Iran says Saudi Arabia cannot cover up 'crime' by cutting ties

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday Saudi Arabia could not hide its "crime" of executing a Shi'ite cleric by cutting ties with Tehran, but Iranian authorities disowned an attack on the Saudi embassy in Iran.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Sudan broke all ties with Iran and the United Arab Emirates downgraded its relations on Monday after the Saudi embassy in Tehran was stormed by protesters. Kuwait recalled its ambassador to Iran on Tuesday.

An angry mob broke into the embassy on Saturday night and started fires following protests against the kingdom's execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent critic of Saudi policy, and three other Shi'ite Muslims as well as 43 Sunni al Qaeda jihadists.

"Saudi Arabia cannot hide its crime of beheading a religious leader by severing political relations with Iran," Rouhani was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA in a meeting with Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen in Tehran.

"We believe diplomacy and negotiations are the best way to solve problems between countries," he added. "Regional countries can save the region from terrorism dangers through unity."

The Iranian government has distanced itself from the attack on the Saudi embassy and even suggested foreign elements organized it.


Brigadier General Mohsen Kazemeini, the top Revolutionary Guards commander in Tehran, joined the condemnation on Tuesday.

"This was a very wrong and incorrect action and there is no way this ugly action can be justified," he said, according to the Mizan Online news agency.

The comments appeared to be the first such criticism of the embassy attack by a member of the hardline Guards, who issued a harsh statement against Saudi Arabia about the execution of al-Nimr on Saturday.
Kazemeini said the attack could not have been carried out by "devout forces" and that it was "completely organized".

An Iranian government spokesman earlier called the attack "suspicious" and "in favor of Saudi Arabia's policies".

"A few people - with whom it's not clear which country's interests they are serving - took advantage of people's feelings," ILNA news agency quoted Mohammad Bagher Nobakht as saying. 


Iran's Justice Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi was quoted by Iranian media as saying "the latest action against the Saudi embassy could be planned and supported by infiltrated agents."

President Hassan Rouhani has referred to the embassy attackers as extremists and said Iran should put an end to attacking embassies once and forever.

Iran celebrates the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran every year and refers to it as the Second Revolution. Since then, Iranians have attacked several embassies in Tehran including those of Kuwait in 1987, Saudi Arabia in 1988, Denmark in 2006 and Britain in 2011. 


Reuters

Obama, wiping tears, makes new push to tighten gun rules

Wiping back tears as he remembered children killed in a mass shooting, President Barack Obama on Tuesday ordered stricter gun rules that he can impose without Congress and urged American voters to reject pro-gun candidates.

Obama made it clear he does not expect gun laws to change during his remaining year in office, but pledged to do what he can to make gun control a theme in the months leading up to the November election to replace him.

In a powerful address in the White House, surrounded by family members of people killed in shootings, Obama's voice rose to a yell as he said the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms needed to be balanced by the right to worship, gather peacefully and live their lives.

Obama has often said his toughest time in office was grappling with the December 2012 massacre of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

"Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad," Obama said, tears rolling down his cheek.
"That changed me, that day," he said, after being introduced by Mark Barden, whose 7-year-old son was killed in the shooting. "My hope earnestly has been that it would change the country."

After that tragedy, the Democratic president failed to persuade Congress to toughen U.S. gun laws. He has blamed lawmakers for being in the thrall of the powerful National Rifle Association gun lobby group.
Obama, comparing the issue to the great civil rights causes of his time, is set to discuss gun violence again during a live televised town hall on CNN on Thursday, and during his State of the Union address next Tuesday.

Vice President Joe Biden is slated to do a series of television interviews on the topic on Wednesday.


LEGAL CHALLENGES EXPECTED
The U.S. Constitution's 2nd Amendment gives Americans the right to have arms, a right that is fiercely defended.

Obama laid out executive action he is taking to require more gun sellers to get licenses and more gun buyers to undergo background checks.

Under the changes, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is issuing guidelines intended to narrow exceptions to a system that requires sellers to check with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine whether buyers have criminal records, are charged with crimes or have mental health conditions that would bar them from owning a gun.

The anti-corruption agency is probing how Mr. Metuh got N1.4billion from the $2.1 billion arms funds diverted to several politicians by former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

About 90 women have reported being robbed, threatened or sexually molested at New Year celebrations outside Cologne's cathedral by young, mostly drunk, men, police said on Tuesday, in events they have described as 'a new dimension in crime'.

Cologne police chief Wolfgang Albers told a news conference officers described the men as looking as if they were from "the Arab or North African region" and mostly between 18 and 35 years old. "We have one complaint that represents a rape," he added.

Integration commissioner Aydan Ozoguz warned against putting foreigners and refugees, hundreds of thousands of whom have entered Germany largely from Middle Eastern war zones, under "blanket suspicion".

Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed shock over the attacks that police said occurred when about 1,000 men split into gangs as officers cleared a square to stop fireworks being thrown from the top of steps into the crowd below.

While politicians also urged people not to become wary of all refugees, the incident fueled calls from right-wing groups to stop letting in migrants.

Germany took in just over a million last year, far more than any other European country.
Cologne mayor Henriette Reker said it was "unbelievable and intolerable what happened on New Year's Eve" but there was no reason to believe those involved in the attacks were refugees.

Justice Minister Heiko Maas said Germany would not accept such attacks which he described as "a new scale of organized crime".

Around 150 people gathered in front of Cologne's cathedral on Tuesday evening to protest against violence against women. One of them held a sign saying: "Ms Merkel where are you? What do you say? This scares us!"

"TOUGH RESPONSE"
The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has gained in polls in part at Merkel's expense thanks to a campaign against refugees, said she should close the border.

"Mrs Merkel, is Germany 'colorful and cosmopolitan' enough for you after the wave of crimes and sexual attacks?" tweeted AfD chief Frauke Petry.

Merkel told Reker in a phone call the attacks deserved a tough response.
"Everything must be done to investigate those responsible as quickly and completely as possible and punish them, regardless of where they are from," she said, according to her spokesman.

There are almost daily attacks on refugee shelters.
"Events like that in Cologne foster xenophobia," said Roland Schaefer, head of Germany's association of towns and localities.

After a crisis meeting, Cologne mayor Reker said new steps would be taken to avoid a repeat, including increasing police numbers at big events and installing more security cameras.

She stressed that women must feel safe at traditional carnival celebrations next month when the city closes down for five days of drunken street parades and parties.

Reker was stabbed in the neck and seriously hurt in October, just a day before she was elected mayor. Police said that attack appeared to be motivated by her support for refugees.

BREAKING! EFCC Storms PDP Spokesperson, Olisa Metuh’s Abuja Residence; Whisks Him Away

Four EFCC detectives carried the arrest of Mr. Metuh at his No 14, Drive 1, Prince and Princess Estate, near the Abuja Games Village.

The anti-corruption agency is probing how Mr. Metuh got N1.4billion from the $2.1 billion arms funds diverted to several politicians by former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

I WON’T GIVE NIGERIA ANY LOAN, IMF BOSS TELLS BUHARI

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, on Tuesday said given the determination and resilience so far displayed by President Muhammadu Buhari and his team, Nigeria does not need any loan from her organisation.

 

Lagarde who is currently on a four-day visit to Nigeria said she is not in the country to negotiate loans with conditionality.

The IMF boss spoke with State House correspondents shortly after holding a closed-door meeting with Buhari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; and some key ministers inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Others who attended the meeting included the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Fashola, among others.

Lagarde said although Nigeria did not need IMF loan, fiscal discipline is needed for the country to be sustainable.

She said, “Let me make it clear that I am not here (in Nigeria) nor is my team in this country to negotiate a loan with conditionality.

“We are not into programme negotiations and frankly at this point in time, given the
determination and resilience displayed by the President and his team, I don’t see why an IMF programme will be needed.

“So of course, discipline is going to be needed, of course, implementation is going to be key
for the objectives and the ambitions to serve the country well, in order for it to be actually sustainable.”
She said the IMF believed that with clear primary ambition to support poor Nigerians, there could be added flexibility in the monetary policy, particular if oil price slumped for longer period as expected.

She said the organisation’s position was that Nigeria should not deplete its reserves simply because of rules that would be exceedingly rigid.

While saying that she was not suggesting that rigidity be totally eliminated, the IMF boss argued that some degree of flexibility would be enough.

Ladarge observed that since her last visit to Nigeria four years ago, the country had witnessed a number of changes in the areas of democracy and economy.

She noted that Nigeria had become the largest economy in Africa, the most populated and with a very attractive market.

She however regretted that things have changed in a more complicated way in the sense that the source of revenue to the government of which was predominantly oil had seen its price reduced by more than half.
She also noted that the financing cost around are beginning to rise only because the economic situation in the United States has improved and interest rates will begin to rise.

On her meeting with Buhari, Lagarde said she and her team had excellent discussions with the President and they discussed the challenges ahead stemming from oil price reduction.

SEE THE GIANT GIFT AIT MANAGEMENT GAVE TO BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari has been offered an unusual gift by DAAR Communications, owner of AIT and Ray Power.

According to Femi Adesina, the president’s special adviser on media and publicity, a team from the company stormed the state house in Abuja today Tuesday, January 5, 2016, to present a giant seasonal card marking Eid el Maulud, Christmas, and New Year to the president.

Adesina took to his Facebook page to share some photos from the presentation, read his post below:
A team from DAAR Communications, owners of AIT and Ray Power F.M, was at

State House, Abuja, today, to present a giant seasonal card marking Eid el Maulud, Christmas, and New Year, to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The team consisted of Mr Raymond Dokpesi Jnr (Chairman), Mr Tony Akiotu (Group MD), Imoni Mac Amarere (MD, DAAR News Services), Paulyn Ugbodaga (Head, Human Resource) and Kunle Onime (Head, Corporate Communications).

They were received by Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to President Buhari, as well as Mr O.J Abuah, Director of Information.

This is coming on the heels of the recent trial of Chief Raymond Dokpesi by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his involvement in the $2.1billion for which Sambo Dasuki is presently being tried.

EXPLOSIVE! Arm Deal: Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina collected N50m – Obaigbena

Chairman and editor-in-chief of Thisday newspaper, Nduka Obaigbena, on Monday revealed the Nigerian Guild of Editors collected N50 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser, in a further widening of the arms purchase scandal.

Special adviser to President Muhamamdu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, was the President of Nigerian guild of editors at the time.

Mr. Obaigbena, who is also The president of Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPA, stated this in a letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, dated December 30, 2015, obtained by our correspondent.

The EFCC had last December invited the NPAN president in connection with the ongoing probe into the $2.1 billion arms procurement fund allegedly misappropriated by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Mr. Dasuki, alongside some top officials of the Peoples Democratic Party, and other former senior officials are currently being investigated for allegedly receiving the arms fund.