SALZBURG, Austria — Former Arsenal and Liverpool goalkeeper Alex Manninger has died at the age of 48 after his car was struck by a train at an unguarded level crossing in his native Austria on Thursday morning.
Alex Manninger
Police and emergency services responded to the incident around 8:20 a.m. local time in the municipality of Nußdorf am Haunsberg, about 90 kilometers north of Salzburg. Manninger was alone in the vehicle when it was hit and dragged by a passenger train on the Salzburg local railway at the Pabing crossing, according to local reports. First responders freed him from the wreckage and attempted resuscitation with a defibrillator, but he could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Red Bull Salzburg, Manninger’s first professional club, confirmed the news in a statement Thursday afternoon. “We mourn our former goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident,” the club posted. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in peace, Alexander. His achievements deserve the utmost respect and will be unforgettable.”
The Austrian Football Association echoed the tribute, describing the news as “deeply shocking” and offering condolences to Manninger’s loved ones. Liverpool FC also issued a statement expressing sadness: “Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the passing of former goalkeeper Alex Manninger at the age of 48. The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Alex’s family and friends at this difficult time.”
Manninger, born Alexander Manninger on June 4, 1977, in Salzburg, began his career with local side SV Austria Salzburg before moving to Grazer AK. He joined Arsenal in 1997 as a young backup to established No. 1 David Seaman. The Austrian international made 39 appearances for the Gunners between 1997 and 2002, stepping up during a memorable period that included the club’s 1997-98 Premier League and FA Cup double.
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In the 1997-98 season, Manninger filled in admirably when Seaman was sidelined, helping Arsenal maintain their title challenge. He kept clean sheets in key matches and earned praise for his shot-stopping ability and composure. Though he never became the undisputed first-choice keeper, his contributions to that historic campaign made him a cult figure among Arsenal supporters.
After leaving Arsenal, Manninger enjoyed a nomadic but successful career across Europe. He had stints with Juventus, where he won Serie A titles in 2002 and 2003 as a backup to Gianluigi Buffon. Brief spells followed at Siena, Red Bull Salzburg (returning to his roots), Udinese, and a short loan to Liverpool in 2016-17, where he made just one appearance as cover during an injury crisis.
Manninger earned 33 caps for Austria between 1999 and 2009, representing his country at the 2008 European Championship on home soil. Known for his athleticism and reliability rather than flamboyance, he was respected across dressing rooms for his professionalism and positive attitude even when playing second fiddle to world-class keepers.
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After hanging up his gloves, Manninger transitioned into coaching and punditry. He worked with goalkeepers at various clubs and occasionally provided analysis for Austrian media. Friends and former teammates remembered him as a humble, dedicated family man who remained connected to the game he loved.
Tributes poured in from across the football world Thursday. Arsenal posted on social media: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former goalkeeper Alex Manninger. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.” Juventus and other former clubs issued similar messages, highlighting his character both on and off the pitch.
Former Arsenal teammate Ian Wright described Manninger as “a great guy and a solid keeper who was always ready when called upon.” Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher noted the brief but professional nature of Manninger’s time at Anfield.
The incident has renewed focus on safety at level crossings in rural Austria, where many remain unguarded. Local authorities have not released further details on the circumstances, such as whether warning signals were functioning or if visibility contributed to the collision. Investigations by police and rail authorities are ongoing.
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Manninger is survived by his wife and children, according to friends close to the family. No funeral arrangements have been announced.
Born into a football-loving family in Salzburg, Manninger showed early promise as a tall, agile shot-stopper. He progressed quickly through youth ranks and made his senior debut for Austria Salzburg in the mid-1990s. His big break came with the move to Arsenal, where manager Arsene Wenger saw potential in the lanky Austrian despite competition for places.
At Highbury, Manninger became known for spectacular saves and calm distribution. One standout moment came in a 1998 league match where he produced a series of crucial stops to help secure a vital win. Though limited appearances defined much of his career, those who played alongside him spoke of his work ethic in training and his willingness to support the team from the bench.
His time at Juventus further showcased his adaptability. In Italy’s tactically demanding league, he learned new defensive systems and contributed to back-to-back Scudetto successes. Later returns to Austria with Red Bull Salzburg allowed him to play more regularly and mentor younger keepers as the club rose under the Red Bull ownership model.
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Manninger’s international career peaked around the 2008 Euros, where Austria co-hosted the tournament. Though the team exited in the group stage, his performances drew respect from opponents. He retired from international duty in 2009 but continued club football until 2017.
Off the field, Manninger maintained a low profile. He enjoyed family life in Austria and stayed involved in grassroots football. Colleagues described him as approachable and generous with advice to aspiring keepers.
The football community’s reaction Thursday reflected the sudden and shocking nature of the loss. Social media filled with messages from fans recalling favorite saves, teammates sharing anecdotes, and clubs honoring his legacy. Many noted the fragility of life and the importance of road and rail safety.
As investigations continue, the incident serves as a somber reminder of risks at unprotected crossings, even in modern transport networks. Austrian rail operators have faced past criticism over similar sites, though specific data on the Nußdorf am Haunsberg location was not immediately available.
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For Arsenal supporters of a certain generation, Manninger remains part of the club’s glorious 1998 double-winning squad — a reliable deputy who played his role without complaint. Liverpool fans remember his brief but committed stint during a transitional period.
Manninger’s death at 48 cuts short a life still active in the sport he dedicated himself to since childhood. From the pitches of Salzburg to the grand stages of the Premier League and Serie A, his journey embodied the perseverance required in professional football.
As tributes continue to flow, the focus remains on his family. Clubs across Europe have offered support and expressed willingness to assist in any memorial efforts.
The football world has lost a respected professional whose career, though not defined by individual glory, left a lasting impression on teammates, coaches and fans. Alex Manninger will be remembered for his reliability between the posts and his quiet dignity throughout a career that spanned continents and decades.
Dixon Technologies on Tuesday reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 256 crore in the March-ended quarter versus Rs 401 crore in the year-ago period, implying a 36% fall. The profit after tax (PAT) was attributable to the owners of the company. The company’s revenue from operations in Q4FY26 was up 2% to Rs 10,511 crore versus Rs 10,293 crore posted by the company in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.
Meanwhile, Dixon Technologies’ total income grew 3% year-on-year to Rs 10,595 crore versus Rs 10,304 crore in Q4FY25. It included other income of Rs 84 crore compared to Rs 11 crore in the year-ago period.
The company’s board recommended a final dividend of Rs 10 per equity share for the financial year 2025-26. The dividend, if approved by the company members at its 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM), will be credited within 30 days from the AGM date, the company filing said.
The company’s Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) stood at Rs 493 crore in the quarter under review, up 9% YoY.
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Dixon Tech’s expenses in the reported quarter stood at Rs 10,231 crore versus Rs 10,399 crore in Q3FY26 and Rs 9,982 crore in the year-ago period. The expenses were for the cost of material consumed, employee benefits and finance cost, among other things.
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The profit before tax (PBT) was Rs 370 crore in Q4FY26 versus Rs 412 crore in Q3FY26 and Rs 576 crore in Q4FY25. For the full financial year, PAT stood at Rs 1,644 crore, gaining 33% YoY, while total income stood at Rs 49,586 crore, up 28%. EBITDA for FY26 increased 69% to Rs 2,580 crore over the previous financial year. The earnings were announced after market hours, and Dixon Tech shares ended today at Rs 10,120, down by Rs 652 or 6.05%.
(Disclaimer: The recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)
Britain’s bond market delivered its sharpest rebuke yet to Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership on Tuesday, with 30-year gilt yields climbing to their highest level this century as the prime minister stared down a growing chorus of Labour MPs demanding he step aside.
The sell-off, which dragged sterling and equities lower in lockstep, wiped out the relief rally that followed Starmer’s defiant intervention last week. Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, at which the prime minister once again refused to countenance resignation, did little to settle nerves. Investors are now openly pricing in the prospect of a leftward lurch in Labour policy, with the attendant risks of looser fiscal rules, higher gilt issuance and a further squeeze on the cost of capital for British business.
For the country’s 5.5 million small and medium-sized enterprises, the implications are far from academic. Higher long-dated gilt yields feed directly into the swap rates that underpin commercial lending, business mortgages and asset finance, raising the prospect of yet another leg up in the borrowing costs faced by Britain’s corporate backbone at a time when many are still nursing the legacy of post-pandemic debt.
The 30-year gilt yield rose 13 basis points to 5.81 per cent, the highest since May 1998. The benchmark 10-year yield gained 10 basis points to 5.1 per cent, within a whisker of breaching the post-2008 peak it set earlier this month. Bond prices move inversely to yields.
“A new Labour leader may face pressure to ease the fiscal rules and raise gilt issuance,” warned Jim Reid, analyst at Deutsche Bank, capturing the City’s central concern that any successor would lean towards higher spending and heavier taxation of the very businesses the Treasury is counting on to drive growth.
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Sterling’s slide alongside government bonds will draw uncomfortable parallels with the dark days of Liz Truss’s mini-budget. When a currency weakens in concert with rising borrowing costs, it is the trading pattern of an emerging market that has lost the confidence of foreign capital, not that of a G7 economy. The pound fell 0.64 per cent against the dollar to a two-week low of $1.352, and shed 0.21 per cent against the euro to €1.152, its weakest since mid-April.
Some of the pressure is undeniably imported. Bunds, OATs and BTPs all sold off as President Trump declared the Iran ceasefire was “on life support”, sending Brent crude up 2.8 per cent to $107.17 a barrel and reigniting inflation fears across advanced economies. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil and gas once flowed, remains largely shut. Germany’s Dax bore the brunt of the European sell-off, falling more than 1 per cent. But gilts underperformed by a substantial margin, marking out Westminster’s political turmoil as a uniquely British risk premium.
Mohit Kumar, chief European economist at Jefferies, urged clients to short sterling, arguing any change in the composition of government “would likely be left-leaning”. Anthony Willis, senior economist at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, cautioned that the bond market was unlikely to settle “until greater clarity emerges”.
Equities followed suit. The FTSE 100 surrendered 0.3 per cent having opened the week with a 0.4 per cent gain, while the more domestically focused FTSE 250 dropped 211 points, or 0.9 per cent, extending its losing streak to a second day. Mid-cap stocks, dominated by UK-facing businesses, are the clearest read on how the City judges Britain’s economic prospects.
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The grim verdict from Andrew Goodwin, chief UK economist at Oxford Economics, is that there is little prospect of meaningful relief. He expects 10-year borrowing costs to remain stuck above 5 per cent for the remainder of the year, regardless of who occupies Number 10. “Markets clearly perceive the UK has a bigger inflation problem and that tighter monetary policy will be needed to limit second-round effects from the energy shock, while political uncertainty has added to pressures at the long end,” he said.
Even were Starmer to dig in, Goodwin argued, the bond market would have little to celebrate, with the prime minister’s “attempts to regain popularity, or, more likely, from a successor implementing more costly left-wing economic policies” weighing on sentiment. “If Starmer sets out a timetable to stand down, the uncertainty premium will persist.”
For owner-managers already navigating a punishing cost base, a softening consumer and the fallout from this spring’s National Insurance changes, the message from the bond vigilantes is unambiguous: brace for borrowing to stay dear, and for political risk to remain firmly on the balance sheet.
Jamie Young
Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.
When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.
Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar details the company’s Amazon partnership, benefits of Ozempic beyond weight loss and more on ‘The Claman Countdown.’
Amazon is rolling out 30-minute delivery across dozens of U.S. cities, marking its fastest shipping option yet as the retail giant continues to accelerate its push into ultra-fast fulfillment.
The new service, called Amazon Now, will deliver thousands of items — including groceries, household essentials and electronics — to customers’ doors in about 30 minutes.
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The offering is now available in Seattle, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta, and is expanding to additional markets such as Austin, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Orlando, Oklahoma City and Phoenix.
“Amazon Now is for when you need or want the convenience of getting your Amazon order delivered in 30 minutes or less,” Udit Madan, senior vice president of Amazon Worldwide Operations, said in a statement. “With thousands of items available for ultra-fast delivery, you can get everything from groceries for dinner, to AirPods before a flight, to household essentials like laundry detergent or toothpaste delivered right to your door.
A worker near packages in an Amazon delivery vehicle in San Francisco on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“Amazon Now complements Amazon’s existing fast-delivery offerings, including 1-hour and 3-hour delivery on more than 90,000 products and Same-Day Delivery on millions of items,” Madan added.
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Amazon said the new service relies on a network of smaller fulfillment sites located closer to customers, allowing for faster delivery times and shorter travel distances for drivers.
Prime members will pay $3.99 per order for the service, while non-members will pay $13.99. Additional fees will apply for smaller orders, including $1.99 for Prime members and $3.99 for non-Prime members for orders under $15.
Amazon’s new MK30 Prime Air drone is displayed during Amazon’s “Delivering the Future” event at the company’s BFI1 Fulfillment Center, Robotics Research and Development Hub in Sumner, Washington on October 18, 2023. (Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“Amazon Now uses a network of smaller locations designed for efficient order fulfillment, strategically placed close to where customers live and work,” Amazon said. “This approach prioritizes the safety of employees picking and packing orders, reduces the distance delivery partners need to travel, and enables faster delivery times for customers.”
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Amazon plans to expand the service to tens of millions of customers by the end of 2026.
Amazon is investing $4 billion to expand Prime delivery services to rural America. (Amazon / Fox News)
The rollout comes as Amazon continues to invest heavily in speeding up deliveries, reporting that U.S. Prime members received more than 8 billion items the same or next day in 2025 — a more than 30% increase from the previous year.
The new offering adds to Amazon’s broader delivery network, which includes Prime Air drone delivery, offering sub-60-minute service in select U.S. locations, as well as one-hour, three-hour and same-day delivery options across thousands of cities and towns.
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Amazon said 2025 marked its third consecutive year of record-fast delivery speeds, with more than 13 billion items arriving the same or next day globally. In the U.S., Prime members received over 8 billion of those shipments — up more than 30% year over year — with groceries and everyday essentials making up about half.
The company said Prime members have access to free shipping on more than 300 million items, and saved an average of $550 on fast delivery last year — nearly four times the cost of a membership.
Mr Moulton and GM&C Life Sciences Fund join £4.3m funding round
Infex Therapeutics has secured £4.3m in funding(Image: Infex Therapeutics)
Venture capitalist Jon Moulton has backed a biotech firm that’s looking to tackle the “critical global threat” of infections that are resistant to antibiotics.
Infex Therapeutics, of Alderley Edge, has secured £4.3m in a funding round led by Mr Moulton alongside the GM&C Life Sciences Fund, managed by Catapult Ventures, and existing high net worth investors.
The company will use the funding to develop its pipeline of new anti-infectives targeting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other “critical-priority infectious diseases”.
Dr Peter Jackson, CEO of Infex Therapeutics, said: “We are delighted to secure this investment led by Jon Moulton, with support from the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Lifescience Investment Fund and our existing investors.
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“This funding represents strong validation of our progress in developing novel anti-infectives to address the critical global threat of antimicrobial resistance.”
Jon Moulton, founder of Better Capital and now chair of Infex Therapeutics, said: “We have supported Infex from the beginning and continue to be impressed by the company’s scientific progress and strategic execution.”
He highlighted Infex’s lead programme RESP-X, which is being trialled as a therapy for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) patients.
And he said: ”This additional investment reflects our strong conviction in both the team and its innovative approach to tackling antimicrobial resistance.
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Nick Wright, CEO of Catapult Ventures which manages the GM&C Life Sciences Fund, said: “Infex Therapeutics has made excellent scientific progress since we first invested several years ago. The company has clearly established itself as a world leader in the AMR and related space and the data it is generating is very compelling.”
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