EPL: Giuffredi reveals why Sarri failed to sign Hysaj from Napoli

Napoli President, Aurelio De Laurentiis was the main reason Chelsea could not sign Elseid Hysaj during the summer transfer window, according to the player’s agent Mario Giuffredi.

Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri was expected to come along with Hysaj to London after years of working together at two different clubs but the transfer never materialised.

And Hysaj’s agent claims it is because De Laurentiis would not allow the move to go through.

The defender wanted to join the Blues, but Giuffredi explained it was impossible after Napoli agreed to allow Jorginho move to the Stamford Bridge.

“Those who criticise him probably never make mistakes, but the rest of us are mere mortals,” Giuffredi told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli.

“Without that clause he probably would have gone to Chelsea this summer.

“People forget that he was one of the best two or three full-backs in Europe last season. Then it just takes two or three matches for him to become a donkey.

“I always say to let everyone talk and then respond on the pitch.”

I 'admire' Trump - Bolsonaro

Jair Bolsonaro, the favourite to win the second round of Brazil's presidential elections, on Thursday declared himself an "admirer" of US President Donald Trump.

Speaking during his first news conference since securing 46 percent of the vote in Sunday's first round -- trailed by leftist Fernando Haddad, who took 29 percent -- populist Bolsonaro also denied being a far-right leader.

"I'm not far-right. Point to me an act of mine that is far-right," he said.

"When I spoke of the migration question, it's because we can't have a country with open borders," he added, a point echoing Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric.

"I'm an admirer of President Trump. He wants a great United States -- I want a great Brazil."

Bolsonaro's detractors highlight his contentious past comments demeaning women and gay people, and speaking in favor of torture and Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship.

EU agrees 35 percent cut to car emissions by 2030 in wake of UN climate report

European Union nations, voicing concern over a U.N. report on global warming, agreed on Tuesday to seek a 35 percent cut in car emissions by 2030, as Germany warned that overly challenging targets risked harming industry and jobs.

Torn between reducing pollution and preserving industry competitiveness, EU environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg talked for more than 13 hours until nearly midnight to reach a compromise over what 2030 carbon dioxide limits to impose on Europe's powerful carmakers.

"We saw a really complicated discussion," Europe's Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said of the compromise that gained the support of 20 nations, with 4 voting against and 4 abstaining. "I never believed in the beginning that such a strong support would be obtained."

The final rules will now be hashed out in talks beginning on Wednesday with the EU's two other lawmaking bodies: the European Parliament, which is seeking a more ambitious climate target, and the European Commission, which proposed a lower one.

In a joint statement earlier, the EU ministers expressed deep concern over a U.N. report  calling for rapid and unprecedented action to contain global warming and renewed commitment to the 2015 Paris climate accord.

Several countries had sought a higher, 40 percent reduction in car emissions, in line with targets backed by EU lawmakers last week, but softened their position in talks.

However, Ireland and the Netherlands were among those who voiced disappointment with the compromise deal, which also set a 30 percent target for cutting emissions from vans by 2030.

Germany, with its big auto sector, had backed an EU executive proposal for a 30 percent cut for fleets of new cars and vans by 2030, compared with 2021 levels.

Down to the wire

Climate campaigners say Germany has still not learned to be tougher on the auto industry, despite the scandal that engulfed Volkswagen in 2015 when it admitted to using illegal software to mask emissions on up to 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide.

Germany had the backing of several eastern European nations early in the talks against more ambitious targets, EU sources said.

But a last-minute amendment helped ease concerns over the new rules, which also create a crediting system encouraging carmakers to raise sales of electric cars.

It would allow for a different accounting in countries where the current market penetration of zero- and low-emissions vehicles is less than 60 percent below the average in the bloc.

Climate ambition

Curbs on the transport sector, the only industry in which emissions are still rising, aim to help the bloc meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gases by at least 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

Extreme temperatures across the northern hemisphere this summer have fuelled concerns climate change is gathering pace, leading some countries to call for emissions to be cut at a faster rate than planned.

But a call by the EU's climate commissioner and 15 EU nations for the bloc to increase its pledge to cut emissions by 45 percent under the Paris accord has met with resistance.

Ahead of U.N. climate talks in Poland in December, the bloc's 28 environment ministers reiterated their commitment to leading the fight to limit global warming.

They said the EU was ready to "communicate or update" its Nationally Determined Contribution, the efforts by each country to reduce emissions, by 2020. Raising it would require the approval of all 28 nations.

EFCC sets up special team to interrogate Fayose

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has set up a special team to grill the outgoing Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

The Governor will lose his immunity in a matter of few days.

This will give the EFCC the constitutional right to arrest, detain and prosecute him.

Fayose had already been invited by the anti-graft agency and is expected to report at the head office in Abuja to meet with the commission’s Director of Operations, Umar Mohammed, after which he will be grilled by a team of operatives.

Fayose, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors’ Forum, is under investigation for allegedly receiving over N1.2bn from a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

He allegedly got the money during the build-up to the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

His aides, Abiodun Agbele, and others who are excluded from the immunity had been arraigned by the EFCC.

Punch reports that Fayose is expected to show up at the EFCC office next week, adding that the Governor has nowhere to run to since he is under security watch and cannot leave the country through any land border, seaport or airport.

A top officer at EFCC told the newspaper, “We have also set up a special team of investigators that will interrogate him immediately after the expiration of his tenure.”

Fayose’s spokesman, Idowu Adelusi, told the newspaper that his principal was ready for the EFCC.

Adelusi noted that the governor had written a letter to the EFCC indicating his readiness to appear before the commission next week.

He said, “Governor Fayose is an honourable man. He will not run away. He has already stated that he will make himself available next Monday once his tenure expires.

“He made this clear in a letter recently. Even when he was not under immunity, the governor honoured the EFCC invitations.

“The EFCC is not a court of law and cannot declare a person guilty. The governor will be available next week, no doubt.”

EgyptAir's magazine sorry for 'surreal' article

EgyptAir's in-flight magazine has apologised over an interview with actress Drew Barrymore that was slated on social media after being published.

The article went viral after being posted online, with many questioning whether the interview was real.

Barrymore's representatives said she "did not participate" in the interview, which was notable for a number of grammatical and spelling errors.

The publisher now says the confusion was due to translation issues.

Ahram Advertising Agency, which publishes the EgyptAir's inflight magazine Horus, said the interview was conducted in English by its Hollywood reporter Aida Takla O'Reilly, then translated into Arabic and subsequently translated back into English.

"We apologise for any misunderstanding that might be interpreted as an offence to the great artist," the agency said.

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The "surreal" article was spotted last week.

This interview with Drew Barrymore in the Egypt Air in flight magazine is, umm, surreal. pic.twitter.com/fN3lNHXbL0

— Adam Baron (@adammbaron) October 2, 2018

The piece opens with observations about Barrymore's romantic history, saying she has been "unstable in her relationships" and has had "several unsuccessful marriages".

The introduction goes on to say the "beautiful American Hollywood actress... has recently decided to temporary [sic] take an unlimited vacation to play her most crucial role as a mother".

The Charlie's Angels actress was then quoted as saying she didn't "intentionally follow certain parenting methods" with her daughters, Olive and Frankie.

"I do not consult with psychologists," she went on to say, according to the magazine. "I focus on nurturing their minds as well as their small bodies."

The article went on to praise the 43-year-old for "her previous graceful body" after giving birth.

The actress is quoted as saying: "I feel overwhelmed when someone tells me that I have regained my image and managed to lose that extra weight.

"However, I find this a great opportunity to encourage every woman who is overweight to work on regaining her beauty and body, especially that it is not as hard as one may think."

The quotes led many to question whether the interview was genuine.

Has @EgyptAir created a completely false interview with Hollywood star Drew Barrymore for its inflight magazine? Most of these question and answers are mad! ???????? https://t.co/Ew1U7Rp26i

— Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) October 2, 2018

Last week, EgyptAir defended the article as a "professional magazine interview", while the article's author Aida Takla O'Reilly also insisted it was "genuine and far from fake".

However, Barrymore's representatives said she did not "technically... sit down with EgyptAir for an interview" but that the quotes were drawn from a press conference.

On Tuesday, Ahram Advertising Agency said Barrymore's representatives had agreed to the interview "not knowing" that Ms O'Reilly worked for the in-flight magazine and other publications.

The controversial introduction of the article was not written by Ms O'Reilly, the agency added.

"As is generally accepted, the lead is not part of the text of the article. It is a product of the editor's creativity produced on the condition that it contains no information that is contrary to the truth," it said.

"We are about to investigate this by checking thoroughly the source material that the translator depended on to write the interview."

Aida Takla O'Reilly is an Egypt-born former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which organises the annual Golden Globes awards.

More than 250 people around the world have died taking selfies

Snapping the perfect selfie can be fun. But if it involves flying a plane or holding a loaded handgun or standing on slippery rocks near the top of a waterfall, you may want to think twice.

Some 259 people worldwide have died while taking selfies, according to a study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. Researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, a group of public medical colleges in New Delhi, scoured news reports on selfie deaths that occurred from October 2011 to November 2017.

They found that the most selfie deaths occurred in India, followed by Russia, the US and Pakistan. Most of the victims were men (about 72%) and under the age of 30.

India accounted for more than half the total -- 159 reported selfie deaths since 2011. Researchers attributed the high number to the country's enormous population of people under 30, which is the world's largest.

Although women generally take more selfies than men, researchers found that men were more likely to take risks -- like standing at the edge of a cliff -- to capture a dramatic shot. "It justifies the higher number of deaths and incidents for men," the study said.

Drownings and fallings

Drowning is the leading cause of selfie deaths, usually involving people being washed away by waves on beaches or falling out of a boat.

The second-leading cause is listed as "transport" -- people killed, for example, while trying to snap a quick pic in front of a moving train.

Tied for third are selfie deaths involving fires and falls from high places. Eight people died while taking selfies with dangerous animals.

Unsurprisingly, the US led in the number of selfie deaths involving a firearm -- people accidentally shooting themselves while posing with guns.

The study says the problem is almost certainly underreported. For example, it notes that when a person decides to pose for a selfie while driving and is then killed in a car crash, it's most often reported as just a fatal traffic wreck. And there are several developing countries where reports of selfie deaths may not make it into the local news.

Selfie deaths are on the rise, too. There were just three reported selfie deaths in 2011. By 2016 that number had shot up to 98.

"The youth and tourists are frequently affected because of the desire of 'being cool,' posting photos on social (media) and getting rewards in forms of likes and comments," the study says. "Selfies are themselves not harmful, but the human behavior that accompanies selfies is dangerous. Individuals need to be educated regarding certain risky behaviors and risky places where selfies should not be taken."

'No selfie' zones

The study's authors suggest that "no selfie zones" be established in tourist areas, especially on mountain peaks, near bodies of water and on top of tall buildings. India has more than a dozen of these zones, including several in Mumbai.

Police there say they've pinpointed locations around the city where they want to "restrain" people to prevent further casualties. The high-risk areas are mostly along the city's oceanfront -- a popular destination for young people armed with camera phones.

"This is a new problem for us," police spokesman Dhananjay Kulkarni told CNN in 2016. "We have identified spots in Mumbai. We want to restrain people from going there so that mishaps don't happen."

After a spate of selfie-related fatalities in 2015, police in Russia put out a brochure urging people to take "safe selfies."

"A cool selfie can cost you your life," reads the brochure, which police handed out to both students and the general public.

The two-page guide contains infographics that resemble road signs, most of which are based on actual incidents -- such as the case of a 21-year-old woman who accidentally shot herself in the head and a teen who was struck by a train after trying to take a photograph of herself on railway tracks.

The brochure also warns against taking selfies with animals, on

Protesters storm APC headquarters, call for Oshiomhole’s resignation

Some protesters on Wednesday shut down the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja.

They disrupted activities, barricaded the street and entrance, and chased away staff and a handful of security operatives on duty.

The protesters, who alleged attempts to impose candidates by the national leadership of the party, during the senatorial and House of Representatives primaries held, yesterday, called for the immediate resignation of the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

Displaying posters with various inscriptions like ‘Oshiomhole stay clear of FCT primaries; We want indirect primaries; Oshiomhole, leadership is not activism; and Oshiomhole destroying APC,’ among others, the protesters went violent and destroyed billboards, barricaded the major road and caused traffic gridlock, Channels TV reports.

The irate crowd, who had stormed the national secretariat in the early hours of yesterday, defied the security agents who stormed the secretariat in several operational patrol vehicles.

They sang and danced along the road.

The protest, which was initially largely peaceful, later went out of control, when the angry crowd tried to take control of the entrance of the secretariat gate, and, in the process, barricaded the Blantyre street leading to the APC national secretariat.

Spokesman of the group Usman Mohammed Karshi told newsmen that the group was on a mission to protest injustice and imposition of mode of primary election in the FCT; an original inhabitants of the territory. They also called for Oshiomhole’s resignation, and doubted if he was not working for opposition parties.

“We are here to protest injustice. We are here to protest imposition. We are here to sound it loud and clear that we are solidly in support of president Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. We are here; tell all who have ears that, in the FCT, results will not be written. We are here to state it loud and clear that FCT APC is going for indirect primary.

“We are here to make it clear to Oshiomhole that we are comrades and that was why we voted for him as chairman. So, we are appealing to his sense of reason. He should be reasonable to give us what we want. FCT APC rejects direct primary in FCT,” he said.

“NEC was very clear about it that all should go back to their states, and chose whatever method they want. That it is either you go for direct, indirect primaries or consensus.

“The FCT leaders, all nine senatorial and 15 House of Representatives aspirants met and agreed that FCT is going for indirect primary. Why should Oshiomhole and the National Working Committee change it? It is unacceptable. You cannot write results here in the name of direct primaries. It is not possible,” he said.

Messi scores twice as Barca hold off Spurs comeback

Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to an enthralling victory over Tottenham at Wembley which condemned the English side to a second Champions League defeat from two games this season.

Messi scored twice in an excellent attacking display from the Spanish champions, who were twice pegged back in a breathless second half.

Former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho put Barcelona ahead in the second minute at the end of an excellent team move involving Messi, although returning Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris helped the visitors by rushing off his line.

Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic then doubled the lead by firing home an acrobatic half-volley off the inside of the post from 20 yards.

But Harry Kane halved Spurs' deficit in the 52nd minute, shortly after Messi had twice hit the post for the visitors.

Messi then put Barca 3-1 in front at the end of another flowing move, only for Erik Lamela to pull another back for Spurs with a deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Messi sealed the result in the 90th minute with a calm finish which gives his side a second successive Champions League win and sees them top Group B.

Mauricio Pochettino's side meanwhile are third but six points behind Barcelona and second-placed Inter Milan, and face a difficult task to progress to the knockout stages.

APC chairman resigns

Patrick Ukwuenya, chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Okpokwu LGA of Benue State has resigned.

MEDIA gathered that Ukwuenya tendered his resignation letter at the party’s secretariat on Tuesday in Okpoga.

In his letter, Ukwuenya simply said the reason behind his decision to dump the party was ‘best known’ to him.

He thanked the party for giving him the opportunity to serve and wished them good luck ahead of the general election.

Although Ukwuenya has refused to explain the reason behind his sudden resignation, sources within the camp of the APC hinted this reporter that his decision might not be unconnected with his cold war with the state chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro.

When contacted, the state Publicity Director of the party, Apeh Peter said, “If he has resigned, then so be it. As a matter of fact, I am just hearing that from you. But if he actually resigned, then good luck to him. There is nothing special about his resignation.”

International Court of Justice orders US to ease Iran sanctions

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered the US to ease sanctions it re-imposed on Iran after abandoning a nuclear deal in May.

Judges ruled that the US had to remove "any impediments" to the export of humanitarian goods, including food, medicine and aviation safety equipment.

The US argued the ruling was a "defeat" for Iran, saying it already allowed humanitarian-related transactions.

The rulings of the ICJ are binding but the court has no power to enforce them.

It is the main judicial organ of the UN and settles legal disputes between member states. But both nations have in the past ignored the court's rulings.

What were the arguments in court?

Iran said the sanctions violated the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights between Iran and the US, which grants the ICJ jurisdiction over disputes.

It also said the reasons cited by President Donald Trump for re-imposing the sanctions were unfounded because the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had repeatedly confirmed that Iran was complying with the terms of the 2015 nuclear accord signed by Tehran and six world powers.

US lawyers argued that the ICJ should not have jurisdiction and that Iran's assertions fell outside the bounds of the treaty.

The ICJ has ruled previously that the 1955 treaty is valid even though it was signed before the 1979 Revolution in Iran, which saw the US-backed shah overthrown and heralded four decades of hostility between the two countries.

How did the ICJ rule?

The 15-judge panel rejected Iran's call for them to order the reinstated US sanctions to be terminated without delay, and for the US to compensate Iran for the revenue losses it has incurred.

But the judges did order the US to "remove, by means of its choosing, any impediments arising from the measures on 8 May to the free exportation to the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran" of:

medicines and medical devices

foodstuffs and agricultural commodities

spare parts, equipment and services necessary for the safety of civil aviation.

A curb on 'economic warfare'?

Analysis by Anna Holligan, BBC News, The Hague

This is essentially the first time international judges have ruled on what's been described as a case of "economic warfare".

It is a provisional measure issued in response to Iran's urgent request ahead of the second round of sanctions scheduled to be reinstated next month.

The decision could encourage European companies, which ceased trading with Iran for fear of falling foul of President Trump, to reconsider their position, specifically those dealing in the humanitarian items outlined by the judges.

How did both sides react?

The Iranian foreign ministry said the decision "vindicates the Islamic Republic of Iran and confirms the illegitimacy and oppressiveness" of US sanctions.

But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Iran of abusing the ICJ for political ends and said the court had rejected all of its "baseless requests".

"With regard to the aspects of the court's order focusing on potential humanitarian issues, we have been clear," he added.

"Existing exceptions, authorisations and licensing policies for humanitarian-related transactions and safety of flight will remain in effect. The United States has been actively engaged on these issues without regard to any proceeding before the ICJ."

Mr Pompeo announced that the US was terminating the Treaty of Amity, adding: "This is a decision that is, frankly, 39 years overdue."

He also said the US had "solid" evidence that Iran was to blame for recent attacks against the US consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra and the embassy in Baghdad.

"These latest destabilising acts in Iraq are attempts by the Iranian regime to push back on our efforts to constrain its malign behaviour. Clearly, they see our comprehensive pressure campaign as serious and succeeding."

Why did the US abandon the nuclear deal?

The 2015 accord saw the Islamic Repu

Lagos APC primary: Deputy governor, Adebule dumps Ambode for Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule on Tuesday abandoned Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to support Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the two-horse race to pick the ticket to represent the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 governorship election.

Adebule told newsmen at Ward A and D, in Iba Local Council Development Area of Lagos where she participated in the governorship primary of the APC, that she would endorse the candidate chosen by the party.

“The party has chosen a man and it is that man that I will support and follow,” she said.

NAN reports that when the deputy governor arrived at the ward, some of her aides came with Sanwo-Olu’s posters and banners.

At the ward, accreditation started at about 10.36 am as party electoral officials arrived.

There was no formal announcement of the results as the accreditation was brief.

Many party members at the venue started singing the praises of Sanwo-Olu.

Suu Kyi's actions 'regrettable' but she will keep peace prize - Nobel chief

Some of the actions Aung San Suu Kyi has taken as Myanmar’s civilian leader are “regrettable” but her Nobel Peace Prize will not be withdrawn, the head of the Nobel Foundation told Reuters in an interview in Stockholm on Friday.

Lars Heikensten, speaking days before the awarding of this year’s peace prize, said it made no sense to withdraw awards in reaction to things that happened after they were given, as judges would constantly have to discuss laureates’ merits.

U.N. investigators issued a report in August accusing Myanmar’s military of carrying out mass killings of Muslim Rohingya with “genocidal intent” in an operation that drove more than 700,000 refugees across the border to Bangladesh.

Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for campaigning for democracy and now leads the Myanmar government, was accused in the same report of failing to use her “moral authority” to protect civilians.

“We see what she’s been doing in Myanmar has been questioned a lot and we stand for human rights, that’s one of our core values,” Lars Heikensten, the head of the Nobel Foundation, said.

“So of course to the extent that she’s responsible for that, that is very regrettable,” he added.

Government spokesman Zaw Htay did not answer phone calls seeking comment on Monday. He said last month he would no longer speak to the media over the phone, only at a biweekly conference.

Myanmar has rejected the U.N. findings as “one-sided”. It says the military action, which followed militant attacks on security forces in August last year, was a legitimate counterinsurgency operation.

Suu Kyi said last month that in hindsight her government could have handled the situation in Rakhine state better, but did not acknowledge any major crimes.

“We don’t believe it would make sense to try to withdraw prizes ... it would involve us in constant discussions about the merits about what people are doing afterwards, after they have received the prize,” Heikensten said.

“There has always been and there always will be Nobel laureates that are doing things after they’ve been awarded the prize which we do not approve of or which we don’t think are the right things. That we cannot avoid I think,” he added.

The Stockholm-based Nobel Foundation oversees the administration of all the Nobel Prizes, which are awarded by different organizations in Sweden and Norway.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the Peace Prize, said in August that its rules did not allow awards to be withdrawn.

The laureate of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday in Oslo.