Eleven Dead As Quake Rocks Eastern India

At least eleven people have been killed and almost 200 injured after an earthquake measuring 6.8 magnitude in eastern India.

The quake struck 29km (18 miles) west of the northeastern city of Imphal at 4.35am (11.05pm UK time), according to the US Geological Survey.
The pre-dawn quake killed six people in Imphal and five in neighbouring country Bangladesh, officials said.
The rescue operation in Imphal is being hampered by severed power supplies and telecommunication links across the city, which is home to 270,000 people.

"It was like being tossed around in a frying pan," said Joy Thanglian, a 33-year-old employee of state energy firm Bharat Petroleum. "Then we ran outside."
Imphal resident Deepak Shijagurumayum added: "Almost everyone was asleep when it struck and were thrown out of their beds.
"People were crying and praying in the streets and in open spaces. Hundreds remained outdoors for several hours fearing aftershocks."
There were similar scenes in the northeast city of Guwahati.

The quake was felt as far away as the Myanmar city of Yangon, 1,176km (730 miles) to the south.
As well as five deaths from heart attacks, another 90 people have been injured in Bangladesh.
Tremors were also felt in Nepal.
India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, wrote on Twitter that he is in touch with authorities in the affected area - though some have criticised the government's response.
"We haven't seen any help from the government side," said disaster volunteer worker Kanarjit Kangujam. "The government has not given us any information."
He added that the quake was the biggest that has been felt in Imphal.
The quake was 57km (35 miles) deep, the US Geological Survey said.

Bahrain Orders Iranian Diplomats To Leave

Bahrain has followed Saudi Arabia in severing diplomatic ties with Iran and ordering Iranian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.

The Bahrainis said the decision was triggered by the "cowardly" attacks on the Saudi embassy in Iran by protesters angry at the execution of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al Nimr.
The United Arab Emirates has also announced it is downgrading diplomatic ties with Iran, while Saudi media is reporting that Sudan has expelled the Iranian ambassador there.

The interventions by Bahrain, UAE and Sudan, which like Saudi Arabia are predominantly Sunni, represent another escalation in tension between the two branches of Islam.
Iran, a Shia powerhouse, has accused Saudi Arabia of using the attacks on its embassy in Tehran to deliberately stoke "tensions" in the region.

"Saudi Arabia, which thrives on tensions, has used this incident as an excuse to fuel the tensions," foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said in televised remarks.
The protesters lit fires and smashed furniture in the embassy before being cleared out by police, who arrested 40 people.
No Saudi diplomats were in the embassy at the time and all have now been called home.
Iranian officials condemned the attack, as well as Sheikh al Nimr's execution by Saudi Arabia.
The 56-year-old was a driving force behind anti-government protests in Saudi during the Arab Spring of 2011.
He was put to death along with 46 other prisoners on Saturday, sparking widespread demonstrations and criticism.
The Saudis have insisted the death penalties were part of a justified war on terrorism.

But Iran's supreme leader said Saudi politicians will face "divine vengeance" for killing the cleric.
There has also been sectarian anger in eastern parts of Saudi, with hundreds of Shia Muslims marching through the streets, and demonstrations spread to countries including Turkey, Pakistan, India and Lebanon.
Police fired tear gas at demonstrators in Bahrain, while two Sunni mosques were bombed in Iraq's Hilla province.
The leader of Lebanese Shia militant group Hizbollah also strongly condemned Saudi Arabia, saying Sheikh al Nimr was a brave martyr killed only for his criticism of the Saudi ruling family.
China declared itself "highly concerned" with the developments, while Germany and the US called for calm.
A unnamed diplomat quoted by Russian state media said Moscow was ready to act as a peacemaker between the two countries.
Most of those executed on Saturday were detained after a series of attacks by al Qaeda between 2003 and 2006 in which hundreds of people were killed.

Four, including Sheikh al Nimr, were Shias accused of shooting police.
All but two - an Egyptian and a Chadian - were Saudi nationals.
Britain's Treasury minister David Gauke said the executions were "wrong", but he defended the UK's close relationship with the Saudi regime.
He told Sky News' Murnaghan programme: "When it comes to protecting British people, the Prime Minister has made it clear that intelligence from Saudi Arabia has helped save lives and protect people in the UK ...
"We have a relationship with Saudi Arabia where we are able to speak candidly to them, where these issues are raised on a regular basis by the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister and our representatives in Riyadh."

James and Isco are Real Madrid's future, not Benitez

Atletico, Barcelona, Sevilla, Villarreal and now Valencia. Rafa Benitez is still struggling against the top teams in La Liga and has failed to beat any of those rivals since joining Real Madrid in the summer. And to make matters worse, he left both Isco and James Rodriguez on the bench at Mestalla on Sunday.

Benitez led Valencia to two Liga titles in 2002 and 2004 and was greeted by a banner which read: "Rafa, you gave us the best years of our lives. Thank you!" It was a touching tribute, but it is safe to say the 55-year-old remains more popular at Mestalla than he is in Madrid these days.

The Real boss left Isco on the bench once again after failing to give the Spain midfielder a single minute in the 3-1 win at home to Real Sociedad last Wednesday and he also dropped James Rodriguez after the Colombia playmaker was caught speeding and pursued all the way to training by police in Madrid on Friday.

Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic started instead and did very well, but ultimately left his side in a sticky situation after he scythed down Joao Cancelo and was shown a straight red card with a little over 20 minutes still left on the clock.

By that time, Madrid had already thrown away a lead they had fought so hard to obtain, when Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema combined beautifully for the latter to convert. The BBC was back in business, but it didn't last long as Valencia came back into the game and levelled with a penalty just before the interval.

Moments earlier, Bale should have received a spot-kick at the other end. Madrid had benefitted from two contentious calls to win penalties against Real Sociedad, but they were out of luck this time and as against Atletico earlier this term, they had allowed their rival a way back into the game when it should have been under control.

A man down, Madrid went ahead again through a Bale header but could not hang on as Paco Alcacer levelled a minute later and there were chances at both ends in a frenetic finale. Given the circumstances of the match, it was not a bad result for Real - but once again Los Blancos fail to gain ground on Barcelona or Atletico at the top of the table. It's not good enough.

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Asked afterwards if his coach still has credit at Real, Sergio Ramos said: "Yes, I think so. It doesn't depend on us, but whoever is here has the full support of the players."

It is the type of question being put to the team with alarming regularity now and all the while, James and Isco stayed on the bench as Benitez kept faith with the players on the pitch before bringing on Lucas Vazquez for Benzema once Kovacic had been sent off.

James is considered as a natural heir to Ronaldo by many in Madrid and the Colombian is unlikely to be happy at his reduced role, while Isco is a fan favourite who is now in talks with Manchester City amid frustration at being constantly overlooked by Benitez.







"For the effort that the team made, they deserve praise more than anything else," the former Liverpool manager said when asked if he feared for his job.

Meanwhile, many Madrid fans would be happy to see him stay behind in Valencia. And if Isco and James start to seriously consider their futures at the Santiago Bernabeu as the transfer window opens this week, Rafa's rating will fall further.

Whatever does happen, it seems almost impossible Benitez will last longer than a sole season - if indeed he hangs on for that long - and president Florentino Perez should seriously consider the damage to two of the club's prized players. Because James and Isco should both be part of Madrid's future. And Rafa, it now seems pretty clear, is not.

Ronaldo reveals plans for life after football

The Real Madrid forward, whose side face Gary Neville's Valencia on Sunday, does not imagine himself remaining in the game when the time comes to retire

Cristiano Ronaldo says he will live like a king when he retires from football, but he does not envisage himself remaining in the game as a manager. 

The Real Madrid star will turn 31 in February and it’s inevitable that over the next few years there will be rumours about his next move.

However, Ronaldo insists he is not thinking about taking on a coaching role when his time in the limelight comes to an end.

"There is another life after football,” he said in an interview with Papel. 

“I think at first it will be tough [not playing], but if you ask me now if I want to coach, I would say no. Neither [would I want to be] a club director nor a president.

“You can say you have the best job, money, cars, houses... but that is not everything. 

“One example: On Saturday there’s boxing on in Las Vegas and I would like to take my family and friends, but I can’t because I have no time. But after [football] I want to live like a king.”

After a decade spent sparring with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi to be the world’s No.1 player, the spotlight on Ronaldo’s career has led to huge amounts of pressure. 

He doesn’t feel the weight of the expectation on his shoulders, though, or the constant speculation about his life. 

"I can handle the pressure due to the hard life I’ve had,” he continued. 


“Leaving home at 11 and going into a different world, first to Lisbon and then to Manchester, was very difficult and between 11 and 18 I [learned about] stability. 

“So I’ve become the person I am today because of the time I spent without my family and going through difficult times. 

“I was a teenager, but I had to do things as a man - to the point that I had to do my own ironing. My mental strength began at that time.”

Ronaldo also dismissed the idea that other people’s opinions worried him.

He added: “Everyone can think what they want. I go to bed each day with a clear conscience and I sleep well. 

“We cannot be obsessed with what other people think of us - even God didn't please everyone.”

Valencia 2-2 Real Madrid: Benitez falls short against former club

Benzema and Bale had twice given the visitors the lead, but a Parejo penalty and Alcacer's headers evened up the scores on a frustrating comeback for the coach

Valencia denied former manager Rafael Benitez a much-needed win on his return to Mestalla as Paco Alcacer's late header earned his side a 2-2 draw with 10-man Real Madrid

Benitez, making his return to a club he guided to two La Liga titles, will likely face further difficult questions over his future after another indifferent display that saw Alcacer grab the headlines moments after Gareth Bale looked to have headed in the winner.
Karim Benzema had opened the scoring with a well-worked early goal to silence the home crowd, but Gary Neville's men were rewarded for their endeavour when captain Dani Parejo levelled from the spot before half-time.

Like in their 3-1 win over Real Sociedad on Wednesday, Benitez's men lacked fluency in the final third, with Neville's former Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo failing to inspire his side to a victory that would have moved back to within two points of the summit.

Mateo Kovacic – in for James Rodriguez following the Colombian's reported speeding incident in midweek – was sent off 21 minutes from time for a poor challenge, although Bale looked to have given his manager breathing space when he nodded in Toni Kroos' delivery eight minutes from time.
However, when Alcacer headed home unmarked a minute later, Neville – still to mastermind a league win – was ensured a deserved point, while Benitez was left to rue another sloppy display.


Benitez received a warm welcome at his old club and saw Bale's deflected cross give Jaume Domenech a scare before the Welshman played a key role in Madrid's opener 16 minutes in.
Bale's back-heel found Ronaldo, who nonchalantly laid the ball off for Benzema to sweep home as Madrid's much-vaunted BBC clicked into gear early on.

The opening half hour continued in frenetic fashion before Joao Cancelo spurned the first of two glorious Valencia chances when he got between Sergio Ramos and Pepe only to head Rodrigo de Paul's cross wide.







Andre Gomes then collected De Paul's intricate pass before blazing his effort wide and Aymen Abdennour hooked a shot past the post following a goalmouth scramble.
Valencia piled on pressure before the break and got their reward when Gomes surged into the area where he was felled by Pepe, with former Madrid man Parejo calmly placing the ball past Keylor Navas.
Madrid began the second half brightly, Marcelo denied with a superb last-ditch tackle from Lucas Orban, in what remained a fast-paced encounter.
As Valencia stayed resolute at the back, Ronaldo saw penalty appeals waved away when he appeared to be felled by Domenech before Kovacic received his marching orders for a lunge on Cancelo.
Madrid threw men forward in search of a winner and looked to have claimed victory when Bale rose to expertly guide in Kroos' cross, only for Alcacer to have the final say.
The Spaniard's eighth league goal of the season earned Neville's men a point to leave Madrid winless in four against Valencia, who could have claimed their coach's first top-flight win when substitute Alvaro Negredo was thwarted by Navas in stoppage time.

Season Greetings

On this New Year I wish that you have a superb January, a dazzling February, a Peaceful March, an anxiety free April, a sensational May, and Joy that keeps going from June to November, and then round off with an upbeat December.

Julio Baptista- Real Madrid should stop firing coaches

Julio Baptista believes Real Madrid's lack of stability is preventing them from gaining consistent success.
The Spanish side have gone through nine coaches in the last 10 years, during which time they have won just three Liga titles and a Champions League crown.
And former Madrid player Baptista feels that the constant upheavel of the coaching staff is severely affecting the capital club, insisting that a lot of their changes are unneccessary.

"At Madrid if in a year you gain nothing, you don't have to change the coach," Baptista told AS.
"In 2015 under Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid won nothing, but the year before that they won the Champions League.
"Sometimes you have to put things in perspective to see if it is worth making a change."
In his two full seasons at the club, Baptista played under three coaches and he feels that such a lack of consistency affects the Madrid players.

And with Rafael Benitez under pressure as the club sit third in the league and just two points off Barcelona at the top, he maintains they must resist making any hasty decisions.
"Players need stability and changing the coach is no guarantee of success," Baptista said.
"You can hire the best in the world, but there are dynamics and if the players do not understand the coach, it is very difficult to achieve anything in the first year.

"I'm not saying there is a fault, but you have to look at it."
Currently without a club since he left Cruzeiro in the close season, the 34-year-old said he was looking to return to Europe but does not have many options.
"I would prefer to return to Europe, I love Spain," he said.