Celebration in Liberia slum as Ebola quarantine lifted

news24

Conakry - Crowds sang and danced in the streets of a seaside neighbourhood in Liberia on Saturday as the government lifted quarantine measures designed to contain the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

Faced with the worst Ebola outbreak in history, West African governments have struggled to find an effective response. More than 1,550 people have died from the hemorrhagic fever since it was first detected in the forests of Guinea in March.

Residents of the impoverished seaside district of West Point in Monrovia were forcibly cut off from the rest of the capital in mid-August after a crowd attacked an Ebola centre there, allowing the sick to flee.

The quarantine sparked protests and security forces responded with tear gas and bullets, killing a teenaged boy.

But at dawn on Saturday, the community woke up to find the soldiers and barricades gone.

"I tell God thank you. I tell everyone thank you," said Koffa, a female resident of West Point. Others danced in the streets chanting slogans like "we are free" while others rolled about on the asphalt pavement in celebration.

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a U.S.-educated Nobel Peace Prize winner, has sought to quell criticism of the government's response by issuing orders threatening officials with dismissal for failing to report for work or for fleeing the country, and has ordered an investigation into the West Point shooting.

Liberia, where infection rates are highest, plans to build five new Ebola treatment centres each with capacity for 100 beds, government and health officials said on Saturday.

In neighbouring Sierra Leone, President Ernest Bai Koromo dismissed his health minister Miatta Kargbo on Friday over her handling of the epidemic which has killed more than 400 people there.

Her replacement Abubakarr Fofana on Saturday confirmed that a third doctor in the county had died from Ebola, further hampering its ability to respond to the outbreak.

"It is with a deep sense of sadness that we have lost one of our finest physicians in the line of duty at a time like when we need a lot of them to help in out fight against Ebola," he said.

Physician Dr. Sahr Rogers caught the disease while treating outpatients in the same hospital where a doctor died last month and where British nurse William Pooley was also infected.

SPREAD TO SENEGAL

Transmitted through the vomit, blood and sweat of the sick, Ebola has also spread to Nigeria and Senegal, which reported its first confirmed case on Friday - a Guinean student who was lost to authorities in his own country while under surveillance.

"His brother came from Sierra Leone where he was infected and has died. Shortly afterwards, this student left for Senegal," said Dr. Rafi Diallo, spokesman for the Guinean health ministry.

Two other members of his family - his sister and mother - have died from Ebola, Guinean health ministry sources said.

A resident in the suburb of the Senegalese capital Dakar where the student resided said on Saturday that a team of health ministry officials wearing white protective suits and masks came to spray disinfectant at his home and a local grocer's shop.

Many Dakar residents worry that the student could have spread the highly contagious virus in the three weeks since he was last reported in Guinea.

In Nigeria, where an infected traveller collapsed after arriving the Lagos airport, there have so far been 19 suspected, probable and confirmed cases and seven deaths.

"To avoid a situation like Nigeria, they need to be able to follow hundreds of contacts," said epidemiologist Jorge Castilla of the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department in Dakar. "Whatever they do, there will probably be a second set of sick people as this guy has been here for some time."

Senegal has since closed its land border with Guinea and halted flights to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, defying advice from the World Health Organization (WHO) that there is no need for travel restrictions.

A note from the WHO and the International Civil Aviation Organization sent to health ministries on Aug. 29 said: "Lives are being unnecessarily lost because health care workers cannot travel to the affected countries, and delivery of life saving equipment and supplies is being delayed."

The World Food Programme said it needs to raise $70 million to feed 1.3 million people at risk from shortages in the Ebola-quarantined areas in West Africa, with the agency's resources already stretched by several major humanitarian crises. (Additional reporting by Umaru Fofana, Diadie Ba and Emma Farge; Writing by Emma Farge; Editing by Rosalind Russell)

Health workers strike at major Ebola hospital

news24

Freetown - Health workers have gone on strike at a major Ebola treatment centre in Kenema, eastern Sierra Leone, over pay and poor working conditions, hospital staff told Reuters on Saturday.

"The workers decided to stop working because we have not been paid out allowances and we lack some tools," said Ishmael Mehemoh, chief supervisor at the clinic.

Clothing to protect health workers being infected from the deadly virus is inadequate and there is only one broken stretcher which is used to carry both patients and corpses, he added.

EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Senate’s resolution on Imo based on rumour; no evidence state planned IDs for Northerners -

premiumtimesng.com

An allegation by the Nigerian Senate that the government of the country’s southeast Imo State planned to register, and issue Identification Cards to citizens from northern Nigeria over fears of Boko Haram attacks, was false, PREMIUM TIMES can report today. The Senate had in a resolution July 3 urged President Goodluck Jonathan, as Nigeria’s Commander-in-Chief, to direct all security agencies to refuse cooperation with the Imo State government in the implementation of the “ID and registration policy”. The Senate also urged the Imo government to rescind the policy immediately. The resolutions by the 109-member Senate, Nigeria’s highest law-making body, heightened tension in an already divided nation for weeks in a case the federal government warned could have disintegrated Nigeria. An extensive review of the highly volatile case that started June, has shown the resolutions were unnecessary as they were based on false and unverified allegations. In passing them, PREMIUM TIMES found, the Senate violated its own rules by acting on what was effectively a rumour, without cross-checking it. Widespread claims after attempted bomb The resolution followed weeks of widespread reports that the Imo State government had initiated a policy to register and issue Identification Cards to all Nigerians from the north where Boko Haram is based, to check threats by the extremist group to strike in southern Nigeria. The allegations started barely a week after police on June 15 found a massive bomb hidden in a large congregation of the Living Faith Church in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The Imo State government estimated that if detonated, the explosive material had the capacity to deliver a deadly impact at least half a kilometre radius. Days after the foiled bomb attack, news emerged of a plan by the same state authorities to register northern citizens who would be issued ID cards. The allegation drew widespread condemnation, mainly from the leaders and officials from the North’s Hausa/Fulani ethnic group. If implemented, the policy would have violated Section 41 of the Nigerian Constitution which guarantees every Nigerian rights to “move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof”. It would have also contravened Section 42 of the same law which prohibits subjecting a Nigerian citizen of “a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion… to disabilities or restrictions” to which other Nigerians are not made subject. The reports triggered swift reprisal moves by some northern states despite denials by the Imo State government. On June 30, a senior member of the Federal House of Representatives, Suleiman Sumaila, from the North’s Kano State, accused the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, of originating and forging on with the registration plan. Mr. Sumaila did not substantiated. In a statement July 1, the Imo State government denied the lawmaker’s charge. “The Governor Okorocha government has not begun the registration of northerners in the state and does not have any plan to do that, especially where those behind the malicious claim could not mention the places or offices of the state government where the claimed registrations are taking place, since registration involving human beings could not be done in the vacuum,” a statement by Sam Onwuemeodo, the media assistant to Governor Okorocha, said. Other state officials also denied the reports. Regardless of the rebuttals, on July 3 the Senate allowed a motion on the purported ID card and registration in Imo State, and against its tradition of referring such matters to a committee for verification before a decision, suspended key plenary rules and adopted a position same day. The motion was sponsored by Abdul Ningi, a first-term member representing Bauchi State, in Nigeria’s northeast. Mr. Ningi claimed in proposals later adopted by the entire Senate that the Imo State government had issued a “policy statement” directing all Northerners residing in the state to be issued an ID card. Checks by this paper showed there was no such policy statement. In its deliberation, the Senate duly noted how such registration would breach Sections 41 and 42 of the Nigerian Constitution. Lawmakers slammed Mr. Okorocha and questioned his judgement in a charging debate that lasted nearly an hour. One of the most acerbic criticisms came from Chris Anyanwu, a Senator from Imo State, and a political foe of Mr. Okorocha. The entire deliberation was based on mere rumour, our investigations show. After the resolution For many Nigerians, the Senate’s debate and resolution provided the first official validation of speculation that had circulated for weeks. The resolutions swiftly amplified tension across the country amid Boko Haram’s increasing deadly onslaught and the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in northeast Borno State. In days, the Arewa Youth Development Foundation, a northern pressure group, gave all southern Nigerian residents in the North two weeks to quit the region in retaliation for the alleged Imo State policy. A day later, another group, the Arewa Consultative Forum, threatened to destroy the investments of Nigerians from southeast living and doing business in the North. Southeast Nigeria comprises five states, including Imo. On July 19, yet another group, The Arewa Citizens’ Group, submitted a bill to the Kano State House of Assembly seeking the registration of all Southerners residing in the state. The bill stipulated that no “Southerner wishing to enter the boundaries of the state shall be permitted to do so unless he is duly registered with the appropriate authority and issued with an identity card.” The new legislation was to take effect August 1, 2014. On July 21, the same group submitted the same legislation to the Kaduna State Assembly. Besides the purported Imo ID card policy, the immediate trigger for the two bills was an announcement by a Southeast group, Igbo Leaders of Thought, of what the group called “a security awareness programme” for the southeast governors to adopt, to secure the region from Boko Haram. Findings PREMIUM TIMES interviewed several state and federal officials in Imo State and spoke to the Hausa community- the umbrella body of northerners resident in Imo state- to establish the origin of the ID Card controversy. This newspaper also confirmed that against the usual procedure, the Senate did not contact the Imo State government at any time to authenticate the reports. All those interviewed denied the Imo government had any role in the matter. The officials explained that the Hausa community in the State initiated the ID plan after what appeared a hostile response from Imo indigenes in the wake of the bloody Boko Haram attacks up north. The Hausa community only requested the state government to assist in facilitating the plan- a request the government had not taken up at the time the controversy started, they told PREMIUM TIMES. Some officials said the matter was “politicised” by the opponents of the governor, not minding the implication for national security and unity. Mr. Okorocha said the allegations were “all lies”. “It’s all lies, we have police in Imo, we have SSS (State Security Service) in Imo, we have the media. It was all lies. And nobody could say anything,” the governor said. On whether the government was contacted by the Senate, he said “There were communication gap and we must close it so that we do not allow rumours overtake our country especially at this time that we have security challenges”. The deputy governor, Eze Madumere, was even more forceful on the matter. “It has nothing to do with the government,” Mr. Madumere said of the alleged plan by the Hausa community to register its members in Imo State. “They just wanted to identify their people. The Senate did not talk to the state government. There was nothing like that before the debate.” The police spokesperson for Imo State, Andrew Enwerem, also denied the alleged plan by the state to register members of the Hausa community. “The thing was over-politicized,” Mr. Enwerem said. “We investigated when the issue came up. Our investigation showed that the northerners requested the governor to do so. “Nobody forced them to do. They requested because the terrain here was frightening that when they see northerners here, they start shouting Boko Haram. The situation here became frightening. “So we carried out public enlightenment before the tension calmed. After that they said they should identify their people so that if they see one they can know,” Mr. Enwerem said. The head of the Hausa community, Sarkin Hausa, Baba Sulaiman, confirmed the findings. Mr. Sulaiman told PREMIUM TIMES his association originated the idea and merely requested the assistance of the state government. “We the Hausa Community in Imo State requested that we should get registered. It was never initiated by Imo State government,” he said. The Senate refused to disclose its source of the reports beyond the media, and how it authenticated the allegation before tabling it for discussion in its chamber. PREMIUM TIMES repeatedly sought comments from Mr. Ningi, the sponsor of the motion. The lawmaker did not respond to our enquiry. This paper also requested clarification from Ms. Anyanwu and the Senate spokesperson, Enyinayya Abaribe. The two lawmakers refused to respond. Ita Enang, the Chairman Senate committee on Business and Rules- in charge of daily proceedings during Senate sessions– declined to comment when asked to explain how the Senate sourced and verified its report. Mr. Enang, also a first-term member, claimed the Senate was on vacation, as such, he could not comment. As reprisal moves heightened in Kano State, North West Nigeria, the controversy the Senate helped fan only began to ebb after the Federal Executive Council on July 21 warned against any perceived registration or reprisal anywhere in the country. At an extraordinary National Council of State meeting, the federal government warned that the issues “was more potent than Boko Haram and could disintegrate the country”. “And we take this very seriously, for people to deport people, for people to ‎take people from one place to the other, for registration of indigenes no matter where they are. No matter where they are they are free to settle anywhere they like,” said Ita Ekpenyong, the Director General of the SSS, who spoke to the media after the meeting. The Nigerian senate is yet to apologise to the country for stoking tension and exacerbating division between the North and the South based on mere rumour. -

Philippine peacekeepers rescued in Syria's Golan Heights

BBC NEWS

Thirty-two Philippine peacekeepers trapped by rebels in the Syrian Golan Heights have been rescued, the UN says.

A UN spokesperson said the "situation on the ground is calm but tense", without providing further details.

Another group of 40 peacekeepers escaped a seven-hour siege by rebels after returning fire in self-defence, said the head of the Philippines army.

The rebels - said to be from the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front - have taken 44 Fijian peacekeepers captive.

They have also seized a crossing point into the Israeli-occupied Golan.

Worsening security

"Everyone is in a safe position. We left our (old) position but we brought all our arms," said Philippine Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala.

The head of the Philippine armed forces, General Gregorio Pio Catapang, speaking Manila, said: "We may call it the greatest escape."

The Fijian members of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (Undof) were detained on Wednesday near Quneitra, during fighting between rebels and government forces.

An online statement posted by the Nusra Front said the Fijians "are in a safe place, and they are in good health, and that we have given them what they need of food and treatment".

It said the peacekeepers had been seized because the UN ignored "the daily shedding of the Muslims' blood in Syria".

Last week the Philippine government said it would bring home its 331 peacekeeping troops from the Golan Heights in October, amid deteriorating security there.

Israel seized most of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau in south-western Syria, during the 1967 Six-Day War.

The two countries signed an armistice in 1974, after which Undof was put in place to monitor the demilitarised zone.

It has 1,224 lightly-armed military personnel from Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, the Netherlands and the Philippines.

Pakistan protesters clash with Islamabad police

BBC NEWS

Pakistan police have fired tear gas at anti-government protesters marching on the official Islamabad residence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The city's two main hospitals have told BBC 264 people have been injured, including at least 26 policemen.

Demonstrators loyal to opposition politician Imran Khan and cleric Tahirul Qadri have been taking part in a sit-in for two weeks.

They want Mr Sharif to resign, alleging corruption and electoral fraud.

Islamabad police chief Khalid Khattak told the BBC that close to 100 protesters had been arrested at the scene.

"Many of them were armed with axes, hammers and cutters, and I'm sure they also have firearms though we haven't seen one yet," he said.

On Friday Pakistan's powerful army chief, Gen Raheel Sharif, stepped in to mediate amid an ongoing deadlock.

Imran Khan ended talks with the government last week.

A government minister said that repeated attempts to resolve the two-week long standoff with protesters had failed.

Speaking to BBC World TV, cleric Qadri condemned the police's actions as an "unimaginable attack by the state upon the people", and denied that protesters were armed with weapons.

A number of protesters were seen carrying clubs as they marched on the residence of Pakistan's PM

Police fired tear gas to try to disperse the crowds

Nearly 100 protesters were arrested at the scene

Local TV pictures showed police throwing tear gas shells, and protesters throwing rocks back at them, some wielding sticks and slingshots.

An official at the Polyclinic hospital in Islamabad told reporters that the wounds of those injured were caused by teargas shells, stones and batons.

Two of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.

Analysis: M Ilyas Khan, BBC News, Islamabad

There is chaos on Islamabad's Constitution Avenue. There are clashes between the police and stone-pelting, baton-wielding protesters, some of whom have broken into part of the parliament and threatened other government buildings in Islamabad's red zone.

During the last couple of weeks, many in Pakistan and abroad have been fearing violence as a result of the protest campaign being led by former cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and Sufi cleric Tahrul Qadri to oust the 14-month-old government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The violence not only jeopardises prospects of the country's fledgling democracy, which for the first time saw peaceful transition from one elected government to another, it also threatens to destabilise Pakistan months before Nato troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan.

The Pakistani military has often intervened in similar situations in the past, but domestic compulsions such as the operation in North Waziristan and Western pressure on the army to refrain from becoming involved in political decision-making may keep its role limited.

Nevertheless, even if Mr Sharif's government survives this episode, it is going to come out rather bruised.

Military helicopters were despatched to survey the scene on the Constitution Avenue, one of the most secure zones in the city, housing a number of government buildings and residences.

The violence was sparked when the two opposition leaders ordered their supporters, many whom were wielding batons, to move closer to the PM's house.

The protesters began their sit-in after a huge march from Lahore to Islamabad two weeks ago, vowing to camp out in the capital until the government stood down

Ukraine and Russia exchange captured troops

BBC NEWS

Ten Russian paratroopers captured inside Ukraine a week ago have returned home following a troop exchange, Russian media report.

Russia's military said it had released 63 captured Ukrainian soldiers in exchange for the paratroopers.

Pro-Russian rebels have made gains against Ukrainian troops in recent days in Donetsk and Luhansk in the east.

The conflict in the east erupted in April following Russia's annexation of Ukraine's southern Crimea peninsula.

Some 2,600 people have died in fighting so far.

Russian sources said the captured paratroopers were patrolling a section of the Russian-Ukrainian border

Major-General Alexei Ragozin, the deputy commander of Russia's paratroop forces, told the RIA news agency that negotiations had been "very difficult".

"The talks were not easy, but common sense prevailed and everything turned out well" he said.

However, he criticised the length of the soldiers' detention.

"I find it unacceptable that the Ukrainian side kept our soldiers for so many days" he said.

"Our lads are upset about everything that happened. They will all receive the necessary psychological and other kinds of help" he added.

Ukraine released video interviews with the captured Russian soldiers last week.

It says the soldiers were captured 20km from the border with Russia.

Russia claimed that the soldiers had crossed in Ukraine "by accident" after inadvertently crossing an unmarked section of the border.

Russia has repeatedly denied Ukrainian and Western accusations that it is supporting the rebels.

Ukraine has long insisted Russian is sending troops and hardware to support eastern rebels

Pro-Russian rebels say their counter-offensive will be continuing

The 63 Ukrainian soldiers released were said to have entered Russia to escape the upsurge in fighting last week.

War in eastern Ukraine: The human cost

• At least 2,593 people killed since mid-April (not including 298 passengers and crew of Malaysian Airlines MH17, shot down in the area) - UN report on 29 August
• 951 civilians killed in Donetsk region alone, official regional authorities said - 20 August
• In some particularly dangerous places, such as Luhansk region, victims are said to have been buried informally, making accurate counts difficult
• Rebels (and some military sources) accuse the government of concealing true numbers
• 155,800 people have fled elsewhere in Ukraine while at least 188,000 have gone to Russia

Clinical Costa is Chelsea's missing talisman

goal.com

COMMENT: The 25-year-old had the first and the final say in a nine-goal thriller at Goodison Park as he continues his effortless adaptation to life in the Premier League

This was not meant to be Diego Costa's day. Supposedly hampered by a 'minor muscular injury', few expected him to even feature at Goodison Park. 

Most were instead primed to observe just how Jose Mourinho’s men would cope without a fully fit version of their new striker against a team boasting two more he controversially cast out over the summer. Everton had triumphed in this fixture without Romelu Lukaku and Samuel Eto’o last season and both men seemed determined not to let this opportunity pass.

In the event Costa did start. Eto'o later had his moment from the bench, but not before the Brazil-born Spaniard took just 35 seconds to relegate all other subplots to the realm of insignificance. With his third shot since arriving in the Premier League he scored his third goal, setting Chelsea on the way to a title statement at least the equal of Manchester City’s 3-1 defeat of Liverpool five days earlier.

Sadly the 100 per cent conversion rate does not endure, but Costa still emerged from Goodison Park with his lethal aura enhanced. In a match of nine goals he was the single biggest threat and had the first and final say. 

Mourinho, so often loathe to single out individuals for public praise when his teams win, made no effort to hide his delight with Costa. "It was a fantastic performance in every aspect," the Chelsea boss enthused. 

"I remember him tackling [Seamus] Coleman in the first half on the edge of our box. He recovered balls, he held the ball, he was aggressive, he was face-to-face with [Tim] Howard three times and scored two goals. His movement, his quality, everything was really good."

In fact, Costa was face-to-face with Howard twice more over the course of the afternoon: in the 67th minute, when the livid American charged from his line and grabbed the 25-year-old by the collar for goading Coleman in the wake of the Irishman’s unfortunate own goal; and moments after the final whistle, when the Everton goalkeeper sheepishly embraced his opponent as a beaten man.

Howard’s rage was uncharacteristic and hinted that Costa had achieved more than simply scoring against him. The Chelsea striker single-handedly tormented the Everton defence with his movement, physicality, direct running and tireless work-rate. Few have ever made Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin look so hapless on home turf. 

Everton employed a number of methods to try and to slow Costa down. According to Mourinho this included "chasing cards" from referee Jonathan Moss. Coleman briefly got under the skin during a 56th minute altercation which saw the €44 million man booked and prompted the gloating celebration of the Irishman’s own goal, prompting Roberto Martinez to afterwards accuse the Chelsea striker of a lack of respect.

In truth it would be a surprise if the mala leche – literally ‘bad milk’ or 'nastiness', in Spanish – which became associated with Costa’s game in La Liga does not bubble to the surface from time to time at Chelsea, but his aggression at Goodison Park was controlled, the servant rather than the master of his talent – a reality hammered home by his astonishingly composed second goal in the final minute of the match.

Even those who looked at Costa’s skill set and proclaimed him born for English football may not have expected him to prove it so quickly. The great Didier Drogba found the net just once in his first six Premier League games and only became a prolific goalscorer in his third season.

That said, Mourinho saw the key difference between the two men from the start. "When Didier joined us, he was playing in the French league, having played just a couple of matches with Marseille in the Champions League," the Chelsea boss told reporters in July. "He was not even playing in World Cups with the Ivory Coast. Diego is made. Physically, mentally, Diego is an end-product."

Drogba, of course, is back on the books at Stamford Bridge, but on this evidence his primary role will be Costa’s mentor rather than his rival. Loic Remy may also arrive to replace Fernando Torres before Monday’s transfer deadline, but Chelsea officials will have to dig beyond the evidence of the season's first three games to convince him he is truly required.

As on so many occasions for Atletico Madrid, Costa on Saturday proved a match-winner even when apparently hampered by injury. Such commitment to the cause eventually caught up with him at the worst possible time last season and ruined his World Cup with Spain, but Mourinho has the resources to be able manage his star man more carefully than Diego Simeone.

Even more importantly, the Special One finally has a striker he admires and believes in. As Chelsea survey their rivals from the top of the Premier League and Costa surveys his rivals from the top of the goal charts, that is the only thing that matters.

Frightening Chelsea lay down title marker to misfiring Manchester City

goal.com

Diego Costa contributed two goals to the Blues cause as they blew Everton away at Goodison Park and it looks as though their struggles of last season are well behind them

Jose Mourinho spent last season pretending that he was satisfied with his striking options. At home, however, against the Premier League's lesser sides, Chelsea were often incapable of turning their solid possession into something more tangible - goals. 

With Fernando Torres now officially written off as a flop and packed off to AC Milan and Demba Ba doing similar at Besiktas, Mourinho fortified his attacking line-up in the pre-season. 

Didier Drogba replaced Samuel Eto'o in the veteran role while the pace of  imminant arrival Loic Remy will give Chelsea even more firepower. It would not be remiss to say at this stage, however, that Diego Costa is the difference between Chelsea being mere title hopefuls and Chelsea leading the Premier League race from the front. 

He dominated Everton, quite literally from minute one to 90, with a goal at either end to bookend this tie. There could have been more besides for the strapping Spain international, who looked composed and at home as the mischief-maker in Mourinho's team. 

The Chelsea manager's natural inclination is usually to shut teams down once his own has their noses in front. Doing that here merely played into Everton's hands. Roberto Martinez likes his team to have the ball and be the aggressors. The Blues sitting deep and allowing the hosts on preceded the goal from Kevin Mirallas which allowed Everton to knock at the door. 

Match Stats — Team St

It was not due to their defensive strength or tireless work rate in midfield that Chelsea won this game so convincingly - it was the fact, that in the second half, they showed that they are willing and capable of going on the attack in an attempt to see the game out. 

"At half time we were winning 2-1," Mourinho said after. "I was telling them that against a team like Everton you cannot sit back and defend for 45 minutes. You have to try to hurt them, you have to try to score goals."

This edict was demonstrated most precisely in the performance of Nemanja Matic. Often a pivot in Mourinho's midfield who scarcely crosses the halfway line, he was aggressive and dominant all along the middle third. He claimed a goal and an assist and led the fight capably. 

Cesc Fabregas will be central to any Chelsea assault on the Premier League title and Champions League and here he demonstrated his capabilities right from the outset. He had too much space in midfield and, in the absence of significant pressure, he played an immaculate pass to the run of Costa. 

He was the man, too, who should have provoked a red card for Tim Howard. Fabregas' pass for Eden Hazard was again well-judged. The American raced from his goal and handled outside the area. The incident was missed by Jon Moss and his assistant referee and Everton escaped. The game was 10 minutes old at that stage and the hosts were already two down, as good as beaten. 

Chelsea maintained that intensity which served them well from the beginning. A Ramires pass to Branislav Ivanovic caught Leighton Baines playing an attempted offside trap badly and the Serb made no mistake. 

At that stage there was a palpable energy about the visitors. Matic broke up the play and gave it to those in yellow more skilled than he is. Willian linked the play together. Fabregas buzzed menacingly. 

Just like that, however, they lapsed back into old habits. Mourinho favours seeing games out after taking leads but, much like Everton's retreat against Arsenal last time out, Chelsea's dropping-off played to the Toffees' strengths. They hadn't really tested Thibaut Courtois in any meaningful way but Seamus Coleman's perfect centre found the run of Kevin Mirallas and the Blues had their wake-up call.

"I want the team to play the way we did," Mourinho said of what followed. "I want the team to be positive."

The second half had them on the back foot, too, with Everton coming at them in waves but they saw it off. Hazard danced away from James McCarthy; the ball was diverted home by the unlucky Seamus Coleman. Then they went toe to toe. Naismith got in on the act but it was futile. The more Everton score, the more Chelsea score. 

Gloss was added by Ramires, who played brilliantly, before Costa ended it in injury time. There were mistakes, there was vulnerability. But unlike Manchester City, whose home loss to Stoke City bore semblance to Chelsea's travails last season, Mourinho's side had the appetite to add more goals at the other end. 

It was a frightening display of power.

Conte leaves Balotelli out of first Italy squad

goal.com

The new Azzurri boss unveiled his first team and has omitted the Liverpool striker, which could be down to his suspension from the Euro 2016 qualifier against Norway

Antonio Conte has announced his first squad since taking over as coach of Italy and has left Mario Balotelliout.

The three-time Scudetto winning coach with Juventus was appointed as coach of the national team earlier this month, replacing Cesare Prandelli who resigned immediately after the loss to Uruguay which saw the Azzurri eliminated from the World Cup.

Conte has announced the squad for his first games in charge as they prepare to meet Netherlands in a friendly on September 4 before they begin their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with Norway five days later.

The biggest surprise in the squad is the absence of Balotelli, however, that could be explained by the new Liverpool striker's suspension from the Norway tie.

Mainstays Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Daniele De Rossi and Claudio Marchisio are all in the team, while Ciro Immobile, Simone Zaza and Sebastian Giovinco are also included. 

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Daniele Padelli (Torino), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);  

Defenders: Davide Astori (Roma), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Gabriel Paletta (Parma), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter); 

Midfielders: Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Andrea Poli (Milan), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain); 

Attackers: Mattia Destro (Roma), Stephan El Shaarawy (Milan), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Borussia Dortmund), Pablo Osvaldo (Inter), Simone Zaza (Sassuolo)

Arsenal bid to hijack Chelsea's Remy move

goal.com

The Blues looked set to complete the signing of the QPR striker but Arsene Wenger's Gunners have matched his release clause ahead of Monday night's transfer deadline

Arsenal have moved to hijack Chelsea’s move for QPR striker Loic Remy, Goal can confirm.

Chelsea reignited their interest in the France international earlier this week after allowing Fernando Torres to join AC Milan on a two-year loan, matching his release clause of €10.7 million and opening talks with the player's camp on Friday.

However, Arsenal - who have been monitoring Remy's situation themselves all summer - have now also told QPR they will match his release clause as they look to bolster their squad following Olivier Giroud’s latest injury setback, which has ruled him out until the turn of the year.

Remy now faces a straight choice between the two London rivals ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline.

Goal understands the France international has been keen to move to Arsenal all summer – a stance which led Tottenham to end their interest – but the Blues' talks with the player’s camp this weekend have already proven productive.

Mourinho confirmed his interest in Remy following the club’s 6-3 win over Everton on Saturday.

"Obviously I know that we are trying since yesterday - since we knew that Nando [Torres] was leaving - that we were trying to get Remy," he said.

Remy almost joined Liverpool earlier this summer, only for the deal to collapse at the last minute after the striker reportedly failed a medical.

Xabi Alonso's real reasons for leaving Madrid

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SPECIAL REPORT: The 32-year-old midfielder joined Bayern Munich in a shock move late last week and here, Goal looks at the true motives behind the transfer

It was a gentleman's goodbye. Xabi Alonso faced the Madrid media with both elegance and eloquence on Friday to bid farewell to the Spanish side and discuss his surprise move to Bayern Munich. But even though his words were generous, the real reasons behind his shock exit never emerged.

Alonso told the press pack at the Santiago Bernabeu that he was leaving for a new challenge, claiming he lacked motivation after a season which saw Madrid claim their holy grail: La Decima.

"New motivations are needed," Alonso explained. "Maybe those stopped after we won La Decima. I wasn't going to be at the level I wanted."

That seemed strange, not only because the midfielder missed the final in Lisbon through suspension and famously celebrated by jumping out of his seat and running the length of the pitch to embrace his team-mates, but also because he signed a new two-year contract extension only in January.

Alonso's return from injury last October saw Carlo Ancelotti's side improve drastically and discover the "balance" the coach had been calling for in the previous months in what had been a stuttering start to the season. "I was lucky to have [Andrea] Pirlo at Milan," the Italian said. "And I am very lucky to have Alonso here at Real Madrid."

And even when Madrid signed Toni Kroos from Bayern this summer, Alonso remained a key part of Ancelotti's plans. "It's not a tantrum. I had the confidence of the club and the coach. I would have played a lot of minutes," the midfielder said on Friday.

"Kroos is an excellent player," Alonso added. And he meant it, but the 32-year-old believed the German would only operate effectively playing centrally in a deep midfield role like his own and expected that - sooner or later - there would be a debate over which of the two should start in that position. 

Knowing how these things work at Madrid, Xabi was concerned that sections of the media would put pressure on Ancelotti to pick Kroos instead. He was also fully aware that president Florentino Perez would want the German in the side following his signing this summer. As Alonso turns 33 in November, it was a battle he would have been unlikely to win.

The former Liverpool midfielder had been tempted by Bayern's initial interest last year, but opted to stay at Madrid after things went well with Ancelotti and the team began to look like real challengers for the biggest prizes.

But after claiming the Champions League, Alonso noticed a degree of relaxation in some members of the squad and when he spoke about needing more motivation, he was not only talking about himself.

With Bayern back in for him, the midfielder saw the opportunity to work under a coach who will ensure he is highly motivated and from whom he can learn valuable lessons for a future in the dugout. "It's a time in which I'm going to learn," Alonso said. "I have been lucky enough to work with great coaches, my father was also a coach and my position in central midfield requires tactical knowledge."

Having already worked with Rafa Benitez, Jose Mourinho, Ancelotti, Luis Aragones and Vicente del Bosque, Alonso will now link up with another of the game's greatest coaches in Guardiola and he hopes to absorb all he can from the former Barca boss.

"I have learned from all of my coaches and I am sure I will learn a lot with Guardiola," he said.

When he hangs up his boots, Alonso is keen to move into coaching and knows that, if he is to manage one of the big two in Spain, it is unlikely to be Barcelona because of his strong links to Madrid and his rivalry with the Catalan club in Clasico clashes in recent years.

Key, therefore, is staying on good terms with Perez, who is likely to remain in charge for some time to come at the Bernabeu. And it was Alonso himself who proposed the idea of a press conference to explain that his departure was "a personal decision", knowing his president would approve and especially after witnessing Florentino's fury as Angel Di Maria criticised the club publicly in a letter last week.

Xabi's departure was much less controversial than the Argentine's of course and, even though he is joining a direct European rival and linking up with a Barcelona legend, his elegant exit paves the way for a possible return to Real as coach in future, while the Munich move also gives him the opportunity to show he is just as good as Kroos and allows him to learn from perhaps the best coach around as he competes for major honours at the same time. Motivation aplenty.