Monday 21 November 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Desperate Aussies roll the dice to stop rampant Proteas

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ADELAIDE (AFP) - Crisis-torn Australia will attempt to prevent rampant South Africa from an unprecedented series clean sweep in Thursdays day-night third Test in Adelaide after a team shake-up of historic proportions.Stung by two humiliating defeats in Perth and Hobart, the Aussies have made six changes in a bid to stop the rot and fight off the Proteas quest to become the first touring team to sweep a series in Australia.It is a seismic selection switch in the wake of last weeks sudden resignation of chairman of selectors Rod Marsh and intensifying pressure on the games top officials and coach Darren Lehmann.Not since only two players from the fifth Test against England in August 1977 made it into the team for the first Test against India three months later, after World Series Cricket rebelled against the establishment, has there been such a clean-out of the Australian side.The last time there were as many as five changes mid-season -- which is likely given either pacemen Jackson Bird or Chadd Sayers is likely to be 12th man in Adelaide -- was in the 1977-78 series against India after an innings defeat in Sydney.Selectors, with Trevor Hohns taking over from Marsh as interim chairman, named three young batsmen -- English-born Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson -- to make their debuts and recalled Sayers, Bird and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.It was a decisive and drastic intervention by the under-fire selection panel in the wake of Australias fifth straight heavy Test defeat, including the 3-0 series drubbing in Sri Lanka last August. Im not for one minute going to suggest an immediate turnaround, Hohns said.Patience will be required but we are obviously hopeful that these players can gel together and ultimately stop the downward losing momentum we are currently experiencing.Its no secret that our Test team has not functioned or performed to the level we expect.We accept that a lot of the criticism that has come our way has been warranted, however, I ask that everybody take a deep breath and get behind these blokes in what is going to be a very testing time for them.The reinforcements will be aiming to bolster Australias insipid batting, which was routed for 85 by South Africa in Hobart after suffering a humiliating 10 for 86 collapse in the first innings at Perth.Lehmann said it was important he and fellow coaches instil confidence and positivity in the new-look squad. Ive never seen a side so hurt after Hobart, an Australian side. Weve got to pick them up, get them positive, he said.South Africa have problems of their own with skipper Faf du Plessis facing an ICC charge of ball tampering in the Hobart Test.Du Plessis, who was fined 50 percent of his match fee in 2013 for ball tampering in the second Test against Pakistan, has pleaded not guilty but could face a one-match ban, which may force him out of the Adelaide match.Heightening tensions ahead of the game, South African security staff shoved an Australian television reporter up against a glass door as he attempted to interview du Plessis at Adelaide airport on Monday, with the team accusing the media of harassment.Despite this, the South Africans, with their pace trio Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Kyle Abbott dominating the Australian batting, will fancy their chances bowling with the pink ball in swinging conditions under lights at Adelaide Oval.It will be only the second day-night Test in Australia after the home side thrillingly beat New Zealand by three wickets on only the third day in Adelaide last year.Teams:Australian (from) - David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.South Africa (from) - Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis (capt), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel.Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG) and Richard Kettleborough (ENG).

Karachi: 5 accused arrested in police operation

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Crackdown against criminal elements under National Action Plan (NAP) continues in Karachi as five accused were taken into custody by police during operation in the city on Monday, Dunya News reported.According to details, police carried out an operation in Mqbal Market area of Orangi Town and arrested five accused. Police sources said that the arrested accused, Adil, Ali, Anwar, Sabiz and Muhammad Bashir, were involved in several cases of street crime.Police have also recovered a Kalashnikov, one TT pistol and narcotics from the arrested accused and registered a case against them.

Sialkot: 3 killed in car, tractor trolley collision

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SIALKOT (Dunya News) – According to details, a sprrding car while overtaking a motorcycle collided with a tractor trolley near Noal More area of Sialkot on Monday, killing at least three members of the same family and wounding two other, Dunya News reported.The deceased were identified as Rizwan, Hamza and Sadaqat. Rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured to Govt Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital.

Lahore: Unidentified persons shot dead a youth

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – According to details, 28-year-old Imtiaz was standing outside his home in Sanda area of Lahore on Monday night when some unidentified persons riding on motorcycle opened fire on him, killing him on the spot.Police reached the spot after getting information about the incident shifted the dead body to hospital. Police have also started investigation.

Karachi: MQM-P boycotts NA-258 by-election

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Dr Farooq Sattar-led Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has announced on Monday to boycott November 24 by-election of the National Assembly constituency (NA-258) in Karachi’s Malir district, Dunya News reported.The decision to boycott NA-258 by-election was taken in a meeting at the party’s makeshift headquarters in PIB Colony. In a statement issued after the meeting, the MQM-P put the blame of their boycott on the Sindh government, claiming that the provincial government will rig the election by using state machinery.It was further stated that the provincial government was using government resources to get desirable result in the by-election.

Fears for Aleppo civilians as Syria regime advances

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ALEPPO (AFP) - Syrian government forces advanced quickly inside rebel-held east Aleppo on Monday, as the UN raised the alarm for nearly one million people living under siege in the war-wracked country.UN aid chief Stephen OBrien told the Security Council that 974,080 people were now living under siege in Syria, more than double the number from six months ago.The assessment follows mounting international concern over the fate of Aleppo, where 250,000 people are trapped in the east of the city under a government siege.President Bashar al-Assads regime lost control of the eastern part of Syrias second city to insurgents in 2012, and its recapture would be its biggest victory in the countrys brutal five-year conflict.Rebel forces have steadily lost ground since regime ally Russia intervened to bolster Assads government last year.They faced a new blow Sunday when government forces backed by Iranian and Russian troops and fighters from Lebanons Shiite movement Hezbollah entered Aleppos Masaken Hanano district -- the first neighbourhood the rebels controlled in 2012.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said control of the northeastern Aleppo district could give regime forces an edge and isolate rebels from other areas held by insurgents.The monitoring groups chief Rami Abdel Rahman said it was the biggest advance regime forces have made so far inside eastern Aleppo.If they take control of Masaken Hanano, the regime will have line of fire control over several rebel-held neighbourhoods and will be able to cut off the northern parts of rebel-held Aleppo from the rest of the opposition-held districts, he said.Milad Shahabi, a member of Masake Hananos council, told AFP that civilians started to flee the neighbourhood where fighting was still underway and they were heading to southern areas.Al-Watan newspaper, close to Syrias government, described the neighbourhood as the most important stronghold of the gunmen in Aleppo.Once Syrias economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by the conflict that began with anti-government protests in March 2011.A European diplomat said the governments capture of east Aleppo appeared to be a matter of time.Now, its just a question of how long they (rebel forces) can hold on, the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.There is nothing to eat, no more hospitals and the bombardment is non-stop. They are under very strong pressure.Government forces have pounded east Aleppo with air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery fire since last Tuesday, in the latest phase of an operation the army announced in late September.The Observatory says more than 100 civilians have since been killed in east Aleppo, including at 15 who died Monday in regime air strikes, barrel bomb attacks and artillery fire.Rebels have also fired rockets onto government-held west Aleppo, killing 10 people including eight children on Sunday.But the new assault could spark a fresh humanitarian catastrophe, the UNs Syria envoy has warned, and prompt a mass exodus of those trapped under regime siege.No aid has entered the east since government forces surrounded it in July, prompting food and fuel shortages in opposition-held neighbourhoods.In New York, UN aid chief OBrien drew a bleak picture of life under siege for nearly one million Syrians, in his briefing to the Security Council.Nearly one million Syrians are living tonight under siege, he said, including in the rural Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus.Civilians are being isolated, starved, bombed, denied medical attention and humanitarian assistance in order to force them to submit or flee.OBrien condemned this deliberate tactic of cruelty and said the sieges were mostly perpetrated by government forces against civilians.The situation is horrific, catastrophic, said French ambassador Francois Delattre who accused the government of waging a total-war strategy to take back Aleppo, no matter the price.On Sunday, US President Barack Obama said he was not optimistic about the short-term prospects in Syria.UN envoy Staffan de Mistura on Monday wrapped up a visit to Damascus after the government rebuffed his plan for a truce in Aleppo that included opposition administration of eastern areas.We told him that we reject that completely, said Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.De Mistura warned time was running out for east Aleppo, adding that there was concern about an acceleration of military activities in the city and other parts of Syria.Meanwhile the US on Monday named a dozen Syrian generals and officers accused of leading attacks on civilian targets, with its UN ambassador Samantha Power warning they would face justice one day.The United States will not let those who have commanded units involved in these actions hide anonymously behind the facade of the Assad regime, Power told the Security Council.

Rivals blame each other as Yemen ceasefire ends

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SANAA (AFP) - A fragile 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen ended on Monday after failing to stem violence across the country, with each side blaming the other for violating the US-backed truce.The ceasefire, aimed at ending the chaos and bloodshed that has gripped the Arabian Peninsula country since March 2015, came into effect on Saturday following the intervention of US Secretary of State John Kerry.Despite a lull in air strikes on the rebel-held capital during the ceasefire, residents said Saudi-led coalition warplanes hit a district in eastern Sanaa on Monday.Both parties had traded accusations about hundreds of violations throughout the short-lived ceasefire.The coalition said it ended at midday (0900 GMT) Monday, and accused Iran-backed insurgents of repeatedly breaking it.There is no respect (for the ceasefire), only violations, coalition spokesman Major General Ahmed Assiri told AFP.There have been more people killed in (the southwestern city of) Taez and more attacks with surface-to-surface missiles, so automatically the conditions are not there for prolonging the ceasefire, he said.At the military level, for the moment, we have no orders to extend the ceasefire. Its over.The coalition had said the truce could be renewed if the rebels abided by the it and allowed aid deliveries into besieged cities.But violence flared as its expiration loomed.Fifteen rebels and nine loyalist troops were killed in clashes overnight in and around Taez, military and medical sources said.Four civilians were also killed and 11 wounded in rebel bombing of loyalist-held neighbourhoods, the sources said.Early Monday, loyalist forces attacked Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies on the western outskirts of Taez, military officials said.The offensive targeted an air defence base, they said, and witnesses reported loud explosions.Four Huthis were killed in an air strike by the Saudi-led coalition.Coalition warplanes hit rebel positions in Nahm, north of rebel-held capital Sanaa, and in the Huthi heartland of Saada province, witnesses said.Battles have resumed across various fronts, a spokesman for pro-government forces, Brigadier Abdo Majli, said in remarks published on the loyalist sabanew.net.Military operations will continue until legitimacy is restored, he said, adding that the coalition-backed army has achieved new victories in Taez province and succeeded in liberating the air defence base north of the city.The ceasefire was the latest international attempt to end Yemens 20-month conflict, which the United Nations says has killed more than 7,000 people and wounded nearly 37,000.The Huthis overran Sanaa and other parts of the impoverished country in September 2014, prompting the coalition to intervene six months later in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.Pro-Hadi forces said on Monday they repelled a rebel attack on their positions in Sarwah in Marib province, east of the capital.The ceasefire had appeared shaky from the outset, and Assiri accused the rebels of 563 violations in Yemen and another 163 across the border in Saudi Arabia.A spokesman for renegade Yemeni troops allied with the rebels accused pro-Hadi forces of more than 100 violations.Local aid activists and witnesses also accused the insurgents of preventing an 18-truck relief convoy from reaching Taez on Sunday.The UN childrens agency UNICEF says nearly three million people in Yemen need immediate food supplies, while 1.5 million children are suffering from malnutrition, including 370,000 with severe malnutrition that weakens their immune system.Separately on Monday, a US drone strike on a vehicle killed a suspected Al-Qaeda Islamic judge in the central province of Baida, a security official told AFP.The suspected militant was identified as Abu Hammam al-Ibbi, who was also an imam in Baida.Washington regards Al-Qaedas Yemen-based branch as its most dangerous, and has kept up a long-running drone war targeting its commanders.Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, which have exploited the conflict to gain ground in lawless parts of Yemen, are generally excluded from ceasefires and are attacked by both the coalition and US drones.

Iraq militias train sights on key IS-held town near Mosul

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TAL AFAR AIRBASE (AFP) - Iraqi militia fighters peered from a front line position at Tal Afar, a town still held by jihadists, as sniper bullets rang overhead and mortar rounds crashed nearby.After storming a former airbase, they have pushed forward to around four kilometres from the strategic town, 55 kilometres (35 miles) west along the road running from the Islamic State groups bastion of Mosul to territory under its control in Syria.God willing, we are going to advance forward field commander Abu Hanan al-Kanaani said. The enemy knows us, nothing will stop us and we are coming to liberate, to let the people live in freedom and safety.The push by the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) forces -- a paramilitary umbrella group dominated by Tehran-backed Shiite militias and nominally under the Iraqi prime ministers command -- is part of the broader offensive to retake Mosul, ISs last major hub in Iraq.But while the forces thrust should be a vital move to cut off IS escape routes, its involvement around Sunni-majority Mosul and its targeting of Tal Afar have proved deeply divisive.Alleged executions and abuses carried out by Hashed fighters in territory taken from IS elsewhere have stoked local fears and, given its close ties to Iran, its advance has sparked warnings of a possible intervention from Tehrans regional rival Turkey.On the battlefield, however, the group is bullish after recapturing what was once a major Iraqi military facility that IS fighters seized as they swept through the country in 2014.On Sunday, the paramilitary group drove a group of Western journalists six hours on a press trip through the desert to showcase the capture of the airbase.Daesh sent several car bombs at us but when they saw we would not back off, they fled, representative Mohammed al-Barghuthi told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for IS. It took us about an hour to capture.Now the group has Tal Afar firmly in its sights and is waiting for orders to move.We are waiting to tighten our grip around the city and trying to secure a route for the civilians to leave, said Abu Mohamed al-Ettabi, a senior commander on the Tal Afar front.The likely capture of Tal Afar -- a mainly Turkmen city -- by the Popular Mobilisation has drawn the ire of the president of Sunni neighbour Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.He cautioned that Ankara -- which has some hundreds of soldiers based at Bashiqa, north of Mosul, and more along the borders -- would not look favourably on an attack by Shiite militias on the town.Ettabi said the plan was for local units from the area fighting under the banner of the Popular Mobilisation force to try to move into the city.But if they cannot make it, then we are going to intervene, he said.He dismissed the potential threat of Turkish military action if the militias take the town.Turkey is not Iraq -- they cant impose what they want on us, the senior commander said. Iraq will decide what it wants and no one can interfere.The role played by the Hashed remains a potential flashpoint and the group -- which includes US terror-listed organisations -- is not receiving air support from the US-led coalition fighting IS.But Ettabi angrily lashed out at suggestions the group was part of a plan by Iran to carve out a corridor of control to neighbouring Syria, where it is fighting to prop up President Bashar al-Assad.Lets stay far away from these political plots and focus on the issue that our population has been attacked, he said.

Millions throng Iraq shrine despite fears of IS attack

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KARBALA (AFP) - Millions of black-clad Shiite Muslims, crying and beating their chests in mourning, streamed through a shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala Monday under heavy protection from the security forces.The processions of faithful walking to Imam Husseins mausoleum from all over Iraq have been routinely targeted by bombings over the years, but this time the Arbaeen commemoration saw very few attacks.The Islamic State group is battling tens of thousands of Iraqi forces in and around its last major stronghold of Mosul, and observers had feared it might seek to strike Baghdad or Karbala during Arbaeen.The authorities in Karbala, which lies about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Baghdad, said at least 24,000 soldiers and police were securing the area.Some pilgrims came from as far afield as Basra, Iraqs main southern port city some 500 kilometres away by road.I came walking from Basra with my wife and three sons... This is the third time, said Jaber Kadhem Khalif.We started walking 13 days ago and reached Karbala on Sunday night.The 40-year-old said his prayers would go to the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary group which has tens of thousands of men deployed on the front lines to fight IS.Umm Ali came without her husband, who is with the security forces on the front lines.I came with my son and two daughters. I came from Samawa to Najaf by car, then from Najaf to Karbala on foot, to make a plea for my husbands safety, the 45-year-old said.We ask God to support us against Daesh (IS) members, to help us liberate Mosul and urge our politicians to remember the people who have sacrificed so much, she said.Arbaeen, which means 40 in Arabic, is an observance that peaks on the 40th day after the anniversary of Imam Husseins 680 AD death, but the pilgrimage takes place over several days running up to it.Nusayyef al-Khattabi, who heads the Karbala provincial council, said he expected the total number of visitors over several days to range between 17 and 20 million.Among them are an estimated three million foreigners, mostly Iranians who started crossing the border days ago.The last day of Arbaeen was dominated by a controversy in Iraq over the publication by Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat of an article accusing Iranian pilgrims of sexually harassing women during the commemoration.The article quoted a spokesman from the UNs health agency, which denied any such comment was ever made.It drew condemnation from Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and several other leading Shiite figures and bodies demanding an apology.It kept Saudi-Iranian tension as a backdrop to the pilgrimage, after the deadly 2015 stampede during the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca prompted Tehran to angrily question Saudi custodianship of holy Muslim sites.I want to respond to what was published in Asharq al-Awsat. They want to slander the pilgrims and this event, said Magdi al-Muslim, a Shiite who is himself from Saudi Arabia.Our message to them is that we have Imam Hussein and we wont leave him, he said.Baghdad and much of the country south of the capital come to a standstill in the days preceding Arbaeen, as several major motorways are reserved for pilgrims on foot on one side and authorised vehicles on the other.Since the previous Arbaeen in December 2015, ISs caliphate has been unravelling and the jihadists are expected to increasingly turn to spectacular one-off attacks on symbolic targets.There were some attacks during Arbaeen this year, but with far fewer victims than in previous years.Karbala, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad, faces the desert of Anbar, a vast province which was until recently an IS bastion and where jihadists still carry out frequent attacks.

Talks on Cyprus unification break up without agreement

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MONT PELERIN (AFP) - The latest round of talks between rival leaders on ending Cypruss 42-year-old division broke up without agreement on Tuesday, the United Nations said.Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Mustafa Akinci have been meeting on the shores of Lake Geneva since Sunday in the second round of talks this month.Despite their best efforts, they have not been able to achieve the necessary further convergences on criteria for territorial adjustment that would have paved the way for the last phase of the talks, UN spokesman Aleem Siddique said in a statement.The two sides have decided to return to Cyprus and reflect on the way forward. The talks are aimed at reunifying Cyprus, a Mediterranean island whose division remains one of the worlds longest-running political disputes.The island has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece.Anastasiades and Akinci met earlier this month, between November 7-11, to discuss potential territorial readjustments -- seen as the trickiest issue to resolve.That round finished short of a deal but hopes had been high that the second round could produce a map of internal boundaries for a future federation of Greek- and Turkish-speaking states on the island.The Turkish invasion saw thousands of Greek and Turkish Cypriots displaced.Territory is an intractable problem for the talks, since any agreement would inevitably involve a redrawing of existing boundaries and see members of both communities ousted from their current homes.The leaders had been thought to be close on the percentage of territory to be governed under Turkish Cypriot jurisdiction, with Akinci suggesting 29.2 percent and the Greek Cypriots proposing 28 percent.The sticking point is which towns and villages come within those boundaries.The UN and outgoing Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have staked much on solving the conundrum.

Dolphin force unable to stop crimes in Lahore

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Billions were spent on forces like Mujahid force, Elite force and most recently on Dolphin force but all of them were unsuccessful in producing results.In 1998 Elite force was introduced. With time, Tiger force also finished whereas Mujahid squad could not continue due to lack of funds, whereas Elite force was dedicated to the security of VIPs.Most recently, Dolphin force was introduced, which was supposed to do patrolling and catch criminals but they could not succeed as well.DIG operations Dr. Haider Ashraf believes that crime rate got lower after introduction of Dolphin force but public says that criminal activities in day light are proof that Dolphin force is unable to produce results.

Change of COAS would not stop investigation of leaked news: Rasheed

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LONDON (Dunya News) - Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed said on Monday that investigation of leaked news case would not be stopped due to the retirement of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), reported Dunya News.While talking in a press conference in London, Sheikh Rasheed said that if there were no Imran Khan, Sharif brothers would not have left any stone unturned to loot the country. He said that Imran Khan was standing like a wall infront of thieves.Sheikh Rasheed said that Panama papers case would be solved according to the will of the public and said that it is Imran Khans right to marry for the third time.

Trump says will move to withdraw TPP 'on day one'

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WASHINGTON, Nov 21, 2016 (AFP) - Donald Trump said Monday he would move to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal the day he takes office, in line with a central campaign pledge.Ive asked my transition team to develop a list of executive actions we can take on day one to restore our laws and bring back our jobs, the US president-elect said in a video message outlining priorities for his first 100 days.On trade, I am going to issue our notification of intent to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a potential disaster for our country, he said.Instead, we will negotiate fair, bilateral trade deals that bring jobs and industry back onto American shores.The Republican billionaires victorious campaign successfully tapped the anger of working-class American voters who feel left behind by years of globalization, vowing to protect American jobs against cheap labor in countries like China and Mexico.Trade deals such as TPP and the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement featured heavily in the brutal White House race and many see Trumps victory as a repudiation of ever-deeper commercial ties.The president-elect had vowed both to scuttle the TPP -- President Barack Obamas signature trade initiative -- and renegotiate NAFTA.My agenda will be based on a simple core principle: putting America first, he said.US Trade Representative Michael Froman warned last week that scrapping the trans-Pacific trade deal would have serious strategic and economic costs.Trumps pledge on the TPP was one of six policy points that he vowed to act on as soon as he takes office on January 20:On energy, I will cancel job-killing restrictions on the production of American energy -- including shale energy and clean coal -- creating many millions of high-paying jobs. Thats what we want, thats what weve been waiting for.On regulation, I will formulate a rule which says that for every one new regulation, two old regulations must be eliminated, its so important.On national security, I will ask the Department of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop a comprehensive plan to protect Americas vital infrastructure from cyber-attacks, and all other form of attacks.On immigration, I will direct the Department of Labor to investigate all abuses of visa programs that undercut the American worker.On ethics reform, as part of our plan to Drain the Swamp, we will impose a five-year ban on executive officials becoming lobbyists after they leave the administration -- and a lifetime ban on executive officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government.

Tennis: 'Arise Sir Andy' - Murray tipped for knighthood

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LONDON (AFP) - Andy Murray was tipped to become Sir Andy after crowning a golden season on top of the world days after brother Jamie topped the doubles standings, prompting their mother to hail the kings of world tennis.Andy produced an imperious display to defeat long-time rival Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 and win the ATP Tour Finals at Londons O2 Arena on Sunday.The 29-year-olds first Tour Finals title came with the hugely significant bonus of ensuring that he remained above Djokovic in the year-end rankings after he knocked the Serb from pole position two weeks ago.Murrays victory capped an impressive 2016 that also saw the Scot win the Wimbledon and Olympic singles titles.Having spent the majority of his career overshadowed by the incredible achievements of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Murray can finally claim he is the best player on the planet. Leading British bookmaker William Hill promptly installed Murray as a 2/1 chance to be given a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in Britains New Year honours list Were he to be so honoured, Murray would join Olympic champions Sir Bradley Wiggins (cycling) and Sir Ben Ainslie (sailing) as sportsmen with a knighthood.Come on your majesty @andy_murray for a knighthood. World number one, tweeted businessman Alan Sugar, a former chairman of Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur. But while Wiggins is winding down his illustrious career, Murray made it clear he wanted to retain his number one ranking and add to his tally of three Grand Slam singles titles. I would like to try and stay there, obviously. Its taken a huge effort the last five, six months to get there, Murray said after his 24th consecutive victory brought him a fifth title in his last five tournaments. Im aware thats going to be extremely difficult because I had a great year this year and I only managed to do it by one match.But now that Ive got there, I would be motivated to try and stay in that position. He added: The majors are what gets me working hard and what really, really motivates me. When I go away in December to train, Im training with the Australian Open in mind.His victory over Djokovic capped a brilliant week for the Murray family after brother Jamie guaranteed the year-end doubles world number one pair ranking together with Brazils Bruno Soares.Judy Murray, the brothers mother and herself a tennis coach, posted a picture of her two sons on Twitter, captioned: Andy & Jamie Murray: Pride of Scotland, Kings of world tennis.There was praise too from Federer, widely regarded as one of tenniss all-time greats: Epic start to the year by @DjokerNole. Epic end to the year by @andy_murray, ending 1 Y? Congrats guys.And the congratulations extended beyond the world of tennis, with JK Rowling, the author of the best-selling Harry Potter books, tweeting: Id almost forgotten what its like when the person you really, really want to win, wins @andy_murray.Meanwhile former British number one Tim Henman urged Britains governing Lawn Tennis Association to exploit Andy Murrays success by doing all it could to get some of his compatriots into the top tier as well.Its imperative of the LTA and the game of tennis in this country that they capitalise on it, Henman told the BBC. They have an unbelievable role model.Its been such a journey. Hes overcome so many hurdles but this has to inspire the next generation to play the game and produce better players going forward.Murray had lost 13 of his previous 15 meetings with Djokovic, including the Australian and French Open finals this year, and he admitted it was a huge moment finally to get the better of him. Over the last couple of years I lost a lot of the big matches against him. This one was a big match and I managed to get over the line, he said. Mentally that will give me a boost going into next year as well.Djokovic accepted his form had dipped towards the end of a 2016 where he won a first French Open title.The last five, six months have not been ideal. I could have maybe done slightly better in some tournaments, he said.Nothing is eternal. Its time to leave the racquet aside for a little bit, just recover, then Ill start thinking about next season.Murray is now firmly established as one of Britains all-time great sportsmen, but he demurred when asked where he rated.I have no idea. Its an impossible question. In tennis terms, in terms of my achievements over the years, Id say Id be the best tennis player from the UK, he said.

Football: Homecoming king Ronaldo eyes European century

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LISBON (AFP) - Fresh from vanquishing Atletico Madrid with his 39th Real Madrid hat-trick, Cristiano Ronaldo will be guaranteed a heros welcome when he returns to where his career began at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.Ronaldo has another landmark in his sights as he is just two goals short of 100 in European competitions and history suggests he wont go easy on the side that handed him his breakthrough.The three-time World Player of the Year has scored on all five occasions he has faced his former clubs in the Champions League, netting twice against Sporting for Manchester United in 2007 and as Real produced a stunning late fightback from 1-0 down with 89 minutes played to win 2-1 when the sides met back in September.Despite that Ronaldo is still loved by the Sporting faithful and leading Portugal to their first ever international tournament win at Euro 2016 has only embellished his hero status in his homeland.Divided heart, ran the headline in Lisbon sports daily Record on Monday with a split picture of Ronaldo wearing a Sporting and Real jersey.Whilst a point will be enough for Madrid to seal their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League for a record 20th consecutive season, anything other than victory will end Sportings chances of making the last 16.A first league victory over Atletico in four seasons on Saturday also allowed Real to open up a four-point lead at the top of La Liga and extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 29 games.We know that we are facing the strongest team in the world right now, that is why they won the Champions League (last season), Sporting coach Jorge Jesus told Spanish sports daily Marca.But Sporting have desire, confidence and we will play like in Madrid with a lot of quality and confidence.Had Sporting held on at the Bernabeu Group F would have a very different look, but Jesus believes his young side will have learned from that experience as a Ronaldo free-kick and Alvaro Moratas stoppage time header snatched victory for Real from the jaws of defeat.We lacked that little bit of experience you have to have in the last 10 minutes in the Champions League, like all the Real Madrid players have. We ought to have gotten a better result, added Jesus.When you are winning 1-0 in the 83rd minute, you can fail to win but you cant lose.Ronaldos free-kick is an example. He is an intelligent guy, with experience and he took this free-kick which was decisive. When we say he is the best in the world, it is because he has everything.The only debate over Ronaldos return is whether he starts in a centre-forward role as he did against Atletico or whether Zinedine Zidane recalls the fit again Karim Benzema.Real appeared better balanced with Ronaldo flanked by Gareth Bale and Lucas Vazquez at the weekend, but Zidane has previously stated the BBC frontline of Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema will always start when fit.
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