Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are divorcing

Hollywood A-list power couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are divorcing. The announcement, the day after their 10th wedding anniversary, ended months of rumours about their marriage. "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," said the couple, who have three children together: Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and three-year-old Samuel. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-­parenting our children, whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time." Oscar-winner Affleck, 42, and 43-year-old Garner started dating shortly after appearing together in the 2003 ­superhero film, Daredevil. They married two years later. Celebrity-news website TMZ reported that the split was described as "amicable" and they will share custody of the children. Rumoured tensions between the couple had fuelled tabloid speculation for months that they were on the verge of breaking up. – AFP

Selfies are empowering, says Kim K

Kim Kardashian says the large number of selfies she posts on social media empowers her to control her public image – but admitted that it also contributes to her being viewed by some merely as a sexual object. The reality-TV star talked about how women are portrayed in the media during an appearance in San Francisco on Tuesday night, hosted by the Commonwealth Club of California. She said that while other people might regard her constant posing for a camera as degrading, that doesn't matter as long as she is happy with the results. During an hour-long Q&A before an ­adoring audience, mostly young and female, she revealed that her husband – rapper Kanye West – came up with the idea and title for her recently published book of selfies: Selfish. Kardashian's visit provoked minor controversy and some criticism because the Commonwealth Club is known for tackling serious topics. –AP

ABCD2 dancer arrested for gang rape of 14-year-old

Dancer Nilesh Nirbhavane, a dancer who appears in the recently released film ABCD2, has been arrested for taking part in the gang rape of a 14 year old mentally disabled girl. The attacks, with three friends, allegedly took place over the course of a month. Nilesh, who appeared as a backing dancer in the film with Shraddha Kapoor and Varun Dhawan in Remo D'Souza directed film, was arrested by the Pant Nagar Police on June 26, and reportedly confessed to the crime. – IANS

Journey drummer accused of sex attack

The drummer for classic-rock band Journey was in jail Tuesday after being indicted on a rape charge, two weeks after a domestic-violence arrest. Deen Castronovo, 50, faces new charges of rape and other crimes. He was arrested on June 14 in Salem, Oregon, on misdemeanour assault and menacing. He was released on bail and ordered to stay away from the female victim but he disobeyed by having contact with the woman last weekend and on Monday, leading to three charges of contempt of court, according to the indictment. It states Castronovo had sexual intercourse with the victim "by forcible compulsion" between June 8 and June 14. He faces felony charges of assault, sexual abuse and unlawful use of a dangerous weapon, which was a knife, prosecutors say. Castronovo has been with Journey since 1998, when he replaced Steve Smith, the drummer who played on the group's best-known songs, including Don't Stop Believin. Journey's Facebook page still lists Castronovo as its drummer, though his legal woes have forced him to sit out their shows. –AP

Julio Iglesias recovering from back surgery

Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias is recovering from “minor” back surgery in New York. “Last week, Julio Iglesias had a minor medical intervention on his lower back, as part of a routine check-up in New York,” Sony Music said on Tuesday. Julio will return to all normal activities after taking the necessary rest recommended by doctors.” The 71-year-old has sold more than 300 million records and still performs around the world. His son, pop star Enrique Iglesias, also underwent surgery recently after he suffered injuries to his hand when he grabbed a camera-equipped drone on stage in Mexico. – AFP

Historian receives $100,000 award

Historian David Hackett Fischer has won a US$100,000 award for military writing. Organisers of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement announced on Tuesday that Fischer was this year's recipient. The 79-year-old is known for his books about the American Revolution. He will be presented with the award during a ceremony in Chicago on November 7. His books include the Pulitzer-winning Washington's Crossing, Paul Revere's Ride and Champlain's Dream. Previous winners of the Pritzker award include James McPherson, Rick Atkinson and Tim O'Brien. –AP