The sun is disappearing behind the clouds for the small crowds outside Ulster University.

Some are protesting - handing out protest leaflets, waving banners and signs.

They include a small group of anti-war protesters, and there is also a loyalist protester present.

Others are there to speak out about long-standing issues in Northern Ireland - such as the Justice for Noah Donohoe campaign and anti-gold mining groups.

Earlier an Irish tricolour flag with the words "No 2 Nato" appeared on the side of Black Mountain in Belfast overnight.

Others are here to witness an historic moment and maybe a wave from President Biden.

Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI political editor

Party leaders in Northern Ireland have held a brief conversation with President Biden.

The talks took place in a side room at Ulster University ahead of the president's speech.

Speaking after the meeting, Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said they discussed the progress made since the Good Friday Agreement and the economic opportunities for Northern Ireland.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Sinn Féin’s Michelle O'Neill, Alliance leader Naomi Long and the Social Labour and Democratic Party (SDLP) leader Colum Eastwood took part in the discussions.

Robbie Meredith
BBC News NI Education Correspondent

Ulster University's new Belfast campus, which is the scene of President Biden's only public engagement in Northern Ireland, towers over the north side of Belfast city centre.

Although it has housed around 15,000 staff and students since the start of the university term in September 2022, Biden’s visit is a significant "christening" for the building.

Those with longer memories will recall the old Co-op department store on the site - scene of many a Christmas visit to Santa - which closed in 1990.

The old art college on the opposite side of the road was the first part of the campus to be rebuilt and updated.

The rest of the new building was originally due to open in 2018, but was initially plagued by delays and a rising budget.

President Biden may have shelved a visit to Stormont, but its money was key to the completion of the campus.

The university received a loan of around £158m from Stormont towards the eventual £350m cost of the building.

The new campus is undoubtedly spectacular.

The president will give an address in the large central atrium which sits above the main library and stretches over several floors towards the roof.

Beyond his visit, the hope is that the new campus will be the catalyst for a wider regeneration of the city centre.

Rebekah Wilson
BBC News NI

Three families who travel every year to somewhere new decided to take their trip to Belfast this year.

The Reads, Gronnows and Hughes families are from Wrexham in North Wales, and now they're waiting outside Ulster University.

BBC News NI spoke to (L to R) Liam, 13, Isaac, 8, Elaine, 41, Ruari, 13, Dylan, 12, Emma, 43, Rhys, 9, Anna, 43 and Hadyn,10.

"I snuck out last night in my pyjamas with my dad to see President Biden, and I saw him in his car and he was waving out," says Dylan.

"We've re-routed our whole trip so we can follow the president today. Belfast has been amazing," says Emma.

"He's the most important man in the world, and he's here," says Liam.

"I think for the kids it shows them the importance of peace," says Anna.

Biden has driven to Ulster University in a motorcade from the Grand Central Hotel.

The motorcade passed crowds lining the street along the route, many of them filming on their phones and some holding banners.

The US president will speak at Ulster University to a small crowd in just under 45 minutes time.

Alys Davies
BBC News Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

A number of factors influenced the signing of the Good Friday Agreement - which brought 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland to an end after it was signed in 1998. International influence played its part in the peace process, especially that of the US.

One particular individual who comes to mind in considering the US’s role at the time is George Mitchell, a former US senator who was appointed US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland under former US President Bill Clinton.

Mitchell won admiration from across the political divide in Northern Ireland for his work to boost the peace process, including his chairing of the final 36 hours of non-stop negotiating talks which led to the signing of the agreement. Read more here.

The leaders of Northern Ireland's five main parties have been ushered to a meeting with President Biden.

They've been in situ at Ulster University for some time now, but about 10 minutes ago they left the room where Biden will give his speech.

The president will speak to a small gathering of invited guests in about an hour.

Image source, Katie Ní Chléire

Emily McGarvey
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

We're getting more information from US reporters who were in the room with Biden and Sunak.

The pair sat next to each other at a table with cups and saucers in front of them - no biscuits were in sight and we can't confirm if they were drinking coffee or tea.

Biden looked out of the 23rd floor window of the hotel room and remarked: "Heck of a view out there."

Reporters shouted questions to the president, asking what he'd say to Northern Ireland's political parties, but Biden answered: "I'm going to listen."

Security ushered press out of the room after one minute - they continued shouting questions to Biden about trade and leaked Pentagon documents, but the US president didn't respond.

Sunak sipped his tea and smiled, but made no comment to reporters.

Matt Fox
Reporting from Belfast

Debbie Prout and Dawn Street are here from Exeter in Devon.

“We didn’t know it was happening. He’s come over to see us,” laughs Debbie.

Dawn says she is a bit taken aback by the size of the security operation, which they've seen first hand as they’re staying at the hotel next to the US president.

“It’s a bit excessive. There wasn’t this much for the Queen,” she says.

Their group have been taking in the sights of Northern Ireland and enjoyed themselves at the Giant’s Causeway yesterday.

This is Dawn’s second trip here, the first was when she was eight years old.

“It’s nice to know that you can feel safe,” she says.

After his flight to Lithuania was cancelled earlier this week, Dion from Bristol decided to book a last-minute trip to Belfast to catch Joe Biden's visit.

"I've been here since 09:00 to get a spot at the front and hopefully catch a glimpse when he comes out," he says.

Matt Fox
BBC News NI

A fresh, sunny day awaits Joe Biden when he steps out of his hotel in Belfast city centre after his meeting with Rishi Sunak, a stark contrast to what greeted him at Aldergrove last night.

Bright it may be, temperatures are sitting at a slightly uncomfortable 5C and it’ll be up to the locals to warm the president.

An enthusiastic crowd has been steadily growing since 09:00 BST, desperate to catch a glimpse of the US president’s impressive motorcade.

Among them, bemused tourists, unaware of today’s visit and slightly taken aback by the extensive security operation.

There’s hushed excitement in between sudden bursts of activity as police prepare to close traffic on May Street - this, apparently, signals 30 minutes until departure.

So too does a whirring helicopter which has suddenly appeared over City Hall, delighting children in the crowd.

Read more here.

Image source, ITN

We're getting a look a the first pictures of today's meeting between US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast.

The two leaders are meeting as part of Biden's historic visit to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

As the pair sat in the Grand Central Hotel, Biden said he was here to "listen". Stay with us as we bring you the latest from their meeting.

If you're just joining us, welcome. You can watch the BBC's special coverage of Joe Biden's visit to Belfast at the top of this live page by clicking the play button. It's hosted by BBC News presenter Ben Boulos and is bringing you the latest live pictures from Belfast along with reports from the BBC's journalists on the ground.

Sarah Smith
North America editor, in Belfast

The brief meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is neither long enough or substantial enough to be described as a bi-lateral meeting.

It’s more of a catch up cup of coffee. But that sounds too casual.

So it has been dubbed the “bi-latte”. A couple of journalists following the president are trying to take credit for that joke.

But I have it on good authority that it came first from a US state department official.

Image source, RTE

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has arrived at the Grand Central Hotel where President Joe Biden is staying in Belfast.

The two leaders are set to discuss US investment in Northern Ireland along with joint efforts to support people in the war in Ukraine during their 30 minute meeting.

Julian O'Neill
NI Home Affairs Correspondent

The police are investigating what they admit has been a security breach around the operation mounted for President Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland.

A member of the public has said he found what the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) believe to be a copy of an "operational order", which contains details of officer deployment in Belfast city centre during the visit.

It is believed copies of the order were issued to all officers on duty.

In a statement the PSNI said: “We are aware of a security breach.

“An investigation has commenced and we have notified the senior information risk officer.

“We take the safety of visiting dignitaries, members of the public and our officers and staff extremely seriously and will put the appropriate actions in place.”

It appears the police only became aware of the breach when the man who found it contacted The Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster this morning.

He said he discovered it at about 18:00 BST last night.

He told the programme the five-page document is marked "sensitive" and contains information such as road closures and officer contact details.

Image source, PA Media

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald says there is a need to "stop this sense of limbo" over the resumption of a power sharing government at Stormont.

She says Joe Biden likely shares her disappointment that the assembly has not reformed for the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

At the Stormont elections last May Sinn Féin won the most votes, but the DUP - who are the largest unionist party in NI - are boycotting the devolved parliament in Belfast over post-Brexit arrangements.

McDonald also says she believes Biden will reflect on "great success of the last 25 years building peace", particularly the "huge role" played by the US government in securing it.

The visit to Belfast is being described as brief, but not a snub.

Before President Biden holds his only public engagement at Ulster University, he’ll meet the leaders of the five largest political parties in Northern Ireland.

We know Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is getting about 30 minutes with the president, but there’ll be no joint news conference.

For Northern Ireland’s political leaders it will be a fairly rushed affair - initial briefings suggested it would be little more than a handshake.

It’s now expected to be a bit more than that, but the time has not been set aside for any meaningful engagement.

Sarah Smith
North America editor, in Belfast

Taking questions from the press, a White House official has had to deny that President Biden “hates the UK” or is “anti-British”.

Some unionist politicians in Northern Ireland suspect he has nationalist sympathies.

Officials stress that the US is one of Britain's strongest and closest allies and point out that this morning's brief meeting with Rishi Sunak is the third time they have met in person.

But the length of time the president is spending in Northern Ireland - 17 hours - versus the three days he is devoting to his visit to the Republic send its own message about where his heart lies.

Image source, Number 10/Flickr

We're hearing more details about the meeting expected to take place between US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this morning.

Biden's visit will underscore the readiness of the US to engage in further economic investment in Northern Ireland, according to the White House.

Biden is not expected to discuss a free trade agreement with Sunak when they meet, Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council, said.

She told reporters that Biden had invited Sunak to Washington in June, where they would discuss economic topics.

"We're continually looking for ways to engage with the UK on a range of economic issues," she added.

"I expect the leaders will also have the opportunity to touch base on the latest developments in Ukraine including our continuing joint efforts to support the people in Ukraine," Sloat said.