Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde celebrates scoring the third goal for his team during the Spanish La Liga football match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Tensions have increased dramatically inside the Real Madrid dressing room ahead of this weekend’s El Clasico against FC Barcelona, ​​with midfielder Federico Valverde now officially ruled out of the match after suffering a head injury during a scuffle with teammate Aurelien Tchoumeni in training.The incident occurred during Thursday’s session at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas complex, just days before the crucial meeting with Barcelona and follows an earlier clash between the two midfielders during Wednesday’s training.According to ESPN sources, the brawl took place at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex on Thursday, just three days before the club’s crucial meeting with Barcelona. The incident reportedly followed an earlier confrontation between the two midfielders during Wednesday’s training session.

Real Madrid confirm Valverde has suffered a head injury

Real Madrid confirmed on Friday that Valverde had been diagnosed with cranioencephalic trauma following a medical examination. The club said in a statement: “Following tests carried out today by Real Madrid Medical Services on our player Fede Valverde, he has been diagnosed with cranioencephalic trauma. “Valverde is in good condition at home and will need to rest for 10 to 14 days, as indicated by the medical protocol for this diagnosis.” The injury means the Uruguay captain will miss Sunday’s El Clasico. There were no reports of injuries to Tchoumeni following the incident involving the France international.

Valverde had to get stitches after the controversy

According to a source who spoke to ESPN, the confrontation occurred at the end of training after a practice match which included several heavy challenges.The source said Chouameni initially went to the changing rooms, followed shortly by Valverde who entered “looking very tense”, where the fight reportedly escalated.Another source told ESPN that Valverde kicked Tchoumeni during training, before the two exchanged insults, with Tchoumeni reportedly hitting Valverde hard during the confrontation.The same source claimed that there had been tension between the pair since Xabi Alonso was still at the club.ESPN further reported that Valverde was injured during the incident and later required stitches after being taken to the hospital.

Tension increased further after the dispute on Wednesday

Spanish outlet Marca had previously reported that the two midfielders were involved in a heated argument during Wednesday’s session following a disturbance in training.According to reports, tensions continued into Thursday, with the situation internally described as “much worse” than the original incident.Marca also claimed that Valverde refused to shake Tchoumeni’s hand when he returned to training following an earlier confrontation, describing the atmosphere inside the team as bad.Other teammates reportedly intervened before the situation escalated during Thursday’s clash.

Alvaro Arbeloa An emergency meeting was reportedly held

Following the incident, head coach Álvaro Arbeloa called an emergency crisis meeting in an attempt to calm tensions within the dressing room.The incident comes amid growing scrutiny over the environment within the Real Madrid team under head coach Alvaro Arbeloa.Spanish reports this week have claimed that many players are barely speaking to each other, while six members of the squad are also reportedly not having direct contact with Arbeloa.The atmosphere around the club is already tense after Kylian Mbappe was criticized following a brief trip to Sardinia while recovering from a left hamstring problem.

Mbappé also remains at the center of investigation

Mbappe was photographed with girlfriend Ester Exposito on a yacht in Sardinia last weekend while recovering from injury.The French forward returned to training on Monday, but the travel time reportedly caused frustration among the squad and supporters.Spanish reports claimed there was “disagreement” among teammates over the leave, while an online petition demanding Mbappe leave the club reportedly gained momentum earlier this week.Mbappé also released a statement through a spokesperson insisting that the criticism leveled at him “does not correspond to reality and the work that Kylian does daily for the good of the team”.The France captain has already faced criticism this season over alleged “individualism” within the dressing room and was also reportedly involved in a heated altercation with one of Arbeloa’s assistants during training.He also attracted attention after reportedly liking, and then deleting, a social media post that called for Jose Mourinho to return to Madrid and replace Arbeloa at the end of the season.Hours after the alleged altercation between Valverde and Tchoumeni on Thursday, footage also emerged showing Mbappe walking away from training at the Valdebebas complex smiling and laughing.

The pressure on El Clasico continues to grow

The timing of the reported incidents adds further pressure ahead of the final El Clasico of the season.Barcelona are currently 11 points ahead of Real Madrid in the La Liga table, with Barcelona’s title celebrations being delayed due to Madrid’s recent win over RCD Espanyol.A Madrid defeat this weekend could officially confirm Barcelona as league champions when the two rivals meet at the Camp Nou on Sunday.

New Delhi: The Centre’s advanced child health screening programme, RBSK 2.0, is facing criticism from a national group of doctors with disabilities who say it expands coverage but fails to address disability as a core priority – potentially leaving millions of children out of early diagnosis and care.In a memorandum to the Union Health Ministry, Doctors with Disabilities: Agents of Change, a group of health professionals, said that despite legal mandates and a global shift towards a rights-based health framework, the revised Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) does not meaningfully include disability. The letter was signed by Professor (Dr.) Satendra Singh on behalf of the group.The program continues with the “4Ds” framework – birth defects, deficiencies, diseases and developmental delays – but does not explicitly include disability. The 124-page guidelines document does not mention the word “disability”, raising concerns over compliance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016.Experts say conditions recognized as disabilities under the law – such as thalassemia, sickle cell disease and haemophilia – are not integrated into screening frameworks, despite significantly contributing to chronic disease and lifelong disability. India accounts for about 10% of the global thalassemia burden, with an estimated 1-1.5 lakh children affected.This omission is a step back from RBSK 1.0, which included hemoglobinopathy screening on an optional basis. Their expulsion comes even as the government is running parallel programs like the National Sickle Cell Eradication Mission.The Group also highlighted the absence of disability indicators in program monitoring and lack of linkage with Unique Disability IDs (UDIDs), thereby weakening accountability.Public health experts stress that prompt testing is important. Globally, almost one in ten children is living with a disability, and they are eight times more likely to die before the age of 17, underscoring the need for early identification and care.They argue that integrating disability into screening is feasible and low-cost. Point-of-care tests for conditions such as sickle cell disease require minimal training and can be deployed in rural settings. Global bodies, including the World Health Assembly, have emphasized universal newborn screening.The collective has urged the government to explicitly include disability, integrate all specified disabilities under the RPWD Act, link with national registries and expand the framework to include persons with disabilities in program design and training.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) could be set for a significant leadership rethink in the men’s T20I setup, India Today has learned, with captaincy likely to feature prominently in the upcoming selection meeting.

Suryakumar Yadav is unlikely to continue as India’s T20I captain, sources told India Today, with the selectors believed to be seriously considering a change at the top in the shortest format.

Suryakumar was appointed India’s T20I captain following the team’s T20 World Cup win in 2024, taking over the role from Rohit Sharma as the team moved towards a new era. Since then, he has remained a key figure in India’s T20 plans, but recent developments suggest that the management is looking towards a new leadership direction.

A major reason behind the reconsideration appears to be Suryakumar’s recent form.

While his return to form for India in 2026 remains respectable, his struggles in the ongoing Indian Premier League have raised concerns. Representing Mumbai Indians this season, the 35-year-old has scored just 195 runs in 10 matches at an average of 19.5 and a strike rate of 145.52 – numbers that are well below the expected standards of one of India’s leading T20 batsmen.

With India having already started shaping plans for the next T20 cycle, age could also be part of the discussion. At 35, Suryakumar remains an experienced and valuable individual, but the selectors may be considering the benefits of handing over the leadership role to someone who can drive the team’s long-term plans.

Shreyas Iyer emerged as the frontrunner

India Today has also come to know about this Shreyas Iyer is currently the leading candidateo Take over the T20I captaincy, his recent performances as both a leader and batsman have greatly enhanced his credentials.

Iyer’s dominance in captaincy talks This is a bit of a surprise considering his impact in the IPL over the last few seasons.

In 2024, he was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders setup, working alongside Gautam Gambhir as the franchise ended its long wait for an IPL title. His leadership credentials were further strengthened in 2025 when he moved to Punjab Kings and led them to the finals, helping turn the franchise into genuine contenders.

Punjab’s resurgence has continued in the current season, with the team remaining firmly in the playoff mix, making Iyer’s captaincy case even stronger.

Figures that strengthen Iyer’s case

Beyond leadership, Iyer’s form with the bat has made an equally compelling argument.

Since moving to Punjab Kings, the right-handed batsman has become one of the most consistent and explosive Indian batsmen in this format. In the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons, he has played 27 matches, scoring 937 runs at an average of 49.31 and a strike rate of 171, while registering 10 half-centuries.

These numbers underline not only the consistency, but also the aggressive scoring rate that modern T20 cricket demands.

The appeal to selectors is obvious. If India are indeed considering a leadership reset, Iyer offers a mix of tactical experience, recent captaincy success and elite T20 form.

Although no final decision has been taken yet, the upcoming selection meeting could give a clear indication of India’s plans. If the selectors opt for a change, Iyer appears to be the best suited man to lead India’s next generation in the shortest format.

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गाजियाबाद समाचार: उत्तर प्रदेश का गाजियाबाद अब न सिर्फ इंडस्ट्री, रियल एस्टेट और प्रदूषण के लिए जाना जाएगा, बल्कि अपनी खास स्ट्रीट फूड पहचान के लिए भी मशहूर होने जा रहा है। सरकार की एक जिला एक व्यंजन योजना के तहत लोकप्रिय स्ट्रीट फूड सोया चाप को नई पहचान देने की तैयारी शुरू हो गई है। जिला उद्योग केंद्र की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक अब यह सिर्फ फास्ट फूड नहीं रह गया है, बल्कि हजारों लोगों के लिए रोजगार का बड़ा जरिया बन गया है. अब इसे अंतरराष्ट्रीय ब्रांड बनाने की दिशा में तेजी से काम किया जा रहा है।

योजना में सोया चाप का चयन
सरकार की महत्वाकांक्षी एक जिला एक व्यंजन योजना के तहत गाजियाबाद के सोया चाप को जिले की खास पहचान के तौर पर चुना गया है. इस योजना का मकसद हर जिले के एक खास व्यंजन को देश-दुनिया में पहचान दिलाना है. रिपोर्ट में बताया गया है कि सोया चाप अब शहर के स्ट्रीट फूड कल्चर का अहम हिस्सा बन गया है.