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The Centre will declare a period of national mourning for seven days to honour former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who died at the age of 92 on Thursday, sources have said. The former Prime Minister's last rites will be conducted with full state honours. All government programmes scheduled for Friday will be cancelled and the Union Cabinet will hold a meeting at 11 am, the sources added. When a period of national mourning is declared, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast on the days of mourning throughout India on all buildings where it is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the days. The Congress has also declared that all official programmes of the party, including Foundation Day celebration will be cancelled for next seven days and will resume on January 3. The party flag will also be flown at half-mast. "As a mark of respect for the departed former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh ji, all official programmes of the Indian National Congress, including the Foundation Day celebrations stand canceled for the next seven days. This includes all the agitational and outreach programs. Party programmes will resume on 3rd January, 2025. The party flag will be flown at half mast during this period of mourning," Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal posted on X. As a mark of respect for the departed former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh ji, all official programmes of the Indian National Congress, including the Foundation Day celebrations stand canceled for the next seven days. This includes all the agitational and outreach programs.... — K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) December 26, 2024 Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister for two successive terms between 2004 and 2014 and had also served as the finance minister under PV Narasimha Rao between 1991 and 1996. He is credited with ushering in liberalisation in India in 1991 through one of the country's most consequential Union Budgets. One of India's most respected politicians, tributes poured in for Manmohan Singh from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed Manmohan Singh one of India's most distinguished leaders and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said he had lost a "mentor and guide" . "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives," PM Modi posted on X. Rahul Gandhi wrote, "Manmohan Singh Ji led India with immense wisdom and integrity. His humility and deep understanding of economics inspired the nation. My heartfelt condolences to Mrs Kaur and the family. I have lost a mentor and guide. Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride." Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world

NEW DELHI (Reuters): Described as a “reluctant king” in his first stint as prime minister, the quietly spoken Manmohan Singh was arguably one of India’s most successful leaders. The first Sikh in office, Singh, 92, was being treated for age-related medical conditions and died after he was brought to hospital after a sudden loss of consciousness on Thursday. He is credited with steering India to unprecedented economic growth and lifting hundreds of millions out of dire poverty. He went on to serve a rare second term. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji.” He applauded the economist-turned-politician’s body of work. Born into a poor family in a part of British-ruled India now in Pakistan, Singh studied by candlelight to win a place at Cambridge University before heading to Oxford, earning a doctorate with a thesis on the role of exports and free trade in India’s economy. He became a respected economist, then India’s central bank governor and a government advisor but had no apparent plans for a political career when he was suddenly tapped to become finance minister in 1991. During that tenure to 1996, Singh was the architect of reforms that saved India’s economy from a severe balance of payments crisis, promoted deregulation and other measures that opened an insular country to the world. Famously quoting Victor Hugo in his maiden budget speech, he said: “No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come,” before adding: “The emergence of India as a major economic power in the world happens to be one such idea.” Singh’s ascension to prime minister in 2004 was even more unexpected. He was asked to take on the job by Sonia Gandhi, who led the center-left Congress party to a surprise victory. Italian by birth, she feared her ancestry would be used by Hindu-nationalist opponents to attack the government if she were to lead the country. Riding an unprecedented period of economic growth, Singh’s government shared the spoils of the country’s new found wealth, introducing welfare schemes such as a jobs program for the rural poor. In 2008, his government also clinched a landmark deal that permitted peaceful trade in nuclear energy with the United States for the first time in three decades, paving the way for strong relations between New Delhi and Washington. But his efforts to further open up the Indian economy were frequently frustrated by political wrangling within his own party and demands made by coalition partners. “History will be kinder to me” And while he was widely respected by other world leaders, at home Singh always had to fend off the perception that Sonia Gandhi was the real power in the government. The widow of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, whose family has dominated Indian politics since independence from Britain in 1947, she remained Congress party leader and often made key decisions. Known for his simple lifestyle and with a reputation for honesty, Singh was not personally seen as corrupt. But he came under attack for failing to crack down on members of his government as a series of scandals erupted in his second term, triggering mass protests. The latter years of his premiership saw India’s growth story, which he had helped engineer, wobble as global economic turbulence and slow government decision-making battered investment sentiment. In 2012, his government was tipped into a minority after the Congress party’s biggest ally quit their coalition in protest at the entry of foreign supermarkets. Two years later Congress was decisively swept aside by the Bharatiya Janata Party under Narendra Modi, a strongman who promised to end the economic standstill, clean up graft and bring inclusive growth to the hinterlands. But at a press conference just months before he left office, Singh insisted he had done the best he could. “I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or, for that matter, the opposition parties in parliament,” he said. Singh is survived by his wife and three daughters.CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns , Spencer Shrader kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday to reach double-digit wins for the 10th straight season. Noah Gray caught two TD passes as the Chiefs (10-1) bounced back from last week’s 30-21 loss at Buffalo and won at the buzzer yet again in a season of narrow escapes. DeAndre Hopkins also had a touchdown catch for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, who scored on their first five possessions. Bryce Young finished 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (3-8), who had their two-game winning streak snapped. David Moore had six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Trailing 27-19, Young completed a fourth-down pass to Adam Thielen to move the chains, then went deep for the veteran receiver, who drew a pass-interference penalty on Chamarri Conner. That set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Chuba Hubbard. Young's initial 2-point conversion toss to Moore drew a flag on Trent McDuffie, and Hubbard ran for 2 on the next play to tie the game with 1:46 left. Mahomes ran for 33 yards on the ensuing drive and was sprung by a downfield block from Justin Watson to reach field goal range. Then he connected with Kareem Hunt for 10 yards to make it a chip shot for Shrader. Mahomes finished with 60 yards rushing. The Chiefs wasted no time setting the tone as Samaje Perine returned the opening kickoff 56 yards and Mahomes found Gray for a 35-yard touchdown strike on the third play of scrimmage for a 7-0 lead. Gray went nine games without a TD catch before hauling in two last week against Buffalo. His 11-yard score late in the second quarter gave him two more against the Panthers . The Panthers moved the ball well but struggled in the red zone, resulting in field goals of 30, 32, 29 and 33 yards for Eddy Pineiro, the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Running back Jonathan Brooks made his NFL debut for Carolina, but was limited to 7 yards on two carries. Eight of the Chiefs' wins have come by a one-score margin, and this was their second straight victory decided on the last play. They beat Denver two weeks ago by blocking a would-be game-winning field goal. Kansas City's Travis Kelce had six catches for 62 yards and moved into third place in career yards receiving by a tight end. He ranks behind only Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. However, Kelce failed to find the end zone for the ninth time in 11 games this season. Panthers: Rookie TE Ja'Tavion Sanders was taken to the hospital with a neck injury after landing awkwardly on his head after making a catch near the end of the second quarter. Chiefs: Host Las Vegas on Friday. Panthers: Host Tampa Bay next Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLDENVER — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's "America's Got Talent" meets "American Idol," with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it's never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at "Dream Team" status given the men's side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023. The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. "We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport," said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. "We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world." Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores. "Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That's something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok, the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado's two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. "If a receiver is running around, I'm thinking, 'OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,'" Daniels explained. "They're like, 'No, you can't.' I'm just like, 'So I'm supposed to let this guy just run?!' I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn." The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. "I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. "I'm not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, 'I played NFL football for five years. I'm popular. I have a huge name.' I'm still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise." Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It's his way of working on avoiding a "defender" trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. "You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the 'Redeem Team' led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, 'That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. "Everybody thinks, 'Yeah, the U.S. just wins,'" Daniels said. "But we work hard all the time. We don't just walk in. We don't just get off the bus thinking, 'We're going to beat people.'" Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Maharashtra poll result: Sule vows to rebuild NCP (SP) with renewed commitmentAs the general election campaign enters its final week, all political parties are making a concerted play to the business sector. Employers require stability above all else and with an increasingly uncertain geopolitical world — set to be supercharged when Donald Trump takes office in January — industry leaders are anxiously looking ahead . The Irish tourism and hospitality industry is no different. With demand mixed in 2024, costs of business and squeezed margins have been the recurring themes around board tables. All the main parties have now published their full manifestos and each has outlined a suite of business supports. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Sinn Féin have proposed an employer PRSI rebate to help mitigate some of the labour costs businesses are wrestling with. This has drawn immediate criticism from ICTU which has called the measure “an unacceptable misuse of money”. But the truth is that if state-induced labour costs imposed on employers had been better moderated, then enterprises wouldn’t be so desperately worried about a loss of competitiveness. Thorny issue of Vat Tourism chiefs welcomed Fine Gael’s early pitch for support with its commitment to reduce the hospitality Vat rate to 11% despite the fact that the same party failed to deliver this in last month’s budget. Sinn Féin is proposing a lower 9% rate while Fianna Fáil and the Greens have focused on a business support fund to assist vulnerable companies. As important as competitiveness is, an equally critical issue for the economy is that of connectivity. With no bridges, tunnels, or roads off the island, air access to Dublin Airport is of critical importance. This is surely the biggest future handbrake on development for a country that is the textbook definition of a small open economy. All three main parties have acknowledged this and each states in their manifesto that, as well as supporting regional airport growth, they are in favour of lifting the Dublin Airport passenger cap. But none of them are brave enough to touch the thorny subject of “how”. The current administration is quick to point out that much of the last programme for government has been delivered. As of earlier this month, this now includes a new national tourism policy which was published in the very final throes of the administration. The previous iteration had a youthful Paschal Donohoe smiling from the inside cover as Tourism Minister, so what will be Catherine Martin’s tourism legacy? Well as was famously said about the French Revolution 200 years after it took place “it is too soon to say” and that’s certainly the case for Minister Martin. She came out strongly and resolutely in favour of the industry during the existential crisis that was covid, securing multi-million grants that saved many businesses. Attention has drifted But since the pandemic, there is a feeling that Government attention has drifted elsewhere and the sector hasn’t received the attention it warrants. A case in point is the new national tourism policy which was published with little fanfare and no media traction. Nonetheless, it is welcome that there is now a published commitment by the State as to how tourism is expected to fare over the next few years albeit its implementation will fall to the next Government. It is a truism that parties “campaign in poetry and govern in prose” and all manifesto commitments are likely to be watered down once coalition negotiations take place. It is important though that tourism issues are kept front and centre. The sector is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry and biggest regional employer — twice the size in terms of jobs than agriculture. With Trump Mark 2 and likely trade tensions, tariffs, and tantrums, Ireland’s FDI sector may come under some pressure. The next Government needs to seriously support homegrown domestic industries. It is clear that issues relating to a key indigenous industry such as tourism and hospitality — from competitiveness to decarbonisation — all have economic arguments at their core. Tourism needs a whole of Government approach due to its strategic importance and policy must be formulated in the next Dáil primarily through an economic lens.None

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Flag football uses talent camps to uncover new stars

Liverpool have kicked off at 8pm on a Boxing Day twice in their history. The first time was in 2019, when Jürgen Klopp’s team demolished Leicester en route to winning the Premier League title with ease. The second time ended with another convincing defeat of the Foxes. That may not be the only repeat. Arne Slot’s soaring leaders moved seven points clear of their closest challengers for the title, with a game in hand, courtesy of a controlled comeback against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side. Leicester took a shock early lead through Jordan Ayew and, while Liverpool never hit the heights of their 2019 performance at the King Power Stadium, goals from Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah’s 19th of the season ensured the outcome remained the same. Anfield was shrouded in fog for the night-time kick-off but for Liverpool there was an opportunity to put daylight between themselves and Chelsea after a perfect set of results elsewhere on Boxing Day. The league leaders’ prospects appeared healthy against a Leicester team that had been soundly beaten in their previous two fixtures and had a Premier League debutant in goal. Jakub Stolarczyk replaced Danny Ward as a result of the merciless barracking the Wales goalkeeper received from his own supporters in Leicester’s 3-0 defeat by Wolves on Sunday. “It’s not ideal,” admitted Van Nistelrooy beforehand. “But the circumstances with Wardy were intense, we all felt it, and it puts you in a position where you have to make decisions.” The Leicester manager’s decision paid early dividends as Stolarczyk and his struggling visitors tormented Liverpool until first-half stoppage time. The Polish keeper produced a fine double save to deny Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones from Liverpool’s first meaningful attack. Trent Alexander-Arnold switched play superbly to Gakpo on the left, and his driven cross found Salah arriving unmarked at the back post. Stolarczyk denied Liverpool’s leading goalscorer from close range before flicking the ball away from Jones’ toes when the midfielder attempted to pounce on the rebound. A temporary let-off assumed more significance two minutes later when Leicester took the lead via a clinical counterattack. The impressive Bilal El Khannouss, a tireless and creative force, released Stephy Mavididi in space down the left. Mavididi’s low cross somehow found its way across the Liverpool penalty area to the feet of Jordan Ayew, who turned Andy Robertson with ease before finding the bottom corner of Alisson’s net. Ayew’s shot took a slight deflection off the heel of Virgil van Dijk en route. Leicester’s sizeable and delirious travelling contingent could not have cared less. Cue the inevitable Liverpool response, albeit one disrupted by too many errant passes, careless touches and overhit deliveries. Mavididi could have had a second assist after Victor Kristiansen intercepted a loose cross-field ball from Darwin Núñez. Patson Daka sprinted into a gaping hole in the centre of Liverpool’s defence but this time Mavididi misplaced his pass and Liverpool escaped. Robertson almost teed up Gakpo with a magnificent ball over the Leicester rearguard but the Netherlands international was flagged offside. Salah saw a shot loop off Kristiansen and just over the crossbar after a poor clearance by Stolarczyk gifted possession to Robertson. From the resulting corner, Alexander-Arnold crossed at the second attempt and the Scotland captain’s header struck a post. The ball rebounded against the Leicester keeper and rolled out. Salah, having volleyed another inviting Gakpo delivery across goal, also struck the woodwork when Harry Winks lost possession deep in the Liverpool half and the hosts countered incisively. The Egypt international cut inside on to his trusty left foot and curled a shot against the bar. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Frustration was mounting, not least when only two minutes were added to the end of the first half. It proved long enough. Receiving an Alexis Mac Allister pass on the corner of the penalty area, Gakpo swept across James Justin and curled an unstoppable shot inside Stolarczyk’s left post. It was the forward’s 10th goal of the season and lifted the tension, though not the fog. Liverpool were immediately in control after the restart. Núñez fired over when Ryan Gravenberch pulled the ball back from the byline. Mac Allister found himself in a similar position to his midfield partner after a flowing one-touch move involving Jones and Salah. The Argentina midfielder fired low across the six-yard box and Jones was perfectly placed to convert. A lengthy wait ensued as the video assistant referee checked for a possible offside against Salah earlier in the buildup. There was a second tedious break in play when VAR took an age to determine that Núñez was offside before Gakpo rifled home what would have been Liverpool’s third. Núñez could have made it three himself before Gakpo’s disallowed effort but Stolarczyk made a fine reaction save from the striker’s first-time shot. Daka should have at least tested Alisson when Mavididi broke and delivered another pinpoint cross from the left. The Leicester forward got in front of his marker but swiped at thin air. Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'. If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version. In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications. Turn on sport notifications. Salah banished any prospect of a Leicester fightback – a slim prospect admittedly – with a brilliant trademark finish. Gakpo’s lofted pass found the striker in space on the right. Only Salah spotted the possibility of sealing victory as he advanced on Kristiansen. Having surveyed the options, he swept a superb shot between the Leicester left-back and Jannik Vestergaard into the far, bottom corner. Salah, and Liverpool, look unstoppable.Radha Soami Satsang Beas chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon met the jathedar of Damdama Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh at the former’s residence in Bathinda on Thursday, where the rebel Akali leader Surjit Singh Rakhra was also present. The meeting lasted over an hour. The district police authorities scaled up security around jathedar’s house in the Green City locality, and mediapersons were also not allowed to go near the house. The meeting comes amid Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) action against Giani Harpreet Singh. The SGPC had discharged Giani Harpreet Singh of his religious duties as jathedar for 15 days, and a three-member panel was constituted to look into allegations levelled against him. Dera head and Harpreet Singh did not face the media. Former state minister Rakhra told HT that his meeting with the dera head was a pure coincidence and there was nothing political about it. Rakhra said that they had lunch, where the dera head expressed his opinion to strengthen the qaum (community). He denied any discussion happened about the resignation of Sukhbir Singh Badal as chief of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) or the panthic politics. “I was on the way to Sirsa to pay respects to former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and visited jathedar saab as a courtesy. On reaching his residence, I learnt that the dera head was also visiting Giani Harpreet Singh. He had returned after paying condolences to the aggrieved Chautala family and I also decided to stay back as a social gesture,” said Rakhra.‘Petty’ prosecutor left with ‘egg on face’ after Trump’s win but still trying to make ‘mockery’ of system, lawyers warn