Here’s our edited roundup of the news stories you need to know about this week – the what, who, where, why and the whens…
ACTOR TRACY MORGAN IN CRITICAL CONDITION
Comedian and 30 Rock star, Tracy Morgan is in critical condition after his limo bus was over-turned in a six-car pile up on a New Jersey highway.
The 45-year-old actor, who is now in intensive care, was travelling with six other passengers after performing at Delaware’s Dover Downs Hotel and Casino. The collision, involving two tractor-trailers, a SUV and two cars, killed one of Tracy’s fellow passengers. A truck driver has been charged with death by auto.
Tracy has four children, three with his former wife Sabina Morgan and one with Megan Wollover.
BANKSY EXHIBITION AT SOTHEBY’S LONDON
Never seen-before works by infamous street artist Banksy will go on display at Sotheby’s London ahead of a private auction.
The Unauthorised Retrospective opens on June 11 with around 70 items from sculptures to oils and prints going on display. Prices are said to range from Dhs23,200 to more than Dhs2.9 million.
Curator Steve Lazarides said: “It’s an unauthorised exhibition – [Banksy] has nothing to do with it apart from the fact he painted all the paintings, of course.”
The exhibition is free to the public and runs until July 25.
MICK JAGGER ALLEGEDLY DATING AGAIN
It has only been 11 weeks since his girlfriend of 13 years, L’Wren Scott committed suicide, but Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger has been linked to a young woman.
The late designer’s sister has lashed out at the rockstar after he was spotted on the balcony of his hotel room in Zurich with a mystery brunette who appeared to be kissing him.
“These pictures make me really wonder what Mick is thinking and feeling. His daughter says that he is still heartbroken and so devastated about losing my sister,” said L’Wren’s sister Jan Shanem to the Mirror “And then you see these photos he will never change… And people wonder why L’Wren was so depressed?”
Meanwhile a friend came to Mick’s defence suggesting his dalliance with the young beauty was a coping mechanism .The friend said: “Some men drown their sorrow in drink. Mick doesn’t drink much but he drowns his sorrows in women.”
THREE FUGITIVES ESCAPE CANADIAN PRISON IN A HELICOPTER
Like a scene from a movie, three fugitives escaped from Orsainville detention centre in a green helicopter with red and white markings.
Yves Denis, Denis Lefebvre and Serge Pomerleau, who were detained in 2010 for their part in a trafficking investigation, escaped while awaiting trial.
This is the second helicopter-assisted break out in Quebec in just over a year.
MH370 FAMILIES OFFER REWARD TO ENCOURAGE WHISTLEBLOWERS
Family members of those aboard the Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 have put out a US$5 million reward to encourage any insider to come forward and resolve the mystery of the plane’s disappearance.
The families said in a press release that “Reward MH370”, the campaign which launched on the fundraising website Indiegogo, aims to “to encourage a whistleblower to come forward with information.”
MELANIE GRIFFITH AND ANTONIO BANDERAS DIVORCE
Hollywood couple Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas are calling quits on their relationship after 18 years of marriage.
The power-couple insist the split was “in a loving and friendly manner honouring and respecting each other, our family and friends and the beautiful time we have spent together.”
According to TMZ the couple were having trouble a couple of years ago, filing for divorce and citing irreconcilable differences. Yet, the pair have dismissed these rumours.
This will be Melanie’s fourth divorce – previous husbands include Don Johnson (married for six months, then again for five years) and Steven Bauer (married five years). While it will be Antonio’s second – he was previously married to Ana Leza.
It is believed Melanie is filing for sole custody of their daughter Stella, with visiting rights for Antonio. It is also alleged by TMZ that the actress will be seeking finanical support from the Shrek star.
JENNIFER LOPEZ SPLITS FROM TOYBOY AFTER AFFAIRS
It seems another one bites the dust, with actress-cum-singer Jennifer Lopez dumping her boyfriend of two years, Casper Smart.
The news will hardly come as a surprise after it is alleged that Casper cheated on Jenny from the block, who is 17 years his senior, with two transgender models.
While the split may have marked the end of 27-year-old’s back up dancing career with Jennifer, Casper needn’t worry about relying on state handouts with job offers already pouring in, including one by Vivid Entertainment honcho Steve Hirsch to star in an adult movie. It is claimed he is being offered US$200,000 for the role.
RIHANNA 1, TLC 0
When singer Rihanna arrived to the CFDA Awards in little more than strategically placed Swarovski crystals, her bold decision was met with criticism by T-Boz and Chilli from TLC.
The 1990s hit-makers were so outraged by Rihanna’s risqué fashion sense that they decided to voice their opinion on Australian morning show, Sunrise.
“Every time I see you, you don’t have to be naked,” said Chilli. “We became the biggest selling girl group of all time with our clothes on and that says a lot.”
“It’s hard for us to say anything because any time we do, they say ‘Oh TLC must be jealous,’ but I call a spade a spade,” added T-Boz. “At the end of the day the music speaks for itself, you don’t have to take your clothes off if your music is great.”
While Rihanna is renowned for her celebrity arguments on Twitter, the 26-year-old decided to pay this one cool, simply tweeting: “”When there’s no changing the fact that I’m me, and they’re well…they’re them.” The star also changed the banner of her Twitter account to a picture of girl band TLC posing topless, using their hands to cover their assets. Touché, RiRi
ABDUL FATTAH AL-SISI IS EGYPT’S PRESIDENT
Former army chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is to be sworn in as Egypt’s new president after securing 96.9 per cent of the votes in the May elections.
A correspondent at the BBC said: “He inherits a nation that is divided and weary, our correspondent says. Experts warn that if he cannot deliver in the next year or two he could face a mass revolt, like his predecessors.”
THE CIA IS NOW ON TWITTER
The Central Intelligence Agency made its first foray into Twitter last week with a hilarious, and somewhat, thought-provoking tweet.
The CIA’s first tweet, on Friday, simply read: “We can neither confirm nor deny that this is our first tweet.” Within 24 hour the CIA had over 448,000 followers.
While many saw the funny side, Amnesty International responded: “Would be great if @CIA put at least as much effort into following the law as they do into getting Twitter followers.”
