Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

"He was the most incredible and hard-working public servant"

"He was the most incredible and hard-working public servant"

By Raj Aggarwal, Indian honorary consul general in Wales and honorary Royal Navy captain.

image1 Captain Raj Aggarwal


I had the privilege of meeting Prince Philip on a number of occasions such as on Commonwealth Day, at Buckingham Palace, and in Cardiff. Each time he showed great kindness, warmth and compassion and he would always ask after my family and our community in Wales. He always made time for people and to have a chat and open discussion. He was truly interested in the people that he met and would always remember me from previous meetings, even though he must have met hundreds of people every week from his royal engagements. This kind of photographic memory is a vital gift for all diplomats and heads of state, and he retained it throughout his life.

thumbnail image0 Captain Aggarwal with Prince Philip

He was aware that I was an honorary officer in the Royal Navy and clearly the Senior Service was still close to his heart after serving in World War Two, and I always felt proud about my involvement with the Royal Navy, my work with HMS Dragon, the naval vessel to which I’m affiliated.

I remember the last time I met him was about two years ago at an event and I asked how we would celebrate his 100th birthday and he smiled and said: “Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.” It is a terrible shame that he didn’t quite make it to 100, he really was the most incredible and hard-working public servant and he will be greatly missed.

More For You

Imran Khan

Imran Khan has been held in Adiala Jail since August 2023 in several cases. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Imran Khan may secure bail on 11 June, says party leader

FORMER prime minister Imran Khan, 72, is expected to seek bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case when the Islamabad High Court (IHC) hears petitions on 11 June to suspend the sentences handed to him and his wife Bushra Bibi.

Khan has been held in Adiala Jail since August 2023 in several cases. PTI chief Gohar Ali Khan told ARY News that “June 11 is going to be an important day for both Khan and his wife,” but he gave no further reason. The IHC had earlier adjourned the matter after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) asked for more time to prepare its arguments.

Keep ReadingShow less
India’s Active Covid-19 Cases Exceed 6,000 as Infections Spike

Some states continue to report relatively low numbers

iStock

India’s active Covid-19 cases cross 6,000 mark as fresh infections rise

India’s total number of active COVID-19 cases has risen above 6,000, with health authorities reporting 358 new infections in the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). While there were no Covid related deaths during this period, the increase in cases is prompting state-level monitoring and precautionary measures.

Current case load and recoveries

As of 8:00 a.m. on June 9, 2025, India has 6,491 active Covid-19 cases. The central health ministry confirmed that 358 fresh cases were detected in the last 24 hours, with no fatalities reported in the same timeframe.

Keep ReadingShow less
Zia-Yusuf-Getty

Yusuf, who resigned as Reform chairman last week before returning two days later, said he wanted to be 'crystal clear' on the party’s stance. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Zia Yusuf says Reform will deport all illegal immigrants

ZIA YUSUF has said that Reform UK would deport every illegal immigrant in Britain if the party came to power.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Yusuf stated, “We will deport everybody who is here in this country illegally, which is roughly about 1.2 million people.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Al Yazidi

The teenager was walking along Staniforth Road in the Darnall area on Wednesday when a grey Audi reportedly hit an electric bike rider before striking Abdullah. (Photo credit: South Yorkshire Police)

South Yorkshire Police

Two charged with murder after boy, 16, dies in Sheffield crash

TWO men have been charged with murder and three counts of attempted murder after the death of a 16-year-old boy in an alleged hit-and-run in Sheffield.

Zulkernain Ahmed, 20, and Amaan Ahmed, 26, both from Locke Drive, have been charged over the death of Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Al Yazidi, according to South Yorkshire Police.

Keep ReadingShow less
Greta Thunberg Condemns Israel’s Blockade of Gaza Aid Ship

Israel had vowed in advance to prevent the ship from reaching Gaza

Getty Images

Greta Thunberg intercepted by Israel on her way to Gaza, sent back

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was among a group of pro-Palestinian campaigners on board a Gaza-bound aid vessel intercepted by Israeli forces and diverted to its shores, the country’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on 9 June.

The ship, Madleen, was organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a group challenging Israel’s blockade of Gaza. It had departed Sicily on 1 June, carrying a dozen activists and a symbolic amount of humanitarian supplies.

Keep ReadingShow less