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SPANISH police arrested three Real

Madrid youth players this week for allegedly distributing a sexual video featuring a minor, with the arrests heightening the furore about sexism and macho behaviour in Spanish soccer.

The players, who are not minors, were later released following a court decision and after the data on their cellphones was seized, police said in a statement.

The case stems from a complaint filed by the mother of a 16-year-old girl in the Canary Islands, regarding an alleged recording of sexual relations, police said.

They said that while the girl maintained the relations were consensual, the recording took place in June without her consent and that she had recently become aware of it.

The arrests come amid allegations of sexual abuse against former soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales, pictured, who kissed Spain’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso on the lips last month, unleashing a wave of indignation similar to the “Me Too” movement.

Rubiales resigned on Sunday after weeks of defying calls for him to step down. He appeared before a High Court judge yesterday over a complaint of sexual assault. |

Russia-North Korea

THE Kremlin said no agreements had been signed during North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia.

“No agreements were signed and there was no plan to sign any,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters yesterday, amid concern in Washington that the two countries could be preparing an arms deal.

Kim began his visit to Russia on Tuesday. At a meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, the two leaders exchanged gifts of rifles – a choice seen as symbolic, given Western concern. Putin talked about the prospect of greater co-operation with North Korea and said there were “possibilities” for military ties despite international sanctions on Pyongyang.

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Putin had accepted an invitation to visit North Korea, without giving a date.

Yesterday, Kim visited a factory which produces fighter jets in Russia’s Far East.

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MOROCCO has announced the launch of an aid programme to rehouse the residents of about 50 000 buildings damaged in last week’s devastating earthquake.

The magnitude 6.8 earthquake – Morocco’s strongest ever – has killed nearly 3 000 people and injured more than 5 600 since it hit last Friday in alHaouz province, south of Marrakesh.

Those left homeless will be provided with temporary shelter in “structures designed to withstand cold and bad weather, or in reception sites equipped with all the necessary amenities”, the royal office said in a statement following a meeting chaired by King Mohamed VI.

The Moroccan authorities have also ordered urgent aid of 30 000 dirhams (about R57 000) to households affected by the disaster, the statement added. |

Morocco