With flowers and a gun salute, Japan bids farewell to Abe at state funeral

Tokyo, Japan Reuters With flowers, prayers and a 19-gun salute, Japan honoured slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday at the first state funeral for a former premier in 55 years – a ceremony that has become as controversial as he was in life. The ceremony started at 2pm, with Abe’s ashes carried into […]
StrangeSights: A poignant tribute to the Queen; Virginia’s “plane pull”; and frenzy over World Cup stickers in Argentina…

DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
With pomp and sorrow, world bids final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II

Updated: 7:30am, 20th September, 2022 (AEST) Windsor, UK Reuters Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest alongside her beloved husband on Monday after a day which saw Britain and the world pay a final farewell to the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, in a dazzling show of pomp and ceremony. Amid formality and careful choreography, there were […]
Huge crowds follow Queen’s funeral in silence and awe

Updated: 10.:25pm (AEST) London, UK Reuters The tens of thousands gathered in central London for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II fell silent and bowed their heads on Monday to follow her funeral service in Westminster Abbey and watch the procession of her coffin afterwards through the city. Some watching in Hyde Park dabbed their […]
Quick facts – Order of service for Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral

London, UK Reuters The state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II will be held at London’s Westminster Abbey on Monday when world leaders will join King Charles III and the British royal family to bid farewell to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. Following are some of the details of the order of service for the funeral: • The […]
Quick facts – Plans for Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral

Updated: 3pm, 19th September (AEST) London, UK Reuters World leaders will join Britain’s royal family, its political elite and members of the military, judiciary and charities at the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II on Monday. Below are details of what is expected on the day: Westminster • The Queen’s lying in state at Westminster […]
Know It All: Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle and the royal family

In a Know It All special, ANGUS MACSWAN, of Reuters, looks at some facts and figures about Westminster Abbey, site of Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral…
Biden pays respects to “honourable” Queen Elizabeth II before funeral

London, UK Reuters US President Joe Biden paid emotional tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on the eve of her state funeral on Sunday, saying Britain and the world had been lucky to have such a dignified and dedicated servant on the throne for 70 years. US President Joe Biden accompanied by the First Lady Jill […]
Putin denies Gorbachev a state funeral and will stay away

Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin is to miss the funeral of the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, denying the man who failed to prevent the collapse of the Soviet empire the full state honours granted to Boris Yeltsin. Gorbachev, idolised in the West for allowing eastern Europe to escape Soviet communist control but unloved at […]
Nigeria funeral for church attack victims draws anger, tears

Abuja, Nigeria AP Nigeria held a state funeral Friday for nearly two dozen of the worshippers killed by gunmen at a church service earlier this month as church officials urged authorities to take swift action to avoid future tragedies. Mourners paid their respects to 22 of the victims killed at the St Francis Catholic Church […]