As the UK prepares to host the G7 summit of world leaders later this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing opposition from senior Tories over government cuts to the UK’s international aid budget. More than 30 rebel Conservative MPs want to reinstate the commitment to spend 0.7% of national income on international development after it was reduced to 0.5% - equating to a cut of almost £4bn. The move has been met with criticism from dozens of charities, saying there was "no justifiable economic need" and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby described the cuts as "indefensible". However, ministers say it’s hard to justify given record levels of peacetime borrowing during the pandemic.
Former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell, who is leading the rebellion which also includes former prime minister Theresa May, said the UK is the only member of the G7 group of advanced economies cutting aid this year. “Contributing our fair share of aid is essential for a successful G7 summit" in Cornwall this week, he added. The MPs will attempt to force a U-turn on the cut using the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill - a planned law to set up a new research organisation – which will be discussed in the Commons later. But it will be up to Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to decide whether the rebels' amendment to the bill, which would see the agency make up any shortfall in funding, should be put to a vote.

Congratulations have been flooding in following the birth of Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s second child. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family are “delighted” by the news, Buckingham Palace said, with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also issuing their own statements. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall wished them well “at this special time” and Prince William and Kate said they were “delighted by the happy news of the arrival”. Prince Harry and Meghan announced their daughter - the Queen's 11th great-grandchild - was born on Friday at a hospital in Santa Barbara, California, weighing 7lbs 11oz. Lilibet is the Queen's family nickname, and their daughter's middle name, Diana, was chosen to honour her "beloved late grandmother", the Princess of Wales.

Outgoing, bubbly, loves an adventure? Many people have an idea of what they would love in a partner and now Covid vaccine status will form part of profiles on some dating apps. The latest drive by the government to support the vaccination programme will see UK online daters being able to choose to display a badge on their profiles to show if they have had the jab or are supportive of it. A recent YouGov poll of nearly 5,000 UK adults found only 28% of those who responded said they would not date someone unvaccinated, with 2% saying they would not date someone who had received the jab. Tinder, Match, Hinge, Bumble, Badoo, Plenty of Fish, OurTime and Muzmatch have all signed up - but there will be no way of verifying whether the status is genuine.

“Hints” of a potential delay of easing Covid restrictions beyond 21 June in England by Health Secretary Matt Hancock leads the Daily Telegraph and some of the other front pages this morning. The Daily Express says the revised “freedom date” could be 5 July and reports the UK is in a race to roll-out second doses of the vaccine for people over the age of 50. Mr Hancock’s comments have been met with “fury” from Tory MPs who warn “don’t wobble now, ministers!”, according to the Daily Mail. The other story featured heavily is the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s daughter. “Gran gesture” headlines the Metro after Prince Harry and Meghan announced the arrival of Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, named after the Royal Family's nickname for the Queen, the baby's great-grandmother.

It wasn’t a crucial wicket, a stunning catch or a batsman sweeping a six that got the biggest round of applause at the final day of the First Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s this weekend – it was a spectator captured on camera struggling to put on his cagoule.
How about this as a test of creativity? What would you do with police riot shields to stop them being sent to landfill? One police officer gave them a new lease of life by turning them into greenhouses. And meet the couple who bought the wrong house in the wrong location at auction but decided to breathe new life into the crumbling eyesore.

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