Celine Dion has announced she is putting her career on hold “indefinitely” for health and family reasons.
Celine Dion, 46, announced on her website she was cancelling all performances to focus on her health, her husband’s health and their children.
The singer’s Las Vegas shows up until March have all been cancelled, as well as her planned tour of Asia this autumn.
Celine Dion’s manager-husband, Rene Angelil, had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in December.
The singer is also still recovering from an illness that inflamed her throat muscles and has not been able to perform any of her scheduled Las Vegas shows since July 19.
Celine Dion is putting her career on hold indefinitely for health and family reasons (photo Getty Images)
A statement on Celine Dion’s website said she had made the decision “in order to focus 100% of her attention” on her husband and family.
It added it had been a “very difficult and stressful time for the couple as they deal with the day-to-day challenges of fighting this disease while trying to juggle a very active showbusiness schedule, and raise their three young children”.
Celine Dion said: “I want to devote every ounce of my strength and energy to my husband’s healing, and to do so, it’s important for me to dedicate this time to him and to our children.”
“I also want to apologize to all my fans everywhere, for inconveniencing them, and I thank them so much for their love and support.”
Fans who bought tickets for future shows will be eligible for refunds.
Celine Dion previously took a two-year hiatus from 2000 to 2002 to help care for her husband when he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Soon after, she gave birth to her first child.
She has been a regular performer at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, which began with a near five-year residency from 2003 to 2007.
Celine Dion’s current residency began in 2011 and, although it was originally billed as a three-year event, was last year extended through to 2019.
Sony has revealed release dates for its PlayStation TV in the US, UK, and Europe.
PlayStation TV is available in Japan since last year.
The micro-console represents Sony’s efforts to take on other streaming television consoles like AppleTV and Roku.
Unlike those, Sony’s offering will allow gamers access to PlayStation games.
Sony has revealed release dates for its PlayStation TV in the US, UK, and Europe
Sony has announced the new consoles will go on sale in the US on October 14 and in the UK on November 14.
They will cost $99 in the US and 99 euros in Europe, and will include three games. The UK price has not yet been announced.
The console will allow users access to Sony’s games library via Remote Play, and it will also offer access to third-party applications like Netflix.
In the US, PlayStation TV will also offer access to Sony’s game-streaming service, PlayStation Now, which will be coming to Europe and the UK in 2015.
Sony has previously announced the existence of the PlayStation TV at various events.
The announcement was made during the PlayStation press conference at the Gamescom trade fair in Cologne in Germany, where Sony also announced it had sold 10 million PlayStation 4 consoles, better than rival Microsoft’s Xbox One.
Global oil prices have reached their lowest level in nine months, despite fears that conflicts in Ukraine and Iraq would inflate prices.
Brent crude oil has fallen to $103.70 a barrel, its lowest rate since November 2013.
In July 2014, oil hit its highest level in nine months, valued at $115.71 per barrel. Violence in Iraq was cited as the reason for the rise.
The current dip in price has led to an increase in demand from wealthy states.
Global oil prices have reached their lowest level in nine months, despite fears that conflicts in Ukraine and Iraq would inflate prices
Iraq has scheduled to export about 2.4 million barrels per day of Basra Light crude in September, up from 2.2 million in the previous month.
In a report on Tuesday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said: “Oil prices seem almost eerily calm in the face of mounting geopolitical risks spanning an unusually large swathe of the oil-producing world.”
The IEA said that while tensions in Iraq and fighting in Ukraine continued, other oil resources were available, such as those of the US, Libya and Saudi Arabia.
The agency said: “The Atlantic market is currently so well supplied that incremental Libyan barrels are reportedly having a hard time finding buyers.”
It had been thought that sanctions imposed by the US and EU on Russia over its support for Ukrainian rebels might affect oil distribution.
However, the IEA said: “The consensus in the industry seems to be that neither set of sanctions will have any tangible near-term impact on supplies.”
Brazil’s presidential candidate Eduardo Campos has died in a plane crash, party members and local officials say.
The Brazilian Air Force reported the plane was a Cessna 560XL.
The plane carrying Eduardo Campos came down in bad weather in a residential area of the port city of Santos, in Sao Paulo state.
Local reports say four other passengers and the two pilots were also killed.
President Dilma Rousseff has declared three days of national mourning and cancelled campaign events.
The plane carrying Eduardo Campos came down in bad weather in a residential area of the port city of Santos
Dilma Rousseff’s Vice President, Michel Temer, also expressed his regret over the death of Eduardo Campos, who had been running third in the polls for October’s election.
Eduardo Campos’ family had actively opposed Brazil’s military rule between 1964 and1985.
A married father of five children, Eduardo Campos, 49, served two terms as governor of the north-eastern Pernambuco state.
His vice-presidential candidate, Marina Silva, a popular politician and a former government minister, was reportedly meant to have been on the plane with him but decided not to travel.
Eduardo Campos was flying from Rio de Janeiro to Guaruja airport, outside Sao Paulo, when it hit bad weather, aviation authority spokesman Pedro Luis Farcic said.
According to air force officials, air traffic control lost contact with the plane after it was unable to land at Guaruja due to bad weather.
It plunged into several houses in a densely-populated neighborhood, sending plumes of smoke into the air.
Local residents said the sky was cloudy and it was raining at the time of the crash.
All seven people aboard the plane, including a campaign photographer and cameraman, a press adviser, as well as two pilots, died in the crash, City Hall press officer Patricia Fagueiro told the Associated Press news agency.
Susan Schneider was the third wife and now widow of late actor Robin Williams.
Graphic designer Susan Schneider and Robin Williams tied the knot October 23, 2011, after two years of dating, at the luxurious Meadowood Resort in the Napa Valley town of St. Helena, California. The couple honeymooned in Paris.
Robin Williams said at the time, of Susan Schneider: “I’m the luckiest man in the world… Being with a comedian, living with a comedian, is like keeping a chimp for a pet. You know we’re kind of cute but after a little a while, (you get thrown out). So if you find someone who goes, <<OK I really like you>>, You go, <<You like me?>> She’s gorgeous and so sweet. Oh, she’s beautiful.”
Robin Williams was previously married to Valerie Velardi, with whom he has son Zak, and to Marsha Garces, with whom he has two children, daughter Zelda and son Cody.
Susan Schneider, now 51, met Robin Williams shortly before he had heart surgery in mid-2009 when she nursed him back to health at his California home.
Susan Schneider was the third wife and now widow of late actor Robin Williams (photo Getty Images)
She was trained professionally as a graphic designer and for the past two decades she has been passionate about painting and her works of art sell for a lot of cash.
She said she is mostly captivated by nature, emotions and the beauty of people.
Susan Schneider went on to pursue studies in graphic design during her college years. After a few years in the design program at UCLA she was eager to return to her native Marin County. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from California College of the Arts in 1989. She had the fortunate opportunity to work beside several prestigious Bay Area designers and ultimately began her own company.
Susan Schneider has not only served local schools with her design talents, but she has also helped raise funds by donating her paintings at school auctions. She developed and designed the fundraising brand “Can Do!” for the Dixie School District education foundation.
She completed the new design for the Miller Creek Middle School logo. She is a member of the Marin Catholic Patrons of the Arts wherein she assists with graphic design and with raising funds for the school’s arts program.
Through her business, Critical Eye Design, Susan Schneider continues doing design projects, primarily creating logos and identities. She is works on painting commissions, as well as developing her own work for exhibits.
Susan Schneider and Robin Williams’ residence was the actor’s house in Sea Cliff, a neighborhood in San Francisco, California.
Robin Williams took his own life after telling friends he had “serious money troubles”, it has emerged.
The actor had sought treatment for depression in the weeks before his death at the age of 63.
Robin Williams, who was once reputed to be worth $120 million, had complained of losing a large chunk of his fortune in alimony payments to his two ex-wives, and had been trying to sell his 600-acre ranch in California to raise much-needed funds.
Police said Robin Williams had been found dead in a bedroom at his home by his personal assistant.
Although Robin Williams was famous for his hyperactive comedy brain, he had spent much of his life battling alcoholism, drug abuse and depression.
The actor’s final bout of depression, which several weeks in a rehabilitation clinic had failed to lift, may have been triggered in part by the cancellation of his latest television show The Crazy Ones in May, after just one series.
According to a family friend quoted by Radar Online: “All he could talk about were serious money troubles…Robin was known for being so generous to his friends and family during the height of his success, and would help anyone out that needed it.
“There was also frustration that Robin expressed at having to take television and movie roles he didn’t want to take, but had to for the pay cheque.”
Robin Williams, who was once reputed to be worth $120 million, had complained of losing a large chunk of his fortune in alimony payments to his two ex-wives (photo Getty Images)
For the past two years Robin Williams had been trying to sell his ranch in the Napa Valley near San Francisco, saying: “I just can’t afford it anymore.”
Despite dropping the asking price from $34 million to $28.5 million, there had been no takers. Robin Williams had even resorted to selling some of his collection of 50 bicycles to raise cash.
One neighbor who saw the actor in the days before his death said he had become “a shell of himself” and looked “drawn and thin”.
A friend of 30 years who saw Robin Williams at dinner this week said “something did not seem right”, though he added that the actor was known to suffer from mood swings.
Last September, Robin Williams, who had moved into a relatively modest bungalow in Tiburon, near San Francisco, which he inherited from his mother in 2001, spoke about having to “downsize” his life and take roles to “pay the bills” following his divorces from Valerie Velardi in 1988 and Marsha Garces in 2008.
Robin Williams said he was faced with the choice of a stand-up comedy tour, returning to television after 31 years, or taking roles in low-budget films for very low pay.
“The movies are good, but a lot of times they don’t even have distribution,” he said.
“There are bills to pay.”
He went on: “Divorce is expensive. I used to joke they were going to call it <<all the money>> but they changed it to <<alimony>>. It’s ripping your heart out through your wallet.”
Robin Williams’ divorces are reported to have cost him $32 million, and he had put a substantial sum into trust funds for his three children Zak, 31, Zelda, 25, and Cody, 22.
Marin County assistant deputy chief coroner Lt. Keith Boyd said Robin Williams was last seen alive at 10.30 PM local time on Sunday, when his wife Susan Schneider went to bed.
Susan Schneider left the house at 10.30 AM on Monday assuming Robin Williams was still asleep in another bedroom, and he was found dead by his personal assistant at 11.55 AM when there was no response to knocks on his bedroom door.
Lt. Keith Boyd said Robin Williams was found “clothed” with a bloodied pocket knife near him and with “several acute superficial transverse cuts” on the inside of his left wrist. He appeared to have been dead for some time.
Despite reports that no suicide note was found, Keith Boyd hinted that there may have been one, saying he was not prepared to discuss “the note, or a note”.
Toxicology reports, which will determine whether Robin Williams had drugs or alcohol in his body at the time of his death, will take at least two weeks to prepare.
Marsha Garces Williams is one of two ex-wives of late actor Robin Williams.
Robin Williams, 63, passed away on Monday, August 11, 2014, after apparently hanging himself with a belt.
Marsha Garces and Robin Williams were married in 1989 and divorced in 2008.
Robin Williams was previously married to Valerie Velardi. They met in 1976 when he worked as a bartender at a tavern in San Francisco. They have a son together, Zachary Pym “Zak” Williams, who was born on April 11, 1983.
Marsha Garces met Robin Williams when she was working as a nanny for Zak.
Marsha Garces Williams was Robin Williams’ second wife (photo Getty Images)
The Filipino-American helped Robin Williams with his work, even being nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special for Robin Williams: Live on Broadway along with others in 2003, according to IMDB.
Marsha Garces, who was born on June 18, 1956 in San Francisco, is also credited as a producer on Jakob the Liar and Mrs. Doubtfire and executive producer on Patch Adams.
She also served as assistant to Robin Williams on Toys, Hook, The Fisher King, Dead Poets Society, and Good Morning, Vietnam.
According to People magazine, their divorce stemmed from Robin Williams’ alcohol relapse in 2006 after 20 years of sobriety.
However, longtime Robin Williams’ friend Richard Belzer clarified that the split was “amicable” as opposed to “a vicious, bitter thing”.
Robin Williams appreciated Marsha’s support, telling People magazine before that “she’s amazing” and “makes it look effortless”.
He also had good memories of Marsha’s family, telling the Philippine Inquirer several years ago that he picked up a Pinoy accent, and remembered Marsha’s father fondly.
Robin Williams also said that the children he had with Marsha – Zelda and Cody – kept in touch with their Filipino side of the family. “Very much so, because of Marsha,” he said. “My ex-father-in-law, Leon, was amazing. They keep up with the Filipino part of my family.”
Robin Williams’ children paid tribute to the late actor saying that “the world will never be the same” without him.
Among heartfelt tributes to her father, daughter Zelda Williams said: “One of his favorite things in the world was to make you all laugh.”
The 25-year-old actress added she would “never understand” how Robin Williams could “not find it in his heart to stay”.
Police in California confirmed that 63-year-old Robin Williams took his own life at his California home.
Marin County Sheriff’s Lt. Keith Boyd said Robin Williams had been treated for depression and killed himself by hanging.
Robin Williams’ eldest son Zak said in the wake of his death: “Yesterday, I lost my father and a best friend and the world got a little greyer.”
Robin Williams with former wife Marsha Garces, daughter Zelda and son Zak
Cody, the youngest child of Robin Williams, added: “I will miss him and take him with me everywhere I go for the rest of my life, and will look forward, forever, to the moment when I get to see him again.”
Robin Williams’ former wife, Marsha Garces, added to a tribute already made by his wife Susan Schneider.
“My arms are wrapped around our children as we attempt to grapple with celebrating the man we love, while dealing with this immeasurable loss,” she said, referring to Zelda and Cody.
Robin Williams was remembered on The Tonight Show on Tuesday night, on which he made numerous fast-talking, frenetic appearances starting with his debut in 1981.
Host Jimmy Fallon called Robin Williams “one of a kind – he was one in a million”.
Jimmy Fallon added: “He was the Muhammad Ali of comedy.”
Disney paid tribute to Robin Williams via Twitter with specific reference to his role as the genie in Aladdin, calling him a “true Disney legend and a beloved member of our family”.
“He was an incredible actor and a comic genius and will always remembered for bringing some of the world’s favorite characters to life,” they added.
Robin Williams was famous for films such as Good Morning Vietnam and The Fisher King and won an Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting.
The investigation into sprint car incident with Tony Stewart that killed 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. on August 9 will continue for several weeks, Ontario County Sheriff Philip C. Povero has said.
“The investigation into the death of Kevin Ward, Jr., of Lewis County, N.Y., is ongoing and is expected to continue for at least another two weeks or more,” Phillip Povero said in his statement.
“Investigators continue to seek witnesses, gather evidence, and develop the racetrack crash reconstruction. However, it would be inappropriate to discuss details or findings of the investigation with the media at this time. I would like to thank everyone for their cooperation as the Ontario County Office of Sheriff continues this investigation and for having patience as we conduct a thorough review of all of the relevant facts involving this tragic accident.
The investigation into sprint car incident with Tony Stewart that killed 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. on August 9 will continue for several weeks
“When the investigation is completed, we will meet with members of the Ontario County District Attorney’s Office and discuss with them all aspects of the investigation into the crash that occurred on August 9, 2014 at the Canandaigua Speedway. At that time, more information relating to any determinations that have been made may be released. In closing, on behalf of the Ontario County Office of Sheriff, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family of Kevin Ward, Jr.”
After Saturday night’s incident at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, Tony Stewart decided to sit out the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International.
According to an update provided by Sheriff Povero, no evidence supports charges against Tony Stewart.
“As we speak, at this time, there are no facts that exist that support any criminal behavior or conduct or probable cause of a criminal act in this investigation,” he said.
Tony Stewart remains undecided on whether he will compete in this weekend’s Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway.
However, all of his “extra-curricular racing plans” have been canceled for the weekend and “won’t resume until further notice”.
Although the fatality occurred in a local-short track race and not a NASCAR event, a senior NASCAR official who spoke on background said the sanctioning body is studying the incident, as it does with accidents and events in other series and even other sports.
The official said that if NASCAR decides to make any changes as a result of the Stewart-Ward accident, they will not be announced until Friday, out of respect for Kevin Ward’s family. Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon and evening, with the funeral Thursday.
Ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has purchased the Los Angeles Clippers for $2 billion after a court cleared the way for the sale.
A Los Angeles judge confirmed Shelly Sterling could sell the basketball franchise over the objections of her estranged husband Donald Sterling.
Donald Sterling, the owner since 1981, was banned from the sport for life after he was recorded making racist remarks.
The $2 billion sale price is the highest ever paid for an NBA team.
“Really excited – in a pretty hardcore way to continue the path to making the Clippers a better and better basketball team, and a better and better citizen of the Los Angeles community,” said Steve Ballmer.
Steve Ballmer has purchased Donald Sterling’s LA Clippers for $2 billion after a court cleared the way for the sale
Steve Ballmer moved quickly after the Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas signed the order authorizing the sale even if Donald Sterling’s lawyers filed an appeal.
“We were ready,” lawyer Adam Streisand said.
“Within minutes, the deal was signed, sealed and delivered.”
LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers had threatened to quit if he remained owner.
Point guard and president of the players association Chris Paul suggested he would sit out and try to convince other players to join him if Donald Sterling continued to own the franchise.
The 80-year-old real estate businessman had fought in court over a deal his wife said he had initially praised.
Richard Parsons will continue as interim chief executive, Steve Ballmer added.
The sale ends Donald Sterling’s run as the longest-tenured owner in the NBA.
Donald Sterling bought the Clippers in 1981, moving the team from San Diego to Los Angeles in 1984.
President Barack Obama has called for calm in Ferguson, Missouri, after the shooting of black teenager Michael Brown by police sparked two nights of violence.
Barack Obama described the death on Saturday of Michael Brown as heartbreaking and added: “Remember this young man through reflection and understanding.”
In two nights of unrest in the St Louis suburb, dozens were arrested, shops looted and tear gas fired by police.
On Tuesday night, anger had turned to reflection at a community forum.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon told a packed crowd at Christ the King United Church of Christ that the shooting felt “like an old wound torn fresh”.
Ferguson’s mayor and police chief also attended the meeting and were greeted with applause.
Barack Obama has called for calm in Ferguson, Missouri, after the shooting of Michael Brown by police sparked two nights of violence
Earlier, the Reverend Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist, appealed for peace.
“To become violent in Michael Brown’s name is to betray the gentle giant he was,” he said, flanked by Michael Brown’s parents.
He said no-one had the right to take Michael Brown’s name and “drag it through the mud”.
Police say Michael Brown was shot several times after a struggle in a police car, but witnesses have said the unarmed Brown was shot when he had his arms raised.
Speaking after around 50 demonstrators marched on the police headquarters, Al Sharpton joined others in demanding police reveal the name of the officer who shot and killed Michael Brown.
“The local authorities have put themselves in a position, hiding names, not being transparent, where people will not trust anything but an objective investigation,” Al Sharpton said.
Police say death threats on social media have prevented them naming the officer, who has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Protests during the day on Tuesday were peaceful if tense, but they came after police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a large crowd in Ferguson the night before.
Police said the crowd threw rocks at officers and there was gunfire coming from the crowd.
Thirty-two people were arrested on Sunday night after people looted shops, vandalized cars and stores, and set a building alight.
The FBI is investigating the shooting and US Attorney General Eric Holder said the case deserved a “fulsome review”. The justice department has also sent its community relations team to the area.
Canada will donate up to 1,000 doses of an experimental Ebola vaccine to help battle the disease’s outbreak in West Africa.
The announcement comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was ethical to use untested drugs on Ebola patients.
However, experts say supplies of both the vaccine, and experimental drug ZMapp are limited and it could take months to develop more supplies.
More than 1,000 people have been killed by the current outbreak.
Canada says between 800 and 1,000 doses of the vaccine, which has only been tested on animals, will be donated to the WHO for use in West Africa.
However, it will keep a small portion of the vaccine for research, and in case it is needed in Canada.
The current outbreak has infected people in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria.
Canada will donate up to 1,000 doses of an experimental Ebola vaccine to help battle the disease’s outbreak in West Africa (photo WHO)
Dr. Gregory Taylor, deputy head of Canada’s Public Health Agency, said he saw the vaccines as a “global resource”.
He said he had been advised that it would make sense for health care workers to be given the vaccine, given their increased risk of contracting the disease.
Even if Canada releases most of its existing doses, experts warn it could take four to six months to make a quantity large enough to have any real impact at preventing the illness.
On Tuesday, the WHO said that in light of scale of the outbreak and high number of deaths, it was “ethical to offer unproven interventions with as yet unknown efficacy and adverse effects, as potential treatment or prevention.”
Last week the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak was a global health emergency.
Liberia says it is getting an experimental drug, ZMapp, after requests to the US government.
However, the WHO said there were only 12 doses.
ZMapp maker Mapp Biopharmaceutical said on Tuesday: “The available supply of ZMapp has been exhausted. We have complied with every request for ZMapp that had the necessary legal/regulatory authorization.
“Drug has been provided at no cost in all cases.”
ZMapp has been used on two US aid workers, Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who have shown signs of improvement, although it is not certain what role the medication played in this.
A Roman Catholic priest, infected with Ebola in Liberia, who died after returning home to Spain is also thought to have been given the drug.
Ebola’s initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external hemorrhaging from areas like eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure. Patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.
Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall has died at the age of 89.
Lauren Bacall’s Hollywood career spanned seven decades, with a memorable debut aged 19 opposite her future husband, Humphrey Bogart, in To Have and Have Not.
More than 50 years later, The Mirror Has Two Faces earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924, Lauren Bacall went on to become one of cinema’s biggest stars, best known for her husky voice and smoldering looks.
A Twitter account of the Bogart estate, run by Lauren Bacall’s son, tweeted: “With deep sorrow, yet with great gratitude for her amazing life, we confirm the passing of Lauren Bacall.”
The legendary actress reportedly died after suffering a major stroke at home in New York.
Lauren Bacall died after suffering a major stroke at home in New York (photo Getty Images)
Lauren Bacall was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2009 in recognition of “her central place in the golden age of motion pictures”.
Born Betty Joan Perske, Lauren Bacall took a variation of her mother’s last name after her parents divorced.
Her first film performance, as the tough and tender dame in To Have and Have Not, became one of the most powerful debuts in film history.
The movie featured her legendary lines: “You don’t have to act with me, Steve. You don’t have to say anything and you don’t have to do anything. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and… blow.”
Lauren Bacall continued her on-screen partnership with Humphrey Bogart in Key Largo, The Big Sleep and Dark Passage after the couple were married in 1945.
They had two children and were married until Humphrey Bogart’s death in 1957. She had another child with her second husband, Jason Robards.
Lauren Bacall appeared in more than 30 movies, including How to Marry a Millionaire and Murder on the Orient Express.
She also acted on stage in New York, winning Tony Awards for best leading actress in a musical in 1970 for Applause and in 1981 for Woman of the Year.
Lauren Bacall won an Academy Award nomination in 1996 for her role opposite Barbra Streisand in The Mirror Has Two Faces.
Casey Kasem’s children are working with law enforcement following a report that his wife, Jean Kasem, is making arrangements to have the radio personality’s body flown to Europe, a publicist for his daughter has confirmed.
Danny Deraney, a publicist for Casey Kasem’s daughter Kerri, told The Associated Press in an email Tuesday that his children are discussing their next steps with authorities.
Jean Kasem is reportedly trying to have Casey Kasem’s body flown to Europe from Montreal (photo Getty Images)
DJ Casey Kasem, the radio host of American Top 40 died on June 15 at a hospital in Gig Harbor, Washington. He was 82 and suffering from dementia.
Casey Kasem’s death followed a lengthy battle over his care between his wife Jean Kasem and his three adult children from his first marriage.
According to TMZ, Jean Kasem is trying to have Casey Kasem’s body flown to Europe, perhaps Oslo, Norway, from Montreal.
Zelda Williams, Robin Williams’ daughter with Marsha Garces, has paid tribute to her father in a touching Instagram post.
The 25-year-old actress shared a quote from Antonie De Saint-Exuprery’s book The Little Prince with her 40, 087 followers.
“You – you alone will have the stars as no one else has them… In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing.
“And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night… You – only you – will have the stars that can laugh.”
Zelda Williams is Robin Williams’ daughter with Marsha Garces (photo Getty Images)
Zelda Williams followed the quote with: “I love you. I miss you. I’ll try to keep looking up. Z.”
Robin Williams’ very last Instagram post was a picture with Zelda on her 25th birthday on July 31.
The actor posted a touching message to his daughter alongside a black and white photo of the pair of them together.
“#tbt and Happy Birthday to Ms. Zelda Rae Williams! Quarter of a century old today but always my baby girl. Happy Birthday @zeldawilliams Love you!”
Robin Williams was found dead at his California home after committing suicide.
An investigation into the cause and circumstances of the death is currently underway by the Investigations and Coroner Divisions of the Sheriff’s Office, officials said.
Susan Schneider, Robin Williams’ wife of three years, was sleeping in a nearby bedroom at the moment of his suicidal act, the police confirmed.
Robin Williams, 63, was not discovered until the following morning by his personal assistant, after Susan Schneider had left the house to run some errands, believing her husband to still be asleep.
During a police press conference earlier today, Marin County sheriff’s department Lt. Keith Boyd, said that Robin Williams had been last seen at around 10.30 PM on Sunday night by his third wife, Susan Schneider, at their home before she went to bed.
Susan Schneider was Robin Williams’ wife since 2011 (photo Getty Images)
It was not confirmed by the police that it was a normal arrangement for the couple to sleep separately, but the Lt. Keith Boyd said that Susan Schneider did not know what time Robin Williams had gone to bed, and his body was discovered in a separate room in the house.
Susan Schneider returned to the family home shortly after emergency personnel arrived at the house, where they pronounced Robin Williams dead at 12:02 local time. Police officials said that Susan Schneider was made aware of Robin Williams’ death prior to returning to their home.
Police would not confirm if a suicide note was found at the scene, but did say they were carrying out a toxicology report for which results could take up to six weeks.
Susan Schneider paid loving tribute to her ”husband and my best friend” saying: “This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings.
“I am utterly heartbroken. On behalf of the Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief.
“As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he game to millions.”
Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick were robbed in Southampton, New York, last month, Us Weekly reported.
Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick were robbed in Southampton (photo Getty Images)
According to Southampton Town Police, $4,000 in cash was taken from a briefcase belonging to Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick.
Kourtney Kardashian, 35, and Scott Disick, 31, have been dating since 2007, are the parents to Mason, 4, and Penelope, 2.
The couple have been spending time in the Hamptons this summer while members of the Kardashian family film the reality program Kourtney and Khloe Take the Hamptons.
Robin Williams took his own life at his California home, police have confirmed.
Marin County Sheriff’s Lt. Keith Boyd said Robin Williams, 63, had been treated for depression and killed himself by hanging.
Robin Williams was last seen alive by his wife, Susan Schneider, on Sunday evening, and was found dead at about noon on Monday, August 11, Lt. Keith Boyd said.
Robin Williams had been treated for depression and killed himself by hanging (photo Getty Images)
Tributes have poured forth from President Barack Obama and others.
Keith Boyd said Susan Schneider saw Robin Williams before she went to bed the evening before and left the house at 10:30 the next morning, believing him still to be asleep in another room.
Just before noon California time, Robin Williams’ personal assistant became concerned when he did not respond to knocks on the door, Keith Boyd said. The assistant entered the room and found the actor dead and cool to the touch.
After a post-mortem examination on Tuesday morning, investigators determined the preliminary cause of death to be asphyxia by hanging, but officials were waiting on the results of toxicology testing before making a final ruling.
Archaeologists have made an important discovery by unearthing a burial site at the ancient city of Amphipolis, in north-eastern Greece, after two years of excavations.
Their discovery has been praised by Greek PM Antonis Samaras as an “extremely important find”.
Experts believe the Amphipolis tomb belonged to an important figure dating back to the last quarter of the 4th Century BC.
A large mound complex has been unearthed at the Kasta hill site in the past two years.
Lead archaeologist Katerina Peristeri said it certainly dated from after the death of Alexander the Great.
Experts believe the Amphipolis tomb belonged to an important figure dating back to the last quarter of the 4th Century BC (photo Getty Images)
“The land of Macedonia continues to move and surprise us, revealing from deep within its unique treasures,” Antonis Samaras said while visiting the mound complex on Tuesday.
Other ancient sites have been found in the Macedonia region of northern Greece, principally the Vergina tomb of Alexander’s father, Philip II, which was unearthed in 1977.
There has been widespread speculation that a prominent figure in ancient Macedonia may have been buried at Kasta hill, 370 miles north of Athens.
The burial mound is 1,600ft long and constructed with marble imported from the nearby island of Thassos and there are suggestions it was built by the renowned architect, Dinocrates, who was a friend of Alexander’s.
Katerina Peristeri has in the past spoken of key historic events in the area involving some of Alexander’s generals.
Alexander’s widow Roxana and their son Alexander were murdered in 311BC by Cassander, who came to the fore after Alexander the Great’s death in Babylon in 323BC.
A lion statue found at the site has been erected close to where it was discovered at Amphipolis, which was originally an Athenian colony but later conquered by Philip II.
There a handful of Ebola drugs that have been shown to work well in animals.
One is ZMapp – the drug requested by the Liberian government to treat infected doctors. This contains a cocktail of antibodies that attack proteins on the surface of the virus.
Only one drug has moved onto early safety testing in humans. Known as TKM-Ebola this interrupts the genetic code of the virus and prevents it from making disease causing proteins.
There a handful of Ebola drugs that have been shown to work well in animals
TKM-Ebola was trialed in healthy volunteers at the beginning of 2014 but the American medicines regulator asked for further safety information. The manufacturer says human studies may soon resume.
Another option would be to use serum from individuals who have survived the virus – this is a part of the blood that may contain particles able to neutralize the virus.
Vaccines to protect against acquiring the Ebola disease have also been shown to work in primates.
The US authorities are considering fast-tracking their development and say they could be in use in 2016. Trials are likely to start soon, according to the World Health Organization.
However, experts warn ultimately the only way to be sure a drug or vaccine is effective is to see if it works in countries affected by Ebola.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that untested drugs can be used to treat patients infected with the Ebola virus.
The WHO said it was ethical in light of the scale of the outbreak and high number of deaths – more than 1,000 people have died in West Africa.
The statement was made after its medical experts met in Switzerland on Monday to discuss the issue.
However, officials warned there were very limited supplies of potential treatments.
The WHO said where experimental treatments are used there must be informed consent and the results of the treatment collected and shared.
The WHO says it is ethical to use untested drugs to treat patients infected with the Ebola virus
In a statement, it said: “In the particular circumstances of this outbreak, and provided certain conditions are met, the panel reached consensus that it is ethical to offer unproven interventions with as yet unknown efficacy and adverse effects, as potential treatment or prevention.”
However, the organization conceded there were still many questions to be answered including how data could be gathered effectively while the focus remained on providing good medical care.
It was also unclear where the funding for the treatment would come from.
Last week the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak was a global health emergency.
The move came as Liberia said it was getting an experimental drug, ZMapp, after requests to the US government.
The WHO said there were only 12 doses.
ZMapp has been used on two US aid workers, Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who have shown signs of improvement, although it is not certain what role the medication played in this.
A Roman Catholic priest, infected with Ebola in Liberia, who died after returning home to Spain is also thought to have been given the drug.
However, the drug has only been tested on monkeys and has not yet been evaluated for safety in humans.
There is no cure for Ebola, which has infected at least 1,779 people since the outbreak was first reported in Guinea in February.
The Liberian government said it was aware of the risks associated with ZMapp, but the alternative was to allow many more people to die.
Health officials in Denmark say they suspect that pork sausage contaminated with listeria bacteria has killed at least 12 people.
The infection is thought to have come from pork sausages called Rullepoelse, made by a food company in Hedehusene, near the capital Copenhagen. The product has now been withdrawn from sale.
So far eight other people have tested positive for listeria.
Health officials in Denmark say they suspect that pork sausage contaminated with listeria bacteria has killed at least 12 people
Deaths occur mostly among people who are already in a weak condition. The outbreak began last September.
Denmark’s state health agency SSI says the outbreak is believed to be under control.
Health officials are trying to determine if any of the contaminated meat was sent to schools or restaurants, or was exported.
Listeria symptoms often include fever, headache, diarrhea and vomiting. The incubation period can last two months, making it often difficult to trace the source of contamination.
Listeria can spread from delicatessen food even when kept cool in a refrigerator.
Ukraine has set conditions for receiving Russian aid in the east, after a huge convoy of food and medicine set off from outside Moscow.
Security council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the Russian aid should pass through a government-controlled border post and be accompanied by Red Cross officials.
There are Western concerns that Russia is using humanitarian assistance as a pretext to invade eastern Ukraine.
At least 1,500 have died since Ukraine sent troops against pro-Russia rebels.
Ukraine has set conditions for receiving Russian aid in the east, after a huge convoy of food and medicine set off from outside Moscow
The fighting in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since mid-April has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have fled to Russia.
The Red Cross says it still needs more security guarantees and information about the aid convoy.
Almost 300 trucks of humanitarian aid left the Moscow area bound for Luhansk on Tuesday morning.
Russian TV showed the cargo, said to include hundreds of tonnes of grain, baby food and medicine, which will go to civilians trapped by fighting in the area held by pro-Russia rebels.
Media reports said the cargo left from a point south-west of Moscow. It is expected to arrive at the Ukrainian border in the next two days.
“The convoy will deliver to the residents of eastern Ukraine about 2,000 tonnes of humanitarian cargo, collected by the residents of Moscow city and region,” Moscow region officials said.
Andriy Lysenko said Ukraine had three conditions for receiving the aid:
That it should pass through a border post controlled by Ukrainian government guards
That it should be accompanied by Red Cross representatives
That a decision should be made about the amount being sent, its destination and route. [youtube Gd2nMyqLHz8 650]
Fox News host Shepard Smith branded Robin Williams “a coward” just hours after he was found dead in his California home in an apparent suicide.
Discussing the actor’s legacy, Shepard Smith described his death as “cowardly”, citing a quote from Robin Williams in which the actor described his children as an inspiration.
“One of the children he so loved, one of the children grieving tonight because their father killed himself in a fit of depression,” Shepard Smith said.
“You could love three little things so much, watch them grow, they’re in their mid-20s, and they’re inspiring you, and exciting you, and they fill you up with the kind of joy you could never have known.”
Fox News host Shepard Smith branded Robin Williams “a coward” just hours after he was found dead in his California home in an apparent suicide (photo Getty Images)
“And yet, something inside you is so horrible or you’re such a coward or whatever the reason that you decide that you have to end it. Robin Williams, at 63, did that today.”
Shepard Smith then claimed Robin Williams “probably had more fun most people I’ve ever known” before moving on to a segment about recreational drugs.
The anchor’s comments sparked a strong reaction on social media with some viewers accusing him of being insensitive and lacking sympathy towards Robin Williams who had been battling with depression.
Shepard Smith later issued an apology for his poor choice of words, adding that he did not mean to call Robin Williams a “coward” and used the word “innocently” in the hour-long TV special dedicated to his career.
Robin Williams, 63, had recently checked into the Hazelden Addiction Treatment Centre to “find tune and focus”.
“The last thing I would ever suggest about a man I know nothing about personally, is that he’s a coward,” Shepard Smith told TVNewser.
“That goes against everything I am. If those words, I used so innocently, offended his family, from the bottom of my heart, I could not be more sorry.”
