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FIFA clears Folarin Balogun for USA's World Cup match against Belgium
FIFA has cleared United States forward Folarin Balogun to play in the country's FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium. Balogun had received a red card and an automatic one-match suspension in the USA's Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he scored the winning goal. However, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee reversed the suspension ahead of Monday's knockout fixture in Seattle, determining that the disciplinary measure's implementation should be suspended. This decision was made despite the United States Soccer Federation having no formal appeal avenue under FIFA regulations. The incident was contentious because the Video Assistant Referee intervened, prompting Brazilian referee Raphael Claus to review the challenge, even though Balogun was not initially cautioned. The U.S. Soccer Federation welcomed the decision, stating their focus is on the match against Belgium. Balogun is the United States' leading scorer in the tournament with three goals. FIFA's decision aligns with Chapter 4, Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows a judicial body to suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure. Balogun's availability is expected to boost the United States as they aim for a quarter-final spot.
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Nigeria Customs Service and Afreximbank strengthen partnership to boost intra-African trade
The Nigeria Customs Service has enhanced its collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank Afreximbank to accelerate intra-African trade and address barriers to the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA. This renewed partnership was affirmed during a visit by Dr. George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, to Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi at the Customs headquarters in Abuja. The discussions focused on expanding trade facilitation initiatives, harmonizing customs procedures, strengthening regional transit systems, and developing mechanisms for more efficient cross-border trade. Adeniyi emphasized that the partnership is built on the belief that Africa's prosperity will be driven by trade among African countries. He noted that the collaboration would support Afreximbank's regional transit initiatives, accelerate the development of one-stop border posts, and promote global best practices in customs administration. Elombi commended the Customs Service for its leadership in regional integration, stating that Afreximbank is committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen trade facilitation and accelerate AfCFTA implementation. The meeting also reviewed the successful collaboration during the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade in November 2025. Separately, Adeniyi identified the lack of interoperable customs systems as a major challenge to AfCFTA implementation. This was discussed during the signing
馃嚦馃嚞Punch Nigeria路48 mins ago
Media and CSOs launch #CheckBeforeYouPost campaign to combat fake news ahead of Nigerian elections
Journalists, fact-checkers, and civil society organizations have initiated a nationwide #CheckBeforeYouPost campaign to combat misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech in anticipation of the Osun State governorship election and the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. This resolution emerged from a three-day regional capacity-building workshop in Lagos, organized by Fundaci贸n para la Internacionalizaci贸n de las Administraciones P煤blicas in partnership with FactCheckAfrica, under the European Union Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance Project. Participants, including media professionals and digital rights advocates from the South-West and South-East geopolitical zones, highlighted that false information on digital platforms can influence voter behavior and erode confidence in electoral processes. They noted that women, young people, persons with disabilities, and minority groups are particularly vulnerable to online harassment and hate speech during elections. The communiqu茅 also acknowledged that while Artificial Intelligence offers opportunities, it presents risks through synthetic media and automated misinformation campaigns. Participants committed to strengthening verification practices, promoting evidence-based journalism, and integrating fact-checking into newsroom and advocacy processes. They plan to use Open-Source Intelligence, reverse image searches, geolocation techniques, and AI-assisted verification tools. The campaign encourages Nigerians to v