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    1. Celebrity News

    Water Cooler Chat: From the alleged Victoria's Secret scandal to Trump and Boris' friendship update

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

    Jenny Proudfoot's avatar
    By Jenny Proudfoot
    Published 28 July 2019 In Features

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    (Image credit: AFP/Getty Images)
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    Here's the news you missed over the weekend...

    Missed the news this weekend due to the heatwave? 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 the alleged Victoria's Secret scandal to Trump and Boris' friendship update – it’s been an eventful weekend.

    A photo posted by on

    The alleged Victoria's Secret scandal

    It has been reported this weekend that multimillionaire businessman Jeffrey Epstein, a registered sex offender, used his business relationship with Leslie Wexner, CEO of the L Brands, to take advantage of aspiring Victoria’s Secret models.

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    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.

    ‘His weapons were his hands,’ Arden reportedly stated, filing a police report after the incident.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    An L Brands representative reportedly released the following statement to The New York Times: ‘While Mr. Epstein served as Mr. Wexner’s personal money manager for a period that ended nearly 12 years ago, we do not believe he was ever employed by nor served as an authorized representative of the company.’

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    Extreme flooding in the UK

    Following the extreme heatwave that has hit the UK this past week (39 degrees, people!), further severe weather warnings have been issued over the weekend.

    After the sun, this weekend saw a lot of rain, with half a month’s worth of rain reported to have fallen across parts of the country in the past 24 hours.

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    As a result, the UK has seen flooding and travel disruptions, with the Met office issuing a yellow weather warning for rain.

    Check any transport sites if you have travel booked.

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    Donald Trump and Boris Johnson's friendship update

    Following Boris Johnson becoming UK Prime Minister last week, there has been talk around a friendship with Donald Trump, with some even calling Johnson, the British Trump.

    ‘Congratulations to Boris Johnson on becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will be great!’ the President posted following the results, adding fuel to the rumours.

    This weekend, Trump gave a friendship update, announcing that the US and UK are working on a ‘very substantial’ trade deal, adding that formal negotiations would begin ‘as soon as possible’.

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    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's alleged demands

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made news this weekend after rumours emerged that the couple’s neighbours had been given a strict list of how to behave around them.

    According to the Daily Mail, neighbours at a residents’ meeting were given a list of rules on how to act around the royal couple, ranging from how to greet them to being told not to pet their dogs or ask to see baby Archie.

    ‘It's extraordinary,’ one resident reportedly said of the meeting. ‘We've never heard anything like it. Everyone who lives on the estate works for the royals and knows how to behave respectfully. We aren't told how to behave around the Queen like this. She's very happy for people to greet her.’

    Buckingham Palace has since released a statement denying the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s involvement with the guidelines.

    Jenny Proudfoot
    Jenny Proudfoot
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    Contributing Features Editor

    Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. After working at Marie Claire UK for seven years - rising from intern to Features Editor - she is now a freelance contributor to the News and Features section.

    In 2021, Jenny was named as a winner on the PPA's '30 under 30' list, and was also listed as a rising star in journalism.

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