The UK has agreed to enhance its co-operation with an economic union of 10 Southeast Asian countries as part of its post-Brexit pivot towards the Indo-Pacific region.
Britain becomes a “Dialogue Partner” of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as it seeks closer engagement on issues including maritime security and transnational crime, trade, investment, climate change, the environment, science and technology, education and tackling Covid-19.
It’s the first agreement of its type between Asean and outside countries in 25 years.
But the economic union already has 10 ‘Dialogue Partners,’ including the EU, which the UK completely withdrew from on December 31, 2020.
The others are Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the US.
“This is a landmark moment in the UK’s tilt towards the Indo Pacific. Our closer ties with Asean will help create green jobs, reinforce our security cooperation, promote tech and science partnerships, and safeguard key pillars of international law like the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” said UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
UK-Asean trade amounted to £32.3 billion ($44.97bn) in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2021.
“This is great news and shows Global Britain in action, forging stronger relationships around the world as an independent trading nation,” said International Trade Secretary Liz Truss.
Global Britain is the phrase the government has used to describe its post-Brexit foreign policy.
Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Mr Raab has visited Southeast Asia five times since taking on the Foreign Secretary role in July 2019 and the UK has also sought closer defence co-operation.
The UK’s Carrier Strike Group is currently in the Indo-Pacific region.
De De Pyaar De
Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
