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Boris Johnson has described working with US President Joe Biden as a “breath of fresh air” following the pair’s first face-to-face meeting.

The prime minister met Donald Trump’s successor in Carbis Bay on Thursday, ahead of this week’s G7 summit at the Cornwall resort.

Mr Johnson said the new US administration had “so much they want to do together”, including on NATO and climate change – subjects on which Mr Biden has dramatically different viewpoints to Mr Trump.

And the prime minister also suggested a possibly strained conversation with the US president over post-Brexit arrangements in Northern Ireland had been avoided, as he hailed the “common ground” between the UK, US and EU on preserving the Good Friday Agreement.

It follows reports Mr Biden’s administration had accused Mr Johnson’s government of “inflaming” tensions during an ongoing row between the UK and EU over the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

After the pair’s discussions, which lasted around an hour and 20 minutes, Mr Johnson said: “The talks were great, they went on for a long time, we covered a huge range of subjects.

“It’s wonderful to listen to the Biden administration and to Joe Biden, because there’s so much they want to do together with us, from security, NATO, to climate change.

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“And it’s fantastic, it’s a breath of fresh air.”

Mr Johnson and Mr Biden had been due to meet at Saint Michael’s Mount, an historic castle on a tidal island off the coast of Cornwall.

Reports suggested their wives, Carrie Johnson and Jill Biden, were due to have a tour of the island while the leaders held talks.

But a Number 10 source confirmed the visit to Saint Michael’s Mount was “sadly off due to the weather” and the talks were rearranged to Carbis Bay, where the G7 summit will be held between Friday and Sunday.

Prior to their meeting, Mr Biden and Dr Biden, Mr Johnson and Mrs Johnson, stood together to enjoy the view across the bay.

“It’s gorgeous, I don’t want to go home,” Mr Biden said.

And, after Mrs Biden and Mrs Johnson left the two leaders, Mr Biden revealed how he told the prime minister “we have something in common, we both married way above our station”.

Newlywed Mr Johnson replied that he was “not going to dissent from that point, I’m not going to disagree with the president there”.

“Or indeed on anything else, I think it highly likely,” he added.

Dr Biden wore a jacket embroidered with the word “LOVE” on the back, an item she previously wore at the kickoff rally of her husband’s presidential campaign in 2019.

Asked about her outfit, Dr Biden said: “I think that we’re bringing love from America.

“This is a global conference and we’re trying to bring unity across the globe and I think that’s important right now – that people feel a sense of unity… feel a sense of hope after this year of the pandemic.”

Some immediately drew comparisons between Dr Biden’s jacket and her predecessor as first lady, Melania Trump, who wore a green jacket that said, “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” on a 2018 trip to a Texas border town to visit migrant children housed in shelters.

Before getting to the substance of their talks, Mr Biden and Mr Johnson inspected documents related to the Atlantic Charter, a declaration signed by Winston Churchill and Franklin D Roosevelt in August 1941 that set out common goals for the world after the Second World War.

Mr Johnson noted that the charter laid the foundation for the United Nations and NATO.

“Yeah, I know,” Mr Biden said.

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US and EU agree trade deal, says Donald Trump

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US and EU agree trade deal, says Donald Trump

The United States and European Union have agreed a trade deal, says Donald Trump.

The announcement was made as the US president met European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at one of his golf resorts in Scotland.

Speaking after talks in Turnberry, Mr Trump said the EU deal was the “biggest deal ever made” and it will be “great for cars”.

The US will impose 15% tariffs on EU goods into America, after Mr Trump had threatened a 30% levy.

He said there will be an EU investment of $600bn in the US, the bloc will buy $750bn in US energy and will also purchase US military equipment.

Mr Trump had earlier said the main sticking point was “fairness”, citing barriers to US exports of cars and agriculture.

He went into the talks demanding fairer trade with the 27-member EU and threatening steep tariffs to achieve that, while insisting the US will not go below 15% import taxes.

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For months, Mr Trump has threatened most of the world with large tariffs in the hope of shrinking major US trade deficits with many key trading partners, including the EU.

Ms von der Leyen said the agreement would include 15% tariffs across the board, saying it would help rebalance trade between the two large trading partners.

In case there was no deal and the US had imposed 30% tariffs from 1 August, the EU has prepared counter-tariffs on €93bn (£81bn) of US goods.

Ahead of their meeting on Sunday, Ms von der Leyen described Mr Trump as a “tough negotiator and dealmaker”.

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Michigan: 11 people stabbed in US supermarket – with six in critical condition

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Michigan: 11 people stabbed in US supermarket - with six in critical condition

At least 11 people have been stabbed at a Walmart supermarket in Michigan, with six in a critical condition.

Officials say a suspect is in custody – and at this stage, it is believed the attack was a “random act” that involved a folding-style knife near the checkout area.

Sheriff Michael Shea told reporters: “Eleven is 11 too many, but thank God it wasn’t more.”

Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

The suspect, who is from Michigan, is not known to police – and was captured within three minutes thanks to “citizen involvement”.

The attack unfolded in Traverse City – and Tiffany DeFell, who was in the car park at the time, described scenes of chaos.

“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,” she said. “This is something you see out of the movies.”

Beyond the six people in a critical condition, it is believed the remaining five were seriously hurt. All 11 are still being treated in hospital.

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Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”

A Walmart spokesperson added that the retailer is working closely with law enforcement.

“Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders,” a statement said.

Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

At this stage, the ages of the victims is unclear – but it is not thought any of the victims were Walmart employees.

Traverse City is about 255 miles northwest of Detroit.

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Plane plunges 300ft in 36 seconds to avoid another aircraft

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Plane plunges 300ft in 36 seconds to avoid another aircraft

A US passenger plane made a dramatic plunge minutes after take-off to dodge another aircraft – injuring two cabin crew and causing passengers to shoot out of their seats.

The Southwest flight had just taken off from Burbank in California when the pilot received an alert about a nearby plane.

Data from FlightAware shows the aircraft dropped by 91m (300ft) in just 36 seconds. Those on board said they felt panicked, and some feared the plane was about to crash.

Comedian Jimmy Dore posted on X: “Pilot had to dive aggressively to avoid mid-air collision … myself and plenty of people flew out of their seats and bumped heads on ceiling, a flight attendant needed medical attention.”

Stef Zambrano saw a woman who wasn’t wearing her seatbelt thrown out of her seat, who then said: “I want to get off this plane. I want to be on the ground.”

Another passenger, Steve Ulasewicz, told NBC Los Angeles that it felt like the plane was in freefall for 10 seconds.

“People were screaming. You know, it was pandemonium. People thought the plane was going down,” he added.

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The aircraft was able to continue to its destination of Las Vegas, where it safely landed without any further incident.

It is believed the Boeing 737 was in the same vicinity as a Hawker Hunter Mk. 58, a British fighter jet.

Southwest is now working with the Federal Aviation Administration “to further understand the circumstances” of the event.

Read more US news:
Trump issues warning as he arrives in Scotland
US justice department interviews Ghislaine Maxwell

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January: Footage of Washington plane crash

This is the second time in a week that a passenger plane has had to make abrupt flight manoeuvres to avoid a potential mid-air collision.

Concerns have been raised about aviation safety in the US following a series of recent incidents.

In January, a mid-air collision in Washington DC killed 67 people.

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