I like Alexis - Bayern boss Ancelotti open to Sanchez move

Carlo Ancelotti has reopened the door for Bayern Munich to make a move for Arsenal's in-demand forward Alexis Sanchez.

Bayern president Uli Hoeness this week seemingly ended speculation the Bundesliga champions would bid for Sanchez, who has a year left on his Arsenal contract, suggesting the club would not pay big money for older players.

But with the Chile international preparing to face Germany in Sunday's Confederations Cup final, Ancelotti indicated he would be interested in bringing 28-year-old Sanchez to Bayern.
"If an opportunity comes up, the club will be ready," Ancelotti said at a media conference to mark the first day of Bayern's pre-season preparations on Saturday.

"There are lots of rumours. Alexis is a great player but not the only one in the world. I like Alexis."
Hoeness had said Bayern would not be willing to pay fees in the region of €100 million for 29 and 30-year-olds but Ancelotti appears more keen to do a deal for Sanchez.

"There are possibilities in the transfer market, which can be in many directions," Ancelotti said. "I believe that the market is currently somewhat crazy - and Bayern is not a crazy club. 
"I know the culture of this club and will not ask for any players for whom the club has to spend crazy sums, but if there are occasions, why not?"

Sanchez was typically non-committal when he appeared at a news conference on Friday alongside Manchester City's Claudio Bravo, the forward asked directly by reporters whether he would join the goalkeeper at the Etihad Stadium.


"Good question!" Sanchez said. "Right now I'm focused on the Confederations Cup. When this is finished I will see if I stay or go."
When pressed, Sanchez added: "Yes [my future] is clear, but I can't tell you." -Goal

Chelsea sign Caballero

Chelsea have announced the signing of free agent goalkeeper Willy Caballero, who was formerly with Manchester City.

The experienced 35-year-old will provide competition to Blues first choice Thibaut Courtois, following the departure of Asmir Begovic to Bournemouth, and the 34-year-old Portugal international goalkeeper Eduardo is also on Chelsea's books.

Caballero had been with City since 2014 but was released when his contract expired at the end of June.

The hero of City's penalty shoot-out win over Liverpool in the 2016 League Cup final, the Argentine played 26 times in all competitions last season, starting in some key Champions League games, including a win over Barcelona.
"I am very happy to join Chelsea, the champions of England," said Caballero.

"I am looking forward to meeting the guys and helping the club achieve more success in the coming season."
Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo said: "We are very happy to have Willy on board. He knows the Premier League and is tried and tested at the top of the game.

'We have three experienced goalkeepers and we look forward to welcoming him to the club when the squad returns to pre-season training."
Caballero joined City following stints at Malaga and Elche in Spain and with Boca Juniors in his homeland.

He played under Manuel Pellegrini at Malaga and the manager subsequently brought him to the Premier League.

Ancelotti says Lewandowski agent 'wrong' over rift with Bayern

Carlo Ancelotti believes Robert Lewandowski is happy at Bayern Munich and has hit out at the striker's representatives over comments which have prompted a transfer storm around the Poland star.

After he missed out on last season's Bundesliga's top goalscorer award to Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Manchester United and Chelsea target's representative Maik Barthel told Kicker that the player was "disappointed" he was not helped to score more goals by his Bayern team-mates, but Ancelotti rejected suggestions the striker is unhappy at the club.

"Lewandowski has never complained to me, I finally congratulated him on his good season," Ancelotti told reporters on Saturday. "I was satisfied with him and he was pleased with us.
"As always there are agents who talk too much - I do not know why. It is not the first time an agent has used the newspapers to say something wrong, that's all. In a perfect world, agents do not talk."
Bayern have also moved to warn potential suitors for Lewandowski that the forward is not for sale and stressed clubs who negotiate with the player without their permission "risk being punished by FIFA".

The Bundesliga champions have added to their squad, with Serge Gnabry one of four new arrivals at Bayern along with Sebastian Rudy, Corentin Tolisso and Niklas Sule, but Ancelotti suggested the former Arsenal winger could be sent on loan after his move from Werder Bremen.
"He will start with us," Ancelotti said. "After pre-season we'll find a decision. We will see if he stays."

The Bayern boss is more impressed with the signing of Tolisso from Lyon, however, the France international helping to replace the void left by Xabi Alonso's retirement.
"Tolisso is a good midfielder, one of the best in the market, and he has a lot of opportunities to improve," Ancelotti said.

"We have a big competition in the midfield, but I think Rudy and Tolisso will bring their strengths well." - Goal.com

Victoria Beckham shows off sassy beauty look in new selfies - see the photos!

Victoria Beckham looks fantastic in her new beauty selfies on social media! The fashion designer and mum-of-four took to her Instagram page on Friday to show off a stunning make-up look. In one photo Victoria, 43, poses in a white robe, head towel and oversized black shades, captioning the snap: “Working on a secret project for #VBxEsteeLauder! x VB.” The star looked incredibly mysterious in the fun picture. Then in a second photograph, Victoria, appeared in a black robe, again with her head towel on, and a stunning made-up look. She joked: “I mean, who doesn't get out of the shower in the London look?! #VBxEsteeLauder x VB.”




Clearly, no one looks that amazing straight out of the shower and Victoria was having a giggle with her followers. The star looked to be getting ready for a photoshoot with beauty brand Estee Lauder, with whom she has a make-up range. This autumn, Victoria’s Estee Lauder collection will double in size, with 18 new colour items and two new kits. Perhaps the designer is trying out the new products ahead of their launch.

Victoria’s beauty look in these new selfies is flawless, with particular attention being paid to accentuating her brown eyes. Her eyelids are coloured with a light-brown shimmer, complete with black mascara and eyeliner. The star’s cheeks look wonderful, her cheekbones highlighted perfectly with a rose-hued blush underneath. Victoria’s lips remain a natural nude colour so not to take attention away from her eyes and cheeks.

The former Spice Girl’s followers loved the pictures, with one commenting: “Beautiful even in towel,” and a second wrote: “I'd love a lash masterclass with you.”One fan joked with the designer, writing: “You are FUNNY VB 😂 some people just won't get it.” Another follower thought Victoria should debut the look on the catwalk: “Absolutely, and why not! I really think you can make it work maybe next runway show in NY! It need to be done wel l:) It will be original. #Fashion is about going forward.

Victoria has recently spoken about the products in her new beauty range, telling WWD about exciting new products like the layer-able Cheek Crème in Blond Mink and a beautiful Eye Matte Duo in Bleu Électrique/Nude. She also revealed that the best-selling Morning Aura Illuminating Crème will soon be joined by three new products: Skin Perfecting Powder, Eye Ink Mascara in Backseat and Aura Gloss in Honey. Victoria said: “This collection is significantly bigger… [but] there is so much that I still want to do. I haven’t touched on foundation or eyebrows. There were things we wanted to get into this collection but we wanted to get it right.”

Melania Trump responds to Mika Brzezinski: You don't know me

First lady Melania Trump on Friday blasted comments from MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski, saying the "Morning Joe" co-hosts "don't know me."

In an interview with InStyle magazine released Friday, Brzezinski said that "Melania's got the worst job in the country" and was doing it for her young son.
"I'm just telling you, Melania's got the worst job in the country and I don't think she wants do it a lot longer. I think she will do it for as long as she has to for her son, and that's it," Brzezinski said.

The first lady responded in a statement through her press office to multiple outlets on Saturday, criticizing the "Morning Joe" co-hosts for using her to "further their own agenda."
"It is sad when people try to further their own agenda by commenting on me and my family, especially when they don't know me," the statement read.

President Trump on Saturday continued to go after Brzezinski and co-host Joe Scarborough, tweeting that the two aren't "bad people" but are dominated by "NBC bosses."
"Crazy Joe Scarborough and dumb as a rock Mika are not bad people, but their low rated show is dominated by their NBC bosses," Trump tweeted early Saturday. "Too bad!"

Tottenham striker Harry Kane proposes to girlfriend Katie Goodland during family holiday

Tottenham striker Harry Kane has reason to celebrate after popping the question to girlfriend Katie Goodland.

The pair have been together for five years and had their first child, Ivy, in January.
And during their family holiday in the Bahamas, the England star got down on one knee.
He revealed the good news on social media with fans sending their congratulations to the happy couple.

Earlier this week, Kane posted a snap from their luxurious yacht alongside Katie and little Ivy.
Spurs' players return to pre-season training on Monday, although Kane may be afforded an extra few days rest after playing for England over the summer.
The striker also starred in Spurs' kit launch on Saturday.

Mauricio Pochettino's men have joined forces with American giants Nike, after their five-season-deal with Under Armour came to an end.
It's understood the deal is worth around £30million-per-year to the north London club.

Kane, who captained England earlier this summer, has attracted interest from Manchester United.

He has won back-to-back golden boots in the Premier League, with Spurs demanding over £100m for their talisman.

A woman called the police about her stalker 125 times. Then he stabbed her.

In 2009, Joseph Wills asked Helen Pearson on a date.

She declined.

Then the stalking began. Wills called Pearson over and over again. He sent her threatening letters (sample text: “I want to play a game … I want to see how you would cope if you were attacked … Would you fight back? Scream? Let the game begin.”) He wrote “Die Helen Die” outside her home in Exeter, England, in big white letters. 

Another time, he slashed her tires. Once, he even left a dead cat on her doorstep.
Pearson was shaken. So she reported the threats to the police. She reached out to them 125 times over five years to report this unrelenting harassment campaign. The abuse got so bad, Pearson said, that she considered suicide. “Every night you go to bed and you don’t know what is going to happen and you constantly live in fear,” she told the BBC. “You see that there’s no way the stalking is ever going to end.”

At the time, Pearson said she thought, “This is going to go on until I am dead.”
That horrifying reality almost came to pass on Oct. 21, 2013. That night, Wills attacked Pearson with a pair of scissors in a nearby graveyard as she walked to the gym. Onlookers said they saw Wills drag Pearson into the cemetery by the hood of her coat. Pearson was stabbed eight times in her back, face and neck. She was saved by a witness, who jumped out of his car and shoved Wills away.

Wills was arrested, tried and found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison.
In a report released this week, police have apologized for their behavior, admitting personal and organizational failings. A report on the department’s response says that the three officers involved in the investigation face misconduct charges.

Pearson, though, says the just-released report is too little, too late.
“It doesn’t do anything for me. I am still suffering every day because of what happened to me,” she said.

In the U.K., 20 percent of women and 10 percent of men say they’ve been stalked at least once in their lifetime. Researchers have also shown that stalking very often escalates to murder or attempted murder. One 1999 study found that three-quarters of all femicide victims were stalked by their killer first. And more than half of those killed had reported their stalkers’ behavior to the police.

Alexis Bowater, a former chief executive of Network for Surviving Stalking, says she’s not sure much has changed since 2013. Police still don’t take this seriously enough, she told the BBC.
“They call it murder in slow motion,” she said. “Taking stalking seriously is murder prevention.” - The Washington Post

Shops are using spy techniques to monitor customers' facial expressions

Shops are using new spy techniques to monitor customers' facial expressions, heart rate and even pupil dilation while they browse the aisles.

New technology being installed by retailers in Europe and the US, and being trialed in the UK, can spot if a customer cannot find a product, read their reaction to an outfit or spot thieves in a bid to keep up with online retailers.

Technology installed by one French bookseller is able to detect shoppers' movements and facial expressions and alert staff that they may require assistance.

The anonymous French bookseller claimed its sales rose by 10 per cent after introducing the technology.

Meanwhile stores in Italy have started experimenting with mannequins fitted with intelligent cameras which can detect customers' facial reactions to outfits.

“These systems are designed to be completely invisible so shoppers do not know they are there,” said Mark Thompson, director of retail and hospitality at Zebra Technologies.

“They are mainly designed to improve people's shopping experience but now shops are discovering they can use hi-tech systems to catch shoplifters and learn more about their customers.”

Between last August and April, the French book chain used the software to scrutinise shopper movements, and detect customer emotions such as surprise, dissatisfaction, confusion and hesitation.

The technology discreetly nudged assistants on the shop floor with a message, who could then help the customers.

A Mothercare shop in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, which used emotion-detection technology from London software firm Realeyes, showed shoppers who entered smiling spent 33 per cent more cash than those who did not.

Thermal-imaging cameras can also detect heart rate and conclude whether shoppers are fascinated or fretting.

Shoppers have also been asked to don “galvanometer” gadgets - in exchange for a discount or reward - which track moisture and resistance on the skin that indicates arousal.

The technology could save retailers thousands of pounds by ditching the laborious marketing method of interviewing shoppers and focus groups.

Simon Harrop, from British consultancy Brand Sense, said there are some ethical concerns surrounding data protection.

“We know from research that 70 to 80 per cent of our purchase decisions are actually emotionally motivated, and are not rational,” said Mr Harrop.

“If you think about buying a house, it's about how we feel going into the house, or when buying a car, it might be about what the brand stands for.

"Everyday item purchase decisions are a bit more rational, but even something like toothpaste we buy because of the confidence it gives us in the way our teeth appear and how our breath smells.

“The video technology is not just about our physical proximity to a product, but also it's about our physiological response, such as our blood flow, the pupil dilation, and that all comes back to primeval stuff of why we are attracted to a mate.

”The challenge is that our responses are minute, but the technology is evolving all the time to increase fidelity.

“It could be unethical if it's related to a specific person and captures data specific to them, but if it's just observing behaviour in general, we can argue that retailers have always been doing this.”

Mr Harrop believes the cameras could extend to food industry as well as retail.

“In supermarkets, in deciding what height on the shelves to place products, you could show shoppers a virtual reality store and see how they react, and so bypass the cost of building it first," he said.

Realeyes chief executive Mikhel Jäätma admitted there was a “grey” area surrounding consent but said it was generally believed that a disclaimer sign would overcome this.

“I think everybody is pretty mindful and no one is considering doing this without telling customers,” he said. - The Telegraph 

New York doctor sent email to paper before hospital rampage

A doctor who killed another physician at a New York City medical centre and wounded six other people before taking his own life had sent an email to a newspaper blaming hospital officials for wrecking his career, the New York Daily News reported on Saturday.

The paper posted on its website a copy of the email that appeared to have been sent by Dr Henry Bello hours before the deadly shooting on Friday afternoon at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center.

The gunman, wearing a white medical lab coat, stalked two floors of the hospital, opening fire on victims before trying to set himself on fire and then shooting himself to death, Police Commissioner James O'Neill said on Friday. He was dead when police found him.

In the email, Bello said the hospital blocked his path to obtaining a license to practice medicine in New York state.

"First, I was told it was because I always kept to myself. Then it was because of an altercation with a nurse," Bello said in the email.

He said he had been accused of threatening a colleague, one in a series of what he called "bogus complaints."

The email did not appear to threaten violence.

A New York police spokesman said he could not confirm whether the shooter sent an email to the Daily News.

But New York officials have confirmed the shooter was a former employee at the hospital. Police are continuing to investigate.

One female physician was shot to death and six other people were wounded, five seriously, including one who was shot in the leg, O'Neill said on Friday.

A representative for Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, where the victims were being treated, could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

The New York Times and the New York Daily News reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources, that Bello had resigned from the hospital rather than face termination over accusations of sexual harassment.

Bello earned a medical degree on the Caribbean island nation of Dominica, David Wims, a lawyer who represented Bello in an unemployment insurance claim, told Reuters on Friday.

Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, located about one mile (1.6 km) north of Yankee Stadium, is one of New York city's biggest providers of outpatient services. - REUTERS

Arsenal starlet Chris Willock signs five-year deal with Benfica

Arsenal youngster Chris Willock has signed a five-year deal with Benfica.
Willock's contract with the Gunners was set to expire on July 1 and the 19-year-old has rejected an extension to remain with the club in favour of moving to the Portuguese giants.

The England youth international, who has been with the Gunners since the age of five, was one of the most highly-rated players in Arsenal's academy set up and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger revealed towards the end of last season that he had high hopes for the starlet who signed his first professional contract with the club in February 2015.

“Chris is a very gifted player with natural strength and natural talent,” Wenger told the Arsenal's matchday programme. “He has what you do not find very easily.
“Overall I would be very comfortable to play him now but of course there is a lot of competition for places because there are players like Walcott, Alexis and Welbeck in front of him at the moment.

“If I had to play him then I would have no fear in doing so. Next season I think he will be a player who will get to feature in the team.”
A skilful winger who has previously played in central midfield, WIllock has regularly trained with the Arsenal first team and was named on the bench for the FA Cup win away to Hull City last season, but the likes of Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are both currently considered above him in the pecking order to the senior squad.

Willock's younger brother Joe is currently part of the Arsenal academy set-up and older brother Matty joined Manchester United in 2012. - Sporting News

 

'I came, I said, I conquered' - Zlatan Ibrahimovic confirms Manchester United exit as transfer window opens

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes he conquered the Premier League as he officially confirmed his Manchester United exit 

The Swedish striker became a free agent on Saturday after his Old Trafford deal expired.

Ibrahimovic enjoyed a stunning season with United, scoring 28 times in all competitions.

He looked set to sign an extension but a season-ending knee injury in April saw plans shelved.
And as the 35-year-old continues his injury rehabilitation, he sent a message to United fans.
He uploaded a snap on Instagram, celebrating one of his many goals for the Red Devils

The image was accompanied by the caption: "I came. I said. I conquered."

Ibrahimovic is determined to make a recovery and has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid.
Atletico cannot register new players until January, when Ibrahimovic will be back to full fitness.
But president Enrique Cerezo said: "Maybe we spoke with his family, but not with him.
"We are taking another line. We can talk about it in January, when we can sign people, but I don't think it will happen."

World leaders bade Kohl farewell, hailing a force behind united Europe

Leaders from the United States, Russia and across Europe paid tribute to Helmut Kohl as the architect of German reunification and a driving force for European integration on Saturday.

The former German Chancellor, who died on June 16 at 87, was remembered at a memorial ceremony at the European Parliament as a dedicated European who abhorred war by ex U.S. 
President Bill Clinton, Russia Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and others.

"Helmut Kohl gave us the chance to be involved in something bigger than ourselves, bigger than our terms in office and bigger than our fleeting careers," Clinton said of the man who was German chancellor from 1982 to 1998 and oversaw German reunification in 1990.

The two-hour memorial, in a city that has often changed hands and now lies in France symbolised the role Kohl played in reconciling  the two erstwhile enemies France and Germany while driving European integration forward.
"He was the architect of the world order," said Medvedev of Kohl, who skilfully negotiated reunification with communist East Germany with former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. "In Russia, we'll remember him as our friend -- a wise and sincere person."

Afterwards, Kohl's casket was flown by helicopter across the Rhine to his hometown of Ludwigshafen, where his body was later carried in procession before being transported by riverboat to his final place of rest in Speyer.
The resting place of many rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, itself  a Europe-spanning polity, Speyer Cathedral was seen by Kohl as a symbol of European unity -- a place he showed to contemporary leaders including Gorbachev and Britain's Margaret Thatcher.

"Helmut Kohl was a German patriot and a European patriot," said Juncker, a former Luxembourg prime minister and close friend of Kohl who switched between German and French in his tribute. "We've lost a giant of the post-war era."
Chancellor Angela Merkel, who served as a minister under Kohl in the 1990s but later had a falling out over his role in receiving $1 million in illegal campaign cash donations, remembered Kohl as an at-times controversial figure with numerous enemies.

"I could tell you stories as well," she said. "But all that paled in comparison to his life's achievements."
Merkel said Kohl had changed the lives of millions across all of Europe.

"The lives of millions of people would have been a lot different without
 Helmut Kohl -- including my own life," the former East German said. "Dear Helmut Kohl, thanks to you I'm standing here today. Thanks for the chance that you made possible for me and many others."
The ceremony concluded with the German national anthem and excerpts from Beethoven's 9th symphony "Ode to Joy", used as the anthem of the European Union.

The proposal to hold a European ceremony was enthusiastically advocated by Juncker, and by Kohl's second wife Maike Kohl-Richter, who survives him.
His sons, however, will boycott the Cathedral's funeral mass, since their father will not be laid to rest alongside Hannelore Kohl, his wife of decades. - REUTERS

Billionaire kidnapper: Why I’m defending Evans – Lawyer, Ogungbeje

Lagos-based lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, who has been hired by billionaire kidnapper Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans has justified his decision to defend suspected billionaire criminal in court.
The lawyer has come under public bashing for deciding to stand for Evans.

But, speaking with Sun, Ogungbeje, accused a section of the media, as well as many Nigerians of being ignorant of the law.
He noted that it was settled in law that “no matter the bases of the complaints of the cause of your crime, no matter how unpopular is the cause of your crime, no matter how bad is the cause of your crime, the legal practitioner has a duty to take up the cause, if he’s properly briefed and provided that person represents his client within the bounds of law.

“That is my answer to your question. So, no matter the public opinion, I have the responsibility to take up the matter. We were properly briefed. So, our action is based on law.

“And we want to represent our client within the bounds of law, within the confines of law.
“So, if you for instance, you’re a journalist, if you brief me… you don’t want me to take up your cause, because people are saying negative things about you, or because people have condemned you and found you guilty before the media, that I should not take up your case?

“Look, let me tell you right away. We were briefed two weeks ago. And I told them to give me two weeks to think, whether I would take up the brief or not. I did my consultations.

“We consulted even journalists, you can go and make enquiries. I consulted my people. I consulted senior lawyers. So, have I done what is wrong by taking the cause of my clients? Forget what people say in the court of public of opinion.” - Daily Post

Etisalat Nigeria Chairman, Hakeem Bello-Osagie, Resigns

A statement obtained by PREMIUM TIMES

confirmed the development, saying the decision followed “the approval of a restructuring plan for the telecommunications firm.”

Mr. Bello-Osagie, the one-time Chairman of the United Bank for Africa, UBA, was the surviving shareholder in the embattled mobile operator currently embroiled in a $1.2 billion (about N377.4 billion) loan repayment crisis with a consortium of 13 Nigerian banks.

He was the promoter of Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services, EMTS, which controlled 15 per cent of the equity holding of the company

His resignation followed the withdrawal, two weeks ago, of the company’s major shareholder, Emirates Telecommunications Group Company, which announced the decision to quit effective June 15, 2017.

Accused of sexual harassment, Nigerian doctor invades hospital, kills woman — and self

A gunman believed to be Nigerian-born Henry Bello has killed a doctor and injured six others after opening fire inside a hospital in Bronx, New York, US.

The gunman killed himself after the shooting spree which took place Friday on the 16th and 17th floors of the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital.
Bello is a former family medicine doctor at the hospital. He was reportedly forced to quit after only six months on the job because of a sexual harassment allegation levelled against him.
He was reportedly wearing a white laboratory coat when he was found.

Maureen Kwankam, a doctor at the hospital, told New York Daily News that he promised to return and “kill” everyone when he was “fired” in 2015.
“We fired him because he was kind of crazy. He promised to come back and kill us then,” said Kwankam.
Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York, described the attack as a “horrific situation in the middle of a place that people associate with care and comfort”.
He said it was not terrorism-related.

“We’ve had a real tragedy here in the Bronx this afternoon. It’s something we’ve seen around the country, and now we’ve experienced it here.”
The doctor killed in the attack was a woman, according to de Blasio, who also said that several of the injured are “fighting for their lives”.

Bello was a graduate of Ross University School of Medicine on the Caribbean island of Dominica.
According to the New York Times, he was arrested in August 2004 after a 23-year-old 
woman accused him of sexual harassment.
He was subsequently charged with sex abuse and unlawful imprisonment.

Bello was said to have pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment in the second degree and was sentenced to community service.
The sexual abuse charge was reportedly dismissed. - Cable Nigeria