Here’s our edited roundup of the news stories you need to know about this week – the what, who, where and whens…
ROBIN WILLIAMS MEMORIAL SERVICE
Almost a week since his tragic death, friends and family of the comedic genius Robin Williams are holding a memorial in the San Francisco Bay area.
The Mrs Doubtfire actor committed suicide on August 11 at the age of 63. As well as battling substance abuse, Williams is said to have also struggled with depression and was suffering from early stages of Parkinson’s.
The service will be held by his third wife Susan and three children from his previous marriages – Zak, Zelda and Cody.
A source in the Hollywoodlife.com said: “The last thing he’d want is for his last memory to be a somber one and to have his family, friends, and fans throw him a pity party. Robin would only want his funeral televised if it were filled with laughter and joy.”
COUPLE ARRESTED FOR STEALING FROM ACCOUNTS OF MH370 VICTIMS
A Malaysian bank officer and her husband have been arrested after allegedly stealing more than US$30,000 from four passengers aboard the Malaysian Airlines MH370 flight.
Five months after the plane went missing withdrawals have been taken the accounts of two Malaysian and two Chinese victims.
According to The Mirror the couple where held after a manager noticed suspicious activity in the Kuala Lumpur HSBC branch, where the bank officer worked. It is believed a third suspect, a Pakistani man, was also involved in the theft, receiving part of the money through an online transfer into his account.
The investigation continues.
BILL GATES AMONG CELEBRITIES ACCEPTING ALS ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE
You may have noticed on Facebook people are throwing buckets of ice on themselves and then nominating others to follow suit as part of the ALS Bucket Challenge.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has swept the nation, including Hollywood with celebrities ranging from Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake to Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates drenching themselves in freezing cold water. The challenge is part of a viral campaign to help raise awareness and money for ALS, widely known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Participants can either accept the challenge within 24 hours or make a donation.
STATE OF EMERGENCY IN MISSOURI
The governor of Missouri, Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency and enforced an overnight curfew after disturbances rocked the city of Ferguson following the death of an unarmed teenager.
Protests broke out across the city after Michael Brown, 18, was shot dead on Saturday by an armed officer, Darren Wilson. Bottles were thrown and stores ransacked during the riots with demonstrators demanding action against the police officer involved in the shooting.
“We must have – and maintain – peace,” said Nixon. “The eyes of the world are watching.” The curfew was scheduled to start at midnight and be lifted at 5am, local time.
Most of the protestors are demanding Wilson is arrested with some shouting: “You need to charge that officer with murder… Indict him!”
While Wilson is said to have a blemish-free disciplinary record, The FBI are now investigating the case.
BOKO HARMA NOW KIDNAPPING BOYS
Having already kidnapped over 270 Nigerian girls, Boko Haram militants have now abducted dozens of boys and men from villages in Northwest Nigeria.
It is claimed around 100 people are missing after militants raided the Doron Baga village, loading victims into trucks and killing those who refused.
One witness said: “They left no men or boys in the place; only young children, girls and women. They were shouting ‘Allah Akbar’ (God is greatest), shooting sporadically. There was confusion everywhere. They started parking our men and boys into their vehicles, threatening to shoot whoever disobeyed them. Everybody was scared.”
It is believed the girls, originally kidnapped from the village of Chibok, are being used as sex slaves while the men will be forced to fight in their army.
According to Sky News: “Boko Haram is fighting to reinstate a medieval Islamic caliphate in religiously mixed Nigeria.”
BARBIE GETS DESIGNER MAKEOVER
It’s been a busy year for Mattel’s Barbie. Not only did she get an aspirational career upgrade with the launch of the Entrepreneur Barbie, but now she is having a designer makeover with a variety of sartorial kings and queens creating a new wardrobe for the doll.
American brands including Lord & Taylor, Wildfox and Forever 21 have signed up to create collections inspired by the fashion icon’s wardrobe from the 1950s, 1960s, 1980s and 1990s.
Jessica Dunne, Mattel’s general manager and senior vice president, told WWD: “We really wanted to make sure that we put together consumer approaches that reached all ages.”
The collection will be available from September 6.
