Liz Truss spoke to US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday evening during her first phone calls as prime minister with foreign leaders.
Mr Biden began the calls by congratulating Ms Truss on her appointment.
The prime minister said she looks forward to working closely with Mr Biden to tackle shared challenges, particularly the war in Ukraine.
The leaders agreed that the partnership between the UK and the US “has been crucial for defending and advancing freedom and democracy in the world”.
They agreed to build the two countries' defence alliance through Nato and Aukus, and to tackle the risks from autocracies, particularly ensuring Russian President Vladimir Putin fails in Ukraine.
The leaders also discussed the importance of protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and expressed their wish to meet each other soon.
Liz Truss's political career - in pictures
Ms Truss is expected to travel to the US later this month for the UN General Assembly, where she will be hoping for her first face-to-face meeting with the president.
During Ms Truss's call with Mr Zelenskyy, she pledged to visit Ukraine soon.
Ms Truss held the call with Mr Zelenskyy within hours of becoming prime minister.
In a statement, the Ukrainian president said he had thanked the British people for their support.
“I became the first foreign leader to have a conversation with the newly elected [British] PM @trussliz,” he tweeted.
“Invited her to [Ukraine]. Thanked [British] people for the major defence and economic aid for [Ukraine]. It’s important that [Britain] is ready to further strengthen it. Attention was paid to security guarantees.
“We discussed the participation of [Britain] in the recovery of [Ukraine]. Co-ordinated further pressure on the RF [Russian Federation]. The goal is to stop the aggression and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“It’s important to designate the RF a terrorist state. We’ll continue active interaction in all formats.”
A Downing Street spokeswoman said that Ms Truss had told the Ukrainian president that his country could count on the UK’s assistance “for the long term”.
“In her first call with a counterpart since becoming prime minister, she reiterated to the Ukrainian leader that he had her full backing and Ukraine could depend on the UK’s assistance for the long term,” she said.
“President Zelenskyy thanked the prime minister for the UK’s staunch support and congratulated her on her appointment.
“The leaders discussed the need to strengthen global security and the measures necessary to cut off the funds fuelling Mr Putin’s war machine.
“The leaders deplored Mr Putin’s attempts to weaponise energy, and the prime minister said it was vital Russia’s blackmail did not deter the West from ensuring Putin fails.
“She also underscored the importance of ensuring the UK and our allies continue to build energy independence.”
The Ukraine war latest – in pictures
The spokeswoman added that the prime minister was “delighted” to accept an invitation to visit Ukraine.
“She praised the Ukrainians’ fight for sovereignty and self-determination and said it was essential Ukraine succeeds and Russia fails,” she said.
“The prime minister said she looked forward to working with the president in the coming weeks and months and was delighted to accept an invitation to visit President Zelenskyy in Ukraine soon.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
THE DRAFT
The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.
Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan
Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe
Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi
Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath
Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh
Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh
Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar
Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
THE SPECS
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Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
