GLOBAL SNAPSHOT

1 Sex tape appeal

LOS ANGELES: Mel B reportedly begged a judge to hold her divorce case in private to stop her estranged husband Stephen Belafonte playing a sex tape in court. The former Spice Girl is said to have filed a motion with the court in Los Angeles after reportedly learning of her former partner’s intention to include the tape in the proceedings, thereby making it public, The Sun reports.

The singer, 42, has been involved in a bitter divorce battle with Belafonte since their split late last year. It turned nasty after she filed for a restraining order against him alleging he beat her during their turbulent 10-year marriage.

2 Maria storms on

SANTO DOMINGO: The islands of the eastern Caribbean are preparing to face another potential disaster, with forecasters saying newly formed and strengthening Hurricane Maria is headed for a hit on the Leeward Islands. Hurricane or tropical storm warnings were posted for many of the islands, including those already coping with the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma, such as St Barts and Antigua and Barbuda. The US National Hurricane Centre said Maria was expected to gain power and likely would be near major hurricane strength while crossing through the Leeward Islands this morning (AEST) on a path aiming toward Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

3 Prince on move

LONDON: Prince Charles is bucking a trend by dropping Buckingham Palace as the top royal residence when he becomes king, sources have told the Sunday Times. The prince reportedly believes the palace is “too large and costly for modern family life” and is “not sustainable” from a cost and environmental perspective. They also said Charles relayed to his staff that he plans to remain in London’s Clarence House with his wife, Camilla, where the couple is “very comfortable”. Queen Victoria designated Buckingham Palace an official royal residence in 1837.

4 Flights in turmoil

AUCKLAND: A rupture in the main pipeline carrying jet fuel to New Zealand’s largest airport has disrupted the travel plans of thousands of people. It is expected to cause further flight cancellations and delays into next week. Auckland Airport spokeswoman Lisa Mulitalo said yesterday that 41 international and domestic flights have been cancelled since Saturday due to low jet fuel supplies. She said other flights have been delayed or re-routed. Mulitalo said the airport handles about 465 flights daily and most are still operating as normal.