Monday 4 January 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Sharapova pulls out of Brisbane International

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BRISBANE (AFP) - Defending champion and tournament drawcard Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the season-opening Brisbane International with a left forearm injury, organisers said Tuesday.World number four and third seed Sharapova said she hurt my forearm in practice a couple days ago and needed to withdraw as a precaution ahead of the Australian Open.BrisbaneTennis is such a special event especially being defending champion. I look forward to seeing all my fans next year, she said according to a statement tweeted by Brisbane International.The 28-year-old Russian had been due to play fellow countrywoman Ekaterina Makarova in the first round later Tuesday.Makarova will now face a lucky loser, the organisers added.The latter half of Sharapovas 2015 season was wrecked by injuries, first to her right leg which forced her to miss the US Open.She retired from her comeback match at the Wuhan Open in China in September with a left forearm injury, only returning for the WTA Tour finals in Singapore at the end of October.

Football: Real Madrid sack Benitez, hire Zidane as coach

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MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid sacked coach Rafael Benitez after just seven months in charge on Monday with club legend Zinedine Zidane replacing the Spaniard.We have taken the difficult decision to rescind the contract of Rafael Benitez as coach, said Madrid president Florentino Perez.The Real Madrid board has decided to name Zinedine Zidane as coach of the first team.However, the club didnt announce the length of Zidanes contract.Benitezs unhappy reign came to an end after a 2-2 draw away to Valencia on Sunday left Madrid four points adrift of local rivals Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga.They also trail eternal rivals Barcelona by two points having played a game more.Zidane scored a sensational winning goal to hand Madrid the 2002 Champions League as a player, but is short on managerial experience having only ever taken charge of Madrids feeder team Castilla.The 43-year-old failed to get Castilla promoted from the third tier of Spanish football last season, but they currently lie second in the regional Segunda Division B having lost just two of 19 games this season.And the Frenchman was part of Carlo Ancelottis coaching staff when they won the Champions League and Copa del Rey in 2014.We have the best club in the world, the best fans and what we have to do now, and what I will try my best to do, is ensure the team wins at the end of the season, added Zidane.I am more emotional than when I signed as a player, but that is normal and from tomorrow I am going to put my heart into doing all I can for this club.Zidane will take charge of his first game as boss at home to Deportivo la Coruna on Saturday.Perez had publicly backed Benitez despite the growing pressure in recent weeks which saw him routinely jeered by his own fans, but is believed to have finally bowed to the will of the players and supporters.Zidane is the 11th coach to be appointed under Perez in just over 12 years in two spells in charge of the club.As president it is an honour to have you at my side because I know for you the word impossible doesnt exist, said Perez.Without any doubt Zidane is one of the greatest figures in the history of football.Right from the start of his reign in June, Benitez struggled to gain the respect of Madrids star-studded squad with many senior players voicing their displeasure at the sacking of his predecessor Ancelotti.A run of three league defeats in five games in November and December, including a 4-0 thrashing at home to Barcelona, wiped away the early credit Benitez had gained with an unbeaten 14-game run to start his reign.Further embarrassment was to follow when Madrid were thrown out of the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player last month.Benitezs relationship with the dressing room has also failed to improve with key players such as Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez often showing their disgust at being substituted.And captain Sergio Ramos failed to offer a strong sign of support for Benitez when given the chance after the Valencia game.His future doesnt depend on us, said the Spanish international.Whoever the coach is he will always have the confidence of the players. Whether it is Rafa or anyone else.

Oil prices rebound in Asia as Saudi-Iran row deepens

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SINGAPORE (AFP) - Oil prices rebounded in Asia Tuesday as a diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and Iran deepened, but a global crude supply glut and economic weakness in China are keeping any increases in check.Tensions between the two major oil producers over Saudi Arabias execution of a prominent Shiite cleric have erupted into a full-blown diplomatic crisis after Riyadh and its Sunni Arab allies cut or reduced ties with Iran, sparking global concern.US Secretary of State John Kerry called his counterparts in each country in a bid to ease the tensions and the United Nations moved to shelter peace efforts in Syria and Yemen from the diplomatic storm.Saudi Arabia is the biggest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, while Iran is also a key member, and there are concerns that their diplomatic spat could lead to a disruption in oil supplies.At around 0300 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in February was up 25 cents at $37.01 and Brent crude was trading 24 cents higher at $37.46.Analysts said however that the impact of geopolitical risks in the Middle East on the oil market is being cushioned by the oversupply and higher output from oil producers in other parts of the world.Oil prices have risen, but not materially, research house Capital Economics said.Indeed, ample global stocks of crude and higher production elsewhere mean that geopolitical risks from the Middle East are not as great as they once were, it said in a market commentary.Concerns over economic weakness in China are also helping to keep prices lower as it would dampen demand in the worlds second biggest economy and top energy consumer, other analysts said.

Murder, gang-motivated shootings rise in New York

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Homicides, gang-motivated shootings, rape and robbery rose in New York last year, slowing to 1.7 percent an overall decline in major crime, officials announced Monday.Major crime rose three percent in Manhattan and four percent in the Bronx, two of the five boroughs that make up Americas largest city, deputy police commissioner Dermot Shea told a news conference.Crime rates are closely watched in New York, the financial and entertainment capital of the United States, and have fallen steadily since zero tolerance policing was introduced in the 1990s.But the city saw 348 recorded homicides in 2015 -- a number likely to rise further due to another recently reported incident -- an increase of 4.5 percent on 2014s record low.More than two-thirds of homicides -- 68 percent -- were the result of gunfire, itself a jump of 21 percent from 2014, Shea said.The vast majority of victims were men from ethnic minorities. African Americans accounted for 64 percent of homicide victims, Hispanics 27 percent, whites six percent and Asians three percent, the police said.Nearly all victims -- 76 percent -- also had a history of arrest, drawing a picture of violent crime concentrated among known criminals, often out late at night and involved in criminal activity, police said.Despite the jump in homicides, police stressed Monday that New York still has a lower murder rate than Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.The overall decline of 1.7 percent in major crime in 2015 follows a much steeper decline of 4.6 percent from 2013 to 2014.Crime rates have fallen steadily for decades in New York, where the number of homicides peaked in 1990 at 2,248 -- six a day on average -- before the advent of then mayor Rudy Giulianis policy of zero tolerance policing.While shootings fell three percent in 2015 overall, gang-motivated shootings rose 18 percent, police said. Nearly 50 percent of all shooting incidents involved someone in a gang, Shea said.Manhattan saw 29 more shootings than in 2014 and statistics show that victims and killers tend to be known to police with an arrest history.Recorded rapes increased six percent and robberies rose two percent from a 20-year low in 2014, despite a 10-percent decline in burglaries, Shea said.Crimes on the transit system rose by 10 percent in 2015, driven by grand larceny and robberies.

Guptill ton lifts New Zealand to 294 against Sri Lanka

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MOUNT MAUNGANUI (AFP) - Martin Guptill continued his golden summer with a century Tuesday as New Zealand posted 294 for 5 batting first against Sri Lanka in the fifth and final one-day international at Mount Maunganui.The right-handed opener was out for 102 as he top scored in a New Zealand innings which left Sri Lanka with a challenging target at the beach resort town.Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor both made 61 while Luke Ronchi was not out 37.Williamson, again leading New Zealand with Brendon McCullum still sidelined by a back injury, had looked in good touch until he was undone by a poor ball from Tillakaratne Dilshan going down the leg side. Williamson tried to help the ball on its way but only succeeded in propelling it to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal.Guptill was also dismissed by a poor shot when he lobbed Nuwan Kulasekara, Sri Lankas most successful bowler, straight to Thisara Perera at long on. New Zealand were 206 for 3 after 38 overs when Guptill was removed and added 82 off the last 10 overs.Guptill had been out of form when New Zealand toured Australia in November but has found his touch since returning home. His 102, which included nine fours and three sixes off 109 deliveries, elevated him into an elite group with Nathan Astle and Taylor as the only New Zealanders to score 10 or more ODI centuries.The milestone comes after innings of 79, 93, 30 and 27 in the previous ODI matches and a century in the first Test against Sri Lanka. New Zealand won the Test series 2-0 and lead the ODI series 2-1 with one match washed out. Sri Lanka, looking to square the series, won the toss and put New Zealand into bat with immediate success when Tom Latham was out in the first over without scoring. But Guptill and Williamson then put on 122 for the second wicket. For Sri Lanka, Kulasekara took three for 53.

Tennis: Djokovic claims first win of season in 51 minutes

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DOHA (AFP) - Novak Djokovic took just 51 minutes to win his first game of 2016, easily beating Dustin Brown 6-2, 6-2 in the opening game of the Qatar Open on Monday.The world number one was rarely troubled by the German and barely raised a sweat, cruising into the second round with an ominous display for rivals looking for any early-season weaknesses from Djokovic after his dominant 2015.It was a very good start, Djokovic told reporters afterwards.He said he was untroubled by the blustery and relatively cold weather in Doha, with temperatures reaching 17 degrees Celsius (62 Fahrenheit).Considering the weather conditions and everything, I think it was a good performance from my side. I played a player who I never faced before and somebody who is a very charismatic guy and very good for tennis, for sport and somebody who is very unpredictable.He hasnt served particularly well today, which I think has helped me.Djokovic said before the tournament started that he is in Doha to win and not merely play some warm-up matches before the defence of his Australian Open crown later this month.And he certainly served notice of that, racing to a 5-0 lead in the first set in just 16 minutes.Brown belatedly rallied, holding his serve for the first time in the sixth game and then breaking the Serbs serve to make it 5-2.The world number 118 then had two points to claim a third successive game but double-faulted twice, allowing Djokovic to claim the first set in just 25 minutes. The second set followed a similar pattern as Djokovic, 28, swatted aside any potential resistance from Brown -- who famously beat Rafael Nadal in the second round at Wimbledon last year -- by breaking serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead.That was pretty much the end of Brown, a qualifier for the tournament, and the contest.The 31-year-old rarely threatened the Serbs serve and it ended in sorry fashion as Brown delivered his fourth double fault of the night to end the match.Djokovic, making his second appearance in Qatar, was watched on by coach Boris Becker, the first winner of the Qatar Open back in 1993.There were also first round victories on Monday for Frances Jeremy Chardy, Robin Haase of the Netherlands, Bosnian Damir Dzhumhur and British qualifier Kyle Edmund.Tuesday will see number two seed Nadal, Tomas Berdych, seeded three, and defending champion and number four seed David Ferrer all play their first round matches.In the second round, Djokovic will play the winner of Fernando Vasco and Malek Jaziri, who play on Tuesday.

Tennis: Murray off to flying start

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PERTH (AFP) - World number two Andy Murray blew away his training court cobwebs with a season-opening demolition of Frenchman Kenny de Schepper at the mixed teams Hopman Cup on Monday.Murray said his form in practice since arriving in Australia had been poor, but the dual Grand Slam winner looked in sparkling touch ahead of this months Australian Open as he dismantled the 148th-ranked de Schepper in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, in under an hour.That gave Great Britain the early advantage in its tie with France, but the ledger was squared when Caroline Garcia overcame a gritty Heath Watson to win in three sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, in the womens singles.The Brits then clinched the tie in a match tiebreak in a closely-fought doubles decider, 6-2, 5-7, 10-6.Murray, 28, had barely played since guiding Great Britain to a drought-breaking Davis Cup win in November, and was pleased to have found form so quickly in the new year.I played well and everything was working pretty good, he said.I hadnt been playing well in practice at all, I had been really struggling.Its irrelevant really if I play like that in matches.Earlier, womens world number one Serena Williams suffered an early season injury setback as she withdrew from the United States opening tie with inflammation in her knee.Her withdrawal helped the Ukraine pairing of Elina Svitolina and Alexandr Dolgopolov record a 2-1 win over the USA.Williams was replaced by American youngster Vicky Duval, on the comeback trail after being diagnosed with cancer in 2014, and the 20-year-old was no match for the world number 19.The first set was competitive but Svitolina cruised past the tiring Duval 6-4, 6-1.Dolgopolov then secured the tie with a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 win over a disappointing Jack Sock.In the dead mixed doubles rubber, the US pair gained some consolation by winning 6-2, 6-3.Williams, 34, was scheduled to play Svitolina in the womens singles to open the tie, but withdrew minutes before the start, saying she had pulled up sore after a training session earlier in the day.The match at the mixed-teams tournament would have launched Williamss preparations for her title defence at the Australian Open in Melbourne later this month.Williams, who has won 21 Grand Slam singles titles, sat out the tail-end of last season saying she needed time to heal after narrowly missing out on a rare calendar-year Grand Slam.Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, conceded Williamss knees were troubling her in November.But the player said she hoped to be fit to play in the United States second tie against Australia Gold, one of two teams representing the hosts, on Tuesday evening.Im disappointed to not take the court in Perth today, Williams said. I had every intention to play this morning.Unfortunately due to inflammation in my knee I need to rest and am confident to be out there against Aussie Gold tomorrow evening.Williams won her sixth Australian Open last January and was on target for the coveted calendar-year Grand Slam until she suffered a shock loss to Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals at the US Open in September.Duval only returned to tennis in August after overcoming Hodgkins lymphoma and has a career high ranking of 87.

Tennis: Serena out of Hopman opener with swollen knee

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PERTH (AFP) - World number one Serena Williams suffered an early season injury setback Monday as she withdrew from the United States opening Hopman Cup tie with inflammation in her knee.Her withdrawal helped the Ukraine pairing of Elina Svitolina and Alexandr Dolgopolov record a 2-1 round robin opening win over the US in the mixed teams tournament.Williams was replaced by American youngster Vicky Duval, on the comeback trail after being diagnosed with cancer in 2014, and the 20-year-old was no match for the world number 19.The first set was competitive but Svitolina cruised past the tiring Duval 6-4, 6-1.Dolgopolov then secured the tie with a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 win over a disappointing Jack Sock.In the dead mixed doubles rubber, the US pair gained some consolation by winning 6-2, 6-3.Williams, 34, was scheduled to play Svitolina in the womens singles to open the tie, but withdrew minutes before the start, saying she had pulled up sore after a training session earlier in the day.The match at the mixed-teams tournament would have launched Williamss preparations for her title defence at the Australian Open in Melbourne later this month.Williams, who has won 21 Grand Slam singles titles, sat out the tail-end of last season saying she needed time to heal after narrowly missing out on a rare calendar-year Grand Slam.Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, conceded Williamss knees were troubling her in November.But the player said she hoped to be fit to play in the United States second tie against Australia Gold, one of two teams representing the hosts, on Tuesday evening.Im disappointed to not take the court in Perth today, Williams said. I had every intention to play this morning.Unfortunately due to inflammation in my knee I need to rest and am confident to be out there against Aussie Gold tomorrow evening.Tournament organisers dismissed suggestions the presence of Duval in Perth as an emergency player for the event indicated they were aware of concerns over the fitness of Williams.Williams won her sixth Australian Open last January and was on target for the coveted calendar-year Grand Slam until she suffered a shock loss to Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals at the US Open in September.Duval only returned to tennis in August after overcoming Hodgkins lymphoma and has a career high ranking of 87.

Football: Zidane handed baptism of fire by misfiring Madrid

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MADRID (AFP) - In a time of crisis, Real Madrid have looked for inspiration rather than experience as club legend Zinedine Zidane was handed his first senior managerial role as the clubs coach.Zidane replaces Rafael Benitez, who was sacked on Monday after just seven months and 25 games in charge.The Frenchman is loved at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to his five stellar years to end his playing career in the Spanish capital, most memorably scoring a stunning winning goal in the 2002 Champions League final.Yet, his coaching experience is limited to a season-and-a-half in charge of Madrids feeder team Castilla where he failed to secure promotion from Spanish footballs third tier last season.However, Madrid hope to recreate the magic formula enjoyed by Pep Guardiola and Barcelona during his glorious 14-trophy haul with the Catalans between 2008 and 2012.Like Zidane, Guardiola was a club legend as a player who graduated from a season in charge of Barcas B team to become the most successful coach in the clubs history.Moreover, unlike Benitez, Zidane is at least sure to have the respect of Madrids star-studded dressing room, who constantly clashed with the former Liverpool and Chelsea manager.Zidane doesnt just have the kudos of being a former Ballon dOr winner, but he was Carlo Ancelottis assistant as Madrid won their long-awaited 10th Champions League crown in 2014.We have the best club in the world, the best fans and what we have to do now, and what I will try my best to do, is ensure the team wins at the end of the season, said the normally ice-cool Zidane, who admitted to feeling more emotional than the day he joined Madrid for a then world-record fee from Juventus in 2001.It is an important day for me and like all coaches I am a bit emotional, more emotion that when I signed as a player, but that is normal and from tomorrow I will put my heart into doing all I can for this club.It will take more than heart for Zidane to arrest a year-long slump that has seen Madrid burn through two Champions League winning coaches, see eternal rivals Barcelona win the treble and become embarrassed in numerous off-field scandals.The best man for the job, said Zidanes ex-Madrid teammate David Beckham on Instagram.A man that has been the best at a game we all love, taking over a club that myself and many more people love. Someone with drive, passion and also doesnt accept failure on any level.Despite being thrown out of the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player last month, there is still plenty of time for Madrid to turn their season around.They trail La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid by just four points with over half the season to play and are strong favourites to see off Roma in the last 16 of the Champions League.Blind faith that Zidane can recreate his playing success as a coach is all club president Florentino Perez has left with his credit running low as Barca have dominated in Spain over the past decade despite Perezs lavish spending on transfer fees.As president it is an honour to have you at my side because I know for you the word impossible doesnt exist, he said after naming his 11th new coach in 12 years at the club.Should Zidanes managerial stock slump as quickly as it has risen, then it may finally be Perez and not the coach who takes the fall.

Rallying: 'Rookie' Loeb speeds to maiden Dakar stage win

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TERMAS DE RIO HONDO (AFP) - Nine-time rally world champion Sebastien Loeb won his first Dakar Rally stage on Monday, the 387km run between Villa Carlos Paz and Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina.At the wheel of a Peugeot the 41-year-old Frenchman took 3 hours 45mins and 46sec to complete the second stage, which had been shortened due to a section being badly effected by heavy overnight rain.Stephane Peterhansel, a 50-year-old Frenchman, also in a Peugeot and a multiple Dakar winner, came in second some 2min 30sec adrift.Russias Vladimir Vasilyev in a Toyota was third while 2015 winner the Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah racing a Mini was 4min 18sec off Loebs pace.The race is something of a leap in the dark for Loeb, who dominated the world rally championship during his long collaboration with Citroen.He now leads overall from Peterhansel and Vasilyev.Earlier in the day, 28-year-old Australian Toby Price won the motorbike version of stage two on his KTM after winning a stage in 2015 when he finished third overall in his own maiden Dakar.Thunderstorms and heavy rain had already forced the cancellation of Sundays opening stage because of safety concerns, a day after 10 people were injured when a car crashed into spectators during the prologue.

Gayle sorry for live TV chat up 'joke'

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SYDNEY (AFP) - West Indies star Chris Gayle apologised Tuesday after his joke flirt with a female television presenter was branded disrespectful and inappropriate by authorities who left a threat of sanctions dangling.Ten Network reporter Mel McLaughlin found herself being asked out for a drink during an interview with the burly opener after he blasted 41 runs off 15 balls for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League (BBL) late Monday.On air, Gayle said he was happy to be interviewed by McLaughlin just to see your eyes for the first time.Nice, so hopefully we can win this game and we can have a drink after, he said.Dont blush baby, the Jamaican added, prompting McLaughlin to shake her head and reply, Im not blushing.Sorry, he added, breaking into a big laugh.Cricket Australia and Big Bash League officials did not see a funny side and condemned Gayle.I heard Chriss comments and theyre disrespectful and simply inappropriate, BBL boss Anthony Everard said in a statement late Monday.Theres just no place in the BBL or -- for that matter, cricket anywhere -- for that sort of behaviour.Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland offered support for McLaughlin saying Tuesday that no one should have to face such comments, which were completely out of line and inappropriate for the workplace.Speaking on Jane McGrath Day at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which during day three of a Sydney Test is traditionally called Ladies Day, he left open the question of Gayle facing punishment.I dont think at the end of all this Chris will be under any illusions as to what we think of it.Im not ruling out sanctions, he added, saying Gayle was not in a night club and his behaviour was not cool.The opener was even more apologetic on Tuesday morning, but tried to brush it off as a joke blown out of proportion.There wasnt anything meant to be disrespectful or offensive to Mel, Gayle told reporters.If she felt that way, Im really sorry for that.There wasnt any harm meant in that particular way... It was a simple joke. The game was going on. Entertainment, things get out of proportion, but these things happen... We have to move on. Simple.The failed flirt lit up social media with former England captain and Ten commentator Andrew Flintoff tweeting, Big fan of @henrygayle but he made himself look like a bit of a chop there.

Saudi-Iran crisis a rebuke for US policy

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Washingtons single-minded pursuit of the Iran nuclear deal damaged its alliance with Saudi Arabia, experts say, and fed the escalating crisis in the Gulf.The United States failed to manage its traditional Sunni Arab allies in the region while it reached out to mend ties with their bitter Shiite foes in Tehran.As a result, experts warn, Washington has suffered a loss of influence at a time when it needs to implement the nuclear accord and work with both Tehran and Riyadh to end the Syrian war.I think the administration has had a one-eyed policy on this, Salman Shaikh, founder and CEO of regional consultancy the Shaikh Group, told AFP.Shaikh said he and others had warned US officials at the highest level that its focus on Iran had hurt its traditionally warm relationship with Riyadh. As a result were now seeing a fairly serious balance of power struggle being played out between the two main protagonists in the region, he said.Secretary of State John Kerry called senior Iranian and Saudi counterparts on Monday to seek to deescalate the crisis that came to a head when Riyadh marked the New Year by executing a respected Shiite cleric. We hope its not irreparable, State Department spokesman John Kirby said, of Riyadhs decision to cut diplomatic ties with Tehran.He urged regional leaders to work on resolving the pressing issues in Iraq, in Syria, in Yemen and throughout the Middle East.But Shaikh said that Washington may have little power to redress the situation.Now I think the amount of US influence and leverage on this situation is alarmingly limited at this point in time, he warned.The Middle Easts two pivotal Muslim powers -- the Sunni kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Shiite Islamic republic of Iran -- have never seen eye-to-eye.Riyadh accuses Tehran of stirring sedition among the Shiite minorities in Arab states, while Iran sees its rival as a US proxy and sponsor of extremism.Washington broke off diplomatic relations with Iran after the 1979 hostage crisis at its Tehran embassy and has remained a close friend of Saudi Arabia.But there has been mounting anger in Riyadh in recent years as Washington has reached out to Iran in order to secure an agreement on its nuclear future.This appeared to bear fruit in July last year, when Tehran agreed to measures to put a nuclear weapon beyond its reach in exchange for sanctions relief.Kerry publicly insists the nuclear deal was a self-contained effort, but it was widely seen as a step towards a better working relationship with Iran.This has infuriated Riyadh and Saudi allies in the Gulf, who see Irans hand behind militant attacks, Shiite unrest and the Huthi rebellion in Syria.Washington has side-stepped their concerns and -- with Russia -- has worked to bring Iran on board as a stakeholder in efforts to end the Syrian war.Last week it was Saudi Arabias turn to ignore US warnings, when it marked the first day of 2016 with a mass execution, including of a leading Shiite cleric.Sheikh Nimr al-Nimrs death was seized upon by Iranian hardliners and at the weekend local authorities stood by as protesters stormed the Saudi embassy.The State Department condemned the attack on the embassy, but also reiterated what it said were its concerns about the Saudi judicial process. We continue to call on the government of Saudi Arabia to respect and protect human rights and to permit the peaceful expression of dissent, Kirby said. Saudi Arabia and some of its Sunni allies have cut off ties with Iran and US rival President Vladimir Putin of Russia is offering to play mediator.This also marks a setback for Washington for, as Shaikh said, as the regional hegemon, it had a responsibility to manage this responsibly.Alberto Fernandez, a former US ambassador now with the Middle East Media Research Institute, said the crisis proved the US administrations critics right.How can you warm up with Iran without upsetting your ally? he asked, pointing to Irans aggressive role in other problem areas around the Middle East.Those who said that you cannot divorce the nuclear deal from Irans other activities in the region were right, he told AFP.Kerry would reject this criticism. His spokesman Kirby insisted that in pursuing a nuclear deal to make the world safer, the US had not given Iran a pass.Nobody is a turning a blind eye to the capability of the regime in Tehran to further conduct destabilizing activities in the region, he said. We still believe Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. We know that they continue to support bad actors in the region.Whatever Washingtons next move is -- beyond appealing for calm -- the diplomatic crisis could last for years and feed into others, jeopardizing the Syrian talks.The United States still hopes UN-mediated negotiations will go ahead later this month as planned, but the already slim prospects for a rapid peace have dimmed.

UN fears Saudi-Iran fallout on Syria, Yemen

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The United Nations moved quickly on Monday to shelter peace efforts in Syria and Yemen from the diplomatic storm unleashed by the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran.UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura traveled to Riyadh for urgent talks and was to head later this week to Tehran to seek assurances that hard-fought gains in the Syria peace process had not been derailed.De Mistura is counting on broad support to launch peace talks between President Bashar al-Assads government and the opposition in Geneva on January 25 -- the culmination of a three-month effort involving all key players. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke by phone with the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers to urge them to avoid any actions that could further exacerbate the situation between two countries and in the region as a whole, said Bans spokesman Stephane Dujarric.A breakdown of relations between Riyadh and Tehran could have very serious consequences for the region, said Dujarric.Both Iran and Saudi Arabia have a crucial role in the diplomatic push to end the nearly five-year war in Syria and to bring about a political settlement for Yemen.Relations between the two rivals have been testy, but the furor over the Saudi execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, who had criticized the Sunni royal family, threatened to spill over.After protesters set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran, Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran, giving diplomats 48 hours to leave the country.In his conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, Ban expressed his disappointment over the execution of al-Nimr, whose case he had raised with Riyadh many times, said Dujarric.While the UN chief said the Iranian attack on the Saudi embassy was deplorable, the Saudi decision to break off relations with Tehran was deeply worrying, he told Jubeir.Ban spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday and urged him to protect diplomatic facilities after the attack on the Saudi embassy.In a conciliatory sign, Irans Ambassador to the United Nations, Gholamali Khoshroo, pledged in a letter to Ban on Monday that Iran will take necessary measures to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future.The Saudi-Iran rift was seen by UN diplomats as a potential setback to the peace effort in Syria, where Tehran is among Assads strongest allies while Riyadh is backing militias fighting Damascus.De Mistura believes that the crisis in Saudi-Iranian relations is a very worrisome development and stresses the need to ensure it does not cause a chain of adverse consequences in the region, said Dujarric.Turning to Yemen, Ban urged Saudi Arabia to renew its commitment to a ceasefire after the Riyadh-led coalition announced on Saturday that it was ending the truce with Iran-backed rebels in the country.The UN envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, heads to Riyadh on Wednesday to push for a renewed ceasefire.A Saudi-led coalition in March launched an air campaign against Iran-back Shiite rebels in Yemen, which is now facing the threat of famine, according to the United Nations.

Siege near India's Afghan consulate ends after 25 hours

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MAZAR-I-SHARIF (AFP) - A 25-hour gun and bomb siege near the Indian consulate in Afghanistans Mazar-i-Sharif city ended late Monday, after a bloody weekend assault on an air base in India near the Pakistan border.Separately Monday a Taliban truck bomb struck a compound housing foreign civilian contractors near Kabul airport, wounding dozens of people just hours after a suicide bomber blew himself up around the same area.The lethal assaults on Indian installations threaten to derail Prime Minister Narendra Modis bold diplomatic outreach to arch-rival Pakistan following his first official visit to Afghanistan last month.No group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid on the diplomatic mission in northern Afghanistan, which left at least one policeman dead and 11 others wounded.Gunfights and grenade explosions echoed as commandos shimmied down a rope from a helicopter onto the roof of a nearby building from where assailants had launched the attack on the tightly-guarded compound.The clearance operation is over and all three armed assailants have been killed, government spokesman Shir Jan Durrani said, 25 hours after the siege began.We are still doing room-to-room searches. The area is absolutely under government control.Strongman provincial governor Atta Mohammad Noor oversaw the operation armed with an AK47, denouncing the attackers as the enemies of Afghanistan.Security officials said the operation was prolonged as commandos proceeded cautiously in the residential area to avoid civilian casualties. An Indian official, who hunkered down in a secure area within the diplomatic enclave as the attack unfolded, told AFP by telephone Sunday that all consulate employees were safe.Local police officials said some consulate workers had been evacuated during the fierce fighting.The attack followed a raid over the weekend by Islamist insurgents on an air force base in the northern Indian state of Punjab.Seven soldiers were confirmed killed in the raid on the Pathankot base, which triggered a 14-hour gun battle Saturday and fresh rounds of firing Sunday.Indian troops backed by helicopters searched the base Monday, with an official saying that the fifth attacker had been gunned down.We are moving step by step to sanitise the area and its too early to say when the operation will be over, said a military official who asked not to be named. The United Jihad Council, a conglomerate of Pakistani proxy Islamist groups fighting in Indian-controlled Kashmir, has claimed responsibility for the attack.The brazen assault -- a rare targeting of an Indian military installation outside Kashmir -- threatens to undermine the fragile peace process between the nuclear-armed rivals.The spike in violence came about a week after Modi paid a surprise visit to Pakistan, the first by an Indian premier in 11 years.The visit immediately followed a whirlwind tour of Kabul, where Modi inaugurated an Indian-built parliament complex and gave three Russian-made helicopters to the Afghan government.India has been a key supporter of Kabuls post-Taliban government, and analysts have often pointed to the threat of a proxy war in Afghanistan between India and Pakistan.Pakistan -- the historic backer of the Taliban -- has long been accused of assisting the insurgents, especially with attacks on Indian targets in Afghanistan.The Taliban have also stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets in Afghanistan, underscoring a worsening security situation.A Taliban truck bomber Monday struck the outer wall of Camp Baron, a heavily-guarded residential compound for foreign contractors, wounding 30 people including women and children, Afghan officials said.The US Pentagon named the compound as Camp Sullivan, adding that the attack caused no military casualties but NATO coalition troops were helping carry out medical evacuations.The bombing, which was strongly felt across downtown Kabul, occurred close to where a suicide bomber struck earlier in the day, causing no casualties.The latest unrest coincides with a renewed international push to revive peace talks with the resurgent militant movement.On January 11 Afghanistan and Pakistan are set to hold a first round of dialogue, also involving the US and China, to try to lay out a comprehensive roadmap for peace.Pakistan, which wields considerable influence over the Afghan Taliban, hosted a milestone first round of talks in July. But the negotiations stalled when the insurgents belatedly confirmed the death of longtime leader Mullah Omar.The attack on the consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif was the latest in a series of assaults on Indian targets in Afghanistan.In 2008 a car bomb at the Indian embassy in Kabul killed 60 people and the facility was again hit by a suicide strike in 2009.

Obama to force through gun control measures

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama will introduce a raft of executive actions to try to reduce US gun violence Tuesday, bypassing Congress and launching a bitter 2016 election year fight.Kicking off his last year in the White House with a defiant show of executive power, Obama will ignore Congressional opposition and take a series of unilateral steps to regulate gun sales and curb illicit purchases.Attorney General Loretta Lynch said the measures would see tighter rules on who must register as a gun dealer, narrow loopholes that allow buyers to dodge background checks and a crackdown on straw purchases that see weapons purchased through intermediaries.Obama will address the new measures -- which Republicans, gun makers and weapons enthusiasts have already lambasted as an infringement of constitutional freedoms -- in the East Room of the White House on Tuesday.Around 30,000 people are killed in gun violence every year in America, most by suicide.During Obamas seven years as president, he has often shown frustration at Congresss refusal to tighten gun controls, most notably after the slaughter of Connecticut schoolchildren, South Carolina churchgoers and Colorado movie watchers.The measures will stop well short of introducing universal background checks or registering or collecting some of the more than 300 million guns already thought to be in circulation in the United States, moves that gun control advocates say are essential.Obama admitted his executive actions were not going to solve every violent crime in this country. Its not going to prevent every mass shooting. Its not going to keep every gun out of the hands of a criminal. It will, he said, potentially, save lives in this country and spare families heartache.But even in taking limited measures, by acting alone and against the will of Congress, Obama has invited political and legal risk.Republicans who control Congress have positioned themselves as the champion of gun owners, who make up a sizeable voting bloc in many areas that could decide 2016 election races.The speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, on Monday accused Obama of dismissiveness toward Americans who value the constitutional right to bear arms.We all are pained by the recent atrocities in our country, but no change the president is reportedly considering would have prevented them, said Ryan. We have seen consistently that an underlying cause of these attacks has been mental illness.This is a dangerous level of executive overreach, and the country will not stand for it, Ryan warned. Polls had shown most Americans back tougher gun laws. But that support has ebbed recently amid concerns about the Islamic State group and the wider threat from terrorism.Obamas move could put pressure on some of his Democratic allies who face tough election battles in toss-up states and conservative congressional districts this autumn.On Thursday, Obama will take part in a primetime town-hall style debate on gun control to try to boost his case.The event, broadcast by CNN, will take place at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.A more serious challenge may come through the courts.Obamas lawyers have spent months scrubbing existing laws to see where rules could be tightened and loopholes closed, while surviving inevitable court challenges.A lot of the work that has gone on behind the scenes to take a look at what the president can do using his executive authority has been grounded in the knowledge that the gun lobby and the Republicans in Congress who regularly do their bidding are going to look for ways to try to stop it, said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.Ahead of the announcement Obama insisted the measures would fall well within my legal authority.But similar executive efforts by Obama to bring millions of illegal immigrants out of the shadows by shielding them from deportation have prompted a slew of lawsuits and left a key Obama policy goal in the hands of the Supreme Court.
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