Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer made his first appearance on the international stage on Wednesday, saying he wanted to reset relations with world leaders and reaffirm the Labour government's continuing support for Kyiv.
Fresh from his landslide election win last week, Mr Starmer met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Washington.
“I just had a very good meeting with President Zelenskyy where … we made it clear that, as far as the UK is concerned, the change in government makes no difference to the support we will provide,” Mr Starmer told reporters.
It was an opportunity "to reinforce, in a sense as a message to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, the resolve of Nato, bigger now than it's ever been, more united than it's ever been and absolutely clear-eyed about the threat of Russian aggression", the Prime Minister added.
The focus of the Nato summit is support to Ukraine, though Mr Starmer's appearance has generated considerable buzz, while US President Joe Biden's mental and physical condition is also attracting attention.
Mr Starmer also met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who commended the Prime Minister's pledge to reset ties with Europe.
Relations had fallen to a low ebb under 14 years of Euro-sceptical Conservative rule capped by Britain's departure from the EU.
The new British leader said his talks with world leaders were "an opportunity to make sure that those relationships are reset, for me to be able to say that our position on the world stage - leading on issues like defence and security, on climate change, and on energy - are so important".
He added that the Nato summit “is an opportunity for our Labour government to reaffirm our commitment” to the alliance.
Mr Starmer later met Mr Biden at the White House, where the two exchanged pleasantries about England making it to the Euro 2024 final and spoke about the two countries' "special relationship".
The British leader said the relationship was "so important", adding that it was "forged in difficult circumstances, endured for so long and is stronger now than ever".
Ian Lesser, a distinguished fellow at the German Marshall Fund, said that for all the political turmoil in the UK in recent years, Britain has been forward leaning in support of Ukraine.
"Continuity on this front has special meaning at a summit driven largely by the war in Ukraine and imperative of mobilising stronger allied military support," Mr Lesser told The National.
"The UK has also been among the bigger defence spenders in Europe – critical in terms of the transatlantic burden sharing debate."
Mr Scholz and Mr Starmer also discussed the need for enhanced defence co-operation in Europe to act as a deterrent for aggression by "hostile actors".
They agreed to "strike a deep UK-Germany defence agreement ... without delay", according to a Downing Street readout.
Britain's new Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, wrote an article on Sunday saying the new government would “reset relations with Europe as a reliable partner, a dependable ally and a good neighbour”.
This week's Nato summit is underscoring what US and European officials have described as Ukraine's "irreversible" path to Nato membership.
But the alliance's mutual defence pact means Ukraine will not join while it is at open war with Russia, as that could result in all-out conflict between the bloc and Mr Putin's forces.
Mr Starmer says the UK is committed to increasing its defence spending to spending 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
But he refused to guarantee that he will meet his flagship commitment on defence spending within his first term in office, despite the "cast iron" promise to get there.
Speaking to reporters, he said: "We are committed to the 2.5 per cent as I have said before the election and I say again after the election.
"That is obviously subject to our fiscal rules, but the commitment is there."
Nato summit - in pictures
The years Ramadan fell in May
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The years Ramadan fell in May
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
It's Monty Python's Crashing Rocket Circus
To the theme tune of the famous zany British comedy TV show, SpaceX has shown exactly what can go wrong when you try to land a rocket.
The two minute video posted on YouTube is a compilation of crashes and explosion as the company, created by billionaire Elon Musk, refined the technique of reusable space flight.
SpaceX is able to land its rockets on land once they have completed the first stage of their mission, and is able to resuse them multiple times - a first for space flight.
But as the video, How Not to Land an Orbital Rocket Booster, demonstrates, it was a case if you fail, try and try again.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
Chatham House Rule
A mark of Chatham House’s influence 100 years on since its founding, was Moscow’s formal declaration last month that it was an “undesirable
organisation”.
The depth of knowledge and academics that it drew on
following the Ukraine invasion had broadcast Mr Putin’s chicanery.
The institute is more used to accommodating world leaders,
with Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher among those helping it provide
authoritative commentary on world events.
Chatham House was formally founded as the Royal Institute of
International Affairs following the peace conferences of World War One. Its
founder, Lionel Curtis, wanted a more scientific examination of international affairs
with a transparent exchange of information and ideas.
That arena of debate and analysis was enhanced by the “Chatham
House Rule” states that the contents of any meeting can be discussed outside Chatham
House but no mention can be made identifying individuals who commented.
This has enabled some candid exchanges on difficult subjects
allowing a greater degree of free speech from high-ranking figures.
These meetings are highly valued, so much so that
ambassadors reported them in secret diplomatic cables that – when they were
revealed in the Wikileaks reporting – were thus found to have broken the rule. However,
most speeches are held on the record.
Its research and debate has offered fresh ideas to
policymakers enabling them to more coherently address troubling issues from climate
change to health and food security.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
