looking to secure an immediate return to the second tier along with Luton, who suffered their second consecutive relegation to come down with them on a dramatic final day.
In League Two, Barnet and Oldham will be making their EFL return after winning promotion from the National League last season.
All fixtures will be on the BBC Sport website and app as soon as they are announced.
When does the EFL season start?
The start to the new EFL season will be split over the weekends of 1-3 August for League One and League Two and 8-10 August in the Championship.
The scheduled 46 rounds of Championship matches will take place across 33 weekends, nine midweeks and four bank holidays.
Leagues One and Two matches will be played over 33 weekends, five midweeks and eight bank holidays and international break dates.
What to look out for
Can relegated Premier League sides bounce back?
For the second year in a row, last season saw the three teams who had been promoted from the Championship all relegated straight back. Before 2023-24 that had not happened since Barnsley, Bolton and Crystal Palace all immediately went down in 1997-98.
It’s a new era in the dugout at Southampton, where Will Still takes over, while Kieran McKenna remains in charge at Ipswich, as does Ruud van Nistelrooy at Leicester, for now.
After narrowly missing out on an instant return to the Premier League, courtesy of a dramatic play-off final defeat by Sunderland, Sheffield United have parted ways with Chris Wilder and brought in Ruben Selles to lead their charge for promotion.
High hopes at promoted sides
Birmingham, Wrexham and Charlton might have differing ambitions after being promoted to the second tier.
Blues and the Red Dragons might be dreaming of emulating Ipswich – whom they will face in the Championship this season – in following promotion from League One with an instant ascent to the Premier League the following season.
In their first season in the second tier since 1982, Phil Parkinson’s men are seeking a fourth successive promotion, though Charlton, who return to the division after five years away, and boss Nathan Jones’ first target is likely to be survival.
Cardiff won’t enjoy being Wales’ third-ranked EFL side and will have their sights on an instant return to the Championship, along with Luton and Plymouth, who now have Tom Cleverley in charge.
Barnet and Oldham return to League Two after seven and three years away, respectively, following their promotion from the National League.
New faces
It’s been all change in the dugout since the end of the season, especially in the Championship.
After losing the play-off final, Sheffield United chose to replace Wilder with Selles, who had been sacked by Hull despite guiding the Tigers to safety.
Sergej Jakirovic has been installed as boss at the MKM Stadium, while after play-off semi-final disappointment, Bristol City boss Liam Manning opted to fill the vacancy at home town club Norwich, with Gerhard Struber replacing him at Ashton Gate.
Still’s first job in England is at Southampton, while Ryan Mason’s first permanent managerial job comes at West Bromwich Albion.
You can purchase Michelle Keegan’s exact racket, which has been hailed as “ideal” for female players, from a long line of celebrities who have become obsessed with the hottest sport, Padel.
We may link to affiliate links in this article, but we will make money off of any purchases we make. Learn more at  
Michelle Keegan joins Padel trend with powerful racket that is ‘ideal for women’(Image: Michelle Keegan/Instagram)
David Beckham, Serena Williams, Andy Murray, and Eva Longoria are just a few names of celebrities who have become addicted to this new sport, Padel, which has taken Britain by storm. And Michelle Keegan has just joined the club after spending the weekend getting stuck in with her vibrant Babolat racket. And if you’re considering dipping your toe into the world of Padel, you can buy Michelle’s exact Padel accessory on Amazon.
This 26-piece strimmer set is now 30% less expensive than it once would be for gardening this summer.
READ MORE: Glastonbury attendees shocked by the festival’s ban on well-known makeup items. Here’s what to wear instead.
Michelle Keegan took to Instagram to show fans her new Padel racket(Image: Michelle Keegan/Instagram)
Michelle used this vibrant yellow and green Babolat Counter Vertuo Padel Racket, which is sure to draw attention to both the court and the game, as seen in her social media posts. This racket, which retails for $96.49, is a light, manageable padel racket for players and was created to work against counter-attacking strategies.
This racket has a low balance and a hybrid shape, which makes it a great choice for beginners to intermediate players like Michelle, as well as soft materials that promise comfortable and easily controllable shots. The ball bounces more effectively with less speed and with quality in receptions thanks to the elastic, soft, and flexible materials. This racket, which has a comfortable and enjoyable hit and good outlets, makes it simpler to counterattack your foe with materials that don’t require you to put all of your might into each hit.
Carbon is used to make the sides of this racket, and the frame is carbon. The 350 grams of Black EVA rubber at its core makes it lighter and easier to control, making it better able to withstand the blows your opponent will give you. Every shot is shot with precision by the racket.
Michelle’s racket can also be changed or changed, or a different color and design can be put on top. Padel rackets are designed with a particular die to maximize the power and spin of each shot by increasing the weight of each racket. Additionally, the bridge’s combination of carbon and elastomer helps to provide better player sensations while playing and is more vibration resistant.
The power is good, very simple to adapt, and the weight is ideal for women, according to one shopper who purchased Michelle’s racket.
Continue reading the article.
Another person writes, “It comes alone, without any additional boxes, but I suppose that’s the least.” The blade feels powerful in addition to being controlled. I really enjoyed it a lot. It’s absolutely worth it, I think.
