Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations will discuss global trade problems at their annual summit on Sunday, exposing a wide gap between US President Donald Trump and his western allies.
The G7 gathering is taking place as concerns grow about a global economic downturn and in an era of international disunity across issues that have strained decades-old allegiances.
Mr Trump joined the leaders from France, Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy and Canada in the French coastal resort of Biarritz for three days of talks that began on Saturday.
The talks have an ambitious agenda that includes the defence of democracy, gender equality, education and climate change.
The delegations had barely arrived before differences were exposed, with senior US officials accusing the host, French President Emmanuel Macron, of looking "to fracture the G7" by focusing on "niche issues" rather than major global concerns.
France denied this, pointing to Sunday's initial session covering the economy, trade and security, areas that used to draw easy consensus but are now sources of great friction.
Mr Trump arrived in France just hours after intensifying his trade war with China in a battle between the world's two largest economies that has unnerved financial markets.
"I am very worried about the way it's going, the growth of protectionism, of tariffs that we're seeing," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday.
"Those who support the tariffs are at risk of incurring the blame for the downturn in the global economy, irrespective of whether or not that is true."
Mr Trump also threatened France on the eve of the summit, saying the US would tax French wine "like they've never seen before" unless Paris dropped a digital tax on US technology companies.
European Council President Donald Tusk, who takes part in the G7 discussions, warned that the EU would respond "in kind" if Trump acted on his threat.
"This may be the last moment to restore our political community," Mr Tusk said on Saturday, giving a bleak assessment of western relations.
Looking to broaden the scope of the debate, Mr Macron has invited several African leaders to discuss the problems facing their continent.
And leaders from India, Australia, Chile and Spain were due to attend a dinner on Sunday where the focus would be on the environment, among other issues.
Mr Trump upended last year's G7 summit in Canada, walking out of the meeting early and dissociating himself from the final communique after endorsing it.
France has got around that problem by doing away with the time-honoured communique, deciding it was not worth even trying to find common language.
While the transatlantic rift is the most stark, there are also deep divisions within the European camp, with Mr Johnson making his debut at a time when he is struggling to persuade EU capitals to renegotiate Britain's divorce from the bloc.
Mr Johnson and Mr Tusk, who are due to talk on Sunday, sparred over who would take the blame if Britain left the EU on October 31 without a Brexit agreement acceptable to both sides.
"I still hope that PM Johnson will not like to go down in history as Mr No Deal," said Mr Tusk, who leads the political direction of the 28-nation EU.
Mr Johnson later said it would be Mr Tusk who would carry the mantle if Britain could not secure a new withdrawal agreement.
Mr Macron added to internal EU strains by unexpectedly threatening on Friday to block an EU trade deal with a group of South American states over Brazil's handling of fires that are ravaging the Amazon rainforest.
Germany and Britain both voiced deep concern about the blazes, but disagreed with Mr Macron on how to respond, saying shooting down the ambitious Mercosur trade accord would not help save the Amazon.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Japan
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets