Lebawit Lily Girma | (TNS) Bloomberg News When winter rolls around, travelers predictably turn their attention to beaches. And this year, it’s the destination that comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean” that’s experiencing outsize demand from Americans planning a warm island vacation. Talk about trashing stereotypes. Related Articles Travel | Would you pay $700 a night to sleep under the stars at this Colorado resort? Travel | Thailand’s starring role in ‘The White Lotus’ is about to pay off Travel | 5 under-the-radar travel destinations the UN says you should visit Travel | Gift ideas for people planning their next trip Travel | Lights and decor, réveillon meals make Christmastime special in New Orleans Puerto Rico has recovered overseas visitors (excluding those from Canada and Mexico) faster than any U.S. state or territory — a staggering 85% increase over its 2019 overseas inbound visitor levels as of 2023, according to an October study from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office. There are now more daily flights from the U.S. West Coast, and hotel bookings are 6% higher so far in this last quarter of 2024 year-over-year. It’s a trifecta of tourism growth: more visitors, but also longer stays and a higher spend that reached a record $9.8 billion in 2023, boosting small businesses as well as major brands. “We don’t have a slow season in Puerto Rico anymore,” says Brad Dean, chief executive officer at Discover Puerto Rico. Even if they’re not booking, people are dreaming about “La Isla.” By tracking flight searches for trips between November 2024 and February 2025, a measure of “inspirational” demand, tourism intelligence company Mabrian Technologies reports Puerto Rico is up 9% compared with the same period last year and leads Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and the Bahamas in the Caribbean proper. Only Costa Rica ranked higher in the wider region. Dean attributes Puerto Rico’s ongoing tourism growth to a strategic effort to reposition the island’s brand as more than a sun-and-sea destination, starting back in 2018. That led to the Live Boricua campaign, which began in 2022 and leaned heavily on culture, history and cuisine and was, Dean says, “a pretty bold departure” in the way Puerto Rico was showcased to travelers. He adds that at least $2 billion in tourism spend is linked to this campaign. “We (also) haven’t shied away from actively embracing the LGBTQ+ community, and that has opened up Puerto Rico to audiences that may not have considered the Caribbean before,” Dean says. Hotels are preparing to meet this growing demand: A number of established boutique properties are undergoing upgrades valued between $4 million and more than $50 million, including Hotel El Convento; La Concha, which will join the Marriott Autograph Collection; Condado Vanderbilt Hotel; and the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar. That’s in addition to ultra-chic options that are coming online in 2025, including the adults-only Alma San Juan, with rooms overlooking Plaza Colón in the heart of Old San Juan, and the five-star Veranó boutique hotel in San Juan’s trendy Santurce neighborhood. The beachfront Ritz-Carlton San Juan in Isla Verde will also be reopening seven years after Hurricane Maria decimated the island. The travel industry’s success is helping boost employment on the island, to the tune of 101,000 leisure and hospitality jobs as of September 2024, a 26% increase over pre-pandemic levels, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Efforts to promote Puerto Rico’s provinces beyond the San Juan metro area — such as surfing hub Rincón on the west coast, historical Ponce on the south coast and Orocovis for nature and coffee haciendas in the central mountains —have spread the demand to small businesses previously ignored by the travel industry. Take Sheila Osorio, who leads workshops on Afro-Puerto Rican bomba music and dance at Taller Nzambi, in the town of Loíza, 15 miles east of San Juan; or Wanda Otero, founder of cheese-producing company Vaca Negra in Hatillo, an hour’s drive west of Old San Juan, where you can join a cheese-making workshop and indulge in artisanal cheese tastings. “The list of businesses involved in tourism has gone from 650 in 2018 to 6,100, many of which are artists and artisans,” Dean says. While New Yorkers and Miami residents have always been the largest visitor demographic, Dean says more mainland Americans now realize that going to Puerto Rico means passport-free travel to enjoy beaches, as well as opportunities to dine in Michelin-rated restaurants, hike the only rainforest in the U.S. and kayak in a bioluminescent bay. Visitors from Chicago and Dallas, for example, have increased by approximately 40% from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, compared with the same period in 2022-2023, and more travelers are expected from Denver now that United Airlines Holdings Inc. has kicked off its first nonstop service to San Juan, beginning on Oct. 29. Previously, beach destinations that were easy to reach on direct flights from Denver included Mexico, Belize and California, but now Puerto Rico joins that list with a 5.5-hour nonstop route that cuts more than two hours from the next-best option. Given United Airlines’ hub in San Francisco, it could mean more travelers from the Golden State in the near future, too. In December, U.S. airlines will have 3,000 more seats per day to the territory compared with the same period last year, for a total of 84,731 — surpassing even Mexico and the Dominican Republic in air capacity, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, the island’s primary gateway, is projecting a record volume of 13 million passengers by year’s end — far surpassing the 9.4 million it saw in 2019. As for Hinchcliffe’s “floating island of garbage” line, Dean says it was “a terribly insensitive attempt at humor” that transformed outrage into a marketing silver lining, with an outpouring of positive public sentiment and content on Puerto Rico all over social media. Success, as that old chestnut goes, may be the best revenge. “It was probably the most efficient influencer campaign we’ve ever had,” Dean says, “a groundswell of visitors who posted their photos and videos and said, ‘This is the Puerto Rico that I know.’” ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Overall Outlook in 2025 Libra, 2025 promises to be a year of growth and transformation for you. Saturn’s influence will bring employment opportunities and success in competitions, while Jupiter will help you rise in social status and expand your contacts. This year, you may experience some delays and challenges, but these will pave the way for long-term achievements. Stay focused and patient as the stars guide you towards personal and professional advancement. Love & Relationships in 2025 This year, your relationships may go through a mix of highs and lows. While Saturn's influence may bring some delays or challenges in romantic matters, Jupiter’s placement after May will bring opportunities to connect with influential people, enriching your social circle. If you’re in a relationship, focus on communication and understanding. Career & Finances in 2025 Saturn’s placement will push you to work hard and excel in your career. Expect success in competitive ventures, especially in the first half of the year. Jupiter will play a pivotal role in boosting your reputation and bringing recognition for your efforts. Financially, you may face minor challenges, but these will be outweighed by gains from strategic decisions. Avoid impulsive investments and focus on long-term financial stability. Health in 2025 Health might need extra attention, especially in the first half of the year. Saturn’s transit could bring minor health issues or fatigue due to overwork. However, as Jupiter moves into a favorable position, you’ll notice improvements in energy and overall wellness. Maintain a balanced lifestyle, prioritize rest, and adopt a healthy diet to keep any health concerns at bay. Best Months of 2025 The most favorable months for you will be June, July, and August. These months will bring positivity in both personal and professional life, helping you make significant progress. Bad Months of 2025 Be cautious during January, February, and April. These months may bring delays in your plans and minor challenges in relationships and finances. Handle situations with patience and care. Key Mantra for 2025 "Patience and persistence pave the path to success." Stay focused on your goals, and trust that your hard work will lead to remarkable outcomes. Libra Sign Attributes Strength: Idealist, socially presentable, Aesthetic, Charming, Artsy, Generous Weakness: Uncertain, Lazy, Non-interventionist Symbol: Scales Element: Air Body Part: Kidneys & Bladder Sign Ruler: Venus Lucky Day: Friday Lucky Color: Brown Lucky Number: 3 Lucky Stone: Diamond Libra Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius Good compatibility: Aries, Libra Fair compatibility: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces Less compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)
Thick fog disrupts flights on busy UK travel weekend
Plume Partners With Digift To Expand Regulated Digital Asset OfferingsOverall Outlook in 2025 2025 is a year of steady growth and notable achievements for Virgo. With Saturn transitioning from the 6th to the 7th house, the year begins with a focus on career, competitions, and resolving long-pending tasks. However, after March, relationships, partnerships, and personal connections take center stage. Jupiter’s presence in your 9th house initially brings opportunities to enhance your social status, build meaningful contacts, and gain recognition. Stay consistent and practical to make the most of this promising year. Love & Relationships in 2025 Relationships require patience and understanding this year. Until March, your energy will largely focus on professional and personal growth, leaving little room for romantic matters. However, post-March, the Saturnian shift to your 7th house might bring delays in romantic commitments or create misunderstandings in existing relationships. For married Virgos, Jupiter’s influence ensures harmony and growth with your partner. Singles could reconnect with someone from the past or form a meaningful bond in the latter half of the year. Career & Finances in 2025 The year is marked by career milestones and financial growth. Jupiter’s influence on the 9th and 10th houses will help Virgos gain recognition, make influential connections, and climb the professional ladder. Promotions and leadership opportunities are highly likely, especially after May. Financially, the first half of the year promises steady income, while the second half sees new investments and success in ventures. Health in 2025 Health remains stable for most of the year, with occasional concerns that require attention. Saturn in the 6th house till March ensures you overcome past health challenges and build physical endurance. However, as Saturn moves into your 7th house, stress and overwork might affect your well-being. Best Months of 2025 The months of May, August, and November will bring positivity, career growth, and personal achievements. Bad Months of 2025 March and July might feel challenging due to delays or obstacles in relationships and increased stress at work. Key Mantra for 2025 Stay patient and practical; steady progress will lead to lasting success. Virgo Sign Attributes Strength: Kind, Elegant, Perfectionist, Modest, Strong-willed Weakness: Picky, Over-possessive Symbol: Virgin maiden Element: Earth Body Part: Intestine Sign Ruler : Mercury Lucky Day: Wednesday Lucky Color: Gray Lucky Number: 7 Lucky Stone : Sapphire Virgo Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn Good compatibility: Virgo, Pisces Fair compatibility: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius Less compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm pounded California’s central coast on Monday, brining flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet (18 meters) as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon as forecasters warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. “We are anticipating that what is coming toward us is more serious than what was there this morning,” said Fred Keeley, mayor of the city of Santa Cruz, where the pier collapsed. In Watsonville along the Monterey Bay, first responders were called to Sunset State Beach, a state park, around 11:30 a.m. Monday for a report of a man trapped under debris. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office believes a large wave pinned him there. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital. Other details were not immediately available and his name has not been released. The storm’s high surf also likely pulled another man into the Pacific Ocean around noon Monday at Marina State Beach, nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) south of Watsonville, authorities said. Strong currents and high waves forced searchers to abandon their efforts roughly two hours later as conditions worsened. The man remained missing Monday evening. In Santa Cruz, the municipal wharf under construction partially collapsed and fell into the ocean around 12:45 p.m., taking three people with it. Two people were rescued by lifeguards and a third swam to safety. No one was seriously injured. Keeley, the mayor, said that section of the wharf had been damaged over time. The structure was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco. “It’s a catastrophe for those down at the end of the wharf,” said David Johnston, owner of Venture Quest Kayaking, who was allowed onto the pier to check on his business. Tony Elliot, the head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that about 150 feet (45 meters) of the end of the wharf fell into the water. It was immediately evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely. Some of the wharf’s pilings are still in the ocean and remain “serious, serious hazards” to boats, the mayor said. Each piling weighs hundreds of pounds and is being pushed by powerful waves. “You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office said on the social platform X. The end of the Santa Cruz Wharf that broke off had been shut down during renovations. The portion, which included public restrooms and the closed Dolphin restaurant, floated about half a mile (0.8 kilometers) down the coast and wedged itself at the bottom of the San Lorenzo River. Those who fell into the water were two engineers and a project manager who were inspecting the end of the wharf, officials said. No members of the public were in the area. Building inspectors were looking at the rest of the pier’s structural integrity. Further up the West Coast, dangerous surf conditions and waves up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) were expected from the central Oregon coast up through southwestern Washington. Winds could peak near 80 mph (130 kph) and a high surf warning in effect until 10 p.m. Monday night, forecasters said. In a post on X, the National Weather Service office in Portland, Oregon, said “it will likely go down as some of the highest surf this winter.” ___ Dazio reported from Los Angeles.UNLV hires former Florida coach Mullen to lead programPackers make surprising move with Jaire Alexander
In its zero-waste facility in Wabash, Indiana, REAL ALLOY plans to use ALTEK's AluSaltTM salt slag processing technology to recycle metallics and salts, and recover other non-metallic products. "ALTEK is very excited to work with REAL ALLOY on this first-of-its-kind, milestone project for the U.S. aluminum industry as they work toward achieving aggressive sustainability goals,” said James Herbert, managing director of ALTEK. "Our AluSalt technology is designed to reduce carbon emissions, eliminate landfill associated with salt slag recycling, and generate byproducts that can be reused back in REAL ALLOY'S recycling process, as well as within the cement and steel industries.” Enviri acquired ALTEK in 2018 to expand the metal recovery byproduct reuse capabilities of its Harsco Environmental division into the aluminum industry. ALTEK has active equipment in over 600 locations worldwide and works with customers, supplying knowledge and technology to improve operating efficiencies and productivity, reduce waste generation, and manage and extract value from waste streams. About Enviri Enviri is transforming the world to green, as a trusted global leader in providing a broad range of environmental services and related innovative solutions. The Company serves a diverse customer base by offering critical recycle and reuse solutions for their waste streams, enabling customers to address their most complex environmental challenges and to achieve their sustainability goals. Enviri is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and operates in more than 150 locations in over 30 countries. Additional information can be found at www.enviri.com .
Powerful PDP governor's secretary resigns in popular northern state
NEW DELHI: In life, he always seemed, rather charmingly, a little out of place when surrounded by the trappings of high office. Some, therefore, may have found it slightly ironic that the last journey of Manmohan Singh, who had once told his security official that he preferred a Maruti hatchback to a sleek BMW, was choreographed as per the ceremonial demands of a state funeral . But state funerals are mandated for ex-PMs. But even ex-PMs are a matter of politics. The state funeral happened with Congress and BJP still locked in a bad-tempered debate over a memorial site. Singh, whose baptism in politics was pretty rough and got rougher during his second stint as PM, wouldn't probably have been too surprised at this, had he had an inkling. Under a grey sky on a wintry morning, the cortege left the AICC office for the cremation site, with heavy bandobast all the way. This being a state funeral, armed forces had their part to play. There was a military band, and ceremonial marching. The CDS and the three service chiefs were present. At the AICC office, where it all began on Saturday, Congress members gathered in force to bid goodbye to one of the party's most consequential PMs. Singh's family members, wife Gursharan Kaur and daughters Upinder, Daman and Amrit were received by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi . Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present, along with party CMs, brass and workers. The cortege left for Delhi's oldest and largest crematorium, Nigambodh Ghat , after the singing of the national anthem at the AICC office. The pace was, as it always is on such occasions, stately, keeping in mind mourners walking alongside. There was a profusion of flowers. Some mourners were silent, others respectfully vocal. The latter joining in with the chanting of two, oft-heard memorialising slogans reserved for notable, departed politicians: "Amar rahe" and "Jab tak suraj, chand rahega, tab tak tera naam rahega". Congress was front and centre at Nigambodh, as was to be expected. All dignified, but no BJP-Cong interaction at cremation site Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, party chief ministers Siddaramaiah, Revanth Reddy and Sukhwinder Sukhu, and other senior functionaries were at the gate of Nigambodh Ghat when the casket, draped in the Tricolour, was taken in. Laying of wreaths began once the casket was put on a raised platform. The long list of dignitaries present included, aside from Singh's family members, PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, the three Gandhis, Rajnath Singh, other NDA govt members, presiding officers of the LS and RS, Congress functionaries, Delhi CM and LG, and armed forces chiefs. Foreign countries were represented by Bhutan's king and a Mauritius minister. There was no noticeable interaction between BJP and Congress functionaries. But obviously unlike on X, where Saturday morning saw another bout between the parties, it was all dignified. The last rites began with Sikh priests reciting verses from Gurbani. Singh's daughter, historian Upinder Singh, lit the pyre, other family members beside her. Not too long after, the state funeral was over. But politics, of course, wasn't. A slogan raised from the crowd - 'MMS ko Bharat Ratna do' - was a reminder, if anyone needed reminding. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .The watchmaking prodigy has drawn scepticism because of his young age, but his passion and talent have already earned him recognition in the horological world Stepping into 16-year-old watchmaker Ricky Hong’s workshop/bedroom reveals a huge contrast between his youthful age and his chosen after-school activities. Exposed watch movements tick loudly atop his standing desk while more typical preoccupations of a teenager – an Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 – sit discreetly underneath. “People see someone who’s 50 or 60 and just assume they’re capable, but if they see a teenager, they’ll think he’s too young,” Hong says of the way he has been received in the watch community. “I’ve been called a cheeky brat, jokingly. I have to accept the fact that I’m still young and may not get that respect yet.” Despite his youth, Hong, who has been featured by local media for his ambitious forays into watchmaking, has a CV that would make a grown horology insider envious. After seeing his first Lemania movement at the age of 13 and asking where the battery was, Hong started modifying Casio G-Shock “Casioaks” for paying clients, going on to learn to assemble watches from factory-produced parts, then designing those parts and now polishing his own movements. Such are his skills that, in 2023, he was appointed to the celebrated Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève Academy, which requires referrals from two existing members. These days, Hong prefers to spend his time on proprietary designs. “Before I got into watches, I wore a Daniel Wellington, but when I played sports the crown snapped. I wanted to make a watch I could wear to school that is dressy but durable,” Hong recalls. Inspired by H. Moser & Cie’s Vantablack pieces, Hong ordered cases from various factories in bulk from Taobao to finally assemble the piece. His second and third pieces added complexity – a tourbillon fitted to a gold case that is even more akin to the H. Moser & Cie Venturer Concept Vantablack; then a piece powered by a Sellita SW200 movement with a custom case designed with a crown guard, as well as dials and hands he was able to have customised by a factory. Hong’s most recent piece, with an openworked tourbillon, is an expression of his ultimate desire to build his own brand. Calligraphy of his Chinese surname fills the 3 o’clock area of the dial. Hong also used a jewellery saw to cut away parts of the stock movement plate to build a barrel bridge at 10 o’clock, painstaking work where even fractions of a millimetre difference caused earlier versions to snap. Through working on these four pieces, Hong has gone from assembling pre-existing parts to flexing more of his watchmaking and design chops, but he still feels it’s tough to pin down if what he is doing makes him a watchmaker. “I always say I’m not [a watchmaker] but I’m very lucky to know a few young watchmakers who tell people, ‘Don’t listen to him, he’s a watchmaker.’ After a while, I don’t want to deny what they’re saying, so I compromise and have added ‘part-time watchmaker’ to my Instagram,” he says.
By Derek B. Johnson December 23, 2024 The State Department’s center for fighting global disinformation received a lump of coal in its Christmas stocking this week as congressional lawmakers excluded new funding and authorization for the office beyond this year. The Global Engagement Center, which tracks foreign disinformation, will lose its authority on Dec. 24. Despite a concerted push by State officials to lobby Congress for an extension, a measure to extend the center’s authority into 2031 was stripped out of the final version of defense authorization legislation that passed through the Senate. “The Global Engagement Center will terminate by operation of law [by the end of the day] on December 23, 2024,” a State Department spokesperson told CyberScoop in an email. “The Department of State has consulted with Congress regarding next steps.” According to figures provided by State, the GEC has a staff of approximately 120 and an annual budget of $61 million. The spokesperson did not address questions about what will happen to the center’s personnel and technology following the closure. The shuttering will leave the State Department without a dedicated office for countering disinformation abroad for the first time since 2016. The closure comes at the end of a year when U.S. officials, foreign political leaders and private companies tracking disinformation have alleged that Russia and China have engaged in concerted propaganda campaigns targeting democratic elections in Taiwan , Moldova , Georgia , Romania and other countries. “This is extremely frustrating,” Mark Montgomery, former executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium and a supporter of extending the center’s authority, told CyberScoop. “On a bipartisan basis, both political parties know that Russia, China and, to a lesser degree, Iran and other non-state actors, conduct information operations against us spreading lies, and the GEC was a good tool for ensuring that the truth, as we see it, came out.” While the center does not focus on disinformation targeting the United States, its work with related organizations faced criticism from congressional Republicans and Elon Musk, who accused the center in 2023 of being “the worst offender in U.S. government censorship [and] media manipulation.” Musk is now an adviser to President-elect Donald Trump and was placed in charge of an advisory board for cutting programs and reducing government spending. Additionally, Republicans on the Hill raised questions about the GEC’s value, suggesting its work might duplicate existing analysis from the private sector and other parts of government. In interviews with CyberScoop and FedScoop last month, GEC leaders pushed back on those views, calling their work “critical” to combatting foreign propaganda campaigns in allied countries and emphasizing that they take active steps to exclude data on U.S. persons from their analysis. “We are really the first analytical unit in the U.S. government that takes this kind of comprehensive approach of looking at threat actors — Iranians, [China], the Russians — and try to understand ... what their influence is broadly on the information space in different geographic regions,” said Carrie Goux, GEC’s acting deputy coordinator. Lindsay Gorman, a former White House official under the Biden administration, told CyberScoop that there is “a lack of recognition in Congress that the wars democracies are fighting with autocrats overseas are no longer only in the physical domain, but in the cyberspace realm of 1s and 0s.” “Whether their goal is to marshal support for invading neighbors or undermine U.S. credibility overseas, the U.S. needs a means to fight back. One way is to expose covert campaigns for what they are — important work the GEC is doing,” said Gorman, now at the nonprofit German Marshall Fund. “GEC has been the eyes and ears on the ground when it comes to information threats overseas, tracking where autocratic strategic objectives lie and how tactics are evolving to guide responses.” Gorman stressed that Russian and Chinese disinformation campaigns “aren’t going away” and are increasingly leveraging social media and emerging technologies like generative AI “to sow discord and undermine democracy around the world.” GEC officials also said their limited budget has hindered efforts to acquire advanced technology needed to support their work, including tools to detect AI-manipulated media. State Department documents obtained by FedScoop detail a range of solutions and tools the center hoped to acquire if it was reauthorized, including a system for detecting photoshopped images, a “meme detection” model to help analyze and contextualize imagery, a detector for imagery created through Stable Diffusion, and a tool to detect AI-generated assets in video. Montgomery said that with Republicans set to take control of the State Department and both houses of Congress next month, they are positioned to shape the GEC’s mission and operations to address any concerns about impinging on domestic U.S. issues. “The frustration is, why not give it an extension now that you’re basically responsible?” Montgomery asked.
ICAO Unveils 2026-2050 Strategic Plan: ‘Safe Skies, Sustainable Future’
Thailand's charter fate vexes political classNEW DELHI: In life, he always seemed, rather charmingly, a little out of place when surrounded by the trappings of high office. Some, therefore, may have found it slightly ironic that the last journey of Manmohan Singh, who had once told his security official that he preferred a Maruti hatchback to a sleek BMW, was choreographed as per the ceremonial demands of a state funeral . But state funerals are mandated for ex-PMs. But even ex-PMs are a matter of politics. The state funeral happened with Congress and BJP still locked in a bad-tempered debate over a memorial site. Singh, whose baptism in politics was pretty rough and got rougher during his second stint as PM, wouldn't probably have been too surprised at this, had he had an inkling. Under a grey sky on a wintry morning, the cortege left the AICC office for the cremation site, with heavy bandobast all the way. This being a state funeral, armed forces had their part to play. There was a military band, and ceremonial marching. The CDS and the three service chiefs were present. At the AICC office, where it all began on Saturday, Congress members gathered in force to bid goodbye to one of the party's most consequential PMs. Singh's family members, wife Gursharan Kaur and daughters Upinder, Daman and Amrit were received by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi . Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present, along with party CMs, brass and workers. The cortege left for Delhi's oldest and largest crematorium, Nigambodh Ghat , after the singing of the national anthem at the AICC office. The pace was, as it always is on such occasions, stately, keeping in mind mourners walking alongside. There was a profusion of flowers. Some mourners were silent, others respectfully vocal. The latter joining in with the chanting of two, oft-heard memorialising slogans reserved for notable, departed politicians: "Amar rahe" and "Jab tak suraj, chand rahega, tab tak tera naam rahega". Congress was front and centre at Nigambodh, as was to be expected. All dignified, but no BJP-Cong interaction at cremation site Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, party chief ministers Siddaramaiah, Revanth Reddy and Sukhwinder Sukhu, and other senior functionaries were at the gate of Nigambodh Ghat when the casket, draped in the Tricolour, was taken in. Laying of wreaths began once the casket was put on a raised platform. The long list of dignitaries present included, aside from Singh's family members, PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, the three Gandhis, Rajnath Singh, other NDA govt members, presiding officers of the LS and RS, Congress functionaries, Delhi CM and LG, and armed forces chiefs. Foreign countries were represented by Bhutan's king and a Mauritius minister. There was no noticeable interaction between BJP and Congress functionaries. But obviously unlike on X, where Saturday morning saw another bout between the parties, it was all dignified. The last rites began with Sikh priests reciting verses from Gurbani. Singh's daughter, historian Upinder Singh, lit the pyre, other family members beside her. Not too long after, the state funeral was over. But politics, of course, wasn't. A slogan raised from the crowd - 'MMS ko Bharat Ratna do' - was a reminder, if anyone needed reminding. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .