The ultra-modern architecture of the Museum of Liverpool’s spiralling staircase and giant pillbox window will be the backdrop for Britain’s continuing journey eastward.
Reflecting the city’s imperial past and more left-leaning present, the high galleries will from Friday to Sunday host the G7 foreign ministerial that will focus on how to tap into Asia’s growing economic presence and how to check China’s increasing might.
In her former job as international trade secretary, Liz Truss negotiated several post-Brexit deals that gave her insight into the flourishing East Asian economies — and more importantly into China.
This perhaps explains why the new British foreign secretary invited her counterparts from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) to the conference of the democratic world's leading seven nations.
The Omicron variant means that representatives from Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia on Sunday morning will join the meeting virtually, but that should not put off the real business.
Ms Truss has shown a demonstrable interest in Asia, with her first speech as foreign secretary on Wednesday mentioning Asean nations twice.
Closer relationship on the agenda
So what is the invitation’s subtext? The communist elite in Beijing clearly cannot avoid the message that the West is steadily moving to check its influence in Asia.
Hostile words from politicians in Britain, the US and Australia are one thing, but there now appears a clear objective to forge alliances with Indo-Pacific countries and the 10 countries of Asean in particular.
There are some in Asean who will be dissuaded from forging such alliances due to the reaction from Beijing, which others that have been trampled on by China may see it as an insurance policy to build closer ties with the West.
None of this is said in official western diplomacy, however, at least not directly. Diplomats have made clear that they recognise the importance of Asean countries and now want to take matters to a more formal footing.
Over the next decade, it is predicted that 90 per cent of world trade will be done in Asia, hence the shift in interest to the Indo-Pacific region.
The Asean invitation is linked to the G7 becoming more broad-based, with Indo-Pacific trade and security in its sights, suggests Michael Clarke.
“The UK’s tilt is very much a political one more than anything else,” said the Royal United Services Institute think tank expert.
“It’s to create better dialogues with significant Asian countries and we know that Liz Truss is genuinely keen, that she's a convert to the Indo-Pacific mission.”
He also suggests that the manoeuvres are part of a “significant push to condense China across the region”, with Australia leading the way.
“Britain shares the view that we shouldn't be frightened of China and we want to show that our options are not constrained by fear of China,” he added.
Submarine row echoes
China could view the G7 expansion as a further development of September’s Aukus agreement — in which the UK and the US agreed to build nuclear-powered submarines for Australia — and that it is facing an increasingly hard-edged military approach.
The Asean invitation might also be a diplomatic move to placate Indonesia and Malaysia, which have criticised the agreement.
This is not something Ms Truss readily admits to.
“I will be hosting our friends and partners to discuss how we build closer economic, technology and security ties globally,” she said in a statement.
“I want us to build a worldwide network of liberty that advances freedom, democracy and enterprise and encourages like-minded countries to work together from a position of strength.”
Ms Truss is also said to be very keen to show that the G7 has, in a practical sense, an attractive offer to make to the Asean countries.
While Britain to some degree tempers its views on China, the US has been more direct.
“On security, [US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s] meetings will focus on strengthening the regional security infrastructure in response to [China's] bullying in the South China Sea,” Daniel Kritenbrink, US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said on Wednesday.
The US strategy of gathering allies that surround its rival is clear. After Liverpool, Mr Blinken will travel to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand as part of President Joe Biden’s “sustained engagement with Indo-Pacific countries”, said Mr Kritenbrink.
“America’s security and economic interests are intrinsically tied to the preservation of the rules-based order that has served all of us so well. President Biden is committed to elevating US-Asean engagement to unprecedented levels, expanding our formal engagement and co-operation,” he added.
The message to China is clear: if it does not abide by the international rules-based system, Britain, the US and their growing list of potential allies will counter it as a powerful bloc.
The great unknown is, when challenged by this, will Beijing choose concession or confrontation?
Australia squads
ODI: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
T20: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth.
MATCH RESULT
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Jazira: Mabkhout (52'), Romarinho (77'), Al Hammadi (90' 6)
Persepolis: Alipour (42'), Mensha (84')
Everything Now
Arcade Fire
(Columbia Records)
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Audi RS5
Price, base: Dh359,200
Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km
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."
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Tenet
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh
Rating: 5/5
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The biog
Name: Mariam Ketait
Emirate: Dubai
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, experiencing new things, painting, reading, flying, and the French language
Favourite quote: "Be the change you wish to see" - unknown
Favourite activity: Connecting with different cultures
57%20Seconds
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
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
Liz%20Truss
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MATCH DETAILS
Manchester United 3
Greenwood (21), Martial (33), Rashford (49)
Partizan Belgrade 0
HER%20FIRST%20PALESTINIAN
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Saeed%20Teebi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20256%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%C2%A0House%20of%20Anansi%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.