Himachal: Light rain, snowfall forecast at higher reaches from Dec 31; orange alert for fog
Shimla (PTI): Following a continuous dry spell for more than a month, the mid and high hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh are likely to receive light rain or snowfall between December 31 and January 2, as a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayas, the Met office forecast.
It also issued an orange alert on Saturday, warning of dense to very dense fog over parts of the Bhakra dam reservoir area in Bilaspur district and areas in the Balh valley (Mandi district) on December 28 and 29.
Light rain or snow is likely at isolated places in mid and higher hills from December 31, 2025, to January 2, 2026, as a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayan region from December 30, the local meteorological station said.
Dry weather is likely to prevail during the remaining days of the week and minimum temperatures are likely to rise by 2-4 degrees Celsius during the next two or three days, it said, adding that minimum temperatures are likely to fall gradually by 2-5 degrees during the rest of the week.
Meanwhile, maximum temperatures rose by few notches at most places, with Una recording the hottest day temperature of 24.2 degrees Celsius while state capital Shimla, Bhuntar, Manali and Kalpa recorded maximum temperatures of 19.2 degrees Celsius, 20.5 degrees Celsius, 15.5 degrees Celsius and 12.9 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The minimum temperature hovered near freezing point at many places, with Kukumseri the coldest at minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Tabo at minus 3.9 degrees Celsius.
The state received 99 percent deficit in rainfall during December so far and all districts except Lahaul and Spiti witnessed 100 percent rainfall deficit.
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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.
