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.”
President Barack Obama has led tributes to Robin Williams, who has been found dead, aged 63, in an apparent suicide.
Marin County Police in California said Robin Williams was pronounced dead at his home after officials responded to an emergency call around noon local time.
Robin Williams was famous for films such as Good Morning Vietnam and won an Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting.
His publicist said he had been “battling severe depression”.
President Barack Obama has led tributes to Robin Williams, who has been found dead in an apparent suicide (photo Getty Images)
Barack Obama was one of many offering condolences to Robin Williams’ family saying: “Williams arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit.
“He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most – from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets.”
In the past Robin Williams had talked, and even joked, about his struggles with alcohol and drugs.
The actor had recently returned to a rehabilitation centre to “fine-tune” his sobriety, the Los Angeles Times reported in July.
The local Sheriff’s office said Robin Williams was found unconscious and not breathing at his home near Tiburon, north of San Francisco.
“At this time, the Sheriff’s Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made,” police said in a statement.
South Africa’s Kruger National Park will evacuate hundreds of rhinos to save them from poachers.
The move, which is part of a plan to curb illegal hunts for rhino horn, was announced by the environment minister.
Kruger National Park authorities said they could relocate up to 500 rhinos, which can each weigh more than a tonne.
South Africa is home to more than 80% of Africa’s rhinos. Illegal poaching has risen sharply from 13 in 2007 to 1,004 in 2013.
Environment Minister Edna Molewa said the relocations from the Kruger National Park, coupled with the creation of “rhino strongholds”, could “allow the total rhino population size of South Africa to continue to grow”.
South Africa’s Kruger National Park will evacuate hundreds of rhinos to save them from poachers
“South Africa, with its large rhino populations, has borne the brunt of rhino poaching. We remain confident that our efforts in implementing the integrated strategic approach will build on our successful track record of conserving rhino,” she said.
The rhinos may be moved to other areas of lower poaching rates such as state-owned or private nature parks, areas within the Kruger Park closer to the Mozambique border, or even to neighboring countries, according to the minister.
The new initiative will be supported by the South African government’s Security Cluster to work on tougher penalties for those caught hunting rhinos illegally.
The famed Kruger National Park, which is of a similar size to Wales or Israel, is thought to be home to as few as 8,400 white rhinos.
Park authorities said Kruger was the biggest target for poaching in the region, with more rhinos killed there each year than anywhere else in South Africa.
Although international trade in rhino horn has been illegal since 1977, demand remains high in some Asian countries, where it is used both in traditional medicine and as a symbol of wealth.
The Mrs. Doubtfire sequel is now in doubt after Robin Williams was found dead at his Californian home in an apparent suicide.
Robin Williams, 63, suffered from a severe depression, according to recent reports.
Earlier this year Robin Williams had been meeting with screenwriter David Berenbaum about the sequel to his hit 1993 comedy – in which he played a man who masqueraded as an older female nanny in a bid to get close to his kids – and a second draft was reportedly underway.
Meanwhile, the project’s director Christopher Columbus hailed Robin Williams as a “genius” who he loved working with.
He said in a statement: “We have lost one of our most inspired and gifted comic minds, as well as one of this generation’s greatest actors. To watch Robin work, was a magical and special privilege.
The Mrs. Doubtfire sequel is now in doubt after Robin Williams was found dead at his Californian home in an apparent suicide
“His performances were unlike anything any of us had ever seen, they came from some spiritual and otherworldly place. He truly was one of the few people who deserved the title of <<genius>>.
“We were friends for 21 years. Our children grew up together, he inspired us to spend our lives in San Francisco and I loved him like a brother. The world was a better place with Robin in it. And his beautiful legacy will live on forever.”
Robin Williams had completed four other films before his death, however.
Over the Christmas period, Robin Williams can be seen again as Teddy Roosevelt in Night of the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, which finished production in May and will be released on December 19.
Robin Williams shot comedy Merry Friggin’ Christmas with Wendi McLendon-Covey, Lauren Graham and Oliver Platt and the Joe and Anthony Russo-directed picture will be in cinemas on November 7.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has topped the US and Canada box office, taking $65 million from August 8 to 10, according to studio estimates.
Paramount, the studio behind the action movie, immediately announced plans for a sequel, which will be released in 2016.
Paramount’s Megan Colligan said the movie’s success was due to two different groups – those who remembered the original 1980s and 90s franchise and children who watched the recent Nickelodeon cartoon series.
“It’s odd when you have 25 to 35-year-olds and then seven to 12-year-olds really excited about the same film,” Megan Colligan said.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has topped the US and Canada box office, taking $65 million
“The teen audience was actually the one that wasn’t as familiar with the property, so we put a lot of focus on teens.”
Guardians of the Galaxy dropped to second place, taking $41.5 million.
Into the Storm, starring Richard Armitage, took third place with $18 million.
Disney drama The Hundred-Foot Journey, starring Helen Mirren, was fourth with $11.1 million.
Michael Brown, the black teenager who was fatally shot by police in Missouri, had his hands raised when the officer approached him with his weapon drawn and fired repeatedly, according to two men who said they witnessed the shooting.
The FBI opened an investigation Monday into the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, who police said was shot multiple times Saturday after being confronted by a white officer in Ferguson, a 21,000-resident suburb that’s nearly 70 percent black.
Authorities were vague about exactly what led the officer to open fire, except to say that the shooting was preceded by a scuffle of some kind. It was unclear whether Michael Brown or a man he was with was involved in the altercation.
Investigators have refused to publicly disclose the race of the officer, who is now on administrative leave.
Phillip Walker said he was on the porch of an apartment complex overlooking the scene when he heard a shot and saw a white officer with Michael Brown on the street.
Witnesses say Michael Brown had his hands raised when he was fatally shot by a police officer (photo AP)
Dorian Johnson offered a similar account when he told WALB-TV that he and Michael Brown were walking home from a convenience store when a police officer told them to get out of the street and onto the sidewalk. Dorian Johnson said they kept walking, which caused the officer to confront them from his car and again after getting out of his car.
He said the first time the officer fired, he and Michael Brown got scared and ran away.
“He shot again, and once my friend felt that shot, he turned around and put his hands in the air, and he started to get down,” Dorian Johnson said.
“But the officer still approached with his weapon drawn and fired several more shots.”
“We wasn’t causing harm to nobody,” Dorian Johnson said.
“We had no weapons on us at all.”
Phillip Walker acknowledged that he did not see a scuffle or the circumstances surrounding the first gunshot.
The St. Louis County Police Department refused to discuss Dorian Johnson’s remarks, citing the ongoing investigation. However, county Police Chief Jon Belmar previously said that an officer encountered Michael Brown and another man outside an apartment complex, and that one of the men pushed the officer into his squad car and they struggled over the officer’s weapon.
The FBI is looking into possible civil rights violations arising from the shooting, said Cheryl Mimura, a spokeswoman for the FBI’s St. Louis field office. She said the FBI would be investigating regardless of the public attention surrounding the matter.
Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement that the case deserves a thorough review.
Nearly three dozen people were arrested following a candlelight vigil Sunday night after crowds looted and burned stores, vandalized vehicles, assaulted and threatened reporters, and taunted officers who tried to block access to parts of the city.
ZMapp, the experimental drug given to Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol to fight the Ebola virus, seems to be working, according to health specialists.
The untested drug was developed by San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceuticals.
What we need to know about ZMapp:
1. ZMapp is made from tobacco leaves
ZMapp is made from the leaves of modified tobacco plants, specifically, the Nicotiana benthamiana plant, Bloomberg reported. The tobacco leaves, which typically do more harm than good in regard to human health, help combat the Ebola virus because of the compound that’s created from their modification. The combination of compounds in ZMapp includes a compound called MB-003 and another called ZMAb. MB-003 protected 100% of monkeys exposed to the Ebola virus immediately after exposure. ZMAb provided 100% survival to monkeys one day after exposure. That number decreased to 50% after two days, according to NBC News. Erica Ollmann Saphire, a professor of immunology at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, said that one of the antibodies in the serum helps alert the immune system to the presence of infected cells so they can be destroyed. The other two antibodies seem, “to neutralize the virus,” Prof. Erica Ollman Saphire told WebMD.
ZMapp, the experimental drug given to Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol to fight the Ebola virus, seems to be working
2. ZMapp had never before been tested in humans
The drug had never been tried before in humans with Ebola, but had shown promise in monkeys with the disease. Both Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol knew the drug had never been tested in humans before taking it. Their improving conditions have left researchers optimistic about the effectiveness of ZMapp. Thomas Geisbert, a professor of infectious disease at The University of Texas Galveston Medical Branch, told WebMD: “If we can prove that whatever the treatment was worked, that’s fantastic. That’s exciting. But I’m cautiously optimistic, because with this particular outbreak, almost 40 percent of patients survive without treatment. So we want to make sure that it wasn’t somebody that was going to survive anyway.”
3. ZMapp’s creation was a collaborative effort
ZMapp was the result of collaboration among Mapp Pharmaceuticals, San Diego-based LeafBio, Defyrus in Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, according to Times of San Diego.
Mapp Pharmaceuticals said in a statement: “ZMapp was first identified as a drug candidate in January 2014 and has not yet been evaluated for safety in humans. As such, very little of the drug is currently available. Mapp and its partners are cooperating with appropriate government agencies to increase production as quickly as possible.”
4. ZMapp’s use has raised ethical questions
The use of ZMapp has raised ethical questions regarding who has the right to experimental treatment, Bloomberg reported. Robert Garry, a virologist at Tulane University, told the publication: “There are a lot of Africans that are also dying. If we are going to do it for the Americans then we should certainly step up our game for the Africans.”
Liberia’s assistant health minister, Tolbert Nyenswah, told The Wall Street Journal health officials have become inundated with requests from the families of Ebola patients for ZMapp.
5. Mapp Biopharmaceuticals was part of a group awarded a $28 million grant to fight Ebola
Mapp Biopharmaceuticals was one of several companies and research to be selected for a five-year grant of up to $28 million awarded by the National Institutes of Health in order to fight Ebola, according to The Scripps Research Institute.
Robin Williams has been found dead in an apparent suicide at his California home, aged 63.
Marin County Police in California said he was pronounced dead at his home shortly after officials responded to an emergency call around noon local time.
“Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late,” said the comedian’s spokeswoman Mara Buxbaum.
“This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”
Robin Williams was famous for such films as Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society and won an Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting.
In the past he had talked, and even joked, about his struggles with alcohol and drugs.
Robin Williams had recently returned to a rehabilitation centre to “fine-tune” his sobriety, the Los Angeles Times reported in July.
“At this time, the Sheriff’s Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made,” police said in a statement.
In a statement, Robin Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, said she was “utterly heartbroken”.
“On behalf of 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 gave to millions.”
Robin Williams has been found dead in an apparent suicide at his California home (photo Getty Images)
Robin Williams had three children from previous marriages: son Zachary, 31, daughter Zelda, 25, and son Cody, 22. He married Susan Schneider, his third wife, in 2011.
Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1951, Robin Williams joined the drama club in high school and was accepted into Juilliard School in New York, the prestigious American academy for the arts.
There, he was encouraged by a teacher to pursue comedy.
Robin Williams was first known for his zany portrayal of an alien in the 1970s TV show Mork and Mindy, a character first seen in the sitcom Happy Days.
He was a regular stand-up comedian while continuing to act in such films as Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Mrs. Doubtfire and as the voice of the genie in Aladdin.
While many of his roles were in comedies, Robin Williams won the Oscar in 1998 for best supporting actor as a therapist in Good Will Hunting.
President Barack Obama was one of many offering condolences to his family when he said: “Williams arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit.
“He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most – from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets.”
On August 11, 2014, at approximately 11:55 AM, Marin County Communications received a 9-1-1 telephone call reporting a male adult had been located unconscious and not breathing inside his residence in unincorporated Tiburon, California.
The Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Tiburon Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire Protection District were dispatched to the incident with emergency personnel arriving on scene at 12:00 PM. The male subject, pronounced deceased at 12:02 PM has been identified as Robin McLaurin Williams, a 63 year old resident of unincorporated Tiburon, California.
An investigation into the cause, manner, and circumstances of the death is currently underway by the Investigations and Coroner Divisions of the Sheriff’s Office.
Preliminary information developed during the investigation indicates Mr. Williams was last seen alive at his residence, where he resides with his wife, at approximately 10:00 PM on August 10, 2014.
A forensic examination is currently scheduled for August 12, 2014 with subsequent toxicology testing to be conducted.
Liberia will receive ZMapp, an untested experimental Ebola drug, to treat infected patients, the government announces.
The move came after a request to the US from Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the government said.
The news came as medical ethics specialists met in Geneva to explore the use of such new treatments.
The World Health Organization (WHO), which is hosting the meeting, says some 1,013 have died from Ebola in West Africa.
US government officials said their role had been to put Liberian officials in contact with ZMapp maker Mapp Biopharmaceutical.
The pharmaceutical company said its supply of the drug was exhausted after its supplies were sent to West Africa, AFP news agency reported.
Liberia will receive an untested experimental drug, Zmapp, to treat people infected with Ebola
The drug was “provided at no cost in all cases,” the company added.
ZMapp has been used in the US on two aid workers who have shown signs of improvement, and a Roman Catholic priest, infected with Ebola in Liberia, who is currently being treated in a hospital in Madrid.
However, the drug has only been tested on monkeys and has not been yet evaluatd for safety in humans.
The WHO will announce the outcome of its emergency meeting on the role of experimental drugs on Tuesday.
Earlier, Ivory Coast announced it had banned all passenger flights from the three countries hit the worst by the spread of Ebola: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
It is the second country, after Saudi Arabia, to impose such a ban in a bid to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
There is no cure for Ebola, which has infected at least 1,779 people since the outbreak was first reported in Guinea in February.
Ebola’s initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external haemorrhaging 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.
Meanwhile, China has sent medical supplies worth 30 million yuan ($4.9 million) to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to help fight against the disease.
Separately, the Chinese ambassador to Sierra Leone said on Monday that eight Chinese medical workers who had been treating Ebola patients had been placed in quarantine for the past two weeks in the capital.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, confirmed a 10th case of Ebola on August 11.
Kieran Sorkin, a nine-year-old boy from Hertfordshire, UK, who was born without ears, has had a pair created from his ribs.
Kieran Sorkin had the surgery at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.
His condition is known as microtia.
Kieran Sorkin was born deaf with small lobes where his ears should be. He can already hear, thanks to previous surgery to implant a hearing aid.
“I want people to stop asking me questions,” he said.
“I’d like just to look like my friends.
“I’d also like to be able to wear sunglasses and earphones.”
Kieran Sorkin was born deaf with small lobes where his ears should be (photo YJ News)
Kieran’s mother, Louise Sorkin said: “He’s a very sociable boy and has longed for this operation for years.
“I don’t want children bullying him because he’s different. I just want him to be accepted like everyone else.”
On the morning of the operation, consultant plastic surgeon Neil Bulstrode stencils the shape of Louise Sorkin’s ears.
He said: “When a patient has one ear we can match the new ear to that. Fortunately Kieran’s mum has very pretty ears so that should work well.”
The surgical team remove cartilage from six of his ribs. It is cut, shaped and sewn.
These frameworks are inserted in pockets in the skin and then using suction, they take on the shape of an ear on both sides.
Great Ormond Street Hospital does about 40 of these operations each year, although most of those are to create one missing ear.
The surgery is cosmetic, not to improve hearing. Dr. Neil Bulstrode said it brings huge psychological benefits.
Last year, US scientists implanted a human-like ear, grown from cow and sheep cells, onto a rat.
However, such research is still at its early stages, and for the foreseeable future children needing new ears will benefit from the same procedure used at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Three days after surgery, Kieran Sorkin was given a mirror to look at his new ears.
Kieran Sorkin will need a second operation in six months to make his ears stand out from the scalp more, but he’s already delighted with the result.
Brazilian companies Cutrale and Safra have made a $611 million bid for American banana group Chiquita.
Juice maker Cutrale and conglomerate Safra have offered $13 a share, a 29% premium to Chiquita’s closing share price on Friday.
Chiquita shares jumped 31% in New York after the bid was announced.
Brazilian companies Cutrale and Safra have made a $611 million bid for American banana group Chiquita
The offer rivals the proposed merger between Chiquita and Irish fruit company Fyffes, announced in March. Shares in Fyffes fell 15% in London.
The merger would create the world’s largest banana company worth $1 billion.
However, the two Brazilian companies said their offer “is clearly more favorable to the Chiquita shareholders than the proposed merger with Fyffes”.
According to the United Nations, the global banana market is currently controlled by four companies, Chiquita, Dole Food Company, Fresh Del Monte and Fyffes.
