Members of Congress party light candles as they pay homage to late India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Amritsar on December 27, 2024. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP)
Mourners in India’s capital gathered Saturday to pay their respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh ahead of a state funeral for the man key to the country’s economic liberalisation.
Singh, who held office from 2004 to 2014, died at the age of 92 on Thursday, after which seven days of state mourning were declared.
Officers lead the coffin of India’s late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, for a state funeral ceremony in New Delhi on December 28, 2024. – Mourners in India’s capital gathered on December 28, to pay their respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh ahead of a state funeral for the man key to the country’s economic liberalisation. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)
His coffin, draped in garlands of flowers, was flanked by a guard of honour and carried to his Congress Party headquarters in New Delhi.
In this handout photograph taken on December 27, 2024 and released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB), India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) lays a wreath as he pays last respects to former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at his residence in New Delhi. – India announced seven days of state mourning on December 27 after the death of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, one of the architects of the country’s economic liberalisation in the early 1990s. (Photo by PIB / AFP) / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO/INDIAN PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (PIB)” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
It will later be taken through the capital to be cremated, accompanied by guards of soldiers and accorded full state honours.
Indian National Congress (INC) party leader Rahul Gandhi (Centre R) is pictured during procession as the coffin of India’s late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is taken for a state funeral ceremony in New Delhi on December 28, 2024. Mourners in India’s capital gathered on December 28, to pay their respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh ahead of a state funeral for the man key to the country’s economic liberalisation. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who along with other leaders is expected to attend the funeral, called Singh one of India’s “most distinguished leaders”.
Opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he had lost “a mentor and guide”, adding that Singh had “led India with immense wisdom and integrity”.
Officers lead the coffin of India’s late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, for a state funeral ceremony in New Delhi on December 28, 2024. – Mourners in India’s capital gathered on December 28, to pay their respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh ahead of a state funeral for the man key to the country’s economic liberalisation. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)
US President Joe Biden called Singh a “true statesman”, saying that he “charted pathbreaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations — and the world — for generations to come”.
The former prime minister was an understated technocrat who was hailed for overseeing an economic boom in his first term.
Officers lead the coffin of India’s late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, for a state funeral ceremony in New Delhi on December 28, 2024. – Mourners in India’s capital gathered on December 28, to pay their respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh ahead of a state funeral for the man key to the country’s economic liberalisation. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)
Singh’s second stint ended with a series of major corruption scandals, slowing growth and high inflation.
Singh’s unpopularity in his second term, and lacklustre leadership by Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi, the current opposition leader in the lower house, led to Modi’s first landslide victory in 2014.
Officers carry the mortal remains of India’s late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi on December 28, 2024. – Mourners in India’s capital gathered on December 28, to pay their respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh ahead of a state funeral for the man key to the country’s economic liberalisation. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)
– ‘Service to the nation’ –
Born in 1932 in the mud-house village of Gah in what is now Pakistan and was then British-ruled India, Singh studied economics to find a way to eradicate poverty in the vast nation.
In this handout photograph taken on December 27, 2024 and released by the Indian Press Information Bureau (PIB), India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) pays last respects to former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at his residence in New Delhi. – India announced seven days of state mourning on December 27 after the death of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, one of the architects of the country’s economic liberalisation in the early 1990s. (Photo by PIB / AFP) / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO/INDIAN PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (PIB)” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
He won scholarships to attend both Cambridge, where he obtained a first in economics, and Oxford, where he completed his doctorate.
Members of Congress party pay their homage to late India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Amritsar on December 27, 2024. – India announced seven days of state mourning on December 27 after the death of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, one of the architects of the country’s economic liberalisation in the early 1990s. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP)
Singh worked in a string of senior civil service posts, served as a central bank governor and also held various jobs with global agencies including the United Nations.
He was tapped in 1991 by then Congress prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao to serve as finance minister and reel India back from the worst financial crisis in its modern history.
Members of Congress party light candles as they pay homage to late India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Amritsar on December 27, 2024. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP)
Though he had never held an elected post, he was declared the National Congress’s candidate for the highest office in 2004.
Gursharan Kaur (C), wife of India’s late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, arrives for the state funeral ceremony at All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi on December 28, 2024. – Mourners in India’s capital gathered on December 28, to pay their respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh ahead of a state funeral for the man key to the country’s economic liberalisation. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)
In his first term, Singh steered the economy through a period of nine per cent growth, lending India the international clout it had long sought.
Officers carry the coffin of India’s late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, for a state funeral ceremony in New Delhi on December 28, 2024. – Mourners in India’s capital gathered on December 28, to pay their respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh ahead of a state funeral for the man key to the country’s economic liberalisation. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)
He also sealed a landmark nuclear deal with the United States that he said would help India meet its growing energy needs.
Officers lead the coffin of India’s late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, for a state funeral ceremony in New Delhi on December 28, 2024. – Mourners in India’s capital gathered on December 28, to pay their respects to former prime minister Manmohan Singh ahead of a state funeral for the man key to the country’s economic liberalisation. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)
President Droupadi Murmu said that Singh would “always be remembered for his service to the nation, his unblemished political life and his utmost humility”.
Oliver Glasner is in advanced talks to replace Vitor Pereira as Nottingham Forest head coach, a move which would see the Austrian become the club’s fifth manager in less than a year.
Pereira announced his departure from the club in a statement on Wednesday, saying that it came as a “complete surprise to me and without any warning”.
Glasner is a free agent after leaving Crystal Palace — where he won the FA Cup in 2024-25 and then the Community Shield and Conference League the following campaign — and is set to stay in the Premier League.
The 51-year-old confirmed in January that he would leave Palace at the end of the season after two years in charge.
On Thursday, Forest confirmed Pereira’s coaching staff Filipe Almeida, Luis Miguel, Bruno Moura, Marco Knoop and Pedro Lopes had all left the club alongside the head coach.
Pereira, 57, was appointed Forest head coach in February on an 18-month contract which runs until 2027.
The Athletic reported in May Forest had been planning to show their faith in Pereira by handing the head coach a new long-term contract, but those talks were subsequently put on hold.
“Today marks the end of my journey as head coach of Nottingham Forest,” he said in his statement.
“I want to say a sincere thank you to everyone connected with this incredible football club. Although this decision came as a complete surprise to me and without any warning, I fully respect the club’s right to make the decisions it believes are best for its future.
“Naturally, I am disappointed and saddened. I truly believed in what we were building together, and I leave with a sense of pride in everything we achieved over the past months.
“Together, we enjoyed a memorable end to the season. We secured the club’s Premier League status, reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, and created moments that will stay with me forever. Most importantly, I saw a group of players grow in confidence, belief and togetherness.
“I leave Nottingham Forest with no bitterness or resentment—only respect, gratitude and wonderful memories. Football is full of unexpected moments, and while this chapter has ended sooner than I expected, I will always look back on my time here with pride and affection.”
The Portuguese succeeded Sean Dyche and was Forest’s fourth permanent boss of the season following the departures of Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou.
Nuno had led Forest to Europa League qualification the previous season but he departed in September, less than three months after signing a new deal. Postecoglou was appointed his replacement but was dismissed just 39 days later. Dyche took charge of the team in October before his dismissal in February.
Forest were three points above the relegation zone when Pereira was appointed and he subsequently steered his side to Premier League safety with two games of the campaign remaining.
His appointment marked his second managerial spell in the Premier League after guiding Wolverhampton Wanderers to safety during the 2024-25 campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo has publicly countered suggestions from his sister, Katia Aveiro, that he intends to retire from international football following the World Cup.
The Portuguese legend recently led his team to the round of 16 following a 2-1 victory over Croatia.
Ronaldo continued to be a pivotal player for his country, having scored the equalising goal from the penalty spot after going one goal down in the second half.
Following his goal, he became the oldest player to score in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup.
Reports from Portuguese media had quoted Aveiro stating that the current tournament would be Ronaldo’s final appearance for the national team.
Before the recent match against Croatia, Aveiro was quoted as saying, “From the information I have, from a reliable source, I believe that this is the last dance, so let’s enjoy it. I strongly believe this is the farewell.”
However, the football icon has made it clear that his focus remains solely on the present, not on his future.
“My future isn’t important right now,” Ronaldo stated. “I’ll have time; after winning or losing, I’ll talk to my family and then make the best decision.”
The legendary forward, who recently secured a trophy in Saudi Arabia, holds the record for both appearances and goals for his national team, with 146 goals in 232 caps.
The UEFA Appeals Body has announced that Czech club Karvina is banned from participating in next season’s Europa League. UEFA made the decision based on competition regulations, ruling that Karvina “directly or indirectly participated in activities aimed at manipulating or influencing the results of domestic matches,” as stated in the official resolution.
As a result of this decision, Karvina’s spot as domestic cup winner will be taken by Viktoria Plzeň, with Viktoria Plzeň’s second qualifying round spot going to Hradec Králové. Jablonec will fill the vacant Conference League spot originally held by Hradec Králové.
In the Europa League, Hradec Králové will face Tromsø. In the Conference League, Jablonec will face Varaždin.
Viktoria Plzeň will learn their opponent in the Europa League playoff draw on Monday, August 3.
