Thursday 17 November 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Djokovic calls for officials to show more respect

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LONDON (AFP) - Novak Djokovic called for officials to show more respect after the world number two was warned for taking too long between points in his ATP Tour Finals win over David Goffin on Thursday.Djokovic was given a time violation by umpire Fergus Murphy when he took a lengthy pause after losing a long rally in the first set.The Serb responded by having an increasingly animated discussion with Murphy at the end of the game, which included Djokovic appearing to say the official had no clue about the game.Djokovic also vented his frustrations to tournament supervisor Tom Barnes before finally focusing on the match and, while conceding he sometimes takes too long between points, he insisted the officials should take a softer approach before handing out warnings.First of all, I accept and I know that Im one of the players that takes the most time. There is no doubt. Im not running away from that, Djokovic said.Every time that Im late, if I get a so-called soft warning or pre-warning, Ill accept it and I wont say a word. But I think its fair, correct and respectful towards the player and to the game if you go over the first time, lets say, over the limit, that you at least get a heads up. Thats all Im asking for, to be honest. I know that the rules are strict. But there should be a kind of a feel, a sense for the game. It was the fourth game of the match, after a long point, the first time I went over, a few seconds, he gives me a warning. I didnt think that was supported by the right facts. Thats why I wanted to have a conversation and understand why.It was not the first time Djokovic has been involved in an altercation in this weeks Tour Finals after he slammed a ball into the crowd during his match against Dominic Thiem and then had a tetchy exchange with a journalist about the incident.Djokovics angst has come to the fore at a time when he has been mired in a prolonged slump that saw him lose the number one ranking to Andy Murray amid rumours about problems in his private life.Insisting he remains in control of his emotions, Djokovic said: Look, we are all humans. Every single day we face some certain kind of challenges, mental challenges, private, professional life, emotions, thoughts. Certainly there are stages of the year or of the day, moments when you feel worse, and you feel better. The important thing is to be conscious of it and just deal with it in a best possible way that works for you.

Dollar surges on rate talk, emerging markets struggle

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HONG KONG (AFP) - The dollar extended gains across the board in Asian trade Friday as investors took bullish comments from Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen as almost guaranteeing the central bank will hike interest rates next month.While the surge in the greenback to a five-month high against the yen provided another rally for Japans Nikkei, traders in other Asian markets were more uneasy, with foreign investors removing cash from emerging markets seeking better US returns.Last weeks shock election of Donald Trump as president has sent tremors through global markets, with developed nations seeing broad gains but many in Southeast Asia worried about his rhetoric on international trade agreements.His promises to ramp up spending on infrastructure and cut taxes has led to warnings of a surge in inflation that would force the Fed to hike rates to cap prices. This in turn has led to a rush back into the dollar.On Thursday Yellen all but confirmed a first rate rise in 12 months by saying such a move would be appropriate relatively soon. Her remarks came as a new batch of data showed the worlds largest economy in rude health.Weekly new jobless claims hit a 43-year low, the consumer price index posted its strongest gain in six months and monthly housing starts increased.Despite no concrete economic proposals on the table from Trumps team... the market is fully subscribing to a return of Reagan-esque fiscal (spending), along with a steeper path of interest rate normalisation, Stephen Innes, senior trader at OANDA, said.The markets continue to price in a less dovish Fed in the future, as the market is still likely underpricing the actual inflationary impact of the anticipated fiscal spend.In Asia the dollar broke above 110 for the first time since June, while the euro sank against the dollar to levels not seen in 12 months.Among emerging market currencies the South Korean won fell 0.6 percent, the Indonesian rupiah shed 0.5 percent, Malaysias ringgit was off 0.3 percent and the Mexican peso fell 1.4 percent.Other high-yielding currencies also tumbled, with the Canadian, New Zealand and Australian dollars each off one percent.In equities trading Tokyo ended the morning 0.84 percent higher with exporters lifted by the weaker yen.Hong Kong and Shanghai were flat, Sydney edged up 0.2 percent and Seoul slipped 0.4 percent. Taipei, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur were all lower while Manila was flat.The stronger dollar also dented oil prices as it makes the commodity more expensive for anyone holding other currencies. Both main contracts fell about one percent in Asia, with investors also nervously waiting for OPEC to agree terms of an agreement -- struck in September -- to cut production.

Pakistan dismissed for 133 by New Zealand

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CHRISTCHURCH (AFP) - Colin de Grandhomme became New Zealands most successful debutant bowler Friday, taking six for 41 as Pakistan folded for 133 in their first innings of the first Test.The 30-year-old late bloomer was a surprise inclusion in the New Zealand side, but fully justified his selection, swinging and seaming medium pace deliveries which the Pakistan batsmen found difficult to handle.Only seven other New Zealand bowlers have taken five or more wickets on debut with the previous best figures belonging to Tim Southee at five for 55. The previous record bowling figures on debut were Alex Moirs six for 155 against England 65 years ago. After a wash-out Thursday at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, the arrival of the sun and the promise of a full days cricket on Friday signalled the late arrival of Harare-born de Grandhomme on the international scene.He broke through the Pakistan top order before lunch and, in the first over after play resumed, dismissed Asad Shafiq, who had been rebuilding the innings with Misbah-ul-Haq. De Grandhomme then mopped up the tail just before tea. The Pakistan openers Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali had made a promising start after being sent in to bat, progressing to 31 and seeing off New Zealands established new-ball pair Southee and Trent Boult in the first hour.But their innings began to unravel when all-rounder de Grandhomme came on as a surprise first-change bowler.He removed Ali (15) in his third over and then accounted for Babar Azam (seven) and Younis Khan (two) in quick succession.Southee, bowling with more discipline in his second spell, had Aslam caught by New Zealands second debutant Jeet Raval for 15 and Pakistan went to lunch at 88-4.Four balls after lunch, de Grandhomme bagged his fourth wicket as he tempted Asad Shafiq to poke at a full delivery that was swinging away and Raval snared his third catch at second slip.It left Pakistan again looking to their veteran skipper Misbah-ul-Haq to lead them out of trouble.The 42-year-old, playing a record 50th Test as Pakistan captain, was the epitome of patience in reaching 31 off 108 deliveries before he slashed at a Boult flyer and was caught by Kane Williamson. A fragile bottom order put up little resistance as Southee disposed of Sarfraz Ahmed (seven) and de Grandhomme removed Sohail Khan (nine) and Rahat Ali without scoring.In addition to de Grandhommes 6-41, Southee took two for 20 while Boult had figures of two for 39.

Karachi: 2 gang war accused killed in encounter with Rangers

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Crackdown against criminal elements under National Action Plan (NAP) continues in Karachi as two gang war accused were killed in exchange of fire with Rangers while four accused were taken into custody by police during operations in different parts of the city on Thursday, Dunya News reported.According to detailed, Rangers conducted a targeted operation in Musharraf Colony during which the gang war accused present in the area opened fire and wounded two officials. A reinforcement was called in after which Rangers personnel returned the fire due to which two gang war accused were killed. Sources said that the killed accused were members of Uzair Baloch group of Lyari gang war.On the other hand, police arrested a dacoit in injured condition after an encounter in Clifton. Police also apprehended three dacoits during a separate encounter in North Nazimabad and recovered three pistols from them.

Dialogue with Taliban key for peace in Afghanistan: Maleeha

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NEW YORK (Dunya News) - Pakistans permanent representative to the United Nations Dr Maleeha Lodhi while speaking during the UN General Assembly debate on Afghanistan on Thursday said that Pakistan has long called for political solution to conflict in Afghanistan and is gratified that this is now confirmed by international consensus.She said that dialogue between government in Kabul and Afghan Taliban are the only way to end Afghanistans long night of suffering and added that the world community can help to promote reconciliation.Maleeha Lodhi said that for over 30 years Afghan war and strife have produced grave consequences for Pakistans security, stability and economic development.She further said that destinies of people of Pakistan and Afghanistan are intertwined and cemented by age old bonds of kinship, faith and shared history. “Pakistan opened its hearts and homes to over 3 mil Afghan refugees and sustained them for over 30 years,” she said.Maleeha Lodhi said that Pakistan wishes to see Afghan refugees return to their homeland voluntarily, safely and with dignity, sooner rather than later.

Wenger, Mourinho set for Old Trafford reunion

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LONDON (AFP) - The next chapter in one of the Premier Leagues most volatile managerial rivalries will be written this weekend when Arsene Wengers Arsenal visit Jose Mourinhos Manchester United.Sparks often fly when the pair are obliged to share a touchline, typified by a notorious shoving match during a Chelsea-Arsenal fixture at Stamford Bridge two years ago.Wenger has never beaten Mourinho in the league and has been branded a specialist in failure by his Portuguese nemesis, but with Arsenal six points above United, he currently has the upper hand.You know, we didnt lose always, Wenger said when asked about his record against Mourinho on Thursday.We have beaten them and there were many draws as well. I think I have won against every manager in the world during my 20 years here and I do not make of this game a competition between two managers.Its between two clubs and two teams. I can understand that people want to create controversy, but its not that that makes the audience.I think its important that its a top-level game because that will be watched all over the world and for the reputation of the Premier League, its important that the quality of the game is good.Wenger intends to make a late check on the fitness of Alexis Sanchez, who is not due to report back from international duty with Chile until Friday.Sanchez scored twice for Chile in a 3-1 World Cup qualifying win over Uruguay on Tuesday, despite Wenger warning beforehand it would be suicidal for him to play due to a hamstring problem.Arsenal will be definitely be without right-back Hector Bellerin and central midfielder Santi Cazorla, who have ankle and Achilles problems respectively.But Wengers selection problems pale by comparison beside Mourinhos, amid reports the United manager could be without up to seven first-team players.Centre-backs Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling will miss the game through injury, along with suspended top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic.There also fitness doubts over captain Wayne Rooney, midfielder Marouane Fellaini and full-backs Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw.With Saturdays game taking place at lunchtime, victory for Arsenal would lift Wengers side to the top of the standings and leave United a yawning nine points off the pace.Liverpool, the current leaders, will look to pick up where they left off prior to the international break when they visit Southampton later on Saturday.Jurgen Klopps crowd-pleasing side have won seven and drawn two of their last nine league games, culminating in a 6-1 demolition of Watford last time out.Adam Lallana is likely to miss out for Liverpool after sustaining a groin injury during Englands 2-2 friendly draw with Spain on Tuesday, in which he scored.But Klopp is hopeful Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino will both be able to feature after jetting back from international duty with Brazil.The Brazilian guys came back last night, Klopp said on Thursday.We tried everything to make it as comfortable as possible to bring them back, but I havent seen them or spoken to them because I hope they slept immediately and all that stuff. We will see.Antonio Contes Chelsea, a point behind Liverpool in second place, visit Middlesbrough on Sunday, while Pep Guardiolas Manchester City, a point further back in third, travel to Crystal Palace.City have won only one of their last five league games and conceded top spot prior to the international break after a 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough.Right-back Bacary Sagna, fit again after a hamstring tear, concedes it has been a frustrating time.The team did well. If you look back to the way we played, it was amazing, the France international told the City website.We were just not clinical enough to win the games. Like against Middlesbrough. I still dont understand how we didnt win the game.Six points from safety, Sunderland and Swansea City are already in danger of being cut off at the foot of the table.Bottom club Sunderland host third-bottom Hull City on Saturday in an early relegation six-pointer, while Swanseas new head coach Bob Bradley goes in search of his first win at Everton.FixturesSaturday (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)Crystal Palace v Manchester City, Manchester United v Arsenal (1230), Southampton v Liverpool, Tottenham v West Ham (1730), Watford v Leicester, Everton v Swansea, Stoke v Bournemouth, Sunderland v Hull

Multan: Man commits suicide after wife files for divorce

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MULTAN (Dunya News) - A man in Muzaffargarh committed suicide by setting himself on fire, after his wife filed for a divorce, reported Dunya News.Younis s wife had gone to her parent s home and had filed for divorced, which made him set himself on fire. 100% of his body was burnt, which caused his death. His dead body was sent to dead house for post martem.

Japan PM says 'great confidence' in Trump as leader

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TOKYO (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday said his meeting with Donald Trump -- the first by a foreign leader -- convinced him the US president-elect was someone in whom I can have great confidence.We were able to have a very candid talk over a substantial amount of time. We held it in a very warm atmosphere, Abe told reporters after their meeting at the billionaires Manhattan skyscraper.As an outcome of todays discussions, I am convinced Mr Trump is a leader in whom I can have great confidence.The Japanese leader gave few details of the meeting but added the two agreed to meet again for deeper talks on a wider range of issues.Japan is one of Washingtons closest allies but Trump alarmed Tokyo policymakers during the campaign by musing about pulling the thousands of US troops from the region and suggesting that officially pacifist Japan may need nuclear weapons.Trump also vowed during the election to tear up the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed vast trade pact backed by outgoing President Barack Obama and which Abe had made a top priority.

Keane follows Gerrard in LA Galaxy exodus

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Robbie Keane is leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy after six seasons with the Major League Soccer franchise, confirming his exit just days after Steven Gerrard announced his departure.Ireland international record goalscorer Keane, 36, said in a statement he was targeting one final challenge in club football before hanging up his boots for good.Keane is one of the most successful foreign players to ply his trade in the US top flight, helping the Galaxy win three MLS Cup titles while scoring more than 100 goals in all competitions after signing for the club in 2011.I can confirm that after five fantastic years I will be leaving the LA Galaxy, said Keane.It has been a privilege to have played my part in the history of such a great club and I leave with memories that will stay with me forever.Keane, who remains Irelands record goalscorer with 68 from 146 appearances, said his fitness persuaded him he could still find a role elsewhere.I still feel as fit and sharp as ever and I am looking forward to my next adventure, he said.Having now retired from international football I am ready to focus everything I have on one last major challenge in club football and will be taking time out to consider my options before announcing my next move.Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said Keane would go down in history as the most successful international signing in this leagues history.It is hard to put into words what Robbie Keane has meant to the LA Galaxy, Arena said.From day one, Keane has given everything to this team both on and off the field and has led our club to some of its greatest accomplishments.Keanes announcement comes after former England and Liverpool captain Gerrard confirmed his departure from the club on Tuesday.

De Grandhomme demolishes Pakistan top order

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CHRISTCHURCH (AFP) - Debutant Colin de Grandhomme stung Pakistan with three quick wickets as New Zealand cashed in on winning a crucial toss on day one of the shortened first Test in Christchurch on Friday. At lunch, Pakistan were 88-4 with Misbah-ul-Haq, captaining his side for the 50th time, on 15 and mounting a rescue mission with Asad Shafiq who not out 16. With a green-tinged wicket and damp outfield -- after the first day was lost through rain -- both captains said they wanted to bowl first and it was New Zealands Kane Williamson who had the good fortune to win the toss.Despite expectations, however, the pitch did not hold many demons and with strike bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult struggling to maintain consistent lines there was little to unnerve the batsmen in the early overs. But when Williamson called up all-rounder de Grandhomme as a surprise choice first-change bowler it produced a substantial breakthrough.After 12 fruitless overs from the New Zealand bowlers, the Harare-born, former Zimbabwe under-19 representative, had a ball seam back on Azhar Ali who was bowled for 15 and Pakistan were 31-1.Babar Azam, recalled for his second Test, helped Sami Aslam nudge the score through to 53 when New Zealand claimed three wickets for three runs in 18 deliveries.Southee, who had opened with four consecutive maidens and had a strong appeal against Aslam turned down on review, changed ends for his second spell and immediately had the Pakistan opener caught behind for 19. De Grandhomme followed with the wickets of Azam (seven) and Younis Khan (two) to end the morning session with three for 23 while Southee has one for eight off 10 overs.

Haroon Rasheed accuses Tariq Fazal Chaudhry of massive corruption

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Senior analyst Haroon Rasheed andMinister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Tariq Fazal Chaudhry faced off in On The Front with Kamran Shahid show and exchanged harsh words.Haroon Rasheed accused Tariq Fazal Chaudhry of having around 275 files inCapital Development Authority (CDA) and said that they will be cleared and he will get profit of around Rs 15 billion.Tariq Fazal responded by saying that he had closed CDA files himself and Haroon Rasheeds files were also stopped, which is why the analyst was angry.Haroon Rasheed said that he had no files and even if there was any file, it should be stopped. He said that if he has any files, it should be stopped until there is Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharifs government.

40 more dengue cases detected in Rawalpindi

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RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - The dengue fever outbreak in Rawalpindi has reached to a drastic level as 40 more patients were reported to have been admitted in various hospitals within last 24 hours, Dunya News reported.The viral fever has spread with enormous speed and the precautionary measures adopted by the authorities are nowhere to be found in this regard.The toll of patients affected by the bite of Aedes mosquito has reached to a drastic figure of 3600 during this year. Moreover, four deaths from dengue fever have also been confirmed in Rawalpindi District.

Iraq forces move on two airports in month-old Mosul battle

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MOSUL (AFP) - Iraqi forces piled pressure on the Islamic State group around Mosul Thursday, moving closer to cutting off the jihadists escape route west to Syria and thrusting deeper into the east of the city.Pro-government paramilitary forces advancing on the town of Tal Afar, which commands the citys western approaches, entered its airport, while troops moving up from the south had the Mosul airport in their sights.Wounded civilians continued to stream out of the east of Mosul as government forces battled IS fighters on the streets.The first casualties began arriving at a field clinic on the citys eastern edge after a mortar attack at around 11:00 am (0800 GMT), filling its nine blood-stained cots within minutes.Others were forced to sit on plastic chairs or lie on rugs in the dirt awaiting treatment. Mortar fire and bombs killed three children and wounded more than two dozen people on Thursday morning alone, one of the clinics staff, Hossam al-Nuri, told AFP. Medics zipped a white body bag around one of the dead, as a relative sobbed nearby. We were waiting at home in Al-Samah to have lunch when the mortar round hit, said Hassan, who was wounded along with three of his brothers.Lying on his side on a cot, Hassan frantically asked passing medics about his infant son Jassem, who was being treated nearby for wounds to his eyes. Iraqi forces and civilians alike have paid a heavy price in the first month of the battle for Mosul, although casualty figures have not been released by the authorities.Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary fighters allied to the government were battling IS jihadists and looking for booby traps inside Tal Afar airport, the last major objective before the town itself.Daesh has planted bombs in large parts of Tal Afar airport and operations are under way to clear it completely, the Hashed al-Shaabi said in a statement.Control of Tal Afar, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Mosul, would bring pro-government forces closer to surrounding IS in its last major Iraqi stronghold.The city would be cut off from IS-controlled territory in Syria, where its de facto capital Raqa is also in the sights of US-backed forces. South of Mosul, advancing troops were nearing the citys airport. An officer with elite interior ministry forces said a planned advance on Thursday would bring them to within four kilometres (two and a half miles).Anti-IS fighters were also within striking distance of Mosuls northern neighbourhoods while in the east elite counter-terrorism forces and army troops punching in from two directions were expected to join up despite stiff resistance.That would tighten their grip on the east of the city although much tough fighting could still lie ahead when they cross the Tigris River and take on IS in the narrow streets of the old city on its west bank.In addition to battlefield losses, IS has faced other setbacks, said a statement issued after a meeting in Berlin of some members of the US-led coalition against IS.The flow of new recruits has dropped to its lowest level since the conflict began, and ISs resource base is shrinking as it loses territory and as coalition air strikes degrade the resources that fund its operations, the statement said.IS, whose leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed his caliphate in Mosul in June 2014, has so far invested more into this battle than the defence of other Iraqi cities such as Tikrit or Fallujah.Their strategy remains unclear, however, and Michael Knights of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said it was hard to know whether the worst was yet to come.We could be fighting through a hard crust with a soft inside, or it could be all hard, he said.Human Rights Watch issued a statement on Thursday that included accounts by residents of the Hamam al-Alil area south of Mosul suggesting that a mass grave found there contains the bodies of former police killed by IS.The grave was found outside the town of Hamam al-Alil on November 7 after troops overran it in their drive north. One witness told HRW that over two nights last month at least 230 people, some of them former police, were brought to the site and may have been executed.According to the United Nations, nearly 60,000 people have been displaced since the offensive to retake Mosul was launched on October 17.We are working as quickly as we can and in close coordination with Iraqi authorities to help some of the most at-risk people in the world, UN humanitarian coordinator Lise Grande said.Most of the first weeks of fighting were in sparsely populated areas outside the city but forces are now pushing into heavily built-up areas where aid delivery is complicated.With military operations imminent in densely populated sections of Mosul city, humanitarians are increasingly worried about the ability of families impacted by the conflict to reach safety and assistance, the UN said.

Soldiers metres away from IS in Syria's Deir Ezzor

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DEIR EZZOR (AFP) - A Syrian soldier shoots through sandbags at a black flag of the Islamic State group just several metres away in the divided eastern city of Deir Ezzor.Besieged troops in the citys government-held districts are on alert day and night for IS attackers after more than two years of siege by the jihadists.We never sleep. Even at night, we keep an eye open, says Omar, asking for a pseudonym like all other soldiers in the city interviewed by AFP.President Bashar al-Assads army controls around 40 percent of Deir Ezzor, the only city in the whole country where his troops are besieged.Even on our breaks, we stay vigilant, Omar says, as he hunkers down behind sandbags several metres (yards) away from jihadist positions in the front line neighbourhood of Huwayqa.A 10-metre-long trench padded out by sandbags allows the soldiers to run along the front line and spy on their adversaries in the divided district, whose buildings have been devastated in the fighting.The bearded soldier, who carries a Kalashnikov assault rifle and ample ammunition, turns to congratulate a fellow fighter for having hit an IS standard marking one of the jihadists positions.Omar is on guard in the only eastern city to have a regime-held district in a part of Syria largely controlled by IS.He has not seen his family in Damascus for three years.Nearby, an officer says the sandbags provide protection from snipers, but also allow the military to dig tunnels to reach enemy positions without being seen.Only helicopters can reach Deir Ezzors regime-held western districts after IS took over part of the city in July 2014 and laid seige to government-controlled areas in January 2015.For Assads army, staying in the city means one day returning to the Euphrates valley and retaking oil fields that account for two-thirds of the countrys production, says Fabrice Balanche, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.And Deir Ezzor is the second most important city that IS controls after its de facto Syrian capital of Raqa, which is in the sights of an offensive by a US-backed Arab-Kurdish alliance.The surrounding province of Deir Ezzor -- the second largest in the country -- is an important area for agriculture, Balanche says.The army controls the provincial capitals west where around a third of the citys pre-war population of 300,000 live, as well as the military airport on its outskirts.IS holds the citys east, where about 50,000 civilians live.Our positions are just 15 metres away from the enemy, the leading officer in Huwayqa says, asking to remain anonymous.He says the jihadists do not lead frontal attacks but try to infiltrate army ranks -- especially in low visibility.They take advantage of sand storms, fog or frost to attack. When these happen, we become even more vigilant, he says.The military does not release death tolls, but a monitor says 2,500 soldiers and pro-regime fighters have died in Deir Ezzor since the battle started there.The Syrian Obervatory for Human Rights monitoring group estimates around 3,000 jihadists have also died.Both sides have entrenched their positions in the past two months, with no advance from either after months of fighting for now seasoned soldiers.I fought rebels, the jihadists from Al-Nusra Front, and then IS, says Samer, referring to the group that renamed itself Fateh al-Sham Front after renouncing its ties with Al-Qaeda.Rebels lead frontal attacks and Al-Nusra puts mines in buildings to blow them up, while IS sends us car bombs followed by suicide bombers, Samer says.In Deir Ezzor, the army has been fighting one of its toughest battles against IS, a group that has become infamous for gruesome beheadings.But Samer seems to have kept his morale. They want us to believe theyll chop our heads off, but well hold on tight.

Trump considers Romney as top US diplomat: report

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NEW YORK (AFP) - US President-elect Donald Trump is considering Mitt Romney as secretary of state, in what would be a major olive branch to mainstream Republicans who opposed the tycoons candidacy, a report said Thursday.CNN and NBC said Trump would meet over the weekend with Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts who was the Republicans unsuccessful 2012 White House candidate against President Barack Obama.NBC said that Trump was considering Romney as secretary of state, which would put a figure with more orthodox Republican views in charge of US foreign policy.Senator Jeff Sessions, an arch-conservative Republican from Alabama who is one of Trumps closest allies in Congress, said he expected the incoming president to consider the capable Romney for some position.I think its good that the president-elect is meeting with people like Romney. There are a lot of talented people that he needs good relationships with, said Sessions, himself a top contender for a cabinet post.And I think Mr Romney would be quite capable of doing a number of things, Sessions told reporters after meeting the president-elect at his Trump Tower in Manhattan.Romney was one of the staunchest Republican opponents of Trumps candidacy during the partys primaries, describing the businessman as vulgar, unprincipled and threatening to US values.Romney in particular chastised Trump for proposing a ban on all foreign Muslims entering the United States.In March, Romney said that Trumps bombast is already alarming our allies and fueling the enmity of our enemies.Romney also has a more traditional Republican skepticism of Russia, which he called the top geopolitical threat to the United States during the 2012 election.In a striking departure for a Republican, Trump has voiced hope for working with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has spoken warmly of the businessman-turned-world leader.Media reports have speculated on a wide range of names to be secretary of state including South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, another Republican who was initially lukewarm to Trump.An Indian American, Haley would inject diversity into the cabinet after a divisive election in which Trump was outspoken in his criticism of immigration.Other names floated for secretary of state include Rudy Giuliani, the combative former New York mayor and staunch Trump defender who would likely face scrutiny over a slew of business dealings, and hawkish former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton.
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