Karkala: Award-winning Journalist Shekhar Ajekaru passes away at 54
Udupi: Shekhar Ajekaru, a renowned journalist, and writer known for his impactful contributions to journalism and literature, passed away on Tuesday morning at a private hospital in Karkala. He succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 54, leaving behind a legacy of literary achievements and community service.
Ajekaru initiated his journalism career in Mumbai and later worked with several newspapers, including Karnataka Malla, Janavahini, Ushakirana, Prajavani, Kannada Prabha, Daijiworld, and Kundaprabha. Over the years, he made significant contributions to the field of journalism and was an active member of the journalists' union, serving as the vice-president of the Udupi branch for a decade.
Apart from his journalistic endeavors, Ajekaru was a prolific writer, having authored approximately 22 books on various topics. His literary works covered diverse subjects, including the local sport of kambala. He was also known for organizing children's literature meets and was the founder of the 'Beladingalu Sahitya Sammelana.' Additionally, Ajekaru initiated a unique program where literary achievers were felicitated in their own homes, showcasing his innovative approach to promoting literature in the community.
Throughout his career, Ajekaru received numerous accolades and awards in recognition of his literary and journalistic contributions. He was honored with the Sangolli Rayanna Award, Udupi District Kannada Literature Award 2019, District Rajyotsava Award, Vishwa Darshana Literature Award 2019, and the Shikha Bharathi Award. His impactful work as a scribe earned him the Journalism Award in 1995, highlighting his dedication and excellence in the field of journalism.
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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.
