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Tuesday evening UK news briefing: Joe Biden tries to rebuild bridges with allies before meeting with Boris Johnson

Your evening briefing from The Telegraph
Your evening briefing from The Telegraph

Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines

Novichok poisonings | Police have charged the suspected ringleader of the gang of Russian agents who carried out the Novichok attack in Salisbury in 2018. Denis Sergeev is accused of being part of the team who used a deadly nerve agent in an attempt to murder Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Read what we know about him.

The big story: Johnson and Biden defend Afghan exit

Boris Johnson and Joe Biden will meet in Washington tonight with both sides doing their best to appear statesmanlike in the run-up to their first tie-up in office on US soil - and draw a line under the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

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The Prime Minister refused to criticise the President for his decision to plough ahead with the exit, but said that "maybe" it could have been handled differently.

He also declined to commit to getting a free trade deal with the US by the next election as he spoke to British and US media this morning.

Meanwhile, Mr Biden used a speech to the UN General Assembly to say the US has "reaffirmed our sacred Nato alliance" and is working with other allies, including the European Union, Australia, India and Japan.

He also defended the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan as he tried to reassure allies.

Follow what happens when Mr Johnson and Mr Biden meet later in our liveblog.

Of course, the meeting comes a day after the US confirmed it will lift its 18-month blanket ban on travellers from the UK, China, India and countries within the EU which was introduced as a pandemic control measure during the Donald Trump presidency.

In a further boost, the White House's chief medical adviser has suggested Britons vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be allowed to travel to the US when restrictions are eased in November. Read on for details.

France fallout

The Johnson-Biden meeting comes at a delicate time for international relations for the two countries.

France has said the security pact between the UK, US and Australia has put Brexit negotiations over Northern Ireland at risk, as it warned the submarine row was now a "European issue".

Paris is furious after being blindsided by the pact, which included an agreement to build nuclear submarines and meant that Australia pulled out of a £72.8bn deal to buy diesel-powered French vessels.

Nick Allen reveals how US officials are desperately trying to rebuild bridges with France after failing to anticipate the fallout.

Gavin Mortimer sets out why he is not surprised by the French reaction, suggesting if sulking were an Olympic sport, France would win gold every time.

China and Russia

Perhaps a late addition to the agenda for the UK-US meeting will be the growing energy crisis.

The International Energy Association said today that Russia could be doing more to increase the flow of natural gas to Europe, as energy prices on the continent spike to record levels and analysts warn that some countries could face blackouts when winter sets in.

Steel makers may have to shut down operations and the Government will subsidise production at two fertiliser plants to maintain carbon dioxide supplies in a bid to avoid food shortages.

So who is to blame? Ambrose Evans-Pritchard says the Government's careless failure to heed warning signs has left the UK at the mercy of the Kremlin and the weather - and warns China and Russia will determine Britain's fate.

Comment and analysis

Around the world: Leftist price for Trudeau's election

The C$610 million Canadian election may end up giving Justin Trudeau two more seats in parliament, but still with no overall control. It has pulled the country through a bitter election campaign and gambled away good will Mr Trudeau had with the public and, crucially, the opposing parties he must rely on to govern. As the party closest aligned in ideology to the Liberals, the Left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) will be the main power brokers of the next parliament. But in exchange for still co-operating with Mr Trudeau's agenda, Rozina Sabur analyses how Jagmeet Singh, the NDP leader, is likely to exact a high price.

Tuesday interview

'It was easier to kick cocaine and drinking habits than gambling'

Paul Merson - Story Films/BBC
Paul Merson - Story Films/BBC

After spending much of his life in grim pursuit of his addictions, Paul Merson tells Jim White he now finds himself with the time to devote to his young family

Read the full interview

Sport briefing: Eddie Jones clears out England squad

With echoes of his renewal of the England side in 2018, which saw the easing out of the old guard of Dylan Hartley, Chris Robshaw, Mike Brown and James Haskell, Eddie Jones has once again made a bold statement of intent as he turns his focus firmly to the 2023 World Cup. The omission of high-profile names like George Ford, Jamie George and Billy and Mako Vunipola are arguably more seismic than the changes he made four years ago. Here is England's 45-man training squad while Ben Coles pulls out five players who must feature in the autumn internationals.

Editor's choice

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  3. The 'In the Air Tonight' effect | How a drum solo made Phil Collins hip again

Business briefing: Universal Music boss to get millions

Shares in Universal Music have surged by more than a third on its stock market debut, securing boss Sir Lucian Grainge one of the biggest payouts in corporate history. The world's biggest record label behind Taylor Swift and Elton John has become one of Europe's largest listings this year, as its market value reached €47bn (£40bn) on the Amsterdam stock exchange. It puts Sir Lucian in line for some hefty cash bonuses. Meanwhile, a new report seized on by critics of HS2 has said the economic benefit of investing in the UK's existing railways outstrips the returns from the near-£100bn project. Read on for details.

Tonight starts now

Bake Off and League Cup | It is that time of the year again when a gradually diminishing brigade of amateur bakers somehow manages to beat, knead and whip millions of us into a frenzy of fresh-baked enthusiasm for stiff peaks and perfect pithiviers. The 12th series of The Great British Bake Off begins tonight on Channel 4 at 8pm. If baking is not your thing, the third round of the Carabao Cup begins tonight, signalling the arrival of the Premier League's heavyweights. Here are the 10 most exciting young talents ready to be unleashed in the competition.

Three things for you

And finally... for this evening's downtime

Forget fresh flowers | As a newly autumnal Chelsea Flower Show gives them pride of place in their display, 'everlastings' are firmly in fashion. Madeleine Howell explores the trend for 'brown bouquets'.

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