Page 12 - London

FTA talks in final phase with Diwali deadline in sight: London Lord Mayor

The free trade agreement (FTA) talks between India and the UK are now in their final phase and despite some outstanding issues to be resolved, there is optimism on both sides that the Diwali deadline for a draft will be met, according to the Lord Mayor of London. Vincent Keaveny, the 693rd Lord Mayor who represents the financial hub of the City of London globally, has just returned from a four-day visit to India following meetings with leading Indian businesses and investors and finance chiefs at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI). As London's ambassador for financial and professional services, the Lord Mayor's visit was aimed at strengthening India-UK financial services links, building strong and sustainable two-way capital flows. It was a really good time to be in India with the FTA negotiations entering into their final phase, Keaveny told PTI. Prime Minister Modi has made it clear that he wants to sign the FTA by Diwali. There are some

Roger Federer's trophy-laden career ends in defeat at London's O2 Arena

It was surely unthinkable that Roger Federer's trophy-laden career would end with a defeat but that is what transpired as the 41-year-old Swiss maestro lost alongside Rafa Nadal on an emotional night

After historic funeral, Queen Elizabeth II buried at St George's Chapel

After a majestic funeral service at Westminster Abbey, Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was interred alongside her husband, late Prince Philip, at a private burial at St. George's Chapel on Monday evening. "The Queen was buried together with the Duke of Edinburgh, at The King George VI Memorial Chapel," the Buckingham Palace stated on the official Royal Family website. Earlier, the roughly 40-km route by road from Westminster Abbey in London, the site of a grand state funeral attended by thousands earlier in the day, to Windsor included the coffin processing by state gun carriage and then in the state hearse, a customised Jaguar, to the steps of the chapel. Thousands lined the streets on the route of this final procession, which Buckingham Palace said had been drawn up with the public in mind, and the Order of Service for the Committal Service was discussed with the late monarch over a number of years. "We have come together to commit into the hands of God the soul of his servant Queen

Queen Elizabeth's coffin lowered into vault ahead of private burial

The chimes of the Big Ben fell silent and hymns rang out as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II was carried into Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of Britain's longest-serving monarch on Monday. Her son and heir King Charles III followed the coffin in solemn procession, accompanied by his sons Princes William and Harry and siblings Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward. William's children, nine-year-old Prince George and seven-year-old Princess Charlotte were among the youngest members of the royal family who walked between their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales. In the congregation of around 2,000 guests made up of world leaders, royalty from the UK and overseas and community leaders, India was represented by President Droupadi Murmu. The funeral service is being led by the Dean of Westminster and will include many personal touches of the late monarch, who was also the head of the Church of England. Queen Elizabeth II, 96, died peacefully at her Scottish residen

Top headlines: Oyo posts positive core earnings; Ola lays off 200 engineers

Jawahar Lal Goel has tendered his resignation from Dish TV India's board and has ceased to be the Chairman of the company, the company announced in a notice to the stock exchange.

Final farewell as Queen Elizabeth II is laid to rest after state funeral

Queen Elizabeth II will be laid to rest following a state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday, attended by world leaders, royals and community champions and watched on screens by millions lining the streets and around the world. The final farewell to Britain's longest-serving monarch began as the long queue of people who had been lining up since early last week to file past the late monarch's coffin Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall came to a close early on Monday morning and preparations began for the coffin to be conveyed in procession to the Abbey. President Droupadi Murmu, representing India at the state funeral, joined foreign dignitaries as they took their seats for the funeral service. The service will pay tribute to the Queen's remarkable reign and lifetime of service as head of state, nation and Commonwealth, Buckingham Palace said. The funeral, being broadcast live to over 200 countries and territories worldwide and shown on big screens to crowds in parks an

President Droupadi Murmu meets King Charles III at Buckingham Palace

Ahead of Queen Elizabeth's state funeral, President Droupadi Murmu met King Charles III at a reception held at Buckingham Palace on Sunday

Joe, Jill Biden among thousands to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II

Thousands of police, hundreds of British troops and an army of officials made final preparations on Sunday for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II a spectacular display of national mourning that will also be the biggest gathering of world leaders for years. US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were among thousands of mourners from locals and tourists to world leaders to pay their respects at Westminster Hall, where the queen is lying in state. The president made the sign of the cross and put his hand to his heart as he stood quietly near the casket in the ornate 900-year-old hall. Biden was also expected to sign the official condolence book and attend a reception Sunday at Buckingham Palace hosted by King Charles III before going to the state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday. He is one of 500 world leaders and royals invited to the funeral, along with hundreds of British charity workers. As the dignitaries poured in, the clock was ticking down for those ...

Camilla hails Queen Elizabeth, 'solitary woman' in a world dominated by men

Britain's new Queen Consort Camilla paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, saying the monarch carved a unique role for herself as a 'solitary woman' in a world dominated by men

Prez Murmu offers tribute to Queen Elizabeth II ahead of her state funeral

Prez Murmu was joined by Acting High Commissioner Sujit Ghosh at Lancaster House in London, where visiting world leaders are stopping by to sign a book of condolence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II

London prepares for 1 mn visitors for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral tomorrow

London's transport authority says it is preparing for around 1 million people to visit the British capital Monday for Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral. Transport for London chief Andy Byford said Sunday the capital has seen huge numbers of additional passengers since the queen died on Sept. 8. But he said demand will reach a climax on Monday. Across the country some 250 extra train services will run, including some overnight trains. Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail, said Monday will see the biggest public transport operation since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. More than 100 Heathrow Airport flights will be canceled to prevent aircraft noise disturbing the funeral at Westminster Abbey Monday morning and the queen's committal service at Windsor Castle afterward. The west London airport said 15 per cent of its 1,200 flights due to take off or land on Monday will be disrupted.

By the numbers: Facts and figures about Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

Events surrounding Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral on Monday cap 10 days of national mourning and are expected to be watched by hundreds of thousands of people packed onto the streets of London and millions around the world. Those are just a few of the staggering array of numbers generated by the death of the 96-year-old monarch after a 70-year-reign. Here are some figures that have swirled around London and the rest of the United Kingdom in the aftermath of death on September 8 at her summer retreat in Scotland of the only monarch most Britons have ever known. 2,000: Dignitaries and guests in Westminster Abbey for the the state funeral, ranging from King Charles III and other royals to world leaders including US President Joe Biden to members of the British public who helped battle the COVID-19 pandemic. 800: Guests at a committal service later in the day at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. 5,949: Military personnel deployed throughout the meticulously choreographed operat

World leaders head to London for Queen Elizabeth II funeral on Monday

Thousands of police, hundreds of troops and an army of officials made final preparations Sunday for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II a spectacular display of national mourning that will also be the biggest gathering of world leaders for years. U.S. President Joe Biden and other dignitaries are arriving in London for the funeral, to which around 500 royals, heads of state and heads of government from around the globe have been invited. Thousands of people continued to line up around the clock to file past the queen's coffin as it lies in state at Parliament's Westminster Hall, braving chilly overnight temperatures and waits of up to 17 hours. The queen's eight grandchildren, led by heir to the throne Prince William, circled the coffin and stood with heads bowed during a silent vigil on Saturday evening. The miles-long queue is expected to be closed to new arrivals later Sunday so that everyone in line can file past the coffin before Monday morning, when it will be borne on a

US Prez Joe Biden arrives in London for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

US President Joe Biden has arrived in London to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II. The president was expected to sign the official condolence book and attend a reception Sunday at Buckingham Palace hosted by King Charles III before attending the queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday. Biden is among many world leaders travelling to the United Kingdom to honour Queen Elizabeth's long reign. Biden and first lady Jill Biden were greeted at the airport by UK Ambassador Jane Hartley, Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jennifer Tolhurst and others. After the queen's death, Biden issued a proclamation directing that all American flags be flown at half staff as a mark of respect for the memory of Queen Elizabeth II until sunset on the day of her interment. Before coming to London, he spoke with the king to offer his condolences and went to the British Embassy as well.

President Murmu leaves for London to attend funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

President Droupadi Murmu left for London on Saturday to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and to offer condolences on behalf of the Indian government. Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 at her summer residence Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, will be laid to rest at Westminster Abbey on September 19. "President Droupadi Murmu emplanes for London, United Kingdom, to attend the state funeral of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and offer condolences on behalf of the Government of India," the Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted along with a picture of Murmu. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had visited the British High Commission here on September 12 to convey the country's condolences. India had also observed a day of national mourning on Sunday. In the 70 years of reign of Queen Elizabeth II, India-UK ties have evolved, flourished and strengthened immensely. She played an important role in the welfare of millions of people around the world as Head of the Commonwealth,

Queen's reign saw ages of British rule leave Middle East with mixed legacy

The long reign of Queen Elizabeth II saw large swaths of the world cast off London's rule, but after her death a handful of British-installed monarchies still endure in the Middle East. They have survived decades of war and turmoil and are now seen as bastions of a certain kind of authoritarian stability. When popular uprisings erupted across the region a decade ago in what was known as the Arab Spring, sweeping away regimes with anti-colonial roots, hereditary rulers were largely unscathed. The days of imperial pomp and gunships may be over, but the region's emotional and financial ties to England run deep. Emirs, sultans and kings attend the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Gulf Arab sovereign wealth has helped reshaped London's skyline. As the son of a British mother, Jordan's King Abdullah II also has familial and cultural ties to Britain. Jordan's ruling Hashemites, who come from the Arabian Peninsula and claim descent from the Prophet Muhammad, launched the revolt agains

Thousands gather to pay homage to Queen Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall

One of the biggest logistical events ever witnessed in London is underway on Thursday as the first few thousand members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament complex in the heart of the UK capital. A week since the 96-year-old monarch died peacefully at her Scottish summer residence of Balmoral Castle, her coffin has been part of a historic journey by road and air until it was conveyed in a grand procession from Buckingham Palace to lie in state in the historic hall within the Palace of Westminster. The ancient ceremony of Lying-in-State, dating back to the 19th century, involves the coffin resting on a raised platform called catafalque in the middle of Westminster Hall as members of the queuing public are allowed in to walk briskly past. Within hours of the Lying-in-State ceremony opening to the public at 5pm local time on Wednesday evening, the queue was said to be over 4-km-long winding around the

Queen's coffin Lying-in-State after final journey from Buckingham Palace

The coffin of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, is Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall after its final journey from Buckingham Palace in London on Wednesday. King Charles III and his sons, Princes William and Harry, joined a sombre procession as the coffin of the late monarch left her official London residence to be conveyed to the historic hall in the Houses of Parliament complex to lie in state until the state funeral at Westminster Abbey nearby on Monday. Members of the public began filing past at 5pm local time and will have until 6.30am on the day of the funeral, by which time several thousands are expected to have queued for hours to pay their respects to the Queen. At 2.22 pm local time on Wednesday, the coffin placed on a horse-drawn gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery began its ceremonial procession of under two kilometres to the Palace of Westminster. The Queen's heir, Charles, and her grandchildren William and Harry walked side by

President Murmu to join 500 world leaders at Queen's funeral in London

President Droupadi Murmu will visit London from September 17 to 19 to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and offer condolences on behalf of the Indian government, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Wednesday. Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8. President Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed condolences at her demise. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the British High Commission here on September 12 to convey India's condolences. India also observed a day of national mourning on Sunday. In the 70 years of reign of Queen Elizabeth II, India-UK ties have evolved, flourished and strengthened immensely. She played an important role in the welfare of millions of people around the world as Head of the Commonwealth, the MEA said in a statement. Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 at her Balmoral Castle summer residence in Scotland on September 8, will be laid to rest at a state funeral at ...

Crowds gather in London to see Queen Elizabeth II's coffin procession

Queen Elizabeth II's coffin will leave Buckingham Palace for the last time Wednesday as it is taken amid somber pageantry on a horse-drawn gun carriage past crowds of mourners to the Houses of Parliament, where the late monarch will lie in state for four days. Crowds began massing early along the flag-lined road outside the palace for the procession from the monarch's official London residence to the historic Westminster Hall at Parliament. King Charles III and other members of the royal family will walk behind the coffin. Thousands of people are gathering on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace and along the banks of the River Thames hours before the coffin procession begins. The crowds are the latest manifestation of a nationwide outpouring of grief and respect for the only monarch most Britons have ever known, who died at her beloved Balmoral summer retreat on Thursday at age 96, ending a 70-year reign. It's a very sad day, but it's our last opportunity to do our duty for the quee