While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Jan 18 edition

US President Barack Obama: Iran deal, prisoner swop show dividends of diplomacy

US President Barack Obama on Sunday heralded the implementation of a nuclear deal and prisoner swop with Iran as a victory for diplomacy that would advance American interests and potentially spark more cooperative relations between Teheran and the world.

Speaking after Americans who had been imprisoned and freed by Iran had left the country, Mr Obama said Iran now would not "get its hands on a nuclear bomb" and the planet would be more secure.

"This is a good day because, once again, we're seeing what's possible with strong American diplomacy," Mr Obama said at the White House. "These things are a reminder of what we can achieve when we lead with strength and with wisdom."

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US imposes new sanctions on Iran linked to its ballistic missile programme: official

The United States on Sunday announced new sanctions linked to Iran's ballistic missile programme, just a day after sanctions targeting its nuclear programme were lifted.

In remarks shortly before the US announcement, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani of Iran said that any new American sanctions would be "met by an appropriate response".

The US Treasury Department said in a statement that it had added five Iranian nationals and a network of companies based in the United Arab Emirates and China to an American blacklist.

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Man dies after being left brain-dead in French drug trial: hospital

A man who was left brain-dead after suffering serious side-effects during a drugs trial in France died on Sunday, according to the hospital which had been treating him.

Five other volunteers hospitalised a week ago when the drugs trial went wrong were "in a stable condition", the hospital in the western city of Rennes said in a statement.

The private laboratory Biotrial was testing a new pain and mood disorder medication for Portuguese pharmaceutical company Bial on humans for the first time, in what is known as a Phase I trial, to test the drug's safety.

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Football: Liverpool felled 0-1 by Manchester United after Wayne Rooney sucker-punch

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney pounced to score a 78th-minute winner as his side stunned eternal rivals Liverpool with a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory at a freezing Anfield on Sunday.

Presiding over his first game against United, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp watched his team dominate, but Rooney punished their profligacy with his fifth goal in four games, a close range snapshot after Marouane Fellaini had hit the bar.

It was United's first shot on target, but it was enough to give visiting manager Louis van Gaal his fourth win over Liverpool in four games and a first away victory since the 2-1 success at Watford on Nov 21.

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Football: Arsenal back on top of table after goalless draw at Stoke

Arsenal regained top spot in the Premier League on goal difference from Leicester City after a fiercely contested goalless draw at Stoke City on Sunday.

The second half was far more exciting than the first with both teams creating chances in an end-to-end duel which saw both goalkeepers make some superb saves.

Jack Butland made three important stops for Stoke, from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud in the first half, and from Giroud in the second, with Petr Cech twice denying Marko Arnautovic after the break.

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