Water Cooler Chat: From Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus’ split to Jeffrey Epstein’s death

Here's the news you missed over the weekend...

Missed the news this weekend? Don’t sweat it – we’ve got you covered.

Here are some news stories you probably should have heard about to help you survive the dreaded Monday morning ‘water cooler chat’ at the office.

In this Monday’s Water Cooler Chat, we cover everything from Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus’ split to Jeffrey Epstein’s reported suicide and Lady Gaga’s apparent ‘lawsuit’.

Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus’ split

Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus have confirmed their split this weekend, parting ways after just less than a year of marriage.

The couple, who were together for 10 years, released a statement via their representative over the weekend.

‘Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they have decided this is what’s best while they both focus on themselves and careers,’ the statement reads. ‘They still remain dedicated parents to all of their animals they share while lovingly taking this time apart. Please respect their process and privacy.’

Lady Gaga’s reported ‘lawsuit’

Even people who haven’t seen A Star is Born will have heard the song 'Shallow', with it emerging as a top winner over award season - it even won an Oscar.

It was reported this weekend however that Gaga (and her ASIB hit) had been threatened with a lawsuit over a 7-year-old SoundCloud song.

The accuser, Steve Ronsen, claims that the melody of his 2012 song (that received 300 streams when the case was made) was stolen by Gaga, most specifically the hook notes, G, A and B. This hook however - as pointed out by Gaga’s legal team via Page Six appears to be very common.

Flood alerts have been issued across the UK

Following the extreme heatwave that hit the UK last month (39 degrees, people!), further severe weather warnings were issued over the weekend.

After the sun, this weekend saw a lot of heavy rain, with warnings of severe travel disruptions and flooding as a result.

The flooding closed the West Coast mainline between England and Scotland, with trees also causing damage to South East England’s lines, with speed restrictions now put in place. In some parts of the UK, even some people’s homes were left without power over the weekend due to the extreme weather.

Check any transport sites if you have travel booked.

Jeffrey Epstein’s apparent 'suicide'

It was reported on Saturday that multimillionaire businessman Jeffrey Epstein had died in an apparent suicide in a New York prison.

Epstein, a 66-year-old registered sex offender, was being held without bail on charges of sex trafficking girls (some as young as 14), with the financier also making news this month for reportedly using his business relationship with Leslie Wexner, CEO of the L Brands, to take advantage of aspiring Victoria’s Secret models.

Sources told the New York Times that Epstein once even posed as a talent scout for Victoria’s Secret, allegedly assaulting model Alicia Arden when inviting her to his hotel room for an audition.

‘Saturday, August 10, 2019, at approximately 6.30am, inmate Jeffrey Edward Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell … subsequently pronounced dead by hospital staff,’ read the statement from the Metropolitan Correctional Centre.