Governor Malik hoists tricolour in first I-Day celebration in J-K after abrogation of special status
Srinagar: Sustained efforts by armed forces have ensured that terrorists have accepted their defeat, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Thursday after hoisting the national flag at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium here in the first Independence Day celebration after the abrogation of the state's special status.
After unfurling the flag, Malik inspected the parade of para-military forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police. Addressing the gathering, Malik said people need not be worried about their identity after the steps taken by the Centre.
He said the government has a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and sustained efforts by armed forces have ensured that terrorists have accepted their defeat.
There is a sharp decline in terror recruitment and incidents of stone pelting after Friday prayers, he said.
Restrictions were put in place here in the wake of the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution.
Principal Secretary in the J-K administration Rohit Kansal had said restrictions were eased out in various parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar city, where peace prevailed on Wednesday.
He, however, said reasonable restrictions are put in place to maintain the law and order situation in the Valley.
The situation in Kashmir has remained calm since the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 as no major incidents have been reported and due to this, the government has further relaxed prohibitory orders in many areas, the officer had said.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
