Messi, whose deal expires in 2021, had called his side "weak" and "inconsistent" after they lost the league title to Real Madrid.
The Indo-Croatian pair lost to John Stephens and Wesley Moodie in the quarter-finals of the St Petersburg Open.
World Cup hosts Russia have been fuelled by the criticism they received before the tournament, midfielder Anton Miranchuk said on Sunday as the team prepared for their second group match against Egypt.
India says it gives equal treatment to foreign companies on tax matters, not special consideration.
Seven-times champions AC Milan, knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona in the last two seasons, were drawn against the Catalans again in the group stage of this season's competition on Friday.
Russia will back the expansion of the G-8 if its partners in the club voice such a proposal, Putin said before the formal opening of the summit.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair wants India, along with four other developing countries, to be included in G8 for securing multilateral deals on climate change, trade and a common line on Iran.
The prime minister would hold summit level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Amid imminent phasing out of the fiscal stimulus by US Federal Reserve, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday called for an "orderly exit" from unconventional monetary policies being pursued by the developed world for the last few years to avoid damaging growth prospects of the developing world.
'Putin is in danger of losing face in his Ukrainian adventure. His bluster is a response to this.'
Stanislav Cherchesov is getting the big graffiti treatment in Russia after coaching the home team to the second round of the World Cup for the first time in 32 years.
Portugal, who missed a spot kick given thanks to the video assistant referees 16 minutes into the match, were awarded a second penalty after 104 minutes when Miguel Layun handled the ball.
Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis lost 2-6, 6-4, 10-5 to Russian pair Elena Vesnina and Daria Kasatkina late on Thursday night.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field
The Indo-Czech pair lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(7) to Julian Knowle of Austria in the first round
In a condolence message to his son Sanjay Dutt from St Petersburg, where he is on a State visit, President A P J Abdul Kalam, said Sunil Dutt had made significant contributions to the fields of art and public life.
He met Chinese President Hu Jintao in St Petersburg on Saturday as part of efforts to know each other and to create a proper atmosphere for the upcoming visit.
Novak Djokovic said an approach had been made offering him $200,000 to throw a match at the St Petersburg Open.
As the tournament gets to the next round here's look at the quarter-finalists.
Air India has deployed a B787 Dreamliner aircraft for the Delhi-Moscow-Delhi sector and offered attractive promotional fares.
Seven-time European champions AC Milan will face Arsenal in the standout last-16 tie in the Europa League after the draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday.
A lowdown on what's happening in the Malayalam film industry.
Making a suo motu statement on his recent visits to Germany, St Petersburg (Russia), Evian (France) and China, Vajpayee described as 'significant' the memorandum of understanding signed by India and China on border trade through Nathu La Pass.
Midfielder Denis Glushakov flicked the ball over goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic in the 31st minute as New Zealand defenders rushed back to try to clear it off the line. New Zealand's Michael Boxall got a touch on the ball and was credited with an own goal.
Russia and China have a broad consensus today on almost all core issues related to global strategic stability, which is unprecedented in modern history, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Brussels commuters, heading to work the morning after Belgium's painful World Cup loss to France, had to endure the French soccer anthem piped through the city's metro on Wednesday.
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