Pramod Thomas is a senior correspondent with Asian Media Group since 2020, bringing 19 years of journalism experience across business, politics, sports, communities, and international relations. His career spans both traditional and digital media platforms, with eight years specifically focused on digital journalism. This blend of experience positions him well to navigate the evolving media landscape and deliver content across various formats. He has worked with national and international media organisations, giving him a broad perspective on global news trends and reporting standards.
Elizabeth has reigned for 70 years and nearly four months -- longer than any other monarch in British history.
The previous record was held by her great-great-grandmother queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years, seven months and two days until 1901.
At 96, Elizabeth is the oldest current monarch and head of state in the world.
Only two kings have ruled for longer: France's Louis XIV -- more than 72 years between 1643 and 1715 -- and Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej -- 70 years and four months, until his death in October 2016.
Globetrotter
The queen has travelled to more than 100 countries since 1952 -- another record for a British monarch -- and made more than 150 visits to Commonwealth nations.
She has been to Canada 22 times -- more than any other country. In Europe, she has visited France the most -- 13 times -- and speaks the language.
The Daily Telegraph calculated that she travelled the equivalent of 42 times around the world before stopping overseas trips in November 2015 aged 89.
Her longest foreign trip lasted 168 days from November 1953 to May 1954 during which she visited 13 countries.
Busy
As a 21-year-old princess, Elizabeth pledged her life to the service of the Commonwealth.
As queen, she has carried out some 21,000 engagements, given royal assent to 4,000 pieces of legislation, and hosted 112 state visits of foreign heads of state.
Among those she hosted were emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia (1954), Japan's emperor Hirohito (1971), president Lech Walesa of Poland (1991) and US president Barack Obama (2011).
More than 180 garden parties have been hosted at Buckingham Palace, attended by more than 1.5 million people.
Politics and religion
A total of 14 British prime ministers have served under the queen. Her first was Winston Churchill (1952-1955) and the latest is Boris Johnson, since 2019.
She holds regular private meetings with her prime minister of the day, usually at Buckingham Palace on a weekly basis.
Elizabeth II has met 13 out of the last 14 US presidents with the exception of Lyndon B Johnson. Her last visitor from the White House was Joe Biden in 2021.
The queen is the supreme governor of the Church of England, a position dating back to the creation of the church under Henry VIII in the 16th century.
She has met four popes on official visits -- John XXIII (1961), John Paul II (1980, 1982 and 2000), Benedict XVI (2010) and Francis I (2014).
- Cards -
The queen has sent some 300,000 cards of congratulation to centenarians and more than 900,000 to couples celebrating 60 years of marriage.
She was married for 73 years -- another record for a British monarch. Her husband, Prince Philip, died aged 99 in April last year.
Portraits
The queen has posed for more than 200 portraits since the age of seven. Most were painted in a traditional style.
But Lucien Freud's in 2001 proved controversial: one critic said it made her majesty look like one of her corgi dogs.
Pioneer
In 1996, the queen became the first British monarch to visit mainland China. She was also the first to address the House of Representatives in Washington.
She sent her first email on March 26, 1976 during a visit to a Ministry of Defence research facility.
In 1997, she launched the Buckingham Palace website and in 2014 sent her first tweet. Three years ago, she made her debut on Instagram.
007
The queen is the only monarch to have jumped out of a helicopter with James Bond and parachuted into the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Kind of.
She and her beloved corgis made a cameo appearance at the 2012 London Games with 007 actor Daniel Craig, before a stuntman made the leap.
The eight-member K-pop group YOUNITE performed for the first time in India at Delhi's Rang De Korea festival.
Members expressed astonishment at the welcome from Indian fans, describing the trip as feeling "unreal."
Indian cuisine, especially curries and coriander, became an instant favourite for the band.
Rapper Dey specifically named Indian artist Hanumankind as a desired collaborator.
The band's India tour continues with a performance at Mumbai’s K-Harmony Festa.
The energy at Delhi’s Nexus Select City Walk was off the charts and you could feel it buzzing in the air. K-pop group YOUNITE finally hit the stage for their first gig ever in India. And this wasn’t just any show. It was part of the Rang De Korea festival, which signals that the Hallyu wave is truly catching fire here. The crowd went wild. Lights were everywhere. The band looked around and realised that this night was something special; it was not just another pin on their tour map.
YOUNITE performs for the first time in India at Delhi’s Rang De Korea festival Instagram/canalextra_/younite_bnm
What went down for Younite at their India debut?
To put it simply: it was absolute madness, in the best way possible. Steve, the lead singer, couldn’t stop grinning even hours later. He kept saying it all felt dreamlike. He mentioned the crowd’s noise was next-level, unlike anything they had heard before. It wasn’t just about singing and dancing, either.
The guys went full tourist, checking out Humayun’s Tomb and, probably the highlight, getting thoroughly stuck into local street food. If you’ve seen their socials, you know they didn’t hold back. The consensus? The curries were a triumph, with Steve singling out the potent flavour of fresh coriander as a game-changer.
Who does Younite want to collaborate with from India?
This is where things get interesting for music fans. When the topic of potential Indian partnerships came up, rapper Dey didn't hesitate. He immediately named Hanumankind, revealing the track 'Big Dawgs' was already on their playlist. Dey mused that their styles could mesh well, creating something genuinely fresh and fun.
It’s a clear signal that the group is looking beyond a simple performance, actively seeking to build bridges with local artists and sounds. This specific interest in a YOUNITE Hanumankind collaboration has certainly set fan forums alight.
The Delhi gig was only the first chapter. The group is now headed to Mumbai for the inaugural K-Harmony Festa, ensuring their Indian introduction is a two-city affair. They’ve promised to bring the same, if not more, intense energy to that stage. Beyond the immediate tour, their comments suggest a strong desire to return. The warmth from the fans and the vibrant culture seem to have hooked them. Given their clear enjoyment of the food, the history, and the music scene, this YOUNITE India debut likely won't be their last.
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