Iran left a message saying “may peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations” following their World Cup group match against Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium.

The handwritten note was left in their dressing room following a goalless draw in their second Group G game.

Iran are competing at the World Cup while their country and the United States – who are co-hosts along with Canada and Mexico – are in negotiations to end their war.

“From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilised Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast,” read the message, which was released by the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI).

“We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honour, and leave with dignity,” the note continued.

“Thank you Los Angeles for your hospitality.

“And thank you to every Iranian who gave their heart, voice and soul for Iran throughout these 180 minutes.

“May peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations.”

The message also made reference to an attack on a girls’ school in Minab, where at least 168 people were killed on the first day of the war.

Iran played their opening match – a 2-2 draw with New Zealand – at Los Angeles Stadium, and will play their third and final group game against Egypt in Seattle on 27 June (04:00 BST).

Their involvement in the World Cup has been plagued with uncertainty, linked to the war in the Middle East and related security concerns.

Multiple “integral” members of their backroom staff were denied entry visas for the US while the FFIRI called on Fifa to “uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations” after its allocation of tickets was revoked on the eve of the tournament.

Iran subsequently switched their base for the World Cup from Arizona in the US to Tijuana in Mexico, and face strict travel restrictions during their campaign.

They are allowed to fly into the US a day before they have a game and have to leave the country on the same day as the match, under the conditions of their visas.

This led to Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei saying they are the “most oppressed” team at the tournament following the draw with New Zealand.

However, Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House’s World Cup taskforce, says there are “discussions going on” about the timings for Iran’s travel to and from their game against Egypt.

– BBC

President Bola Tinubu has sent a Constitution Alteration Bill to the National Assembly, seeking the establishment of state police.

The bill seeks to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to create a legal framework for state police across the federation.

This is coming after repeated calls by the President for constitutional reforms to enable states to play a greater role in securing their territories.

Recall that in February, the president asked the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to accommodate state police,

Tinubu described the reform as necessary to address terrorism, banditry and other security threats.

Similarly, on Democracy Day during his nationwide speech, Tinubu vowed that terrorists, bandits and their sponsors would face the full weight of the law, insisting that no mercy would be shown to enemies of the state.

The state police proposal has gained momentum in recent months, with both chambers of the National Assembly advancing constitutional amendment processes aimed at decentralising policing powers to the states.

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has lost his battle to get the bail conditions imposed on him by the Federal High Court in Abuja varied.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, on Tuesday refused to relax the bail conditions for the former governor while delivering a ruling in an application by El-Rufai.

El-Rufai, through his lawyer, Paul Erokoro, SAN, had applied for a variation of some of the bail conditions earlier granted to El-Rufai, describing them as harsh, stringent, outlandish and difficult to meet.

The senior lawyer argued that the bail terms were too stringent, particularly the requirements for level 17 civil servants with properties in Maitama or Asokoro, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna state traditional council.

However, the prosecution, Oluwole Aladedoye SAN, opposed the request, insisting that qualified public officers who meet the conditions exist and urged the court to refuse the application.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik declined the request to vary the bail conditions, holding that there are civil servants who own properties at the said location.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, the Department of State Services closed its case against the former governor in the ongoing alleged wiretapping trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the prosecution would not be calling further witnesses in the matter, prompting the formal closure of the DSS case.

Following the development, defence counsel, Paul Erokoro SAN, told the court that the defence intends to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient evidence against the former governor.

The defence subsequently sought two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution requested two weeks to respond and do the necessary filing.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik then fixed September 22 for hearing of the no case submission and the continuation of proceedings.