British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke with New Zealand’s new premier Chris Hipkins on Monday and pledged UK assistance to the cyclone-battered country.
Mr Hipkins, who took office after the unexpected resignation of Jacinda Ardern, spoke to Mr Sunak on Monday evening, Downing Street said.
The UK is ready to support New Zealand in “any way possible”, Mr Sunak told Mr Hipkins, as Cyclone Gabrielle wreaked havoc, causing power cuts, flooding and evacuations.
Mr Sunak also paid tribute to New Zealand’s support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russia’s invasion, “including the important role the country was playing in training Ukrainian soldiers in the UK”.
“Both leaders agreed that the continued international solidarity in support of Ukraine sent a strong message to aggressors across the world,” Downing Street said.
New Zealand cyclone - in pictures
“The Prime Minister said he looked forward to the UK joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade bloc with a combined GDP of £9 trillion ($10.93 trillion), in the near future, and added that he saw it as a chance to bring like-minded countries together.
“The leaders hoped to meet in person soon.”
Mr Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand’s 41st prime minister last month.
The Labour Party politician was education and police minister under Ms Ardern, who dramatically resigned saying she no longer had “enough in the tank” to fulfil the role.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Hurricanes 31-31 Lions
Wellington Hurricanes:
Tries: Gibbins, Laumape, Goosen, Fifita tries, Barrett
Conversions: Barrett (4)
Penalties: Barrett
British & Irish Lions:
Tries: Seymour (2), North
Conversions: Biggar (2)
Penalties: Biggar (4)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
At a glance
Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free
Thursday UAE v Ireland; Saturday UAE v Ireland; Jan 21 UAE v Scotland; Jan 23 UAE v Scotland
UAE squad Rohan Mustafa (c), Ashfaq Ahmed, Ghulam Shabber, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Qadeer Ahmed, Mohammed Naveed, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
