World Cup 2018: No British referee chosen for tournament

                         Howard Webb was the referee for the 2010 World Cup final between the Netherlands and Spain

There will be no British referee at the World Cup this summer for the first time since 1938.

Fifa has chosen 36 officials for the tournament in Russia but none from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Mark Clattenburg was the only Briton on Fifa's long list of officials, collated in summer 2016, from which it would choose the final selection for Russia.

But he left his job with the Premier League and forfeited his place.

Clattenburg, who took charge of the Euro 2016 final when Portugal overcame hosts France, quit his job as a top-flight official in February 2017 to become Saudi Arabia's new head of referees.

The Football Association did ask world governing body Fifa to replace him with another official but it rejected the request.

There are also no British officials among the 63 assistant referees selected, while video assistant referees (VAR) will be chosen from the pool of officials at the tournament.

VAR is being used at the World Cup for the first time.

The World Cup did not take place for 12 years after 1938 because of World War Two, and since it resumed in 1950 there has been at least one English referee at each tournament.

England's Howard Webb was Britain's sole representative at the last two World Cups in 2010 and 2014.

He took charge of the 2010 final when Spain beat the Netherlands in South Africa.

In terms of Fifa's international list, the Football Association and referees' association PGMOL work together to put forward their choices.

The final decision is taken by the FA Referees' Committee and they nominated Martin Atkinson, Stuart Attwell, Robert Madley, Michael Oliver, Craig Pawson, Anthony Taylor and Paul Tierney for 2018.

Criticism of Premier League referees

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been a vociferous critic of Premier League referees this season and said they "don't work enough".

He also said some referees are living in the "dark ages" with the way they treat players and described disputed refereeing decisions against his side as "concerning coincidences".

The Frenchman was also given a three-game touchline ban and fined £40,000 for his behaviour in referee Mike Dean's changing room after a 1-1 draw at West Brom in which the Baggies were awarded a controversial late penalty.

Atkinson was accused of making a "fundamental error" by former Stoke manager Mark Hughes, while Manchester City recently asked to meet the body responsible for Premier League referees - the PGMOL - to discuss their concern at tackles being made against them.

Russia expels US diplomats and shuts consulate in tit-for-tat move

CNN Reports that Russia will expel 60 US diplomats and close the US Consulate in St. Petersburg, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday, in retaliation for a similar move by Washington.

The 60 diplomats -- 58 from the US mission in Moscow and two from Yekaterinburg -- were declared "persona non grata" for activities "incompatible with diplomatic status," the ministry said, ordering them to leave the country by April 5.

US Ambassador Jon Huntsman had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry to be told of the decision, Lavrov said.

In response, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that Moscow "should not be acting like a victim."

She rejected the Russian government's suggestion that it is taking reciprocal action: "We don't see this as a diplomatic tit for tat," Nauert told reporters shortly after Moscow announced the move.

Russia has been on the defensive since the UK government openly blamed Moscow for the poisoning of a former Russian double agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, on British soil on March 4.

More than 20 nations, including long-term allies like the United States, have backed Britain by together expelling more than 100 Russian diplomats. The US expelled 60 on Monday as part of the coordinated global response.

Respond in kind

Russia will respond in kind to all countries that expelled Russian diplomats, Lavrov said, according to Russia's state-run news agency TASS, without giving further details.

Russia had already been engaged in a tit-for-tat with Britain, with both countries expelling 23 diplomats each, and Russia closing some British institutions in the country.

Russia has firmly denied responsibility for the poisoning and President Vladimir Putin has dismissed accusations his country was involved as "delirium."

Lavrov echoed those sentiments Thursday and slammed the global expulsions of Russian diplomats as "absolutely unacceptable," warning that Russia would retaliate. He said those countries had been put under "the greatest pressure of the United States and the Great Britain."

Among those that expelled Russian diplomats were major European Union economies, including Germany and France, as well as most NATO states.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement the decision marked "a further deterioration" in relations between the two countries.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May accused Russia of using a military-grade Novichok nerve agent for the poisoning, in the English cathedral city of Salisbury on March 4.

Sergei Skripal, 66, remains in critical condition, while the Salisbury District Hospital said Thursday that 33-year-old Yulia Skripal's condition was no longer critical and was now stable.

The Skripals were found slumped on a bench in an outdoor shopping complex in Salisbury. They had no visible injuries, according to police.

The update on Yulia's condition comes a day after police said they believed the Skripals first came into contact with the nerve agent at Sergei Skripal's home in Salisbury.

Police have identified the highest concentration of the nerve agent to date as being on the property's front door, London's Metropolitan Police said.

CNN's Zahra Ullah contributed to this report in London. Angela Dewan and Sebastian Shukla reported from London. Mary Ilyushina reported from Moscow.

REVEALED: Abacha lost his life to Filipino Doctors not Indian Prostitutes – Gen. Ovadje

Few months to his 20th anniversary, what appears to be the real cause of the sudden death of late Nigerian Head of State and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Sani Abacha has been unearthed.
Brigadier General Dr. Oviemo Ovadje (OFR) an inventor and veteran military health specialist told Asabe Afrika TV in an exclusive interview inside his Lagos home how the former Nigeria leader lost his life 20 years ago.

General Ovadje who is one of the very eminent Nigerians who won a CENTENARY MEDAL during Nigeria’s 100 years anniversary celebration in Abuja on February 28, 2014 is famous for inventing the Emergency Auto Transfusion Set (EAT-SET), an innovative and affordable blood auto transfusion mechanism that saves accident victims and patients across the world.
He gave us the vivid description of how the former Nigerian military ruler died in the early hours of Monday, June 8, 1998. Enjoy the clip!

Tired of waiting for ‘right man,’ woman sells virginity to Hollywood actor for millions

A 26-year-old British lady who was ‘tired of waiting for the right man’ has sold her virginity for a whopping €1.2m ($1,482,528).

Jasmin, a resident of London, received the final offer of $1,482,528 from a Hollywood actor earlier this week.

She made headlines a year ago after she listed herself on Cinderella Escorts seeking to sell her virginity to raise millions to start her own business instead of giving it away for free.

The offer from the actor was the highest after he outbid two other ‘contenders,’ including a footballer.

Jasmin, who did not reveal her last name, claimed to have gone for dinner with all three bidders beforehand and called the experience ‘amazing.’

She said, “My parents supported me from the beginning. They know everything and agree.

“I am 26 and they know that I am adult enough for deciding alone what I do with my body. As I met the actor already and I was always a big fan of (his), I am more nervous as a fan than about losing my virginity. But who knows. Maybe I will get more nervous when we meet in the hotel.

“I would never have dreamed to get that high price for my auction (sic.) But as more, I am amazed by who [bought] my auction. It is so amazing!

“I really respect ladies who are traditional and want to wait for sex after marriage. I was one of them. I really wanted to wait for the right one. But I don’t want to wait any longer. So, I chose another way which will make me happy. I am sure about my decision.

“Traditional views regarding virginity are so outdated. I believe that it’s my choice what I do with my body and I am sick and tired of waiting for the right person to come along.

“After 26 years, I still haven’t found him; so, I decided a positive alternative would be selling my virginity.”

BREAKING NEWS: IG removes Kogi CP over escape of six suspects 

Following the escape of six suspects from custody early this morning, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the immediate removal of Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Ali Janga.

He also redeployed the Commander, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the state, the Divisional Police Officer ‘A’ Division, Lokoja and other police officers implicated in the escape for negligence, dereliction of duty and gross misconduct.

The IG in a statement by the police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, explained that the policemen are all facing serious disciplinary action.

More details later.

BREAKING NEWS: Police declare Dino Melaye wanted

The Kogi State Police Command has declared the lawmaker representing the Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, wanted.

Also, the Police on Wednesday confirmed the escape from custody of two suspects arrested and paraded last week for allegedly working for the senator and the son of a former governor of Kogi State, Mohammed Audu.

Addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Lokoja, the state capital, the Commissioner of Police, Ali Janga said the duo have been placed on Interpol watchlist.

Details later.

Trump gives many Liberians a year to quit US

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/trump-gives-many-liberians-year-quit-us/