Four Argentinian first division footballers stand accused of raping a woman in a hotel room earlier in March. At least one player denies the allegations. Four professional footballers from Argentinian premier division football club Velez Sarsfield were provisionally taken into custody on Monday as part of an investigation into allegations they raped a female sports journalist in a hotel room earlier in March. The four players — Uruguayan goalkeeper Sebastian Sosa (37), Paraguayan midfielder Jose Florentin (27) and Argentines Braian Cufre (27, defender) and Abiel Osorio (21, striker) — were ordered to be detained for 48 hours until a judge decides whether they should remain under arrest pending the investigation. What are the allegations against the Velez players? The plaintiff, a 24-year-old sports reporter, alleges she was invited by Sosa to a hotel room in Tucuman in the north of Argentina, where Velez had drawn 0-0 with Atletico Tucuman on March 2, where the other three men were also waiting. She said she had a few drinks, felt dizzy, lay down on a bed and was then raped. The woman's defense said the case was classified as "sexual assault with aggravated intercourse by two or more persons." In a televised statement, her lawyer Patricia Neme said there were "sufficient elements to request pre-trial detention" as the four footballers had "sufficient means" to flee if they wanted to avoid trial. Another prosecuting lawyer, Juan Robles, said: "The prosecutor announced that the four people who had come to this trial as defendants were going to be remanded in custody." Velez suspend players, goalkeeper denies allegations Veteran goalkeeper Sosa denied the allegations on his Instagram account on March 8, writing: "I repudiate violence of any kind. I respect the physical and sexual integrity of every person. I trust in the swift action of justice." His three teammates are yet to comment. Velez Sarsfield, from the western Buenos Aires suburb of Liniers, said in a statement on Monday it had suspended the four players' contracts and ordered an internal investigation. "The Club reiterates its deepest concern about the reported events, which are clearly contrary to the principles and values of our institution," it said. Velez Sarsfield are one of the most successful football clubs in Argentina, having won 10 league titles, most recently in 2013 with Sosa in goal. In 1994, they won the South American continental Copa Libertadores, going on to beat European Champions League winners AC Milan in the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo.

The American singer has been performing at packed arenas in Sydney and Melbourne as part of her Eras Tour. Now a photographer in Australia has accused her father of assault. An Australian photographer alleged he was assaulted by Taylor Swift's father in Sydney early on Tuesday morning after her final concert in the city, prompting a police investigation. "Police have been told a 71-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old man at Neutral Bay Wharf about 2:30 a.m. (1530 UTC Monday), before leaving the location," a New South Wales Police spokesperson told the AFP news agency, without naming either man. "The younger man reported the incident and inquiries are now under way by officers attached to North Shore Police Area Command." Swift's spokesperson responded, accusing two individuals of acting "aggressively" at the time of the alleged incident. "Two individuals were aggressively pushing their way towards Taylor, grabbing at her security personnel, and threatening to throw a female staff member into the water," they said in a statement to Rolling Stone. Swift is currently in the midst of her Eras Tour, which included stadium shows in Sydney and Melbourne. The worldwide tour has so far grossed more than $1 billion (€922 million). What did the accuser say? The alleged victim told the AFP news agency that he had been taking pictures of the US pop star on her "super yacht" in Sydney's famous harbor. The photographer alleged that Swift's entourage used umbrellas to prevent him from taking photos of the singer who was walking down the jetty to a waiting vehicle. After the singer departed, the male photographer alleged that a man confronted him and "punched me in the chops." "I didn't know who he was, but I looked at photos and saw him holding hands with Taylor, and it was her dad," he said. "It was a shock."

The American singer, dancer and ­talent show judge Paula Abdul is suing the British television ­executive Nigel Lythgoe over alleged sexual assault, according to US media. Abdul filed a lawsuit on Friday in Los Angeles County, claiming multiple instances of assault while the pair worked together on the hit shows American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. Lythgoe was an executive producer of the Fox singing talent show and a co-judge on the latter. Abdul has not publicly commented on the case and did not respond to requests for comment from various media organisations. In the lawsuit, Abdul alleges the first instance of assault happened during “one of the first seasons” of American Idol in the early 2000s while she and her boss were on the road for regional auditions, entertainment news website TMZ reported. Abdul claims Lythgoe assaulted her in a lift at their hotel, but that she was able to escape when the doors opened. She says she immediately informed her representatives from her hotel room, before deciding to keep quiet about the incident, ­fearing she could be sacked. The lawsuit reportedly claims that another incident of assault occurred more than a decade later, during what Abdul thought was a professional meeting at Lythgoe’s Los Angeles home, where he allegedly forced himself on her and told her they would make an “excellent power couple”. According to reports, Abdul responded by pushing him off and explaining that she was not interested, before leaving. Abdul reportedly claims she witnessed Lythgoe assault one of his assistants that same year in Las Vegas, during the filming of So You Think You Can Dance. The lawsuit also claims Lythgoe “taunted” Abdul by calling her and telling her that the pair should celebrate because it had been “seven years and the statute of limitations had run [out]”. On Sunday, Lythgoe said: “To say that I am shocked and saddened by the allegations made against me by Paula Abdul is a wild understatement. For more than two decades, Paula and I have interacted as dear – and entirely platonic – friends and colleagues. Yesterday, however, out of the blue, I learned of these claims in the press and I want to be clear: not only are they false, they are deeply offensive to me and to everything I stand for. “While Paula’s history of erratic behaviour is well known, I can’t pretend to understand exactly why she would file a lawsuit that she must know is untrue. But I can promise that I will fight this appalling smear with everything I have.” Abdul is reportedly suing Lythgoe – and the shows’ production companies 19 Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America, American Idol Productions and Dance Nation Productions – for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence and negligence. Lythgoe was reportedly fired from American Idol in 2013 after 12 years as a producer on the show. According to US media, the court filing states that Abdul has remained silent for years due to “fear of speaking out against one of the most well-known producers of television competition shows who could easily break her career”, as well as professional contracts that “prohibited” her disclosing “anything that might be deemed confidential business information” or “derogatory”. The lawsuit was reportedly filed under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which, since it came into effect a year ago, has allowed people to bring legal action in cases of sexual assault, even after the statute of limitations has expired.

The case has put a spotlight on the problem of sexual violence and harassment within the Japanese military. A court in Japan on Tuesday found three former soldiers guilty of sexually assaulting a female colleague and gave them suspended jail terms. The case of 24-year-old Rina Gonoi relates to a 2021 incident during her time in the army. After joining the Japanese Self Defense Forces in 2020, she said she experienced daily harassment. "When walking down the hallway, someone slaps you on your hip, or holds you from behind," she told AFP. "I was kissed on the cheek, and my breasts were grabbed." And then in 2021, during a drill, she said three of her colleagues pinned her to the ground, forced her legs apart and pressed their crotches against her in simulation of a sex act. She said other colleagues present at the time watched and laughed. Even though she complained to her superiors at the time, no action was taken, prompting Gonoi to leave the military. In 2022, Gonoi took to YouTube to share her account. After she went public, Japan's Defense Ministry issued a public apology to her and announced that five men connected to the incident had been dismissed and four others punished. Attracting recognition as well as vitriol Gonoi's decision to go public also grabbed public attention and put a spotlight on the issue of sexual assault and harassment in a society where women rarely hold positions in the upper echelons of politics, business and military. It also inspired others to file complaints about sexual harassment and bullying. In the military, for instance, over 1,400 women and men have submitted their allegations following a special inspection by the Defense Ministry. This June, Japan passed legislation redefining rape, including removing the requirement that victims prove they had sought to resist their attacker. Gonoi's battle has even attracted international recognition: Time Magazine named her on its list of 100 emerging world leaders while the British Broadcasting Corp included her among its 100 most influential women globally. But she has also been a target of online vitriol. "I have gotten many derogatory comments. But I know the world values what I'm doing," she told Reuters. Separately, Gonoi has lodged a civil case against her former peers and the government, seeking damages for the alleged assault and the subsequent inaction despite her complaints.

Four women have accused the he Finnish-born Canadian fashion magnate of sexual assault, and one of forcible confinement in his private suite. He also faces racketeering and trafficking charges in the US. Finnish-Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard was found guilty on Sunday of four counts of sexual assault. He was also handed a charge of forcible confinement following a seven-week trial in Toronto. He will return to court on November 21 for sentencing. The businessman founded a fashion company in Winnipeg in 1967 that ultimately became Nygard International. The company produced women's clothing under several brand names and had corporate facilities in both Canada and the US. What was Nygard accused of? Five women testified that they were invited to Nygard's Toronto headquarters under pretexts including tours or job interviews. Four of the women said that they were sexually assaulted in the man's top-floor bedroom suite. One of the women said that Nygard did not allow her to leave his private suite for some time, which led to the forcible confinement charge. Others also testified to feeling trapped in the suite, saying that there were doors that had to be opened with a keypad code or the push of a button near the bed. One woman said she was only 16 years old when she accompanied an older man she was dating at the time to Nygard's headquarters, where she said Nygard sexually assaulted her. She testified that another woman handed her an emergency contraceptive pill as she was leaving. Nygard denied the allegations, saying he did not recall meeting or interacting with four of the women who provided testimony. Prosecutors argued that the fashion magnate was evasive and unreliable in his testimony and that similarities in the women's stories showed a pattern of behavior. The defense argued that the complainants' claims were motivated by a class-action lawsuit against Nygard in the US. Nygard's lawyer Brian Greenspan said that the case of the prosecution was built on "contradictions and innuendo" and suggested the women were motivated by financial gain. Nygard was also acquitted of one charge of sexual assault and one charge of forcible confinement. Nygard still facing charges in Canada, US Nygard still faces separate sexual assault and forcible confinement cases in the Canadian states of Quebec and Manitoba, as well as in New York. He was charged with nine counts in New York in 2020. The federal justice minister at the time said that he would be extradited to the US after rulings were given in the cases against him in Canada. In the US, he has been accused of sexually assaulting dozens of women and girls, racketeering and trafficking. Nygard stepped down as the chairman of the company after the FBI and police raided his offices in New York City in February 2020. The firm has since filed for bankruptcy and entered into receivership.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said fighting inside the Gaza Strip will be "long and difficult," with Israeli ground forces now operating in the Palestinian territory for more than 24 hours. "The war in the [Gaza] Strip will be long and difficult and we are prepared for it," Netanyahu told a news conference after meeting families of hostages held in Gaza. Netanyahu said the ground operation launched by Israeli troops in Gaza was the "second stage" in a war against the Islamist group Hamas, and defeating Hamas is an "existential test" for Israel. He also called on the civilian population of Gaza to move to safe areas. "This is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear: destroying the military and leadership capabilities of Hamas, and bringing the hostages back home," the Israeli leader declared.  According to the prime minister, contacts to secure the release of hostages are continuing even during the ground offensive, and every effort would be made to rescue the more than 200 hostages held by Hamas. Netanyahu said the idea of a swap deal of hostages for Palestinian prisoners had been discussed within the Israeli war cabinet. But he declined to elaborate, saying revealing any details would be counterproductive.  He also accused Hamas of using hospitals as command centers and said that "90%" of the Hamas military budget comes from Iran. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by not only Israel, but also the US, Germany and others. 

A 16-year-old Iranian schoolgirl has been hospitalized and left in a coma after falling unconscious on Tehran's underground days ago. Kurdish-focused rights group Hengaw said on Tuesday that Armita Garawand was assaulted by female officers from the country's morality police after refusing to wear the Islamic headscarf. Authorities meanwhile claim she fainted due to low blood pressure. What do we know about the incident? Garawand was attacked at the Shohada underground station in Tehran on Sunday, Hengaw said, adding that she incurred severe injuries. She was being treated under tight security at Tehran's Fajr hospital, the group added. "There are currently no visits allowed for the victim, not even from her family," it said. Hengaw said the teenager hails from the Kurdish-populated city of Kermanshah in western Iran. She does however live in Tehran. A female local journalist who tried to visit the hospital, Maryam Lotfi, was briefly detained, Hengaw added. Iranian authorities deny attack Meanwhile, Masood Dorosti, managing director of the Tehran underground system, denied in comments to state news agency IRNA "any verbal or physical conflict" between Garawand and "passengers or metro executives." He referred to CCTV footage which he said refuted the "claim" that the girl was attacked. The incident comes just over a year after the death of 22-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini, also a Kurd, while in morality police custody. Amini's death sparked massive, nationwide protests, which were seen as the most serious challenge to the rule of Iran's Islamic leaders since the overthrow of the monarchy in 1979.

The mixed martial artist has denied the allegations. The incident allegedly took place during a basketball match between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets. The Irish Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star Conor McGregor on Thursday was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at an NBA Finals game in Miami. The survivor said that McGregor "violently" assaulted her in the bathroom during a match between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets that took place last Friday, reported ESPN and TMZ Sports who cited letters from the woman's attorney. The NBA and the Miami Heat have opened investigations into the allegations against the UFC champion. McGregor denies the allegations McGregor allegedly "aggressively kissed" the woman before attempting to force her into multiple sexual acts. The survivor has provided the Miami police with the clothing she wore that night and a report was filed, said her attorney Ariel Mitchell. In a statement released by McGregor's attorney Barbara Llanes on behalf of the Irishman he called the allegations "false" and said that he "will not be intimidated." The Miami Heat said that they are conducting a "full investigation." The NBA also said that they're looking into the allegations and working with the Heat to gather information. A history of misdemeanors McGregor's conduct at Friday's game had already come under scrutiny after an incident during the match's timeout hour. The mixed martial artist punched a Miami Heat mascot after the mascot appeared on court for a pre-planned promotional gimmick. The employee who posed as the mascot was taken to the hospital after the attack. McGregor is one of the biggest stars on the mixed martial arts circuit. He hasn't fought since 2021, after he injured his leg during a match. His last win was in January 2020. Previously, McGregor has been accused of sexual assault four times but never convicted, reported ESPN. He has also been accused of getting violent, making racist comments and homophobic slurs. 

Russia and Iran are collaborating more closely than ever in the areas of fighter jets and lethal drones, according to US intelligence. Moscow has rebuked Washington's assessment, as the invasion of Ukraine presses on. The United States warned on Friday that Russia and Iran are ramping up military cooperation to an extent that is "harmful" to Ukraine and Iran's neighbors. Citing intelligence assessments, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby described "an unprecedented level of military and technical support that is transforming their relationship into a full-fledged defense partnership." Kirby said Iranian pilots are being trained to fly Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, which are expected to be delivered next year. This would "significantly strengthen Iran's air force relative to its regional neighbors," he said. Meanwhile, Kirby said Iran is reportedly considering setting up a jointly-run drone production line in Russia. Iran has previously been accused of supplying Russia with lethal drones for its invasion of Ukraine. The claims were backed by British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who described the defense collaboration and arms transfers as "sordid deals." Moscow denies defense partnership Moscow's UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia denounced the US intelligence assessment later on Friday. "The military industrial complex in Russia can work perfectly fine and doesn't need anyone's assistance, whereas the Ukrainian military industry does not basically exist and is being assisted by the Western industry and Western companies," Nebenzia told the UN Security Council. He also claimed the allegations about Iranian drones were "already refuted" multiple times before. Iran has acknowledged that it sold drones to Russia in the past, but denies any arms transfers since the invasion of Ukraine.

The vote by the Democratic-majority House was a direct response to recent mass shootings in the US. The bill has little chance of progressing in the Senate because of Republican opposition. The US House of Representatives on Friday passed a bill to ban assault weapons, following a spate of recent mass shootings. The legislation was approved by 217 lawmakers, with 213 against the measure. It’s an attempt to reinstate an earlier 10-year assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004. Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed the vote toward passage in the Democratic-run House, saying the earlier ban saved lives. Almost all Republicans, however, voted against the measure, and it is unlikely to pass in the Senate, where Democrats would need 10 Republican votes even to consider it. The bill would make it unlawful to import, sell or manufacture a long list of semi-automatic weapons and it exempts those already in possession. In June, Congress passed a gun control law, with bipartisan support, but the new bill takes it much further. Ban on assault weapons contentious After the Uvalde school shooting that left 21 people, including 19 children, dead, President Joe Biden appealed to lawmakers to ban assault rifles or at least raise the minimum age for buying them from 18 to 21. Republican lawmakers, who see such a restriction as going against the constitutional right to bear arms, have refused to go along. Republican Congressman Guy Reschenthaler argued the latest bill would be both unconstitutional and ineffective, saying it’s a gun grab, pure and simple. Gun rights are protected by the Constitution’s Second Amendment, giving Americans the right to keep and bear arms. Democratic Representative Jim McGovern said the weapons ban is not about taking away Americans Second Amendment rights but ensuring that children also have the right to not get shot in school. The bill comes at a time of intensifying concerns about gun violence and shootings, including a supermarket shooting in Buffalo, the killing of school children in Uvalde, and the July Fourth shooting of revelers in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park.