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Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa will miss the rest of the season after being handed an eight-match suspension by the Spanish Football Federation on Thursday. Costa was sent off in the first half of Atletico’s 2-0 defeat to Barcelona on Saturday for directing a crude insult towards referee Gil Manzano. Manzano also reported that Costa had “grabbed” him by the arms during the incident.        

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday, said that States and Federal debt stock data as at  December 31, 2018 reflected that the country’s  foreign and domestic debts stood at $25.27 billion and N16.63 trillion respectively. A statement obtained from the bureau’s website further said that disaggregation of Nigeria’s foreign debt showed that $11.01 billion of the debt was multilateral; $344.63 million was bilateral (AFD) and another $2.75 billion bilateral from the Exim Bank of China, JICA, India and KFW while $11.17 billion was commercial which are basically Eurobonds and Diaspora Bonds. Lagos State has the highest foreign debt profile among the thirty-six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)  accounting for 5.64 per cent  Edo (1.09 per cent), Kaduna (.0.90 per cent) and Cross River (0.75 per cent) followed closely. Similarly, total domestic debt was N16.63 trillion with Lagos state accounting for 3.19 per cent of the total domestic debt stock ...

1 . Use vous instead of Tu until you are asked to use the familiar form. Do not use first names until you are invited. 2. Foreign visitors should not bring wine as a gift unless certain of its high quality. 3. Do not forget to stamp your train ticket before getting on the train, otherwise it will not be valid. 4. By law, French people must carry their ID cards all the time, and there not be ID inspections in the street (especially in big cities). The police will ask  " vos Papiers, s'il vous plait". 5. Flowers should be given in odd numbers (but not 13). Do not send chrysanthemum  (they are funeral flowers) or red roses (they have romantic connotations). 6. Keep your hands on the table at all times during a meal, do not place them on your lap. Elbows however, shot be kept off the table! 7. A glass of wine is filled to three-quarters, never to the brim. 8. When addressing a stranger, always add Monsieur or Madame , even if you are oh asking for directions. ...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won Tuesday's election. Although his Likud Party and Benny Gantz's Blue and White Party each won 35 seats, Netanyahu is the one who will be able to form a governing coalition able to withstand a bribery indictment by Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit, according to the results after 98% of the votes have been counted. On February 28,  Mandelblit indicted Netanyahu  pending a hearing. Details of the indictment that were not permitted to be released during the election could be leaked as early as Wednesday. The hearing is expected to take place in July and the decision on the final indictment some six months later. The parties that made it clear ahead of the election that they would not require Netanyahu to quit following a final indictment were Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, the Union of Right-wing Parties and Yisrael Beytenu, together earning a 61-seat majority. Likud won 35 seats, Shas and UTJ eight each and URP and Yisrael Beyte...

© Provided by Perform Media Channels Limited Rugby Australia has labelled superstar Israel Folau's Instagram post that said "hell awaits" for homosexuals as "unacceptable." The statement from the organisation comes just hours after the Wallabies and Waratahs star took to social media with more homophobic messaging. Folau again sparked significant reaction when he shared an image on Instagram on Wednesday evening along with the caption: "Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him." RA moved quickly to acknowledge the growing backlash to the posts, distancing themselves from the message. "Rugby Australia is aware of a post made by Israel Folau on his Instagram account this afternoon," the statement read. "The content within the post is unacceptable. It does not represent the values of the sport and is disrespectful ...

© Provided by Associated Newspapers (Ireland) Limited, t/a dmg Media Ireland Bulgarian heavyweight boxer Kubrat Pulev has apologised for kissing reporter Jenny Sushe without her consent. Immediately after the incident, Pulev refused to apologise claiming they were friends. Sushe is reportedly taking legal action while also claiming Pulev ‘grabbed both my buttocks’, something he denies. © Provided by Associated Newspapers (Ireland) Limited, t/a dmg Media Ireland The kiss took place when Sushe interviewed the big Bulgarian after his win over Bogdan Dinu. Pulev was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission being told he ‘must conform to the principle of respect’ before he can fight again. Speaking to 120 minutes, Pulev said : ‘ I am sorry. I’m sorry about what happened (with Sushe). If I can go back in time, of course I will not do it. I do such things. I’m temperamental and I’ve done it purely out of happiness. ‘ I can tell my fans it was the euphoria (of winn...

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cast his vote in a polling station in Jerusalem on Tuesday morning.  He arrived at the booth, located at the Paula Ben-Gurion elementary school, with his wife, Sara.  party: " We have so much to do to continue to strengthen the economy and development - but for that, everyone who [didn't] buy the media bluff should vote. This is a holy act and the essence of democracy. If you do not vote, you will get Lapid as prime minister." According to numerous polls taken throughout the last month, Likud is neck and neck with the Blue and White Party, led by Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid.  Netanyahu has been prime minister of Israel since 2009.