Barcelona will give Lionel Messi every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of their second-leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night.

Registering its biggest percentage fall in 18 years, the rupee plunged to a record low on Tuesday, slipping to below the 66-level mark against the US dollar on fears that rising global crude oil prices due to the simmering tension in West Asia would further inflate India’s high import bill.

Having failed thus far to get its oil tanker released from the Iranian authorities over two weeks days after it was detained, India on Tuesday summoned the country’s envoy to South Block and lodged a strong protest with him.

Cookie and Gold Maid should fight it out for The Asian Age Cup, the feature event of the Delhi races on Wednesday. The first race will begin at 2.15 pm.

The CBI, appearing to head for a direct confrontation with the Centre, contended before the Supreme Court on Tuesday that no prior government sanction was needed to prosecute bureaucrats in the coal block allocation scam, despite the government’s stand that its sanction is essential.

The Mumbai crime branch has found another important witness in the gangrape case of the female photojournalist. His testimony can prove the telephonic calls between the accused when one of them informed the other about the “target”. Regarding evidence of the actual crime of the rape, the police will rely heavily on forensic analysis and statements of the victim and her male friend.

Following are the runners for the races to be held here on Thursday.
1. The Kasargod Plate (Div II) 1200m 2.00 PM: Maverical 60, Manta Ray 60, Thunder 59, Mark 59, Cinch 58.5, Sweet November 58.5, Sierra Beauty 58.5, Zamindar 58, Yourescintilating 57.5, Winning Story 57.5, Indian Hero 57, Himavari 56.5.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who fell ill in Parliament late Monday evening and was admitted to AIIMS, returned home early Tuesday morning after being discharged from the hospital. Many top leaders, including Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, wished her a speedy recovery.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to hold in-camera proceedings in the case concerning the recorded telephonic conversations of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia with influential persons, including politicians, journalists and corporate executives.

As the highly-anticipated domestic season is fast approaching, Virender Sehwag is back in the nets. The India discard, who last played for the country in a Test match against Australia in March earlier this year, checked in at the MRF Pace Foundation on Tuesday.