The national flag at the Red Fort and Rashtrapati Bhavan were flown at half-mast on Sunday to observe one-day state mourning across the country as a mark of respect to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. She passed away on Thursday.

A statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs said that as a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, the Government of India has decided that there would be one day of State Mourning on Sunday across India.

It said that the national flag would be flown at half-mast across the country on all buildings where it was flown regularly and there would be no official entertainment on the day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid the heartiest tributes to the queen and said that she personified dignity and decency in public life.

He said that he would never forget her warmth and kindness. During one of the meetings, the queen showed him the handkerchief Mahatma Gandhi gifted her at her wedding. He would always cherish that gesture.

The PM said that Queen Elizabeth II would be remembered as a stalwart of the times. She provided inspiring leadership to her nation and people. His thoughts were with her family and the people of the UK in this sad hour.

Britain’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on September 8 after reigning for 70 years. She was hospitalised at Balmoral Castle for several days. The doctors said that she was under medical supervision and her close family was informed about the doctors’ concerns. Her eldest son Charles III succeeded as king immediately.

The Accession Council of Britain on Saturday formally declared Charles III as the new King of Britain. He signed the proclamation with Prince William, Prime Minister Liz Truss, and Archbishop Justin Welby.

The post Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II death: India observes one-day of state mourning today appeared first on APN News.

The British Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday on Saturday was marked with a new ceremony instead of the annual Trooping the Colour parade, as the coronavirus lockdown continues.

The Queen celebrated her 94th birthday in April, but it is officially celebrated on the second Saturday of June every year. It is only the second time in her 68-year reign that the parade in London has not gone ahead. The last time the event was cancelled was in 1955, three years after the Queen’s coronation, due to a national rail strike.

Windsor Castle hosted a ceremony with a small number of Welsh Guardsmen and military musicians. Social distancing rules were in place for those who are marching.

Maj Gen Christopher Ghika, who commands the Household Division, said the circumstances surrounding the decision to host the tribute in Windsor were “clouded in tragedy”.

“The effects of Covid-19 have been devastating in terms of loss of life and the threatening of livelihoods of so many across the country,” he said.

The post Queen’s 94th official b’day celebrations toned down. appeared first on APN News.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Image highlights from around the world

TEAM NDA: NDA’s presidential candidate Ramnath Kovind with senior BJP leaders LK Advani, MM Joshi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and others on their way to file the nomination for the presidential election in New Delhi, UNI

COME ALL YE FAITHFUL: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir and chairman of moderate Hurriyat conference Omar Farooq addresses devotees during night-long Lailat-ul-Qadr prayers at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, UNI

BLAST OFF: India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C38, carrying Cartosat-2 and 30 other satellites, lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, Reuters/UNI

DAY AT THE RACES: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne at Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Britain, Reuters/UNI

ESTABLISHMENT LINE: French President Emmanuel Macron addresses a press conference at the EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, Reuters/UNI

WE WANT MARKS: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) activists demonstrate in protest against poor pass percentage in Class X results in in Patna, UNI

ISLAM’S FOOTPRINT: Muslim residents pray outside a mosque in Pantar village, Lanao Del Norte, Philippines, Reuters/UNI

BATTLE ON THE STREET: An opposition supporter holds a Molotov cocktail as he runs towards a water cannon vehicle during clashes with riot security forces at a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government in Caracas, Reuters/UNI

JUDGEMENT DAY: Former Khmer Rouge leader Khieu Samphan attends the closing statement in case 002/02 against former Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, at the courtroom of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nhet Sok Heng/Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia/Reuters/UNI

LAST TRAIN HOME: People board an overcrowded passenger train as they travel home to celebrate Eid al-Fitr festival at a railway station in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Reuters/UNI

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The post Day in Pictures appeared first on APN News.