Trump warns Starmer is making ‘big mistake’ in fresh attack over Chagos Islands deal

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Good morning and welcome to your daily news briefing from The Independent.

Donald Trump has hit out Keir Starmer for making a "big mistake" with the Chagos Islands deal, Rachel Reeves has been warned her policy on fiscal rules is hindering the economy, and the Met is making inquiries into allegations relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's protection officers.

Top stories

1 | Trump warns Starmer is making 'big mistake' in fresh attack over Chagos Islands deal

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2 | How Ukraine talks turned into a mafia-style shakedown by US

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3 |Reeves is warned her 'dysfunctional' policy on fiscal rules is hindering the economy

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4 | Met Police making 'initial inquiries' into Andrew's protection officers over Epstein files

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5 | New law could see tech firms fined over non-consensual intimate images shared online

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Editors' picks

WATCH 

Pro-Palestine protesters drowned out as King visits London's East End

STAT OF THE DAY

2,500

New figures have revealed that 2,500 deaths were linked to cold weather last winter, with the most deaths occurring in people over 85. 

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The world is catastrophically failing the people of Sudan."

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to call for a humanitarian solution in Sudan as she chairs a UN security council meeting on Thursday.

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