2018 and 2022 World Cup Hosts Announced
Russia has been selected as the host of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and Qatar has been named host of the 2022 tournament. The decisions were made on Thursday after a secret ballot was held between 22 executive FIFA members.
Russia received nine votes in the first round of voting and gained a majority of 13 in the second round. Russia was picked ahead of England, Spain-Portugal and Holland-Belgium to host the games in 2018.
Qatar received a majority of 14 votes in the fourth round of balloting, beating out the United States, Japan, Australia and South Korea.
The balloting was held in Zurich, Switzerland, where representatives from each eligible country vied to have their nation named host.
This is the first time that either country will be hosting the international tournament.
In 2007, Brazil was awarded host nation of the 2014 World Cup. It was the only country to enter a bid for that year.
Former U.S. Vice President Faces Bribery Charges in Nigeria
Former Vice President Dick Cheney is facing bribery charges from Nigeria's anti-corruption agency. The charges are to be brought against Cheney sometime next week.
The scandal involves a subsidiary of energy firm Halliburton, which Cheney was chief executive of until becoming vice president in 2001.
Last year the engineering firm KBR pleaded guilty to offering $180 million in bribes to Nigerian officials. KBR claims the bribes were made prior to 2007, when the firm was still affiliated with Halliburton.
The bribes were made in regard to the construction of a liquefied natural gas plant in southern Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the world's largest exporters of oil and is a member of the oil cartel OPEC.
Officials and prosecutors plan to bring charges against current and former leaders of Halliburton, KBR and the natural gas plant involved in the scandal.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission raided Halliburton last week, and so far, 10 people have been detained and questioned about the company's involvement.
France and Switzerland are also conducting investigations regarding the matter. Halliburton has denied any involvement in KBR's scandal.
Motorists stranded on I-90
Motorists travelling on the I-90 thruway were stranded after a sudden flurry of lake effect snow made driving impossible.
Two airport shuttles and the NFTA have begun to rescue the motorists, some of whom have been stuck in their cars for over 12 hours. They are being taken to the Cheektowaga Senior Center, which the American Red Cross has turned into an emergency shelter.
The thruway was shut down overnight as cars were lined up for four miles going westbound and over five miles in the eastbound direction. Vehicles at the end of the backups have started to be removed by tow trucks. It is unclear at the moment how long it will take to clear away all of the cars and snow.
Officers say that some of the trouble started after a tractor-trailer flipped on the westbound side near exit 53. This caused a series of accidents leading to an even bigger buildup of vehicles
Officials estimate that a few hundred motorists have been stranded and that no major emergencies have been reported. Troopers were available to bring medication to some and provide limited food to diabetics and pregnant women.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
