Shawdesh Desk:

Joe Biden has played down the chances of a post-Brexit free trade deal between the US and UK, as he held talks with Boris Johnson at the White House.

But UK ministers are pondering joining an existing North American trade pact instead, the BBC understands, reports BBC.

Biden and Mr Johnson also discussed Northern Ireland, climate change and Afghanistan during the 90-minute meeting.

The UK is keen to strike free trade deals around the world in the wake of leaving the European Union’s single market – including with the US, with which annual trade was worth an estimated $273bn (£200bn) in 2019.

A deal would encourage more business between the two countries by making it cheaper, usually by reducing or eliminating taxes called tariffs.