Life-Sized Statues of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Unveiled

King Charles reacts after unveiling statues of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip upon his and Queen Camilla's arrival to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance CREDIT: REUTERS
King Charles reacts after unveiling statues of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip upon his and Queen Camilla's arrival to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance CREDIT: REUTERS
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Life-Sized Statues of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Unveiled

King Charles reacts after unveiling statues of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip upon his and Queen Camilla's arrival to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance CREDIT: REUTERS
King Charles reacts after unveiling statues of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip upon his and Queen Camilla's arrival to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance CREDIT: REUTERS

King Charles III and Queen Camilla have unveiled new bronze statues of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at the Royal Albert Hall. The life-sized artworks, installed as part of the concert hall's 150th anniversary, were uncovered as the royals were arriving for the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance.

King Charles led the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph. The service honors the contribution of military and civilian servicemen and women in World Wars One and Two, and other conflicts, according to BBC.

People across the UK took part in a two-minute silence, while the King led a Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph, in central London, commemorating the end of the First World War and other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.

Wreaths were laid by members of the Royal Family, senior politicians and dignitaries at the Whitehall, shortly after the police arrested 126 people – most of them are right-wing counter-protesters – during a pro-Palestine rally on the Armistice Day, an annual celebration on November 11.

Almost 10,000 veterans and 800 armed forces personnel from all three services took part in a march-past. They were joined by thousands of members of the public lining Whitehall to watch the service.

Nuclear test veterans, who for the first time wore medals acknowledging their contribution, were among those attending. After 70 years of waiting for recognition, those exposed to the effects of nuclear bombs during the UK's testing program were given a medal - depicting an atom surrounded by olive branches.



Sydney Closes Nine Beaches Due to Mysterious Ball-Shaped Debris

A handout photo made available by the Northern Beaches Council shows samples of the unidentified ball-shaped debris found washed ashore at Manly Beach and eight other beaches in Sydney's north, New South Wales, Australia, 14 January 2025. (EPA/Northern Beaches Council / Handout)
A handout photo made available by the Northern Beaches Council shows samples of the unidentified ball-shaped debris found washed ashore at Manly Beach and eight other beaches in Sydney's north, New South Wales, Australia, 14 January 2025. (EPA/Northern Beaches Council / Handout)
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Sydney Closes Nine Beaches Due to Mysterious Ball-Shaped Debris

A handout photo made available by the Northern Beaches Council shows samples of the unidentified ball-shaped debris found washed ashore at Manly Beach and eight other beaches in Sydney's north, New South Wales, Australia, 14 January 2025. (EPA/Northern Beaches Council / Handout)
A handout photo made available by the Northern Beaches Council shows samples of the unidentified ball-shaped debris found washed ashore at Manly Beach and eight other beaches in Sydney's north, New South Wales, Australia, 14 January 2025. (EPA/Northern Beaches Council / Handout)

Nine beaches in Sydney, including well-known Manly beach, were closed to bathers on Tuesday after small white and grey balls of debris washed up on the shores at the height of the summer holiday season.

Northern Beaches Council said it was working on safely removing the matter. Most of the samples of the ball-shaped debris were the size of marbles, with some larger, it said in a statement.

Sydney's ocean beaches, famed for golden sand and clean water, draw tourists from around the globe.

Beachgoers were advised to avoid Manly, Dee Why, Long Reef, Queenscliff, Freshwater, North and South Curl Curl, North Steyne and North Narrabeen beaches until further notice and keep away from the material while the clean-up and investigations continued.

Authorities said they were working closely with the state's environmental agency to collect samples of the debris for testing.

Last October, several beaches including the iconic Bondi east of downtown Sydney were shut after thousands of black balls appeared on the shores.

An inquiry later found that those balls were formed from fatty acids, chemicals similar to those in cosmetics and cleaning products, as well as hair, food waste and other materials associated with wastewater.