US cancels G20 ‘family photo’ after Australia, UK and others refuse to appear with Russia

Marco Rubio pulls plug on traditional photo op at meeting of foreign ministers after about one-third of countries threaten boycott

The traditional family photo" to open the G20 foreign ministers' meeting has been abruptly cancelled in the US after a host of nations - including Australia and the UK - refused to appear beside the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, pulled the plug after several European officials, the UK and Australia made it known they would boycott or walk out of the snapshot that often kicks off such international gatherings.