Argentina hosts Lionel Messi's 'wedding of the century'

Argentine football star Lionel Messi has married his childhood sweetheart in his hometown in what has been called the "wedding of the century".
A civil ceremony for Messi, 30, and Antonela Roccuzzo, 29, was held at a luxury hotel in the city of Rosario.
Football stars and celebrities were among the 260 guests, with hundreds of police deployed for the event.
Messi, the Argentina and Barcelona forward, met Roccuzzo as a child before he moved to Spain aged just 13.
Among the guests at Friday's wedding were Messi's Barcelona teammates Luis Suárez, Neymar, Gerard Piqué and his wife, Colombia's pop star Shakira. A number of guests flew into Rosario on private jets.
Argentina's Clarín newspaper has variously called the wedding "the wedding of the year" and "the wedding of the century".



Earlier, crowds gathered at the local airport to try to spot some of the famous guests.
A private security firm was working inside the hotel to keep out potential gatecrashers.
About 150 journalists received accreditation to enter a special press area, but were not given full access to the venue, organisers said.

Where did the bride and groom meet?


Messi met Roccuzzo when he was just five years old. She is the cousin of his best friend, Lucas Scaglia, who also became a professional football player.
Messi accepted an offer to play for Barcelona when he was 13, on condition that they pay for treatment for his growth hormone deficiency.
He has spoken about the difficulties he faced on leaving behind his loved ones and former club.
The couple, who now live in Barcelona, have two sons together.
In May, his appeal against a 21-month jail term for tax evasion in Spain was rejected. He is unlikely to go to prison as the sentence can be served under probation or possibly avoided by paying a fine.

What do we know about the big day?

The event was held at Rosario's City Center hotel complex, which has an adjoining casino.
Roccuzzo, 29, was widely expected to wear a dress by Rosa Clara, a Barcelona-based designer who has dressed actress Eva Longoria and Spain's Queen Letizia.
Aside from a "sushi station", the menu was a very Argentine affair, including empanadas (traditional pasties) and all parts of the cow, from a casserole of sweetbreads to blood sausage.

Who is on the guest list?

Messi invited the Barcelona squad, including Neymar, Luis Suárez and Gerard Piqué, who arrived in Rosario in a private jet with his wife, Colombian pop-star Shakira.
Teammates from Argentina's national team, including Sergio Agüero, were also present.
Clarín reported that Messi did not invite any of his recent coaches, including Pep Guardiola, who is now at Manchester City.
Argentina's other big football legend, Diego Maradona, was also omitted from the list, according to the local press.

Where is Rosario?

The port city of Rosario sits on the banks of the Paraná, about 300km north-west of Buenos Aires in the centre of the country.
Another famous Argentine to have spent his early years here is Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
Messi is known locally simply as Lío.
He has been a local hero since his days as a star player for Newell's Old Boys.
The team has a staunch rivalry with nearby Rosario Central, similar to that of Boca Juniors and River Plate in Buenos Aires.
Since moving to Spain, Messi has won a record-breaking five Fifa Ballon d'Or awards.
BBC NEWS

Drug syndicate 'used drones to monitor police'

An international drug syndicate used drones to run counter-surveillance on police in a failed bid to import 78 blocks of cocaine into Australia, authorities say.
The drugs, with a street value of A$30m (£18m; $23m), were seized from three duffel bags inside a shipping container on a vessel that arrived in Melbourne from Panama, according to police.
Four Australians, two Canadians and a Briton were arrested.
Police also seized A$580,000 in cash.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner John Beveridge said the operation demonstrated that alleged drug syndicates were becoming more sophisticated.
"They used aerial drones to run counter-surveillance on investigators while conducting their meetings," he said on Friday.
He praised the efforts of investigators for avoiding detection by the aerial surveillance.
Each bag seized from the cargo vessel Spirit of Shanghai, which arrived in Melbourne on Monday, allegedly contained 26 blocks of cocaine weighing a total of 92kg (200lb).
The money was seized when police conducted raids around Melbourne on Thursday.
The seven men arrested, all aged between 21 and 33, have been charged with drug importation-related offences.
BBC NEWS

Cardinal Pell charges: How will the process unfold?

The third-ranking official in the Catholic Church, Cardinal George Pell, has said he will strenuously defend himself against allegations of sexual assaults.
"I'm looking forward finally to having my day in court," he said on Thursday.
On Friday, Australian police confirmed his first opportunity would be on 26 July - eight days later than first scheduled - when he is due to appear at a hearing in Melbourne.
The process is expected to draw intense international interest.

What do we know about the accusations?

Little at this stage. Police in the state of Victoria said Cardinal Pell, 76, was accused of "historical" assaults and there were "multiple complainants".
But they did not detail the charges or specify the number of alleged victims.
A magistrate will decide next week whether to make details of the alleged incidents public.

























Cardinal Pell has emphatically denied the accusations.

Why is this happening now?

In February, police handed a brief of evidence to state prosecutors seeking legal advice.
Prosecutors gave their input last month, and police said they would "take time to consider the advice".
On Thursday, they decided to serve charges on Cardinal Pell's legal representatives in Melbourne.
Cardinal Pell complained that he had been subjected to "relentless character assassination" during a two-year investigation into the "false" claims.

How long will the legal process take?

Melbourne-based media lawyer Justin Quill predicts it could be lengthy, potentially lasting years.
He also said it would be common - in legal process terms - for Cardinal Pell not to appear in person at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 26 July.

"It will only be an initial hearing on procedural issues and it is normal for a defendant not to be present - especially where they normally reside overseas," he told the BBC.
Cardinal Pell was questioned by Australian detectives in the Vatican last year after saying he was too unwell to take a long flight to Australia.
In a statement on Thursday, the Vatican treasurer said he would return to Australia "to clear his name following advice and approval by his doctors who will also advise on his travel arrangements".

Who will pay the legal costs?

Not the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, according to the cleric who succeeded Cardinal Pell as archbishop of the Australian city.
"While the Archdiocese will assist with the Cardinal's accommodation and support, as it would for any of its bishops or priests, it is not responsible for the Cardinal's legal bills arising from these matters," said Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher.
"Victims should be listened to with respect and compassion, and their complaints investigated and dealt with according to law."

Will it damage the Church?

The Catholic Church worldwide has in recent years faced a damaging series of allegations relating to sex abuse by priests, and claims that these cases were covered up.
Father Kevin Dillon, a Catholic priest and vocal supporter of abuse survivors, said the charges would have a "devastating impact" on morale in the Church.
"The whole abuse saga has been so ugly for so long, and now this," he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
"So many Catholics will be devastated that these complaints have reached such heights in the Church."
The BBC's David Willey said the saga is seen as a punishing body-blow to the reputation and credibility of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church.
BBC NEWS

Alleged Nigerian kingpin 'kidnapper' Evans sues police chief

An alleged head of a kidnapping ring in Lagos, Nigeria, is suing the Inspector-General of Police.
Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, who is better known as Evans, says he was unlawfully detained and a subject of trial by media.
He stated that he should be charged or released.
Police have told the BBC that they obtained an order from the Federal High Court to hold him for three months to enable them carry out investigations.
In Nigeria, suspects are supposed to be charged within 48 hours of arrest and Mr Onwuamadike was detained nearly three weeks ago.
At the time he was paraded before the media with the police celebrating his capture.
They have been under pressure to tackle a wave of kidnappings in and around Lagos state.
The police spokesman, chief superintendent Jimoh Moshood said that the suit was "mischievous". and that police had sought more time from the courts because the suspect is accused of serious offences including "murders and armed robbery".

Damages demanded

The BBC's Haruna Shehu reports that since his arrest, Mr Onwuamadike, who has acquired notoriety in the country as reportedly being a kidnap kingpin, has given several interviews disclosing some of his methods and tactics.
In his law suit, Mr Onwuamadike is claiming $1m (£780,000) in damages
BBC NEWS

Vaquita porpoise: Dolphins deployed to save rare species

Mexico's government says it plans to use dolphins trained by the US Navy to try to save the world's most endangered marine species, the vaquita porpoise.
Environment Minister Rafael Pacchiano said that the dolphins would be deployed to locate and herd vaquitas into a marine refuge.
Mexico also permanently banned fishing nets blamed for the vaquitas' decline.
Scientists estimate that fewer than 40 of the mammals are still alive in their habitat, in the Gulf of California.
Mr Pacchiano said the dolphin project would begin in September.
"We've spent the past year working alongside the US Navy with a group of dolphins they had trained to search for missing scuba divers," he told Formula radio.
"We've been training them to locate the vaquitas.
"We have to guarantee we capture the largest possible number of vaquitas to have an opportunity to save them."
The Mexican government also said on Friday it was imposing a permanent ban on gillnets, used to catch totaba, which are highly valued in Chinese traditional medicine.
The nets are designed to trap the heads of fish but not their bodies, but are blamed for trapping and killing the porpoises as well.
Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who has campaigned to save the vaquitas, tweeted that the ban was "great news", thanking President Enrique Pena Nieto and environmental group WWF.
A temporary ban which had previously been in place since 2015 was seen as ineffective, leading the WWF to call for it to be extended and properly enforced.
BBC NEWS

Helmut Kohl: Leaders pay tribute to German reunifier in Strasbourg

World leaders are attending a ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg to commemorate the life of former German chancellor Helmut Kohl - who oversaw German reunification.
Mr Kohl, who died last month, was a major driving force behind closer European integration.
Dignitaries have been paying respects at his coffin, which has been draped in the EU flag.
He will be buried in the German town of Speyer later in the day.
More than 2,000 police are on duty in Strasbourg.
Speakers include the current German and French leaders Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron as well as Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, former US president Bill Clinton and former Spanish president Felipe González.
It is the first time that the European Parliament has paid tribute to a leader in such a way.
The ceremony was proposed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who was nicknamed "Junior" by Mr Kohl and who described the German after his death as "my mentor, my friend (and) the very essence of Europe".
However Germany will not hold a state funeral for Mr Kohl in Germany at the request of his widow Maike Kohl-Richter, his second wife.
That decision has been criticised by Mr Kohl's son by his first wife, Walter Kohl, who wanted a farewell ceremony near the Brandenburg Gate in the German capital Berlin, near the site of the former Berlin Wall.
Walter Kohl has described the European Parliament commemoration as "unworthy" in an interview with German newspaper Die Zeit.
BBC NEWS

Xi Jinping warns Hong Kong over sovereignty 'red line'

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned against "impermissible" challenges to Beijing's authority over Hong Kong.
Mr Xi was speaking at the swearing-in of the territory's new leader Carrie Lam, as it marks 20 years since its handover to China from Britain.
He took part in a series of lavish events, including a flag-raising ceremony, amid tight police security.
But clashes took place between pro-democracy and pro-Beijing demonstrators close to the site. Several were held.
The visit was Mr Xi's first to the city since becoming leader in 2013 and comes three years after mass pro-democracy rallies crippled parts of the territory for months.
He oversaw the swearing in of Ms Lam, the newly-elected chief executive of the territory, along with the rest of her cabinet. She is Hong Kong's first female leader.
In a speech he said that Hong Kong needed to "improve its systems to uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests".
"Any attempt to endanger China's sovereignty and security, challenge the power of the central government... or use Hong Kong to carry out infiltration and sabotage activities against the mainland is an act that crosses the red line and is absolutely impermissible," he said.

Read more about Hong Kong since the handover:


He added that Hong Kong now enjoyed more freedom than ever before.
But while Hong Kong's Basic Law guarantees wide-ranging freedoms under the "one country, two systems" formula, Beijing's refusal to grant universal suffrage has triggered sometimes violent unrest.
In Saturday's protests, pro-democracy party Demosisto said police had arrested five of its members, and four members from the League of Social Democrats.
Among those said by the group to have been arrested was Joshua Wong, the leader of the so-called umbrella protest movement.

Slammed to the ground - Juliana Liu, BBC News, Hong Kong correspondent











It was meant to be a routine demonstration by pro-democracy protesters.
The leaders of the League of Social Democrats and Demosisto had gathered to make their way to the square in the Wanchai district where the flag-raising ceremony was taking place. They were demanding greater voting rights for Hong Kong, as well the immediate release of the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.
But without warning, scuffles began between the demonstrators and the police. Faces were slammed to the ground. And then pro-Beijing supporters turned up, waving flags and blaring patriotic music. Each side was shouting abuse at the other.
The tussle went on for more than an hour, with it ending only after the leaders of the pro-democracy demonstration were led away by police, who called it an illegal gathering.

In the ceremony the flags of China and Hong Kong were raised alongside one another to mark the 20-year anniversary of the city's handover of British rule.
Helicopters flew overhead as onlookers cheered at the ceremony in Golden Bauhinia Square, central Hong Kong.
On Friday, an official protest zone near the convention centre where Mr Xi was guest of honour at an anniversary banquet and variety performance was heavily patrolled, as demonstrators gathered chanting "end one-party dictatorship".


There is growing concern that the Chinese central government is undermining Hong Kong's more politically liberal traditions, despite its promise to give it a high degree of autonomy.
Democracy campaigners clashed with pro-Beijing supporters near the venue, with police separating the two sides.

Among the pro-democracy activists was Mr Wong, who earlier told demonstrators that the only person responsible for "causing a public nuisance" was "Xi Jinping".
He and 25 other activists were arrested on Wednesday for "breaking the 'public nuisance' law" after climbing into a golden sculpture of a bauhinia flower, Hong Kong's emblem.
The sculpture, which sits by the city's harbour front, was a gift from China and an iconic landmark symbolising the handover.
BBC NEWS


Apple to scan iPhones for child sex abuse images

  Apple has announced details of a system to find child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on customers' devices. Before an image is stored on...