Two key clearances secured for Lionel Messi’s Kerala visit: State Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman
Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant development for football fans, Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman has reportedly confirmed that two key approvals have been obtained for Argentina's national team, led by Lionel Messi, to play in Kerala.
Speaking in the assembly, Abdurahiman said approvals from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports have been secured.
He stated that further formalities are underway, and additional updates will be shared once all required procedures are completed.
In November last year, Abdurahiman had announced that Messi and the Argentina squad would visit Kerala for two friendly matches in 2025. However, the absence of official updates since then has sparked speculation about the plan's feasibility.
Meanwhile, the minister also revealed that an international stadium is being planned at the Malappuram-Kozhikode border. Calicut University has reportedly agreed to allocate 35 acres for the project, and construction will commence soon.
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Rupee declines 27 paise to 90.95 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 27 paise to 90.95 against the US dollar in early trade on Friday, weighed down by a strong American currency and higher crude oil prices due to the escalated geopolitical tension.
A selling rush in domestic equities further pressured the Indian currency, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 90.94 and slipped further to trade at 90.95 against the greenback in early deals, losing 27 paise from its previous closing level.
The rupee rose 4 paise to settle at 90.68 against the US dollar on Wednesday. The currency exchange markets were closed on Thursday on account of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.04 per cent higher at 97.89.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.14 per cent higher at USD 71.77 per barrel in futures trade.
Analysts attributed the strengthening dollar and crude prices to heightened tension between the US and Iran, with both countries signalling they are prepared for war if talks on Tehran's nuclear programme fizzle out.
On the domestic equity market front, Sensex fell 150.35 points to 82,347.79 in early trade while the Nifty declined 35.15 points to 25,419.20.
On Thursday, foreign institutional investors offloaded equities worth Rs 880.49 crore, according to exchange data.
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