Downing Street has refused to rule out the prospect of the UK taking unilateral action to ensure British sausages can continue to go to Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said "we keep all options on the table".
The comment comes as Boris Johnson welcomes EU leaders including Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel and Ursula von der Leyen for the G7, however No 10 said "this is not the forum" for a breakthrough
Ahead of travelling to Cornwall, the French President said the UK's request for the Northern Ireland protocol to be revised was "not serious", adding "Nothing is negotiable."
But Dominic Raab hit out at this "dogmatic, purist approach", telling Sky News: "We want it to work for all sides, but the change must come from the Commission's side, and the way they are approaching this. We are not negotiating or haggling the integrity of the United Kingdom... that is not on the table."
This afternoon a former White House official claimed the EU was making a "mountain out of molehill" and expected Joe Biden to "push on the Europeans" as much as the British during the summit.
Mick Mulvaney told Sky News: "I understand the principles the Europeans are wedded to but the practicalities strike us as something that should be able to be worked out...
"We maybe understand a little bit better why you chose to leave if you are having a fight over sausages when something as important as the hard border on the island of Ireland is at risk."
Follow the latest updates below.
06:57 PM
'Diplomacy is back' declares Biden as leaders take to Twitter
The best way to lift countries out of poverty and lead a global recovery is to invest in education – particularly girls’ education.
The UK will donate £430m to help get children in the classroom, and I'm calling on other countries, including those at the @G7, to play their part.
The Queen poses for a family photograph with G7 leaders, including Angela Merkel, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron, Yoshihide Suga, Justin Trudeau, Boris Johnson, Mario Draghi, Charles Michel and Joe Biden, in Cornwall, on June 11 2021. - Jack Hill/AFP The Queen meets with G7 leaders in Cornwall on June 11 2021 - Jack Hill/AFP
06:26 PM
G7 leaders gather for reception hosted by the Queen
G7 leaders have gathered at The Eden Project, Cornwall, for a reception event hosted by the Queen.
Her Majesty arrived in Cornwall with the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and was greeted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie.
Tonight will mark the occasion of the first meeting between US President Joe Biden, and First Lady Dr Jill Biden, and the Queen.
President Biden becomes the 13th president to meet Her Majesty, who has met every president since Dwight Eisenhower - excluding Lyndon Baines Johnson, who never visited the UK during his presidency.
Her Majesty the Queen hosts a reception at Cornwall's Eden Project for G7 leaders on June 11 2021 - Jack Hill/The Times
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden arrive at Cornwall's Eden Project for a G7 reception hosted by the Queen on June 11 2021 - Jack Hill/The Times
G7 leaders gather for a reception held by the Queen in Cornwall on June 11 2021 - Jack Hill/The Times
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson arrive at the Eden Project for the G7 reception on June 11 2021 - WPA Pool/Getty Images
06:12 PM
We cannot deal with world's problems 'unless we do it together', says Raab
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has told ITV's Robert Peston that there needs to be a "candour amongst international partners and a stronger sense of holding it together" to successfully deal with global problems and future pandemics.
"One of those things is that we want even more multilateral co-ordination, so rapid response on pandemics whether it is on surveillance or the ability to get vaccines and therapeutics licenced and on tap at pace," said Raab.
The Foreign Secretary said that the government's commitment to providing an extra one hundred million vaccines for people across the globe and their proposals on climate change show that they recognise working with other countries is critical to "deal with a whole range of problems the world is facing."
Raab also welcomed the upcoming Covid-19 inquiry, saying that: "I don't think we need to be overly defensive; we know mistakes have been made. It is the first major pandemic. We're not like some of the East Asian countries that had SARS and other pandemics, we hold our hands up."
As well as preparing for future pandemics, Raab said the government are committing a £430 million five-year-pledge into the global partnership for education, to move towards a target of getting forty million girls back into education.
In regards to Northern Ireland, Raab added that: "We are being pragmatic, flexible throughout. The EU have got to make this protocol work the way it was intended for all sides, for all communities in Northern Ireland, not just for EU integrity, but for economic integrity of the whole of the United Kingdom."
05:06 PM
Right Royal presence to continue at G7
The Duchess of Cambridge and Jill Biden laugh during a visit to Connor Downs Academy in Hayle, West Cornwall, - PA
The Royal Family will continue to make a presence at the G7 this weekend, joining the world leaders at a lavish reception at the Eden Project.
The Queen, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will all attend the reception on Friday evening.
William and Kate will also take part in their first G7 events, another milestone in their progression as senior royals.
The duchess and US First Lady Jill Biden visited an academy school for four to 11-year-olds to highlight the issue of the early years development of children.
04:56 PM
Boris Johnson should emphasis personal judgement over rules, says WHO special envoy
The WHO's special envoy on Covid has said he wants Boris Johnson to move towards personal responsibility rather than "regulations and restrictions"
Dr David Nabarro told Sky News he "would quite like a position to be reached quite soon" in which people were trusted to use their own judgment, otherwise "we will never really be able to work out how to decide for ourselves what to do".
He said we should move from "restricting to partnering", saying "then we will probably be as a community, better able to deal with the unexpected twists and turns of this disease".
"In the long term we are going to have to work out how to deal with this virus by ourselves," he added. "We can't rely on governments all the time."
04:49 PM
The Telegraph weekly news quiz: Joe Biden and Boris Johnson met for the first time in which county?
In the week that the Government announced that it will be inviting over-25s for their first coronavirus vaccine, The Telegraph's news quiz is here to find out how closely you have been paying attention to the headlines.
Joe Biden and Boris Johnson met for the first time this week at the G7 summit, but in which seaside county was the summit held?
Away from Britain, can you recall which world leader was slapped in the face as he met a crowd of well-wishers this week
If you've been reading this week's Telegraph Front Page newsletters you will have come across all of the answers to the quiz.
The United States and China have clashed in rare talks taking place as President Joe Biden made his international debut at the G7 summit.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, joining Biden in Cornwall at the G7, spoke by telephone with senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi - their first talks since a heated in-person encounter in Alaska in March.
Mr Blinken "stressed the importance of cooperation and transparency regarding the origin of the virus," including allowing World Health Organization experts back into China, a spokesman said.
But Chinese state TV reports that Mr Yang hit back, saying: "Genuine multilateralism is not pseudo-multilateralism based on the interests of small circles."
In response to criticism about Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs, he reportedly told Mr Blinker: "The United States should resolve its own domestic serious human rights violations, and not use the so-called human rights issues as an excuse to arbitrarily interfere in the internal affairs of other countries."
04:33 PM
Downing Street plays down prospect of Brexit breakthrough at G7
Downing Street played down expectations of a resolution to the impasse over Northern Ireland's post-Brexit arrangements.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman suggested "this is not the forum in which he is necessarily seeking to come up with an immediate solution at the G7".
But the leaders are expected to talk about the "challenges that this is bringing to the people of Northern Ireland and the risks it poses to the Good Friday Agreement in the current form of the protocol and the need to find urgent solutions".
A grace period allowing chilled meat - including sausages and mince - to cross the Irish Sea from Great Britain is scheduled to expire at the end of the month and if the UK takes unilateral action to extend it, the EU has threatened to respond, triggering a trade war.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Our immediate solution is to find radical and urgent solutions within the protocol."
Downing Street has refused to rule out the prospect of the UK taking unilateral action to ensure British sausages can continue to go to Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said "we keep all options on the table".
The stance risks inflaming tensions with the European Union ahead of Boris Johnson's meetings with the bloc's leaders on Saturday.
At the G7 summit in Cornwall, the Prime Minister will hold talks with Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel.
04:01 PM
Delay June 21 reopening, BMA tells Boris Johnson
The British Medical Association (BMA) has urged the Government to delay the final stage of the roadmap until after June 21, as the Indian variant causes a surge in Covid cases.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA Council, said despite the "tremendous success" of the vaccination programme "case numbers are now rising rapidly".
He added: "The best protection is only achieved at about two weeks after the second dose, particularly with the Delta variant, and we will not have enough of the population properly protected by June 21.
"With only 54.2 per cent of the adult population currently fully vaccinated and many younger people not yet eligible, there is a huge risk that prematurely relaxing all restrictions will undo the excellent work of the vaccine programme and lead to a surge of infections.
"It's not just about the number of hospitalisations, but also the risk to the health of large numbers of younger people, who can suffer long-term symptoms affecting their lives and ability to work."
03:56 PM
Twelve G7 police officers self-isolating after one tests positive for Covid
Twelve police officers at the G7 summit are self-isolating after one member of the force tested positive for Covid on the Falmouth accommodation cruise ship, police have said.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the officer went through their testing regime early on Friday morning and received a positive lateral flow test. The force said that he was supporting G7 policing and was accommodated on the ferry they rented for the duration of the summit, the MS Silja Europa.
A spokesman for the police said: "The officer, plus those who have come into close contact, are currently self-isolating at another designated location.
"All who have come into close contact or are in the bubble of those who tested positive are also currently self-isolating which equates to 12 officers in total. The next stage is for those who have tested positive to undertake a PCR test.
"We are continuing to follow the advice of Public Health England."
03:43 PM
On your bike: Joe Biden gifts custom bicycle to Boris Johnson
Joe Biden appears to have read up on our Prime Minister's favourite hobbies - the President's gift to Boris Johnson was a $6,000 custom-made bike.
Handmade by Philadelphia-based Bilenky Cycle Works, it is apparently a remake of "the classic English 3 speed in lightweight form".
The Times reports that Mr Johnson's gift was a framed photograph of an Edinburgh mural depicting the anti-slavery campaigner Frederick Douglass which his team had spotted on... Wikipedia.
Pictures of the “Boris Bike” and helmet from Philadelphia-based @bilenkycycles that Biden gave UK’s Boris Johnson, who was the 1st foreign leader he met with on his 1st overseas trip as president. pic.twitter.com/indVyn6JuS
French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Carbis Bay - Shutterstock
We got the first glimpse of a return to normality when G7 leaders gathered on Carbis Bay for the family photo.
It was a return of business as normal, not just from the pandemic but after the tumultuous years when Donald Trump was US President.
The populist leader spent almost as much time winding up his fellow elected leaders as he did cosying up with dictators, refusing to sign key agreements and preferring to fire off angry tweets about his counterparts rather than join them around the camp fire.
Mr Trump revelled in his outsider status. Mr Biden, however, is lapping up life as Uncle Joe. And the other leaders are flocking to him, as they vie to win his support for the issue that is bubbling away underneath the polished smiles.
Macron was first in, with a social distancing-defying arm around the back, but others have flitted around the leader of the free world.
The question is whether the special relationship has - as Boris Johnson claims - been upgraded to indestructible, or whether the new normal will leave him eclipsed by the EU.
03:15 PM
Further Covid 17 deaths registered in UK
A further 17 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Friday, bringing the UK total to 127,884, official figures show.
Separate data published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 153,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
The Government also said that, as of 9am on Friday, there had been a further 8,125 lab-confirmed cases in the UK.
03:13 PM
Why Biden’s £1.2m Cadillac is wreaking havoc on the narrow lanes of Cornwall
The replacement US Presidential motorcade: the Chevrolet Suburban SUV - PA
The best laid plans of presidents and men often go awry. Joe Biden’s entourage of 400 secret service personnel faced a Cornish conundrum when the leader of the free world landed in the West Country for this weekend’s G7 summit.
The US President doesn’t travel lightly and along with him came a £1.2m Cadillac, nicknamed ‘The Beast’. The 18ft-long behemoth doesn’t quite match the dimensions of a Royal Navy frigate moored off the coast for his protection but it does pack plenty of firepower.
Loaded with shotguns, tear gas cannons and smoke-screens, the specially-built Cadillac features five-inch thick bulletproof windows which are capable of withstanding chemical and biological attack.
Weighing a hefty nine tons, the sealed cabin is equipped with emergency oxygen and a supply of Mr Biden’s blood type for medical emergencies. Even the door handles deliver a 120-volt shock for any G7 protestor mad enough to try and grab them.
Boris Johnson has pledged £430 million in aid over five years to help get more than a billion of the world's most vulnerable children into school.
The support announced by the UK will go to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the largest fund dedicated to education in developing countries.
The European Commission has already promised 700 million euro (around £600 million) to the fund while Italy has pledged 25 million euro (£21.5 million) and other G7 nations are also expected to contribute.
The Prime Minister said: "The best way we can lift countries out of poverty and lead a global recovery is by investing in education and particularly girls' education.
"It is a source of international shame that every day around the world children bursting with potential are denied the chance to become titans of industry, scientific pioneers or leaders in any field, purely because they are female, their parents' income or the place they were born.
"I am calling on other world leaders, including those here at the G7, to also donate and put us firmly on a path to get more girls into the classroom, address the terrible setback to global education caused by coronavirus and help the world build back better."
03:00 PM
Restore foreign aid target or 'undermine UK credibility', warn Lib Dems
The Government is 'giving with one hand and taking with the other', the Liberal Democrats have said, calling on Boris Johnson to restore the UK's foreign aid commitment.
Layla Moran, spokesperson for international development, said: "What is the point of building classrooms if the effect of aid cuts is that the chances of girls ever reaching the school gates are diminished? Money for sanitation, food and sexual health have all been cut under this government.
"They give with one hand and take with the other. The effect is to undermine our credibility and the impact of the money given. The single most important step the Prime Minister could take at the G7 is to restore the 0.7 per cent target for development spending.
"At a moment when the eyes of the world are on us, it would send a signal that Britain keeps its promises and stands by its commitments."
02:55 PM
Fraser Nelson: The Tories still don’t know how to fight the madness of identity politics
Does it really matter what a common room in Magdalen College does with its portrait of the Queen, asks Fraser Nelson?
Students have long liked to provoke – and wind each other up. The historian Niall Ferguson has spoken about how his Oxford friends would throw parties to welcome the arrival of Cruise missiles to Britain. They once requested that the college library purchase the Collected Limericks of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu. “The joy of this kind of thing,” he wrote, was that “the Left always rose to the bait, no matter how puerile.”
It seems to be the Right, now, that rises to the bait – and on a national scale. After Magdalen’s postgrads voted to remove the Queen’s picture on the grounds that she represents “recent colonial history”, ministers let rip. Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, formally denounced them. Robert Jenrick, the Communities Secretary, declared himself proud to hang Her Majesty’s portrait on his office wall.
There’s something still a bit student politics about this reaction – and a failure to recognise that this stopped being a game some time ago.
Watch: Boris Johnson calls for 'feminine' pandemic recovery as he opens G7
Boris Johnson suggested the G7 should support a more "feminine" economic recovery as he opened the summit in Cornwall this afternoon.
The Prime Minister said the citizens of G7 nations "want us to be sure that we are beating the pandemic together and discussing how we will never have a repeat of what we have seen".
"But also that we are building back better together and building back greener and building back fairer and building back more equal and... in a more gender neutral and perhaps a more feminine way."
Watch his opening statement in the video below.
02:35 PM
We are family: G7 leaders in Cornwall
The family photo - Getty
02:22 PM
Have your say: Has Boris Johnson really won over Joe Biden?
The special relationship has been upgraded to "indestructible", according to Boris Johnson, following his bilateral meeting with Joe Biden yesterday.
There's no doubt that the 46th President is more diplomatic than his predecessor, making a complimentary comment about the Prime Minister's new wife - a far cry from Donald Trump's clumsy comments about Mrs Macron.
But have the two men found genuine common ground - or is it just all smiles for the cameras, and are Brexit tensions still simmering underneath?
Have your say in the poll below.
02:18 PM
We must not repeat mistakes of post-crash recovery after pandemic: Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson said the economic recovery from the pandemic must not repeat mistakes made following the financial crash.
Opening the summit, the Prime Minister said the G7 economies had the potential to "bounce back very strongly" from the crisis.
He added: "But it is vital that we don't repeat the mistake of the last great crisis, the last great economic recession of 2008 when the recovery was not uniform across all parts of society."
There was a risk the pandemic could leave a "lasting scar" as "inequalities may be entrenched", Mr Johnson said.
02:10 PM
Selective social distancing: Macron has jabs for Johnson, but hugs for Biden
The family photo is a tradition and an institution - but it was the interactions that took place either side that were more telling.
The Prime Minister appeared in deep discussion with Angela Merkel, who is marking her last G7 as German Chancellor.
Boris Johnson observed social distancing as he elbow jabbed Emmanuel Macron - but the French President had no Covid qualms as he put his arm around Joe Biden, in a perhaps pointed and territorial move.
The Prime Minister said it was "genuinely" nice to see his counterparts in the flesh, after so long under pandemic restrictions.
Boris Johnson and Angela Merkel on the beach of Carbis Bay - Shutterstock
Boris Johnson bumps elbow with France's President Emmanuel Macron - Reuters
Emmanuel Macron puts his arm around Joe Biden as the leaders walk off after posing for the family photo - AP Pool
01:51 PM
Boris Johnson pledges to 'build back more equal... in a feminine way'
The G7 summit has begun, with Boris Johnson promising at least 100 million Covid-19 vaccines to countries in need.
The group of seven leading industrialised nations are expected to collectively agree to provide a billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine in an effort to end the pandemic in 2022.
The leaders were met by the Prime Minister and Carrie Johnson as they arrived at the summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, and posed for a "family photograph" ahead of their discussions.
The Prime Minister said "the world will look to the G7 to apply our shared values and diplomatic might to the challenge of defeating the pandemic and leading the global recovery".
Mr Johnson said there was also the potential to create "many many millions" of quality jobs as we "build back more equal and in a more gender neutral and feminine way".
01:50 PM
'Sausage wars' making US more sympathetic to Brexit, says former special envoy to Northern Ireland
The EU is "making a mountain out of a molehill" over the Northern Ireland protocol, which is making US figures more sympathetic to Brexit, a former senior White House official has said.
Mick Mulvaney, who served as special envoy for Northern Ireland under Donald Trump, said he would expect Joe Biden to "push on the Europeans" as well as the UK.
He told Sky News: "I understand the principles the Europeans are wedded to but the practicalities strike us as something that should be able to be worked out
"We understand a little bit why you chose to leave if you are having a fight over sausages when something as important as the hard border on the island of Ireland is at risk."
But he stressed the US was "sympathetic to both sides" and urged the UK to "stop making unilateral changes to agreements they have already made" as well.
"The most important thing is the sustained peace and prosperity and that means no hard border on the island of Ireland."
01:31 PM
G7 leaders gather for family photo
The G7 leaders are now meeting for the family photo, officially opening the G7 summit.
Although Boris Johnson has met several of his counterparts, he has left some of the potentially more difficult meetings until later in the summit.
He had a brief chat with Angela Merkel, who is marking her last G7 as German Chancellor.
Emmanuel Macron could be seen putting his arm around Joe Biden as they walked to the spot for the photograph.
Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson heading for the 'family photo' - AFP
01:26 PM
Boris Johnson and Mario Draghi discuss Libya in pre-G7 meeting
Boris Johnson and Italian counterpart Mario Draghi discussed "the importance of a supporting a lasting ceasefire in Libya to provide the foundation for a long-term peaceful democratic transition" during a pre-summit meeting today.
“They spoke about their countries’ respective experiences during the pandemic and shared work through the UK and Italy’s Presidencies of the G7 and G20 to ensure the world is better prepared for future health crises," a spokesman said.
“The leaders also discussed building back greener, and the importance of ensuring wealthy economies meet the commitment to mobilise $100bn a year for developing countries to address climate change."
01:17 PM
Boris Johnson and Justin Trudeau agree to 'redouble efforts' to secure trade deal
Boris Johnson and Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau "agreed to redouble their efforts" to secure a trade deal as soon as possible, during a pre-G7 meeting.
The two leaders discussed the pandemic, and the Covid vaccination programme, as well as "the remarkable alignment between the UK's and Canada's foreign policy goals", including girls' education, media freedom, climate change and human rights.
"The leaders agreed a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) between the UK and Canada would unlock huge opportunities for both of our countries. They agreed to redouble their efforts to secure an FTA as soon as possible, " a spokesman added.
"They discussed a number of foreign policy issues including China and Iran... Both leaders agreed that this weekend's summit would be a pivotal moment for G7 leaders to come together and make concrete progress on major world issues."
01:13 PM
'The same union, the same enthusiasm': Emmanuel Macron posts pointed G7 selfie
Boris Johnson might be riding high from his "warm" bilateral with Joe Biden last night - but the EU's leaders are keen to make their unanimity clear.
Emmanuel Macron has tweeted a pointed picture of himself, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Angela Merkel and Mario Draghi showing how close they are - literally and metaphorically.
"As always, the same union, the same determination to act, the same enthusiasm," the French President said.
Comme toujours, une même union, une même détermination à agir, un même enthousiasme ! Le G7 peut commencer. pic.twitter.com/RPqZ2XMGMb
Hot water: Climate activists hit the beach as the G7 summit kicks off - Getty
Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion activists have staged a protest march targeting the G7 summit in Cornwall.
Climate campaigners paraded from St Ives Leisure Centre to the centre of the town, escorted by police who redirected cars en route.
It was the first of a series of demonstrations the group is holding throughout the three-day event in the seaside town.
Extinction Rebellion says the protests are in response to G7 nations' "failure to respect the global climate commitments they made in Paris in 2015" and "to urge the leaders meeting at Carbis Bay in Cornwall to act immediately to address the climate and ecological emergency".
At least 500 people joined the parade, while residents of St Ives stood outside and took photographs and videoed the event.
The protesters played drums and chanted "act now", "sound the alarm" and "Extinction Rebellion".
01:07 PM
England's R-rate jumps
The estimated reproduction number in England, or R-rate, has risen to between 1.2 and 1.4 with the daily growth rate of infections also up compared to last week.
An R value between 1.2 and 1.4 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 12 and 14 other people.
It is up from 1.0-1.2 last week.
The daily growth rate of infections was estimated between three per cent and six per cent, up from zero per cent to three per cent last week.
12:50 PM
Michael Gove: 'Pragmatic figures' in EU will help resolve border issues
"Pragmatic figures" within the EU are willing to work with the UK Government to resolve difficulties caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol, Michael Gove has said.
Speaking following a meeting of the British Irish Council in Fermanagh, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said: "Sometimes when people look at the protocol they think it is all or nothing at all. The truth is that the protocol is an arrangement which is developed through dialogue in the joint committee and the specialised committees between the UK Government and the European Union.
"We have resolved some of the challenges that have existed but there are other challenges which do need to be tackled effectively...
"I believe there is a willingness within pragmatic figures within the European Union to make sure that we can make these arrangements work so that they do not impact adversely on the lives of people across communities in Northern Ireland and I know that the Irish Government is using its best endeavours in order to proceed in a pragmatic and constructive way."
12:49 PM
Duchess of Cambridge and Jill Biden join early years roundtable
The Duchess of Cambridge and Dr Jill Biden at the G7
The Duchess of Cambridge and US First Lady Jill Biden are visiting an academy school for four to 11-year-olds in Cornwall to highlight the issue of the early years development of children.
It is the first time the two women have met and during the visit, The pair toured a classroom before joining a roundtable discussion on early education.
It is unusual for a member of the Royal Family to take such a high profile involvement in a G7 summit - but the Duchess has made early years a priority.
12:43 PM
China's 'wolf warrior diplomacy' is focusing the minds of G7, says senior Tory
The chair of the foreign affairs committee has said Japan should be brought "even more closely" into partnership with the UK to help build defence cooperation.
Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative MP, told Sky News it would hep "defend the interests of all free countries and all free peoples" against the growing threat of autocratic regimes in the Pacific.
"The last year has really helped, and I don't just mean Covid - I mean the wolf warrior diplomacy China has engaged in.
"When you have the Chinese ambassador in Sweden saying 'for our friends we have wine and flowers and for our enemies we have shotguns', you can see Chinese diplomacy has moved on from traditional track to something that sounds like a Chicago mob movie, so Chinese actions itself have helped a lot of people focus on what really matters."
12:21 PM
Boris Johnson thanks Japanese PM for support on trade partnership
Boris Johnson as thanked Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga for his support of the UK joining the Trans-Pacific trade alliance, in a meeting before the official opening of the G7 summit.
The UK applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in February.
The two men discussed the UK's hopes of "expanding our relationship with Japan and the wider Indo-Pacific region across trade, technology, defence and wider foreign policy," a spokesman said.
"The Prime Minister expressed his support for the Tokyo Olympics, and welcomed Japanese efforts to ensure the Games can take place safely.
"The leaders resolved to work together to address global challenges, in particular on global health and tackling climate change ahead of the UK-hosted Cop26 summit."
12:02 PM
Watch: Lockdown easing has to be 'careful', says vaccines minister
Nadhim Zahawi stressed the importance of being "really careful" in lifting coronavirus restrictions following reports there could be a four-week delay to the planned easing of all restrictions on June 21.
The vaccines minister urged against "squander(ing) those hard fought gains" made by the vaccination programme amid concerns over the rise of the Delta variant, which was first identified in India.
But he did not give much away in terms of Monday's announcement. Watch his interview below.
11:55 AM
Lobby latest: No 10 defends borders policy as Indian variant raises questions over roadmap
Downing Street defended its borders policy, as the rise in Indian/Delta variant threatens to derail the Prime Minister's roadmap.
Asked whether Boris Johnson regretted not putting India on the red list of travel restrictions sooner, now that the vast majority of cases were of the Delta variant, the Prime Minister's spokesman said: "I would point to the tough border measures that we've had in place for a fair amount of time now, that we've ensured that anybody arriving from India needed to quarantine at home, and then later they were put on the red list which means that people have to quarantine in a hotel if they arrive in the UK from India."
He added: "Throughout that period we were also encouraging people not to travel outside the UK, in fact it was - before the relaxations - it was illegal to travel outside the UK other than for exceptional reasons."
Asked if No 10 blamed those who did travel, he stressed that people had not been allowed to travel outside of limited exceptions.
11:51 AM
Lobby latest: Boris Johnson tells football fans not to boo
Downing Street has now told England fans not to boo the football team for taking the knee in protest against racial injustice.
Despite No 10 previously declining to condemn those who booed players, a spokesman said: "The Prime Minister respects the right of all people to peacefully protest and make their feelings known about injustices.
"I think the Prime Minister has spoken before about his desire to get everybody to get behind the national team and the PM would like to see everyone getting behind the team to cheer them on, not boo."
Fans booed as England's and Romania's players took the knee last weekend - AFP
11:47 AM
Lobby latest: Dominic Cummings may breach code of conduct, No 10 hints
Dominic Cummings may be in breach of the code of conduct for special advisers if he releases Government information, Downing Street has suggested.
Asked whether No 10 would be responding to any documents released by Mr Cummings after his claim he had evidence of failings in the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "I'm not going to get drawn on that issue, I don't think you'd expect me to comment on that.
"But as you're aware all current and former special advisers are asked to act in full accordance with the special advisers' code of conduct."
Asked whether No 10 thought releasing his evidence would break the code, the spokesman said: "I'm not going to get into hypotheticals, as I said, we expect all current and former special advisers to act in full accordance with that code of conduct."
11:41 AM
Brexit issues can be 'refined and resolved', says Ireland's Taoiseach
Joe Biden's promise that a UK-US trade deal would not be off the table if food standards are aligned with the EU's "offers potential for progress", Ireland's premier has said.
Micheal Martin said it was a "significant intervention, a significant point to make" because of the UK's desire to strike independent trade deals in the post-Brexit world."
The Taoiseach added it was "in the capacity of both the UK and EU to arrive at an agreement here", despite the lack of a breakthrough at this week's joint committee in London.
"The mechanisms exist... to facilitate a working out of these issues," he told a press conference after the British-Irish Council meeting.
"There are issues to be refined and resolved... [but] there is opportunity within that framework to resolve this."
11:36 AM
Labour blames Boris Johnson for 'terrible' Covid case rise
Labour's shadow home secretary has blamed Boris Johnson for the sharp rise in cases linked to the Indian/Delta variant, saying it entered the country because of his "reckless refusal" to shut the borders.
Responding to the latest PHE figures (see 10:53am), Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "These figures are terrible. The pace at which cases of the Delta variant continue to rise is deeply worrying and is putting the lifting of restrictions at risk.
"The blame for this lies with the Prime Minister and his reckless refusal to act on Labour’s repeated warnings to secure our borders against Covid and its variants."
11:27 AM
Focus on practicalities rather than 'irresolvable' Brexit principles, says Tony Blair
The Irish border issue is "an irresolvable problem", which will require a focus on practical issues rather than principles, Tony Blair has sad.
The former prime minister said both sides of the dispute must focus on "the real brass tacks on practical issues, and see where Northern Ireland can keep aligned with EU regulation", adding that Britain should do the same on "areas where it really doesn't matter so much... to protect that border".
He told Sky News: "You can't resolve matter of principle, this is just not possible... you have got to look at practicalities instead."
11:16 AM
How the G7 is putting Dr Jill Biden’s ‘soft power’ in the spotlight
First Lady Jill Biden wearing a jacket with the word "Love" - Reuters
All eyes were on Dr Jill Biden as she made her international debut as First Lady on Wednesday evening at RAF Mildenhall – including her husband's, as she jokingly chided him to “pay attention” as she addressed the US Air Force members stationed at the Suffolk base.
Hours earlier, she had shared a picture of herself aboard Air Force One en route to the G7 summit in Cornwall, poring over a stack of papers in preparation.
These global gatherings can present a delicate diplomatic mission for political spouses: while often portrayed as opportunities to enjoy the lighter side of international trips – from visiting art galleries to sampling local cuisine – First Ladies are also expected to use their ‘soft power’ to promote their spouse’s agenda. Just as she has in the first six months of his presidency, it is an opportunity she will no doubt take in her stride.
One in eight Britons still hoping for foreign holiday
Around one in eight British adults is still planning a trip abroad this summer, figures suggest.
Some 12 per cent of adults said they plan to go on a trip abroad before September, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Of these, 71 per cent said this would be for a holiday.
Younger groups were more likely to be planning a trip, 16 per cent of 30-34-year-olds said they plan to do so compared to eight er cent of adults aged 70 and over.
10:39 AM
Boris Johnson upgrades 'special relationship to 'indestructible'
Boris Johnson has hailed the "indestructible relationship" between the UK and the US - but despite the outward bonhomie there are warnings that Joe Biden will still have "grave concerns" about Brexit.
The Prime Minister has sought to reframe the 'special relationship', which he sees as "needy and weak".
He told the BBC the alliance could be described as "deep and meaningful" or "indestructible relationship", stressing he had “terrific” talks with President Biden covering “about 25 subjects in some detail”.
Mr Johnson also downplayed suggestions that he was rebuked over the Northern Ireland protocol, stressing "the President didn't say anything of the kind"
10:38 AM
BoJoe 'chemistry' not sufficient to prevent 'grave concerns', says former ambassador
The "chemistry" between Boris Johnson and Joe Biden is good - but it will not be enough to override Joe Biden's long-held concerns about Brexit, a former ambassador has said.
Sir Peter Westmacott said for the US President "the whole issue of his Irish roots is very important, and more important than that he cares deeply about peace on the island of Ireland".
"It was very striking that just a few days before the G7 summit, before President Biden’s visit, that his acting ambassador was asked to go in and speak to the British Government in very firm terms," he told Sky News.
Any risk to the Good Friday Agreement was "a matter of grave concern", he added.
10:25 AM
Have your say: Has Boris Johnson really won over Joe Biden?
The special relationship has been upgraded to "indestructible", according to Boris Johnson, following his bilateral meeting with Joe Biden yesterday.
There's no doubt that the 46th President is more diplomatic than his predecessor, making a complimentary comment about the Prime Minister's new wife - a far cry from Donald Trump's clumsy comments about Mrs Macron.
But have the two men found genuine common ground - or is it just all smiles for the cameras, and are Brexit tensions still simmering underneath?
Have your say in the poll below.
10:13 AM
Joe Biden's UK trip is an escape from headaches at home
Joe Biden had a visible skip in his 78-year-old step as he set off from the United States for Britain.
At Joint Base Andrews he literally started running towards Air Force One. It looked like he couldn't wait to get away.
For the US president the Cornish seaside air will be a welcome relief from the bickering that has engulfed his domestic agenda in Washington.
Mr Biden got off to a fast start with his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, the vaccination programme, and a resurgent economy. But now his grand plans are starting to stagnate as promises of a new bipartisan politics fail to materialise.
He is not only mired in battles with Republicans, but also prominent figures in his own party.
Indian variant cases surge - but deaths remain low
Nearly 30,000 more cases of the Indian coronavirus variant have been confirmed in the UK in the last week, new data shows.
Public Health England (PHE) said on Friday that 42,323 cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed in the UK, up by 29,892 from last week. Growth rates for Delta cases are high across all parts of the country, with regional estimates for doubling time ranging from 4.5 days to 11.5 days.
As of June 7, there have been 42 deaths in England of people who were confirmed as having the Delta variant of Covid-19 and who died within 28 days of a positive test, according to Public Health England.
Of this number, 23 were unvaccinated, seven were more than 21 days after their first dose of vaccine and 12 were more than 14 days after their second dose.
Yesterday Matt Hancock confirmed that 91 per cent of Covid-19 cases are now the Delta variant, as a result of its higher transmission.
09:43 AM
Public health boss calls for delay in final stage in roadmap
The vice-president of the Association of Directors of Public Health has called for a delay in the final stage of the roadmap, warning that lifting restrictions risks cases and hospital admissions rising further.
Jim McManus told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If you get enough people infected, you will get a rise in hospitalisations. You will also get a significant rise in long Covid, which is something we want to avoid too.
"The second thing is that the more people infected, the more variants will develop, and the more risk we have that a variant will develop that evades the vaccine completely.
"So actually, investing a bit of time is really important to enable the vaccine programme to finish and do its job."
09:31 AM
Emmanuel Macron touches down in Cornwall
Emmanuel Macron has landed in Cornwall, as the G7 summit kicks off today.
The French President is expected to maintain the hardline approach to the Northern Ireland protocol he signalled last night (see 10:16am). Ursula von der Leyen has also arrived this morning and will have talks with Boris Johnson over the course of the summit.
But Brexit will be just one of many issues debated by the world leaders in the coming days, with support for Covid vaccines, climate change and the rising threat of China and Russia likely to be more dominant.
Oxfam activists with 'Big Heads' caricatures of Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel and Justin Trudeau - Reuters
09:25 AM
Seven arrested near G7 summit
Seven people have been arrested after two vehicles travelling near the G7 summit were found to contain paint, smoke grenades and loud hailers, police said.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that officers carried out a vehicle stop on a car and a van near Loggans Road in Hayle - about seven miles from the Carbis Bay Hotel.
The force said that during the stop, at about 5pm on Thursday, the vehicles were searched and the items were found inside.
A 30-year-old man from London, a 21-year-old woman from Wales and a 20-year-old man from Bournemouth were arrested on suspicion of possession of an article with intent to commit criminal damage.
Two men from London aged 25 and 27, a 45-year-old woman from London and a 26-year-old woman from Epsom were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance.
A force spokesman said all seven remain in police custody.
09:16 AM
'Nothing is negotiable'; Macron takes hardline stance on Northern Ireland protocol
The French president last night ramped up the pressure on Boris Johnson over the Northern Ireland protocol by insisting "nothing is negotiable"
Ahead of travelling to the UK for the G7 summit, Emmanuel Macron even appeared to raise questions about whether the UK could be trusted.
He told journalists at an Elysee press conference the UK's request for the protocol to be revised was "not serious – to want to have another look at something in July that was finalised in December after years of discussions and work.”
"We have a protocol," he continued.
"If after six months you say we cannot respect what was negotiated, then that says nothing can be respected. I believe in the weight of a treaty, I believe in taking a serious approach. Nothing is negotiable. Everything is applicable."
09:04 AM
Watch: The Queen's most memorable meetings with US presidents
The Queen will meet Joe Biden for the first time on Sunday 13 June, making him the 13th sitting US president the monarch has met since her reign began.
President Lyndon B Johnson was the only sitting president the Queen didn't meet after he took over the presidency following President Kennedy's assassination.
From President George W Bush winking at Her Majesty, to President Ronald Reagan horseriding with her at Windsor Castle, watch the video for the most memorable meetings.
08:58 AM
Take tougher action to address gender inequality, G7 told
Boris Johnson and his fellow G7 leaders have been urged to take tougher action to address gender inequality, including protecting women and girls from harassment online.
A panel of experts also warned there is mounting evidence that the Covid-19 pandemic risks putting back work on gender equality unless governments take urgent action.
The G7 gender equality advisory council (GEAC) said women have been "at the centre of the response" to the pandemic, and must also be at the heart of the recovery.
The panel, led by former Today programme editor Sarah Sands, called for "an end to the stereotyping and unequal treatment of women in the media".
GEAC also demanded action to tackle online harassment and abuse of women and girls, through the introduction of legislation that establishes a "duty of care" on technology giants to improve the safety of users online.
08:48 AM
Ruth Dudley Edwards: Joe Biden doesn’t understand Northern Ireland
Joe Biden is a classic of the type: a man of tenuous Irish descent who loudly declaims his Irishness yet clearly has little experience or understanding of the country, its history or inhabitants, writes Ruth Dudley Edwards.
Among his worst habits is reverentially and irritatingly quoting the same few lines of Yeats and Seamus Heaney at every opportunity. The US President has been at it again this week. Somewhat undiplomatically, on his arrival in the UK, he recited part of WB Yeats’s poem Easter, 1916 – about the Easter Rising – in a speech at RAF Mildenhall.
Having little knowledge of or sympathy for unionists, Biden seems to be incapable of understanding why they feel threatened by what they see as the weaponisation of the Irish border to punish Britain.
Nor does he seem either willing or able to appreciate just what an outrage the Northern Ireland Protocol’s attempt to dismember the UK really is.
Sea shanty serenades and a sausage-free beach barbecue for G7 leaders
Food prepared by Simon Stallard at The Hidden Hut
Angela Merkel sits on the beach, toes wriggling in the sand, while Justin Trudeau reclines in his deckchair, sipping on a buttered rum. In the background Joe Biden attempts to sing along to a Cornish sea shanty as Boris Johnson toasts a marshmallow by the fire pit.
Welcome to the G7 summit, British-style with a barbecue on the beach. The only thing missing is the rain. The forecast for Saturday night’s shindig for the leaders of the world’s seven richest nations is sunny skies and not a cloud in sight.
Before that, the global leaders will enjoy that other great British tradition: an audience with the Royals. On Friday, ahead of the barbecue, the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will all travel to Cornwall to woo the world’s most powerful leaders at a reception at the Eden Project.
Face masks should continue forever, says Sage scientist
Face masks and social distancing measures should continue “forever”, a senior scientist on the Sage committee that advises the Government has said.
Professor Susan Michie, who sits on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies that advises ministers, said that alongside vaccines, NHS test and trace, and border controls, “people’s behaviour” was a key factor towards controlling the pandemic.
She told Channel 5: “That is the behaviour of social distancing, of when you're indoors, making sure there's good ventilation or if it's not, wearing face masks, of hands and surface hygiene. We will need to keep this going in the long term and that will be good not only for Covid, but also to reduce others diseases”.
Interrupted by a follow-up questions about how long she thought the measures should continue, the professor of health psychology said: “I think forever, to some extent.”
08:18 AM
David Baddiel accuses Boris Johnson of football 'culture war game'
David Baddiel has accused Boris Johnson of playing a "culture war game" as the comedian urged football fans to support the England team in taking the knee during the Euros.
Asked whether Mr Johnson should say something about fans booing the gesture, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't know what Boris Johnson should or shouldn't do. He probably should.
"Boris Johnson is playing a culture war game, like the rest of politicians at the moment. They've seized upon anything like this, thinking that appeals to what they imagine is their base."
The Three Lions singer added: "That's what's going to be in Boris Johnson's mind, I think more than whether or not he should straightforwardly support the England team and what they do. He's not really a football fan anyway, I think."
"A lot of the players have suffered racism. It's a really good statement essentially, and we should just support them in doing it."
08:07 AM
UK 'on track' for double-dose vaccine target, says minister
The UK is "on track" to meet a target of all over 50s being offered their second jab by June 21, the vaccines minister has said.
Nadhim Zahawi told BBC Breakfast: "We have got very high levels of uptake, in the 90 per cent, but we have got to make sure they get their second jab.
"Anyone who hasn't had the jab, in that five or six per cent who didn't have their jab, please come forward and have your first jab.
He added: "75 per cent of the 12,500 people who were infected with the Delta variant, 75 per cent, three quarters, hadn't had a jab, so it's really important."
07:55 AM
Minister dodges questions about June 21 delay
Nadhim Zahawi has failed to deny reports that the June 21 roadmap will be delayed by up to a month.
Put to him that this is "clear", the vaccines minister said: "We will share the data with the country on Monday."
Asked how long the delay will be, he said: "All the way through, when the Prime Minister announced the roadmap to reopening our economy, taking our lives back, our freedoms back, there was a reason for the four weeks plus one.
"May 17 saw a very big reopening... it's important we look at what the virus is doing. We will share it on Monday - there is only a weekend to go."
07:52 AM
Minister backs 'symbolism' of footballers taking the knee
Nadhim Zahawi has said it was "only right that we back our team", when asked if Boris Johnson supported the England squad's decision to take the knee before matches.
"The elegant way, quite passionate way, that the England manager Gareth Southgate put this is exactly where the Prime Minister is, where this Government is," the vaccines minister told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"I think he articulated the emotions of young men beautifully and I think it's only right that we back our team."
It comes after education minister Gillian Keegan claimed taking the knee was "creating new divisions" in sport.
Asked about this, Mr Zahawi said: "The symbolism of reminding the world of how painful it is to be subjected to the racism that Marcus Rashford has been subjected to, whether on social media or elsewhere, I absolutely back.
"If you then extrapolate to a Black Lives Matter movement that has a political agenda...that's a different place, that's my point, which is why I think we just have to differentiate and rightly back our team."
07:51 AM
No Brits will have to wait longer for vaccines as a result of 100m giveaway, minister pledges
The vaccines minister has said no one in the UK will have to wait longer for a Covid jab, despite donating 100m doses as part of a drive to vaccinate the globe by the end of 2022.
Nadhim Zahawi told the Radio 4's Today programme: "Our priority is to make sure the British public is protected. Our deployment programme won't be affected."
But asked if the UK would go further, he said; "We are - the additional 100m [doses], there will be additional overseas development aid money on top of the £10bn budget.
"We are doing much more, as is the G7, as are the manufacturers."
07:43 AM
No return to US-UK travel 'imminently, says Foreign Secretary
The Foreign Secretary has played down the prospect of the return of travel between the UK and US any time soon.
Dominic Raab said the resumption of travel between the UK and the US was discussed by Boris Johnson and Joe Biden but there will be no announcement "imminently".
He told Sky News: "We all want to do it, it was something that was discussed yesterday and we've got an idea... but it's not something that we'll be announcing imminently."
07:35 AM
Harry Dunn's mother 'couldn't be more grateful' that bilateral included case
The mother of Harry Dunn has said "it means a tremendous amount" that Boris Johnson and Joe Biden discussed her son's case during their first meetng.
Charlotte Charles told Radio 4's Today programme: "The first time that Mr Johnson gets an opportunity to meet President Biden face-to-face and he raises Harry. We couldn't be more grateful, it means a lot to us.
"It's good to hear that it's being discussed at the highest of levels but we are clearly anxious to await further information to see exactly where the comments made yesterday will lead to.
"My hope, as always, my family's hope as always, is to ensure that I can complete my promise to Harry. We will not rest until justice is done."
07:23 AM
Vaccine supply 'tight' but targets will be met, minister promises
Nadhim Zahawi has admitted that supply of the Pfizer vaccine will be tight over the next few weeks but insisted that it was "stable".
Asked if it is going to be "tight" in the next few weeks, he said: "It will be, there is no doubt. Every time I've come on your show I've said that the determining factor in terms of vaccine in arms is supply.
"And supply remains finite, but it is stable, and Pfizer have done a great job in being consistent on their delivery schedule."
But the vaccines minister told LBC he was "absolutely confident" that the UK would still "meet its targets for end of July", of offering every adult at least one dose.
07:21 AM
Joe Biden 'extremely sympathetic' about Harry Dunn case
President Joe Biden is "extremely sympathetic" about the hit-and-run death of Harry Dunn and "actively engaged" in the case, Boris Johnson has said.
The 19-year old died in August 2019 after Anne Sacoolas's car collided with his motorbike, moments after she had left the RAF base where her husband worked for a US intelligence agency. Days later she flew home after Washington told London that she had diplomatic immunity - meaning there could be no criminal prosecution.
Mr Johnson told the BBC: "He was extremely sympathetic, but this is not something that either government can control very easily because there are legal processes that are still going on.
"I think the difficulty is that there are limits to what the executive can do with the legal, with the judiciary and the legal system, but both sides are working together."
The Prime Minister said Mr Biden, whose wife and one-year old daughter were killed in a car crash in 1972, "has his own personal reasons for feeling very deeply about the issue."
07:14 AM
Full unlocking on June 21 'highly unlikely', says Labour frontbencher
It is "highly unlikely" the full relaxation of coronavirus restrictions will go ahead later this month, Labour's Lisa Nandy has said.
The shadow foreign secretary told the BBC: "I am desperate to unlock, I think like everybody else, to try to get back to normal. Here in the North West lots of us have been in almost continuous lockdown for nearly a year-and-a-half now and it's just really starting to take its toll.
"But I think if we proceed too fast, if the Government can't get control of the new variant that has emerged which is more transmissible than previous variants, then we could end up in another lockdown and this has got to be the last lockdown."
When asked if she supported a delay she said: "I think it's highly unlikely they are going to go ahead with full unlocking on [June] 21."
07:12 AM
Government will not 'haggle over integrity of UK', says Dominic Raab
Dominic Raab has insisted it is the "dogmatic, purist approach that the EU is taking that is the risk to Good Friday Agreement".
The Foreign Secretary told Sky News that "the Prime Minister wanted to raise it [with Joe Biden] and be very clear on our position", although stressed that in terms of the negotiations "the ball is very much in the EU's court".
He added: "We want it to work for all sides, but the change must come from the Commission's side, and the way they are approaching this.
"We are not going to haggle over the integrity of the UK... that is not on the table for negotiating."
The UK is being "pragmatic" and "there is a strong well of good will" from which to negotiate, he added.
Dominic Raab has said Joe Biden and Boris Johnson had "an incredibly warm bilateral meeting, which overran", as he sought to downplay suggestions the pair are butting heads over Brexit.
The issue did come up, the former Foreign Secretary said, "but the Prime Minister didn't linger on it".
Climate change, vaccines and girls' education "were the things that dominated", he told Sky News.
07:07 AM
G7 summit: Baby Wilfred Johnson joins in the fun
On a short stretch of Cornish coast on Thursday, Boris Johnson and Joe Biden strode out for the benefit of a press photographer at the beginning of what appeared to be a beautiful friendship.
"It's fantastic, it's a breath of fresh air," declared Mr Johnson of the US president. Mr Biden surveyed the view, stretching out into the English Channel. "It's gorgeous. I don't want to go home," said the most powerful man in the world.
Between them walked their glamorous wives: Jill Biden, 70, who has been married to Joe for 44 years, and Carrie Johnson, 33, who has been wed to Boris for 12 days.
While the pair went for their first bilateral meeting, their wives meandered down to the beach for their own “special relationship” time together. Mrs Johnson brought along little Wilfred Johnson, born a year ago, but never seen before on an official engagement.
Carrie Johnson and Dr Jill Biden with Wilfred - Anadolu
07:01 AM
'Virus hasn't gone away', warns minister amid roadmap fears
The vaccines minister has given nothing away about whether the final stage of the roadmap will go ahead as planned - amid reports it could be pushed back by up to a month.
Nadhim Zahawi stressed the importance of being "really careful" when asked about the possibility of a delay to the June 21 lifting of coronavirus restrictions in England.
"There has been some really hard won battles against this virus and we don't want to squander those hard fought gains that we have made through the vaccination programme," he told Times Radio Breakfast.
"In saying that, the virus hasn't gone away, the virus will continue to attempt to mutate, to escape, to try and survive, and I think it's really important that we are really careful."
06:58 AM
EU taking 'excessively burdensome' approach to Brexit, says Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson has suggested the European Union is taking an "excessively burdensome" approach to post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.
The EU has threatened to launch a trade war against Britain if it fails to implement checks on goods entering Northern Ireland under the terms of the Brexit "divorce" settlement agreed by the Prime Minister.
Mr Johnson, who will hold talks with EU leaders over the course of the G7 summit, told the BBC: "You will understand that there are ways of enforcing the protocol, ways of making it work, that may be excessively burdensome.
"I just give you one statistic: 20 per cent of the checks conducted across the whole of the perimeter of the EU are now done in Northern Ireland, three times as many as happen in Rotterdam."
The new post-Brexit arrangements came into effect on January 1 and the dispute is still simmering, but Mr Johnson insisted "I think we can sort it out".
06:35 AM
Biden ‘a breath of fresh air’, says PM as Brexit tensions pushed to background
Boris Johnson praised Joe Biden’s administration as a “breath of fresh air” on Thursday as the pair put on a display of unity despite Brexit tensions in their first face-to-face meeting.
Despite speculation the US president was preparing to dress down his counterpart over the Northern Ireland Protocol, the leaders traded public compliments rather than veiled threats.
Their meeting in Cornwall, where the G7 summit of world leaders formally begins on Friday, lasted an hour and 20 minutes – longer than planned, according to Downing Street.
Mr Biden called their talks “very productive” and spoke of a “good first full day” in the UK, while Mr Johnson called their discussions “great” and “fantastic”.
Former New York Yankees left-hander Fritz Peterson died at the age of 82. He is probably best known exchanging wives with teammate Mike Kekich in the 1970s.
It's another edition of 'Mock Draft Monday' on the pod and who better to have on then the face of NFL Network's draft coverage and a giant in the industry. Daniel Jeremiah joins Matt Harmon to discuss his mock draft methodology, what he's hearing about this year's draft class and shares his favorite five picks in his latest mock draft.
