James Gandolfini died after he suffered a heart attack in his hotel room in Italy on Wednesday night, and doctors battled for 40 minutes to save him.
Medical staff rushed to Hotel Boscolo in Rome after James Gandolfini’s 13-year-old son found his father suffering the attack in their bathroom around 10 p.m. on Wednesday.
James Gandolfini died after he suffered a heart attack in his hotel room in Italy on Wednesday night
James Gandolfini was taken by ambulance to Policlinico Umberto I hospital where he was pronounced dead. The actor, best known for his role as Tony Soprano in HBO series The Sopranos, was just 51.
“The resuscitation maneuvers, including heart massage etc., continued for 40 minutes and then, seeing no electric activity from the heart, this was interrupted and we declared James dead,” said emergency room chief Claudio Modini.
“The patient was considered dead on arrival, and for that reason an autopsy has been requested to be carried out by a pathologist, as is normal procedure in our country.”
Big Brain is the first high-resolution 3D digital model of the human brain created by a research team.
The reconstruction shows the brain’s anatomy in microscopic detail, enabling researchers to see features smaller than a strand of hair.
Big Brain will be made freely available to neuroscientists to help them in their research.
The model has been published in the journal Science.
The research team had to slice 7,400 sections from the brain of a deceased 65-year-old woman, each half the thickness of a human hair.
The team then had to stain each slice to bring out the anatomical detail and scan them into the computer in high definition.
The final step was to reassemble the scanned slices inside the computer.
In all, 80 billion neurons have been captured in this painstaking process which took 10 years to complete.
Big Brain is the first high-resolution 3D digital model of the human brain
The result is a 3D high definition digital brain into which researchers can zoom to study areas of interest in microscopic detail.
One of the researchers involved, Prof. Katrin Amunts from the Julich Research Centre in Germany, said that it was “like using Google Earth. You can see details that are not visible before we had this 3D reconstruction”.
Another member of the team, Prof. Alan Evans of McGill University in Canada, described the achievement as a “technical tour de force”.
Among the neuroscientists who will be using Big Brain is Prof. Paul Fletcher, a psychiatrist at Cambridge University who is scanning the brains of patients to learn more about eating disorders.
Big Brain, he says, goes a “step further” than the best scans he can obtain by enabling him to see details at the level at which brain computations take place.
“We will be able to study the responses seen in people and map it on to an atlas that goes close to the individual layers of the brain’s cortex, to the very cells themselves.”
Big Brain is one among many recent big neuroscience initiatives.
Researchers in the US have recently begun a $38 million Human Connectome Project which involves incredibly detailed scans to show the connections between important areas of the brain.
A few weeks ago President Barack Obama announced a $100 million initiative to map the human brain to help find cures for disorders such as Alzheimer’s.
And the European Union has proposed a billion pound programme that will in effect create a brain from scratch using computer technology.
Solstice, or Litha, means a stopping or standing still of the sun.
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and is celebrated by thousands of pagans across the world. In the northern hemisphere the Solstice usually falls around June 21.
Stonehenge is believed to have been used as an important religious site by early Britons 4,000 years ago
Stonehenge, UK’s ancient monument in Wiltshire, is believed to have been used as an important religious site by early Britons 4,000 years ago.
Recent pagan celebrations at the site began in the 20th Century.
On Litha, the central Altar stone at Stonehenge aligns with the Heel stone, the Slaughter stone and the rising sun to the north east.
Singapore pollution levels reached a new record high for a third day in a row, as smoky haze from fires in Indonesia shrouded the city state.
The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit 401 at 12:00 on Friday – the highest in the country’s history.
The haze is also affecting Malaysia, with another 100 schools closed in the south of the country.
Indonesia has prepared helicopters and cloud seeding equipment to try to tackle the fires.
Singaporean PM Lee Hsieng Loong warned on Thursday that the haze could remain in place for weeks.
“We can’t tell how this problem is going to develop because it depends on the burning, it depends on the weather, it depends on the wind,” he said.
“It can easily last for several weeks and quite possibly it could last longer until the dry season ends in Sumatra which may be September or October.”
A PSI reading above 300 is defined as “hazardous”, while Singapore government guidelines say a PSI reading of above 400 over 24 hours “may be life threatening to ill and elderly persons”.
“Healthy people [may also] experience adverse symptoms that affect normal activity,” the government says.
Singapore pollution levels reached a new record high for a third day in a row, as smoky haze from fires in Indonesia shrouded the city state
The PSI dropped back down to 245 at 14:00, although this is still in the “very unhealthy” range, and above peak levels during the 1997-1998 South East Asian Haze.
Philip Koh, a doctor, told AFP news agency that the number of medical consultations he had had in the past week had increased by 20%.
“My patients are telling me they are worried about how long this is going to last and how much higher this is going to go,” he said.
Singapore’s National Environment Agency has started providing hourly PSI updates on its website, in addition to the three-hourly updates it previously provided.
Around 300 schools in southern Malaysia have now been closed as a result of the smog. Schools in Singapore are currently closed for the holidays.
There are also reports of flight delays in both Singapore’s Changi airport and Riau province in Indonesia.
The fires are caused by illegal slash-and-burn land clearance in Sumatra, to the west of Singapore.
The smog has strained diplomatic relations between Singapore and Indonesia – two countries that usually share good relations.
PM Lee Hsieng Loong said Singapore had provided satellite date to Indonesia to help it identify companies involved and said that if any Singapore firms were involved, that would be addressed.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency said it would deploy two helicopters to conduct “water-bombing” operations, as well as planes with cloud seeding equipment.
Reports say around 100 Indonesian firefighters are attempting to put out the fires in Sumatra.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said “all the country’s resources” would be mobilized to extinguish the fires.
Most Asian markets have fallen again as investors continue to react to news that the Federal Reserve could begin to scale back its stimulus programme.
South Korea’s main index dropped 1.5% while Australia’s lost 0.4%. However, Japan’s Nikkei reversed early losses.
The indexes in Shanghai and Hong Kong were down more than 2% in early trade but pared losses.
On Thursday in the US, the Dow Jones share index fell 2.3% – its biggest drop this year.
The Fed has been trying to support the weak US economy by buying bonds at a rate of $85 billion a month, under a policy known as quantitative easing (QE).
However, on Wednesday, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke said that if the US economy continued to show sign of improvement the central bank could start to slow down its bond purchases as early as this year and end the programme next year.
Most Asian markets have fallen again as investors continue to react to news that the Federal Reserve could begin to scale back its stimulus programme
The excess liquidity in the US has meant a lot of funds have been flowing into emerging markets, especially in Asia.
“Asia has benefited from US capital inflows, partly in relation to QE,” said Mitul Kotecha, from Credit Agricole CIB.
“It has been force-fed with steroids, and now that the steroids are going to be pulled back what will happen is a period of transitional volatility that can continue through summer.”
Currencies in Asia were weak as well against the US dollar, however the weakness in the Japanese yen caused a big reversal in the Nikkei in late trade.
The Nikkei, which had sank more than 2% during the morning trading session, finished 1.7% higher.
A weak yen is good news for Japanese exporters as it makes their goods cheaper overseas and boosts profits that are repatriated back home.
Exporters led the gains with Suzuki Motor jumping nearly 4% and Fast Retailing surging more than 6%.
Brody Jenner is in no rush to meet Kim Kardashian’s baby daughter – or even learn her name.
In fact, Brody Jenner, 29, feels “there is too much responsibility” in being trusted with the name, as he would be sure to let the secret out.
Brody Jenner says there is too much responsibility in being trusted with Kim Kardashian’s baby name
He told Ryan Seacrest that he’s trying to be sensitive to Kim Kardashian after she went into labor five weeks ahead of her due date.
Brody Jenner explained: “It’s so new.
“So I’m going to give her some time and then as soon as she’s ready, I’ll come see her.”
While rumors abound about the name of his new niece, with Kim Kardashian said to be seriously considering both North and Kaidence as possible titles for her child, Brody Jenner claims ignorance.
He admitted: “I don’t want to know!”
Adding light-heartedly: “There is too much responsibility, don’t tell me!”
Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were caught hugging and kissing during a secret reunion in New York this week.
Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were pictured strolling in New York City on Tuesday – just hours after Italian judges ordered them to return to court for a retrial for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher
The tryst has already led to concerns that the couple should not be in contact with each other now they have been recalled for a retrial.
As reported by the Daily Mirror, Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were pictured hugging closely, with Amanda closing her eyes during the warm embrace as Raffaele kissed her cheek.
Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were caught hugging and kissing during a secret reunion in New York this
The meeting has led to rumors that the pair have become romantically involved again. James Terrano, who is reportedly Amanda Knox’s boyfriend, was nowhere to be seen.
As Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito walked and chatted along the street, Amanda’s mother walked behind. One onlooker told the Daily Mirror that the pair looked like a couple who had been together for some time.
He said: “You only have to look at him to see he still holds a huge torch for Amanda.
“They never once stopped chatting. It’s astonishing they are allowed to even talk to each other, let along see one another, considering they are both suspects in a murder trial.”
Amanda Knox declined to comment on the reunion, with Raffaele Sollecito admitting the pair have much to plan.
Hours before their secret reunion on Tuesday, Italy’s high court faulted the acquittal of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito by the appeals court for the murder of Meredith Kercher.
Brazilia’s President Dilma Rousseff has cancelled a planned trip to Japan over continuing mass anti-government protests across the country.
The move is an indication of the seriousness of the situation confronting her, correspondents say.
In the north-eastern city of Salvador, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters ahead of an international football match there.
Big rallies are being staged in Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and other cities.
Demonstrators in Sao Paulo earlier said they would take to the streets “to celebrate” the reversal of a public-transport fare increase announced on Wednesday.
The protests, which were originally triggered by the increase, have since grown into a much wider movement.
Demonstrators are angry at corruption and spending on next year’s World Cup.
Brazilia’s President Dilma Rousseff has cancelled a planned trip to Japan over continuing mass anti-government protests across the country
On Thursday, President Dilma Rousseff’s office announced that her trip to Japan planned for next week had been called off. Another visit to the Brazilian state of Bahia has also been put on hold.
In a statement, the office acknowledged that the decision had been taken as a result of the continuing demonstrations.
President Dilma Rousseff earlier publicly stated that she was proud that so many people were fighting for a better country.
In Salvador on Thursday, clashes erupted when protesters tried to break through a police barrier near the stadium where a Confederations Cup match between Nigeria and Uruguay is due start later. It was not immediately clear if there were any injuries.
Meanwhile, thousands of people are marching in central Rio de Janeiro near the iconic Candelaria Church, but there have been no reports of violence.
The city authorities earlier erected barricades around the state legislature building, which was vandalized during protests on Monday.
The state governor’s office, Guanabara Palace, and the mayor’s office had been secured by police cordons.
A number of Rio shopkeepers had put up wooden hoardings to protect the front of their businesses and some banks have done the same.
In the capital Brasilia, big crowds gathered outside the National Congress building.
Previous Confederations Cup matches have drawn protests, with demonstrators expressing their anger at steep ticket prices and the money spent on the Confederations Cup, the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Newly appointed Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah has offered his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas, government sources say.
It was not immediately clear whether Mahmoud Abbas had accepted the resignation. Sources say Rami Hamdallah quit in a disagreement over his authority.
An academic and political independent, Rami Hamdallah was sworn in on June 6.
Rami Hamdallah replaced Salam Fayyad who stepped down in April after a long-running dispute with President Mahmoud Abbas.
The new prime minister was given two deputies – one for political affairs and one for economic affairs – but resigned because of a “conflict over authority”, reports say.
If Rami Hamdallah’s resignation is accepted, it could leave a damaging gap as the Palestinian leadership grapples with a financial crisis and the US leads efforts to revive peace talks with Israel.
Rami Hamdallah’s cabinet had only met for the first time last week. It consisted mainly of members of the Fatah party, one of the two main Palestinian political factions, led by Mahmoud Abbas.
At the time, commentators observed that the new PM would have little room to manoeuvre in a government dominated by Fatah members.
Newly appointed Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah has offered his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas
The other main faction, Hamas, described the appointment of Rami Hamdallah as “illegal” because it was not a unity government formed as a result of a reconciliation agreement.
When he was appointed, Rami Hamdallah stated his administration would rule only for “a transitional period” until a unity government was formed.
His appointment filled a political vacuum in the Palestinian Authority, but now it appears it has opened up again – and that will be deeply troubling for President Mahmoud Abbas.
Before his appointment as prime minister, Rami Hamdallah had been known for his 15-year tenure as head of the al-Najah National University, and did not have a high profile as a politician.
There has been a deep rift between the two main Palestinian factions since 2007, when Hamas set up a rival government in Gaza after ousting Fatah in clashes.
The two factions are currently engaged in drawn-out reconciliation talks. Last month, officials on both sides announced plans to form a technocratic government by August that would then prepare for new elections.
Vanessa Lachey has revealed that she put on 65 lbs whilst pregnant with her son Camden.
In the nine months since he was born, Vanessa Lachey has since shed the weight.
Vanessa Lachey, 32, says she did not do it with the help of a fad diet or crazed exercise regime.
She says she simply just “let it happen” and that happiness is the key to her healthy lifestyle.
“I gained, I think, 65 pounds when I was pregnant,” Vanessa Lachey said in an interview with HuffPo Live.
“And I will say to moms out there, <<Don’t stress about losing it. It will happen when it happens>>.
Vanessa Lachey has revealed that she put on 65 lbs whilst pregnant with her son Camden
“Cam’s 9 months, so it’s been a minute, and we’re working, and we’re traveling, and it’s just about maintaining a happy, healthy lifestyle, not obsessing about it.”
Vanessa Lachey stresses that the “get thin quick” tactic is a waste of time and new mothers should more be concentrating on and spending time with their newborns.
“I think that’s one thing I would like to convey to moms everywhere,” she continued.
“It’s not about this <<get skinny quick>> diet or these fads. Just enjoy time being a mom. You’ve just had this wonderful, magical moment, and you shouldn’t be stressing about that kind of stuff.”
But Vanessa Lachey does rave about the slimming effects of Spanx, praising the individual who created them in the process.
“If you’re really worried, Spanx are amazing,” she joked.
“Thank you to the inventor of that.”
Vanessa also took time out in the interview to praise her husband 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey.
“He was born to be a daddy,” she said.
Vanessa Lachey has been in the audience several times when her husband has performed with his boy band 98 Degrees, who are currently on tour with Boyz II Men and New Kids on the Block for The Package Tour.
According to reports, Kim Kardashian can’t wait to get back in the gym and regain her slim figure after giving birth to her baby daughter.
“She’s already looking ahead to when she can exercise again,” a source told Us Weekly.
Another added: “She really wants to get back into shape. It’s important to her.”
Kim Kardashian, 32, was working with trainer to the stars Tracy Anderson throughout her pregnancy, but the publication also claims she is considering hiring Gunnar Peterson.
Gunnar Peterson is responsible for helping Kim Kardashian’s younger sister Khloe, 28, with her recent 25 lbs weight loss.
While she is not able to start exercising just yet, Kim Kardashian is allegedly already watching what she eats.
The magazine claims that the reality star’s hospital room is chock-a-block with flowers but she has insisted well-wishers are not allowed to bring any tasty treats for her to eat.
“She has over 30 bouquets from loved ones,” a source said.
“She told everyone not to bring sweets – she said she doesn’t need any temptations.”
Kim Kardashian can’t wait to get back in the gym and regain her slim figure after giving birth to her baby daughter
It is believed that Kim Kardashian and her daughter, whose name is yet to be revealed, will stay in hospital until the baby, who was born five weeks prematurely, reaches five pounds.
While Kim Kardashian and the little one are getting some rest, the baby’s father Kanye West has apparently been hard at work.
The rapper’s creative juices have been flowing since he welcomed his daughter into the world.
“He’s been really inspired by the birth,” a source told Life & Style.
“He’s written four songs already.”
The insider added that while Kanye West, whose album Yeezus was released on Tuesday, has been busy with his music, he has also been very attentive to his two girls.
“Kanye is actually really being good right now,” the source said.
Kim Kardashian is unsurprisingly enamored with her child and gushed to a friend that the little one “is so cute and sweet”, according to Us Weekly.
But she had a stressful time during the birth over the weekend.
Warned by doctors that she was most likely suffering from the life-threatening condition preeclampsia, Kim Kardashian was forced to deal with going into premature labor on Friday night to save the life of her baby girl.
It has been revealed that Kim Kardashian’s baby name does not start with a “K”.
“They’re not quite ready to announce the name yet,” a source close to the couple tells Us Weekly.
“But the name definitely does not start with a K, despite all the rumors that have been out.”
Kim Kardashian before giving birth
Kim Kardashian, 32, is reported to have just left hospital following the birth of her daughter in the early hours of Saturday morning according to Hollywood Life. And according to reports, Kim Kardashian can’t wait to get back in the gym and regain her slim figure.
“She’s already looking ahead to when she can exercise again,” a source told Us Weekly.
Another added: “She really wants to get back into shape. It’s important to her.”
James Gandolfini was on a boys trip with his teenage son Michael when he died of a suspected heart attack in Italy on Wednesday.
Actor and friend Gilles Marini wrote a post on his Facebook page paying tribute to James Gandolfini revealing that the 51-year-old actor was on a “boy trip” in Rome with his son Michael.
James Gandolfini was on a boys trip with his teenage son Michael when he died of a suspected heart attack in Italy
Gilles Marini wrote: “I am heartbroken. My bud James Gandolfini just died. Last Saturday he told me at our kids graduation ghat (sic) he was so happy to go with his son to Italy. A boy trip!”
He added: “It was an honor to have met this man, such a great Dad! I spent so much time with James son teaching him soccer. I feel for that kid it must be so hard right now for little Michael.”
James Gandolfini had son Michael with his ex-wife Marcy Wudarski, from whom he was divorced in December 2002.
The actor is survived by his second wife Deborah Lin and their nine-month-old daughter Liliana Ruth and Michael.
At least seven people have been injured in a stampede in China, which happened when David Beckham arrived at Shanghai Tongji University.
Witnesses said about 1,000 fans rushed forward, as former England star David Beckham arrived and waved to them.
Retired David Beckham, 38, was there to meet members of the university team, as an ambassador to the Chinese Super League.
At least seven people have been injured in a stampede in China, which happened when David Beckham arrived at Shanghai Tongji University
Fans pushed through a police cordon, and students, police and university security guards were injured.
Chu Dan, a Tongji University player, described the situation as “too crazy”.
“We didn’t expect so many people showing up here. Too many fans of Beckham,” he said.
The event was subsequently cancelled and Shanghai police said they would investigate.
A post from David Beckham, on the popular Chinese social media site Weibo, wished the injured speedy recoveries and expresses regret for the cancellation.
The retired footballer is in China on a seven-day promotional tour for the country’s top football league.
David Beckham began his new role as “image ambassador” when he announced his retirement from professional football, having won the French league title with his team, Paris Saint-Germain.
Global markets have fallen sharply after the Federal Reserve signaled it may begin to scale back its stimulus of the US economy later this year.
European stock markets were down 3% or more by the close, as US markets fell a further 1.5% at their open.
Other risky investments, such as bonds and commodities also fell, with short-term cash offering the only safe haven.
The dollar rose as markets anticipated US interest rates rising sooner than had been thought, while the yen fell.
The markets were spooked after Fed chairman Ben Bernanke said that if the central bank’s forecasts were correct, it could begin slowing down its “quantitative easing” programme of asset purchases by the end of 2013, and wind them down completely by the middle of 2014.
The end of the asset purchase programme would mark a return to the use of interest rates as the monetary policy weapon of choice.
The Fed has been buying bonds at a rate of $85 billion a month, but believes it may be able to scale this back as the US economy recovers and end the programme next year.
The Fed has kept short-term interest rates in a range between zero and 0.25% since December 2008.
Although they are expected to remain close to zero for at least a couple more years, Ben Bernanke’s comments raised market expectations that the short-term cost of borrowing would rise sooner than had previously been thought.
Ben Bernanke emphasized that the programme was tied to how well the US economy, and in particular the US jobs market, was doing.
However, his comments led to a widespread equity sell-off in the US late on Wednesday, with US markets down 1%.
The rest of the world followed suit on Thursday, with the market slide gaining momentum, with US markets falling further after they reopened.
The latest market sell-off continues a steady decline in share prices worldwide over the last month.
It repeats similar market sell-offs at the same point in the interest rate cycle in 2003 and in 1993-94 when investors started to anticipate a return to interest rate rises.
The expectation of rising interest rates also infected bond markets, which normally provide a safe haven from falls in the stock market.
Global markets have fallen sharply after the Federal Reserve signaled it may begin to scale back its stimulus of the US economy
The 10-year US Treasury bond fell sharply in price on Wednesday, causing its yield – the yearly return earned by investors and the implied cost of borrowing of the US government – to rise from 2.19% to 2.35%. On Thursday morning, the rate crept higher to 2.38%.
Borrowing costs also rose in other countries – particularly for debtors deemed by markets to be riskier, including recession-hit southern European countries such as Spain and Italy.
Even the yield on super-safe German government bonds edged higher, in part due to the widely perceived unwillingness of the European Central Bank to cut eurozone interest rates.
Investors have also been rattled by events in China, where the country’s economy appears to be slowing sharply, and its banking system is experiencing severe stress as the Chinese central bank seeks to rein in what the authorities increasingly see as the excessive and opaque lending of recent years.
With the central bank unwilling to make cheap loans easily available, the interest rate at which Chinese banks were willing to lend to each other overnight jumped to an unprecedented annualised 30% on Thursday.
The double-digit, reminiscent of the 2008 Western financial crisis, may imply a collapse of confidence in the interbank market as well as an unwillingness of the central bank to accommodate the banks.
There are widespread fears that the state-owned banks may be facing heavy losses on the glut of loans they rushed out over the last five years in order to keep the Chinese economy afloat despite the stagnation of its main Western export markets.
Evidence that both the US and Chinese central banks were taking their foot off the economic accelerator also depressed global commodities market.
China is the dominant consumer of many of the world’s raw materials, particularly industrial metals, iron ore and other materials used in its construction boom.
The price of copper futures – a bellwether of Chinese demand – fell 2.4% and threatened to break through lows set in April.
The prospect of higher interest rates in US dollars also translated into a stronger US currency.
All major currencies fell against the dollar, as did the price of precious metals.
Gold resumed its rout of recent months, dropping another 6% on Thursday. It is now down 28% since the apparent bubble in the metal burst in October.
The price of silver – the more volatile of the two – fell 6.4%.
The metals have proved popular among investors who fear that the Fed’s money printing would eventually result in sharply rising prices – something that has as yet failed to materialize.
However, they failed to enjoy their traditional safe haven role in the current market turbulence – a role that has instead been usurped by US dollar cash.
James Gandolfini died last night after he was discovered having a heart attack in his hotel bathroom in Rome by his teenage son, Michael, it emerged today.
James Gandolfini was on vacation in Rome with Michael, 13, as well as his wife Deborah and baby daughter Liliana, nine months, and had apparently been hoping to “reconnect with his Italian roots” before attending the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily.
After a day out with the family, James Gandolfini, 51, had a heart attack in his bathroom at the Hotel Boscolo and was found by Michael, who raised the alarm and called the hotel reception, according to the hotel manager.
His Sopranos colleagues have led tributes from the showbiz world, with the show’s creator David Chase who compared him to Mozart, praising him as “one of the greatest actors of this or any time”.
When paramedics arrived to take James Gandolfini to hospital, they found him lying on the bathroom floor, according to hotel owner Antonio D’amore.
James Gandolfini was taken to Policlinico Umberto I at 10.20 p.m., and was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. when efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful, according to Dr. Claudio Modini, head of the hospital’s emergency room.
An autopsy on his body will take place today, as is required by Italian law.
James Gandolfini died last night after he was discovered having a heart attack in his hotel bathroom in Rome by his teenage son, Michael
Mario Sesti, director of the film festival which the star was due to attend this weekend, claimed that James Gandolfini was excited by his Italian vacation because of his family’s link to the country.
“He was so happy to be in Italy, to reconnect with his Italian roots, and he was very excited to come here and receive this award,” Mario Sesti told USA Today.
James Gandolfini was born and brought up in New Jersey, but both his parents were Italian.
The Taormini Film Festival will host a tribute to the actor in place of a round-table discussion which James Gandolfini had agreed to take part in.
James Gandolfini and his family had spent a “beautiful day out together” in Rome before his tragic passing, according to the actor’s assistant, Tom Richardson.
According to Mike Sullivan, a close friend of James Gandolfini’s, Tom Richardson told him: “When they got back to the hotel, Jimmy went to use the restroom. And something happened in there.
“His sister said he was alive when they took him out in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.”
James Gandolfini’s first wife Marcy Wudarski, Michael’s mother, is said to have immediately booked a flight to Italy to comfort her son after learning of the actor’s death.
Marcy Wudarski and James Gandolfini were married for three years until they divorced in 2002.
James Gandolfini’s second wife, former model Deborah Lin, was with the star in Italy along with their daughter Liliana.
Deborah Lin and James Gandolfini married in Hawaii in 2008, and Liliana was born last October. After his daughter’s birth, James Gandolfini said he was “thrilled” to become a father for the second time.
James Gandolfini rose to fame playing a hitman in the 1993 film True Romance, and roles in films such as Terminal Velocity and Get Shorty followed.
However, it was not until his breakout role in 1999 in the hit television show The Sopranos that he became a household name.
James Gandolfini played the powerful mob boss Tony Soprano, whose stressful gangster and family life left him needing to visit a psychiatrist, played by Lorraine Bracco.
His compelling portrayal of the ruthless mob boss who suffered from panic attacks saw him win three Emmy Awards for the role.
The character apparently died in the series finale, although the audience was never shown the moment of his death, with the screen just fading to black instead.
Speaking to Vanity Fair about the ending, James Gandolfini said: “What the f***? I mean, after all I went through, all this death, and then it’s over like that?”
James Gandolfini’s managers Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders paid tribute to the star, saying in a statement: “Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply. He and his family were part of our family for many years and we are all grieving.”
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is trying to arrange a deal that would see US surveillance programme leaker Edward Snowden granted asylum in Iceland.
Julian Assange said he had been in touch with lawyers for Edward Snowden, who fled to Hong Kong before the scandal broke.
Iceland’s PM said “informal discussions” had been held with an intermediary of ex-CIA contractor Edward Snowden.
But Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson said Edward Snowden would need to be in Iceland to apply for asylum.
Edward Snowden, 29, who most recently worked as a contract computer technician for the National Security Agency (NSA), the US electronic spying agency, has vowed to fight any extradition attempts by the US.
The US has yet to file a formal request for his extradition from the Chinese territory.
The leaks, published in a series of articles this month in The Guardian and Washington Post newspapers, revealed that US agencies had systematically gathered vast amounts of phone and web data.
“We are in touch with Mr. Snowden’s legal team and have been, are involved, in the process of brokering his asylum in Iceland,” said Julian Assange in a conference call from the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he himself is fighting extradition to Sweden.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is trying to broker a deal that would see Edward Snowden granted asylum in Iceland
On Monday, Edward Snowden said US officials had destroyed any possibility of a fair trial by labeling him a traitor.
“The US government, just as they did with other whistleblowers, immediately and predictably destroyed any possibility of a fair trial at home, openly declaring me guilty of treason,” he wrote in a live online chat.
Former Vice-President Dick Cheney and two influential members of the US Congress have accused Edward Snowden of betraying his country.
Edward Snowden’s father has also urged his son not to commit “treason”, using a US TV interview this week to urge him to come home and “face justice”.
NSA Director General Keith Alexander told Congress on Wednesday that surveillance programmes leaked by Edward Snowden had helped thwart 50 attacks since 2001.
Plans to attack the New York Stock Exchange were among 10 plots targeting the US that had been stopped, Keith Alexander told the intelligence committee of the House of Representatives, adding that the snooping operations were critical.
Julian Assange walked into the Ecuadorean embassy in London on 19 June 2012 when his appeal against extradition to Sweden for questioning on accusations of sex crimes was turned down.
He has always denied the accusations, and said on Wednesday he would stay in the embassy even if they were dropped, as he still feared being sent to the US for releasing secret documents.
Wikileaks made headlines around the world in 2010 after it released more than 250,000 leaked US diplomatic cables.
Johnny Depp opened up about his split from Vanessa Paradis, his former partner of 14 years with whom he has two children, admitting the break-up last June “wasn’t easy” on anyone.
Johnny Depp, 50, told Rolling Stonemagazine: “The last couple years have been a bit bumpy. At times, certainly unpleasant, but that’s the nature of breakups, I guess, especially when there are kiddies involved.
“Relationships are very difficult. Especially in the racket that I’m in because you’re constantly away or they’re away and so it’s hard. It wasn’t easy on her. It wasn’t easy on me. It wasn’t easy on the kids. So, yeah. The trajectory of that relationship – you play it out until it goes, one thing leads to another.
“So for whatever reason that ceases, it doesn’t stop the fact that you care for that person, and they’re the mother of your kids, and you’ll always know each other, and you’re always gonna be in each other’s lives because of those kids. You might as well make the best of it.”
Johnny Depp admits Vanessa Paradis break-up last June “wasn’t easy” on anyone
Johnny Depp, who was famed for his tumultuous making and breaking up with British model Kate Moss, says he handled his relationship meltdown with more maturity this time round.
He said: “In terms of the breakup, I definitely wasn’t going to rely on the drink to ease things or cushion the blow or cushion the situation.
“Cause that could have been fatal. I felt it was my duty to be real clear throughout that. I had something pretty serious to focus on, really, which was making sure that my kids were gonna be cool.”
And he added that his children are doing well.
“They’ve been incredibly understanding, incredibly strong throughout the whole ordeal. And it’s hard on every side. You know, Vanessa’s side, certainly not easy. My side, not easy. The kids are the most complicated,” Johnny Depp explained.
“The thing is, kiddies come first. You can’t shield them, because then you’d be lying. So you can at least be honest with your kids, and you say the absolute truth to your child – that was very important to not pussyfoot around.”
Johnny Depp has revealed the real reason for always wearing tinted glasses, admitting he is “basically blind as a bat” in his left eye.
Johnny Depp, 50, told Rolling Stonemagazine that he has been suffering from eyesight issues from birth, and is forced to rely heavily on his prescription glasses.
Johnny Depp revealed that he has been suffering from eyesight issues from birth, and is forced to rely heavily on his prescription glasses
In addition, Johnny Depp said that he is near-sighted in his right eye, and neither condition can be treated.
The actor explained: “Everything is just very, very blurry. I’ve never had proper vision.”
And while Johnny Depp is able to rely in his glasses in his personal life, when it comes to his film roles it’s more difficult.
In his most famous guises such as Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands and the most recent Tonto in The Lone Ranger, Johnny Depp is forced to go without his glasses while filming – meaning he can only see a few inches in front of him at any one time.
Serena Williams has apologized after reportedly appearing to criticize the victim in high-profile Steubenville rape case.
Rolling Stone magazine quoted world tennis number one Serena Williams as saying the teenager in the Steubenville, Ohio, case “shouldn’t have put herself in that position”.
Serena Williams has now released a statement on her website saying she was “deeply sorry for what was written”.
In March, two high school footballers were convicted of the Ohio rape.
The case, involving a 16-year-old girl, fiercely divided the small town, attracting nationwide media attention.
In an interview posted on Rolling Stone‘s website on Tuesday, Serena Williams was quoted as saying: “I’m not blaming the girl, but if you’re a 16-year-old and you’re drunk like that, your parents should teach you – don’t take drinks from other people.
“She’s 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn’t remember? It could have been much worse. She’s lucky.”
Serena Williams has apologized after reportedly appearing to criticize the victim in high-profile Steubenville rape case
According to Rolling Stone, Serena Williams added that the girl “shouldn’t have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that’s different”.
While not denying she made the statements, Serena Williams appeared on Wednesday to cast doubt on their accuracy.
Serena Williams said in a statement on her website: “What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only 16, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved – that of the rape victim and of the accused.
“I am currently reaching out to the girl’s family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written – what I supposedly said – is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame.
“I have fought all of my career for women’s equality, women’s equal rights, respect in their fields – anything I could do to support women I have done. My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent 16-year-old child.”
Serena Williams, a 16-time Grand Slam champion, is preparing to defend her title at Wimbledon next week.
Brazilian government has failed to halt nationwide protests, despite reversing the public transport fare increases that sparked the unrest.
Crowds blocked main roads in Sao Paulo and Brasilia, and protesters confronted police in Rio de Janeiro state shortly after the U-turn was announced.
Earlier, there were clashes before Brazil’s football team played Mexico in Fortaleza in the Confederations Cup.
Protesters are angry at corruption and high spending on next year’s World Cup.
Activists say they have not changed their intention to hold the biggest demonstrations yet on Thursday.
Hundreds of thousands are expected on the streets there before another round of matches in the Confederations Cup.
The continued protests come after the authorities in the two biggest cities, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, said they would reverse the public-transport fare increases.
Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad said the reversal would be a “big sacrifice” and said other investments would have to be cut.
Brazilian government has failed to halt nationwide protests, despite reversing the public transport fare increases that sparked the unrest
Rio mayor Eduardo Paes made a similar point, saying the lower transport prices would cost the city 500 million reals ($225 million) a year.
The mayors of Cuiaba, Recife, Joao Pessoa and other cities have already announced a reduction in bus fares in response to the protests.
But the protesters were unmoved by the gesture.
“It’s not really about the price [of transport] anymore,” said 18-year-old student Camila Sena, at a protest in Rio de Janeiro’s sister city of Niteroi.
“People are so disgusted with the system, so fed up that now we’re demanding change.”
One demonstration in the city of Belo Horizonte continued for more than 10 hours.
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in the north-eastern city of Fortaleza on Wednesday after at least 30,000 people rallied there.
Clashes erupted when a protest march was stopped by police. Several people were injured, including police officers. Access to the stadium was blocked for at least 30 minutes, but police later allowed people to get in ahead of the game which started at 16:00 local time.
During the protest some demonstrators carried banners reading: “A teacher is worth more than Neymar”, in a reference to Brazil’s star footballer who played and scored against Mexico.
Before the match, Neymar spoke in favor of the protesters, saying in a message on Facebook: “I’m Brazilian and I love my country. I have a family and friends who live in Brazil. For that reason, I want a Brazil which is more just, safer, healthier and more honest.
“The only way I can represent and defend Brazil is on the pitch, playing football. From now on, I will enter the field inspired by this movement.”
Football legend Pele urged demonstrators to end the protests.
“Let’s forget all this commotion happening in Brazil, and let’s remember how the Brazilian squad is our country and our blood,” he said.
The current unrest is the biggest since 1992, when people took to the streets to demand the impeachment of then-President Fernando Collor de Mello.
Vice-President Michel Temer cut short a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories on Wednesday to return to Brazil.
President Dilma Rousseff has said she was proud that so many people were fighting for a better country.
Many of the demonstrators have complained of the huge sums spent on construction for the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, which will be hosted by Rio de Janeiro.
The dilemma for the political leadership is how to answer so many different concerns among a vast group of people with momentum and social media on their side, correspondents say.
Smog in Singapore soared to hazardous levels again on Thursday, prompting government health warnings.
At 13:00 local time Singapore’s pollution standards index (PSI) reached 371, breaking all previous records.
The haze is caused by illegal forest fires in Indonesia’s Sumatra island.
Singapore and Indonesia are to hold an emergency meeting, with Singapore’s environment minister demanding “definitive action” from Jakarta.
Andrew Tan, the chief executive of Singapore’s National Environment Agency, will lead Singapore’s delegation at the emergency meeting, hosted by Indonesia’s foreign ministry in Jakarta.
Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore’s Environment and Water Resources Minister, wrote on his Facebook wall that: “Singaporeans have lost patience, and are understandably angry.”
“No country or corporation has the right to pollute the air at the expense of Singaporeans’ health and wellbeing,” he added.
However, Indonesia’s Minister for People’s Welfare, Agung Laksono, said that Singapore was “behaving like a child”.
“This is not what the Indonesian nation wants, it is because of nature,” he said.
Smog in Singapore soared to hazardous levels again on Thursday, prompting government health warnings
Singapore’s buildings have been obscured by the polluted air and the smell of burnt wood has permeated the city-state.
PM Lee Hsieng Loong has asked Singaporeans to “stay indoors where possible and avoid heavy outdoor activities”.
Air traffic controllers in Singapore have been told to work with extra caution given the poor visibility, while McDonald’s has temporarily cancelled its delivery service.
The Singaporean military has also reportedly suspended all outdoor training.
The poor air quality has prompted widespread buying of disposable face masks, leading shops to run out of stock.
A PSI reading above 200 indicates “very unhealthy” air, while a PSI score above 300 is “hazardous”.
Parts of Malaysia have also recorded “hazardous” pollution levels, with over 200 schools in the country’s south ordered to shut.
Malaysia’s Department of Environment has also banned open burning in some states.
Indonesia’s forestry ministry said it intended to use cloud seeding to try to induce rain on Sumatra, AFP news agency reported.
The fires are started to clear land for plantations.
Indonesian officials have suggested that foreign palm oil investors, including Singaporean companies, may bear some responsibility for the fires.
However, several major Singapore-based palm oil companies have denied any involvement.
In 1997 and 1998, many countries in the region were affected by the South East Asian haze, which was caused by smog from Indonesian fires.
Road and air traffic was disrupted, and reports said the smog made around 20 million people ill.
The haze led to an agreement on transboundary haze pollution being approved by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2002.
However, Indonesia has yet to ratify the agreement.
Actor James Gandolfini, best known for his role as a therapy-seeking mob boss in The Sopranos, has died at the age of 51.
James Gandolfini suffered a possible heart attack while on holiday in Rome, said HBO TV network.
The New Jersey-born star had been in Italy to attend the Taormina film festival in Sicily.
James Gandolfini won three Emmy awards for his role as Tony Soprano, a mafia boss juggling his criminal career and family life.
“It is with immense sorrow that we report our client James Gandolfini passed away today while on holiday in Rome, Italy,” said his managers, Mark Armstrong and Nancy Sanders, in a statement on Wednesday night.
“Our hearts are shattered and we will miss him deeply.”
HBO also said the star of The Sopranos, which ran for six series on the cable channel from 1999-2007, would be “deeply missed”.
“He was a special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person who treated everyone no matter their title or position with equal respect,” said its statement.
“He touched so many of us over the years with his humor, his warmth and his humility.”
James Gandolfini suffered a possible heart attack while on holiday in Rome (Photo: Getty Images)
James Gandolfini was born in 1961 in Westwood, New Jersey, to a school dinner lady and a bricklayer-turned-school caretaker, both of Italian background.
He graduated with a degree in communications from New Jersey’s Rutgers University.
Then he moved to New York, finding work as a bartender and a club manager.
James Gandolfini’s acting career took off in 1992 when he landed a part in a Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire.
His breakthrough role came a year later playing a mobster in the movie True Romance.
James Gandolfini’s more recent film credits included In The Loop, Zero Dark Thirty and Killing Them Softly.
He was nominated for a Tony theatre award in 2009 for his role in the Broadway hit God of Carnage.
James Gandolfini is survived by his second wife, Deborah Lin, a former model from Hawaii, whom he married in 2008, and their daughter, Liliana, born last year.
He also leaves a teenage son, Michael, from his first marriage to Marcy Wudarski, his former personal assistant. They wed in 1999 and split three years later.
The Sopranos creator David Chase said James Gandolfini was a “genius”.
“He is one of the greatest actors of this or any time,” he said.
“A great deal of that genius resided in those sad eyes.”
