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Lionel Messi was shown only the second red card of his career as Argentina beat Chile 2-1 in a hot-tempered Copa America third-place play-off.

The Barcelona forward had provided the assist for Sergio Aguero's opener before Paulo Dybala made it 2-0.

But Messi was shown a red following a clash with Gary Medel, which also saw the Chile player dismissed.

Arturo Vidal scored a second-half penalty but Argentina held off the fightback to secure third place.

However, the big talking point was undoubtedly the sendings off of Medel and Messi – who has never been sent off for Barcelona, and whose only other red card was on his international debut 14 years ago.

Tension had been building as the game wore on in a physical encounter with both sides often giving away niggly free-kicks.

Tempers spilled over eight minutes before half time when Messi appeared to nudge over Medel as they both challenged for the ball.

Medel responded by forcibly pushing his face into Messi's as the two players argued before the referee arrived and dismissed them both.

It seemed harsh on Messi, who in the replays of the incident did not appear to respond aggressively to Medel's action.

Chile had also lost Alexis Sanchez to injury early on. The Manchester United forward appeared to suffer a hamstring injury when chasing a long ball over the defence.

Brazil meet Peru in the Copa America final on Sunday (21:00 BST) and you can follow live text commentary of the game on the BBC Sport website.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups
Argentina

1Armani
2FoythBooked at 79mins
6PezzellaBooked at 57mins
17Otamendi
3TagliaficoBooked at 90mins
16de Paul
5ParedesBooked at 63mins
20Lo CelsoSubstituted forFunes Moriat 90'minutes
10MessiBooked at 37mins
21DybalaSubstituted forDi Maríaat 67'minutes
9AgüeroSubstituted forSuárezat 81'minutes

Substitutes[hhmc]

4Saravia
7Pereyra
11Di María
12Marchesín
13Funes Mori
14Casco
15Pizarro
18Rodríguez
19Suárez
23Musso

Chile

1Arias
17MedelBooked at 37mins
18JaraSubstituted forMaripánat 50'minutes
5Díaz
13PulgarBooked at 45mins
4Isla
20AránguizSubstituted forCastilloat 83'minutes
8VidalBooked at 26mins
15BeausejourBooked at 16mins
11Vargas
7SánchezSubstituted forFernandesat 17'minutes

Substitutes[hhmc]

2Lichnovsky
3Maripán
6Fuenzalida
9Castillo
10Valdés
12Cortés
14Pavez
16Hernández
19Fernandes
21Opazo
22Sagal
23Urra

Referee:
Mario Diaz de Vivar
Attendance:
44,269

Match Stats
Home TeamArgentinaAway TeamChile

Possession
Home39%
Away61%

Shots
Home15
Away4

Shots on Target
Home6
Away3

Corners
Home4
Away1

Fouls
Home21
Away18

Live Text
Posted at

Match ends, Argentina 2, Chile 1.

Full Time
Posted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Argentina 2, Chile 1.

Posted at 90'+6'

Arturo Vidal (Chile) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+6'

Foul by Matías Suárez (Argentina).

Posted at 90'+5'

Foul by Arturo Vidal (Chile).

Posted at 90'+5'

Leandro Paredes (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+4'

Paulo Díaz (Chile) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Matías Suárez (Argentina).

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt missed. Arturo Vidal (Chile) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.

Booking
Posted at 90'+3'

Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+3'

Mauricio Isla (Chile) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina).

Posted at 90'

Offside, Chile. Guillermo Maripán tries a through ball, but Junior Fernandes is caught offside.

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An arrest warrant has been issued for Emilio Lozoya, former chief executive of Mexican state oil company Pemex, prosecutors say.

He is accused of taking $10m (£8m) in bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, which admits paying off politicians in Latin America.

Mr Lozoya's wife, sister and mother are wanted in the same corruption case, the prosecutor's office says.

His lawyer rejects the allegations and wants the arrest warrant to be revoked.

Mr Lozoya was the chief executive of Pemex until 2016.

He was also one of the closest advisers to former President Enrique Pena Nieto, who is not implicated in the scandal.

Founded in the 1940s, Odebrecht was for a while one of Brazil's most competitive construction companies, winning contracts not just in Latin America but also in the Middle East and Africa.

It won numerous awards and was voted one of the best employers in Brazil.

But in 2015 the arrest of its CEO, Marcelo OdeRead More – Source

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Venezuela released 22 prisoners, including high-profile judge Maria Afiuni and journalist Braulio Jatar, on Thursday, according to the UN.

They were released on the same day the UN published a report by its human rights chief Michele Bachelet detailing alleged rights abuses in the country.

Ms Bachelet had separately asked President Nicolás Maduro to release the prisoners, her spokesperson said.

Venezuela said that Ms Bachelet's report was biased.

The 16-page document highlighted the arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and torture of government critics. It also accused the state of removing numerous opponents by extrajudicial killings.

Venezuela crisis in 300 words
What's behind Venezuela's political crisis?

The UN said the prisoner releases may mark a new beginning for the Maduro government on human rights issues, but many were sceptical.

Venezuela remains gripped by a long-running and highly polarised crisis. Pro-government celebrations took place for independence day on Friday, while supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaidó rallied in the capital, Caracas.

Mr Guaidó called for citizens to march on the headquarters of secret services to protest against the brutal killing of a detained naval officer last month, but few joined the demonstration.

Who has been released?
Ms Afiuni, the newly-freed judge, told news site La Patilla that she was surprised by her release and looked forward to rebuilding her life after nine years in detention.

She was detained in 2010, when the country was ruled by President Hugo Chavez and his opposition considered her to be a major political prisoner.

Chávez objected to her releasing a businessman who was accused of corruption. She insisted he had been detained for too long without trial. Part of her time in detention was under house arrest after she claimed she was raped in prison. In March 2019, a court sentenced her to five years.

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A former governor of Rio de Janeiro says he helped pay a $2m (£1.6m) bribe to secure the Olympic Games for the Brazilian city in 2016.

Sérgio Cabral told a judge the payment was made to secure votes in the decision-making meeting in 2009.

He said that Carlos Nuzman, then the chairman of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, handled the negotiations.

In 2017, Mr Nuzman was arrested amid an investigation into the alleged vote-buying scheme. He denies wrongdoing.

Cabral is currently serving a 200-year sentence for several corruption cases.

On Thursday, he said the then-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Senegal's Lamine Diack, also served as intermediary in the alleged deal.

Mr Diack is to stand trial in France, having been arrested there in 2015. He has been accused of taking payments for deferring sanctions against Russian drugs cheats. He has previously denied wrongdoing, but has not yet responded to the latest allegations.

IAAF upholds ban on Russian athletes
What is Rio 2016's legacy?

Both Mr Diack and Mr Nuzman were suspended from their roles, and later resigned.

Cabral also said Brazil's then-president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, had been informed after the money had allegedly changed hands.

Lula's lawyers have said this is untrue. He has been jailed in a separate corruption case.

Brazil judges reject plea to release Lula
Brazil's Lula: Saint or sinner?

Why has this come out now?
Ongoing criminal investigations into alleged bribery – led by prosecutors in Brazil and France – have already implicated Mr Nuzman, Mr Diack and his son, and then-IOC executive board member Frank Fredericks.

However, no leading officials have admitted involvement until now.

Cabral, who served two terms as Rio state governor from 2007 to 2014, spoke out during a hearing requested by his new defence team as he seeks a plea deal.

He hopes the information might reduce his lengthy sentences faced by him.

He was convicted of passive corruption, money laundering and embezzlement – linked to various cases from an exposé known as Operation Carwash. His wife, Adriana Ancelmo, was also jailed after a period under house arrest.

Several high-powered Brazilian executives and politicians have recently reduced their sentences through plea bargains and giving evidence against others.

Who else was named?
Cabral told investigators that his bribe had been aimed at winning the support of nine of the committee's 95 members.

He implicated several top athletes who had voting rights. Olympic gold medallists Sergey Bubka and Alexander Popov have both since denied taking a bribe, and said they were considering suing for defamation.

Mr Popov, a Russian former swimmer, released a statement via social media, saying he did not vote for the city, or participate in any negotiations.

Mr Bukba, a Ukrainian pole-vault champion, posted a series of tweets,Read More – Source

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At least 26 people have died after a fishing boat capsized off the coast of Honduras, officials say.

Another 47 people were rescued from the vessel, which sank off the country's eastern Mosquitia region on the Caribbean coast.

The 70-tonne boat was packed with fisherman after the government lifted a seasonal ban on fishing for lobster.

It is not clear what caused the accident and an investigation has been launched.

The captain of the boat sent out an SOS signal but died shortly after, local media report.

Jose Meza, a spokesman for the armed forces, told AFP news agency that the bodies and survivors would be taken to the nearby city of Puerto Lempira.

He said that shortly before the accident on Wednesday another boat – which Read More – Source

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The Argentine football club River Plate opened its stadium to homeless people in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, as the city experiences a cold snap.

Volunteer group Red Solidaria is behind the project, and has also been distributing donations of warm clothes.

Across the country, five deaths have been linked to the cold weather, according to local media.

There are concerns about rising numbers of people sleeping on the streets in Argentina due to an economic recession.

The Associated Press has reported that official figures show the number of people in extreme poverty in the capital – the country's wealthiest area – has doubled in the past three years to 6.5%, which equates to about 198,000 people.

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Volunteer Martin Giovio told Reuters news agency: "It's clear to us that the street is not a place to live. The cold kills and so does our indifference. This is an enormous gesture from River [Plate]."

River Plate – nicknamed The Millionaires – is one of the country's biggest clubs. It agreed to open the Monumental Stadium as a shelter for just one night, but the head of Red Solidaria, Juan Carr, said they had not ruled out an extension. He also tRead More – Source

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A Colombian former rebel-turned-lawmaker remains missing less than a week before he is due to appear before the country's supreme court over allegations of drug smuggling.

The ex-rebel known as Jesús Santrich disappeared on Sunday and has not been heard from since.

His son said he feared he may have been kidnapped or killed but Colombian President Iván Duque said Santrich was trying to elude justice.

He was last seen on Saturday.

Who is Jesús Santrich?
Jesús Santrich is the nom de guerre of Seuxis Pausias Hernández Solarte, a former commander in the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a Marxist rebel group founded in Colombia which engaged in a five-decade-long armed struggle against government forces and right-wing paramilitaries.

He joined the rebel group after a student friend of his was killed by Colombian security forces. Jesús Santrich was the name of the killed friend and it was in his honour that the philosophy student adopted it as his pseudonym.

Santrich is partially blind, having gradually lost his sight due to a genetic condition.

He was a member of the rebel group for 30 years and one of their most hardline negotiators in the process which led to a peace agreement in 2016.

More about Colombia's armed conflict:
What happened?
Santrich had been staying in a reintegration zone in Cesar province, about 30km (20 miles) from the Venezuelan border. These areas were created as part of the peace process between the government and the Farc for the rebels to gather, lay down their arms and receive training to help them reintegrate into civilian society.

Like other high-profile former rebels and public figures in Colombia, Santrich had bodyguards assigned to him by the national protection unit.

Members of the unit reported on Sunday that Santrich was not in the house he had been staying at. In his room, they found a note saying he would stay with one of his younger sons in the city of Valldeupar. He added that he did not "want a crowd" at his son's house and left instructions to be picked up and a contact name.

Colombia's protection unit said it was trying to verify the authenticity of the note.

Why has Santrich's disappearance caused a stir?
It is just the latest twist in a legal saga that saw Santrich detained in April 2018 after being indicted by a US grand jury. He is accused of conspiring to smuggle 10 tonnes of cocaine from Colombia to the US.

He was jailed before he could take up one of the 10 seats in Congress which under the terms of the peace agreement had been guaranteed to the party founded by the Farc rebels.

But in May, a special tribunal set up to hear cases related to Colombia's armed conflict ruled there was not enough evidence against Santrich.

The tribunal ordered his release, but as Santrich was leaving jail he was re-arrested by prosecutors who said they had fresh evidence.

He was again released on the orders of Colombia's supreme court, which argued that as he is a lawmaker only the highest court can order his arrest.

Before his disappearance, Santrich took up his seat in Congress while some conservative lawmakers held up placards in protest.

What has Duque said about it?
Colombia's conservative president, Mr Duque, told journalists he thought Santrich had left because of a hearing he is due to attend on 9 July and was "mocking" the Colombian legal system.

"He has a hearing with the Supreme Court in these first days of July, and to see someone like that abandon his security detail… only shows that he wants to elude justice," he said.

Santrich's former comradeRead More – Source

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Thousands of skywatchers gathered in South America on Tuesday to witness a rare solar eclipse.

Beginning in the Pacific, the 6,000-mile long band of darkness carved its way across areas of both Chile and Argentina.

The eclipse also made its way across several of the world's most powerful telescopes, all located in the region.

As always, people were urged to take great care during the eclipse. Gazing into the Sun can damage the eyes.

Proper protection is needed, such as the use of approved solar glasses.

The man who made Einstein world-famous
Americans gaze at eclipse wonder

The Moon's great shadow, or umbra, first touched the ocean surface east of New Zealand.

The first – and only – piece of land in the Pacific to lie in the path of the eclipse's "totality" was tiny Oeno Island – part of the Pitcairns British Overseas Territory.

This uninhabited atoll was plunged into darkness for nearly three minutes, starting at 10:24 local time (18:24 GMT).

The umbra then reached across to the coast of Chile, near La Serena, arriving at 16:38 local time (20:38 GMT).

Its path stretched out across several parts of Coquimbo in northern Chile, an area known for its dark skies and numerous observatories.

Tickets worth $2,000 (£1,588) each sold out in three minutes for the privilege of watching the eclipse alongside astronomers at the European Southern Observatory, high in the Atacama desert.

The umbra passed swiftly over the Andes mountains and across the continent. Among those last to experience totality were the inhabitants of Chascomús in the district of Buenos Aires at 17:44 local time (20:44 GMT), not long before sunset.

Some of the classic features of a full solar eclipse were on show. These included "Baily's beads," which arise as the last shafts of sunlight drive through valleys on the Moon; and the "Diamond Ring", which is the single brilliant point of light that signals the beginning and end of totality.

"You're completely mesmerised by totality," said astronomer Patrick McCarthy.

"But I have to say, no matter how long it lasts – it feels like eight seconds. You're so completely caught up, you find yourself saying, 'go back, go back; I wasn't done! It all goes by in an instant."

Dr McCarthy watched this event in Chile. He's Vice President of the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) facility, which is being built in the Atacama Desert.

The path of totality passed fractionally to the south of the telescope site, and so the astronomer, colleagues and friends took a short drive to make sure they were in just the right spot.

"Going into a tRead More – Source

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Brazil forwards Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino both scored as they beat arch-rivals Argentina 2-0 in the Copa America semi-final.

Jesus opened the scoring after 19 minutes when he sidefooted in a low cross from Firmino.

Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi both struck the woodwork for Argentina, who have not beaten Brazil in a major competitive fixture since 2005.

A Firmino tap-in secured the win to set up a final against Peru or Chile.

Brazil's win came at the same Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte where they were thumped 7-1 by Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals.

Messi set to continue with Argentina side

Argentina forward Lionel Messi, who has won 29 trophies with Barcelona, has yet to win a major title with Argentina with his only success being a 2008 Olympics gold medal.

His next chance to change that will be when Argentina co-host the 2020 Copa America, with Colombia.

"Something new is on the horizon," said the 32-year-old, who quit international football after his country's defeat by Chile in the 2016 Copa America before returning for the 2018 World Cup.

"I hope we are respected and not criticised. They should let the team be and let them grow.

"The truth is I have got on very well with this group of players and if I have to help in some way I will. This is a great group which is growing and if I can join them I will."

Tite praises Jesus
Brazil have lost just twice in 42 games under coach Tite, who praised Manchester City striker Jesus after the match.

"Gabriel impresses all the professionals that work with him because he never gives up," said Tite.

"People tell him 'you just have to put up with the pain and run,' and that's what I asked him to do.

"He has to refine his solutions and he has to evolve because he's young, but if I ask him to shoot 50 times, he'll do 51.

"This capacity of persistence and his quest for something is his trademark."

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups
Brazil

1Alisson
13Alves da SilvaBooked at 40mins
4MarquinhosSubstituted forMirandaat 64'minutes
2Thiago Silva
12Lobo Silva
8Arthur
5Casemiro
9Gabriel JesusSubstituted forMarques Loureiroat 80'minutesBooked at 82mins
11Coutinho
19Sousa SoaresSubstituted forWillianat 45'minutes
20Firmino

Substitutes[hhmc]

3Miranda
6Filipe Luís
7Neres Campos
10Willian
14Militão
15Marques Loureiro
16Cássio
17Fernandinho
18Tolentino Coelho de Lima
21Richarlison
22Fagner
23Ederson

Argentina

1Armani
2FoythBooked at 56mins
6Pezzella
17Otamendi
3TagliaficoBooked at 9minsSubstituted forDybalaat 85'minutes
5Paredes
16de PaulSubstituted forLo Celsoat 67'minutes
8AcuñaBooked at 40minsSubstituted forDi Maríaat 59'minutes
10Messi
9AgüeroBooked at 90mins
22MartínezBooked at 58mins

Substitutes[hhmc]

4Saravia
7Pereyra
11Di María
12Marchesín
13Funes Mori
14Casco
15Pizarro
18Rodríguez
19Suárez
20Lo Celso
21Dybala
23Musso

Referee:
Roddy Zambrano
Attendance:
55,947

Match Stats
Home TeamBrazilAway TeamArgentina

Possession
Home50%
Away50%

Shots
Home4
Away14

Shots on Target
Home3
Away2

Corners
Home6
Away4

Fouls
Home12
Away19

Live Text
Posted at

Match ends, Brazil 2, Argentina 0.

Full Time
Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Brazil 2, Argentina 0.

Booking
Posted at 90'+4'

Sergio Agüero (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Sergio Agüero (Argentina).

Posted at 90'+3'

Dani Alves (Brazil) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Brazil. Conceded by Juan Foyth.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Paulo Dybala (Argentina).

Posted at 90'+1'

Dani Alves (Brazil) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Giovani Lo Celso (Argentina).

Posted at 90'

Dani Alves (Brazil) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Miranda.

Posted at 90'

Attempt blocked. Giovani Lo Celso (Argentina) left footed shot from outside thRead More – Source

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A judge in Venezuela has announced that imprisoned lawmaker Juan Requesens will face trial for allegedly trying to kill President Nicolás Maduro in 2018.

Mr Requesens was arrested three days after a drone carrying explosives blew up at a military parade attended by Mr Maduro on 4 August.

The opposition politician, who denies the charges, could face 30 years in prison if found guilty.

President Maduro was not hurt in the attack.

Who is Juan Requesens?
A former student leader who organised anti-government protests in 2014, Juan Requesens was elected to Venezuela's legislative, the National Assembly, in 2015.

The 30-year-old is a member of the opposition Primero Justicia (Justice First) party and a vocal opponent of President Maduro.

He often led protest marches demanding the release of imprisoned students.

What has he been charged with?
Mr Requesens faces two charges of attempted murder. He has also been accused of terrorism, treason, public incitement, illegal possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

His lawyer, Joel García, said he had pleaded not guilty to all of them.

What do the charges relate to?
During the parade last August in the capital Caracas, a small drone carrying explosives detonated in the air not far from the stage where the president and the top officers of the military where standing.

Mr Maduro's bodyguards rushed to protect the president with foldable shields and ushered him away. The president and those on stage were unhurt.

Panic broke out among the soldiers on parade with many running for cover. Seven members of the National Guard were injured in the melee.

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A second drone crashed into a nearby apartment block, injuring a child.

What was the reaction?
President Maduro was quick to blame Mr Requesens and another Primero Justicia politician, Julio Borges, for the drone attack. He said other suspects in the case had implicated the two lawmakers.

President Maduro called Mr Requesens "one of the craziest" plotters against his life.

Mr Borges, who was already living in exile at the time, dismissed the accusation as a "farce".

Did Requesens confess?
Six days days after the drone attack, Information Minister Jorge Rodríguez called a news conference where he played a video which he said amounted to a confession by Mr Requesens.

In the recording, Mr Requesens says that Mr Borges asked him for help getting a retired soldier called Juan Monasterios into the country.

President Maduro had earlier accused Mr Monasterios, who was detained in the aftermath of the drone incident, of being the "operational chief" of the attack against him.

The video was the second one of Mr Requesens to be released. An earlier one showed him clad only in soiled underwear and looking confused.

That recording of Mr Requesens caused his family grave concern. They said the lawmaker appeared drugged and that they feared he had been tortured.

Where haRead More – Source
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