New York Fashion Week comes to a close today and, as always, who sits front row at which show has been getting almost as much attention as the clothes themselves.

Whether in the cut-throat field of politics or the fashion industry's corridors of power, this year they left our planet a better place. Celebrate 10 of the best, nominated by Independent writers

Wayne McGregor's fiery new work stepped out of dance's comfort zoneI and re-energised the form

OMG, the British company whose technology is used in top-selling films and video games including Call Of Duty, saw it full- year profits fall 80 per cent after a project drawn up by Stan Lee of Marvel Comics hit the rocks.

Danny McBride, one of the many corpulent, charmless, surreally unfunny US "comics" landing lead film roles at the moment (also see Kevin James, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill), stars in and wrote this woeful sword-and-sorcery spoof.

Precisely what induced two of Hollywood's brightest stars, Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher, to appear in this hackneyed romantic comedy isn't clear.

Natalie Portman has become a mother for the first time.

Like most winners of the Best Actress Oscar, Natalie Portman devoted a huge proportion of her victory speech in February to a series of tearful thank you messages to the people who she believed had helped on the long journey to the summit of her profession.

Serge Lifar's Suite en Blanc opens with an image of a ballet company. The dancers are posed in serried ranks, in plain tights and white tutus. It's a large-scale showcase – but it needs more clarity and confidence than English National Ballet show us.

Mohamed Al Fayed, chairman of Fulham FC, is to unveil a new commemorative statue at the Craven Cottage stadium. Said statue will join the existing memorial to "Cottagers" legend Johnny Haynes at a club which also features Bobby Moore, George Best and Alan Mullery among its alumni. And no, before you ask: the latest hero to be honoured like Haynes is not Roy Hodgson. It's, erm... Michael Jackson. Mr Fayed, his club's website dutifully reports, will unveil the statue on 3 April "to honour the friendship he shared with the legendary performer... [The statue] was originally planned to be erected outside his Harrods store. However, subsequent to the sale of the Knightsbridge landmark, it was decided that Craven Cottage was the natural alternative for the tribute."