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    Sadiq Khan hits out at Donald Trump’s ‘bonkers’ approach to Russia Ukraine peace talks

    London mayor Sadiq Khan has hit out at Donald Trump’s Russia and Ukraine peace talks, calling the situation “bonkers”.Mr Khan slammed the US president’s claim that Ukraine is responsible for Russia’s invasion as he criticised the recent discussions excluding Ukraine.“We have tens of thousands of Ukrainians who are refugees in our city because of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine,” the mayor said during an interview with LBC on Wednesday, 19 February.He also condemned the idea of “rewarding the aggressor” by legitimising Russia’s occupation and praised Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko for his bravery and emphasised the suffering of Ukrainians. More

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    New Trump-inspired political party launched by Australian billionaire

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreAustralian mining magnate Clive Palmer has launched a political party directly inspired by U.S. President Donald Trump.The billionaire unveiled his plans for the Trumpet of Patriots party on Wednesday, just months out from the country’s federal election.”Trumpet of Patriots will put Australians first and make Australia great again,” he told reporters at Parliament House in Canberra.Palmer said he plans to “drain the swamp” in the country’s capital, a reference to Trump’s plans to drastically cut the size of government.”We think Donald Trump’s been very effective in reducing public expenditure,” Palmer said.He was also critical of mass immigration and said the party would only recognise two genders, male and female, reflecting positions also favoured by the U.S. President.The party plans to stand candidates in all 150 seats in Australia’s lower house, as well as the upper chamber, known as the Senate.When asked if he would be running at the election, Palmer said he was “too old” and will instead serve as the party’s chairman.Palmer said U.S. President Donald Trump has been ‘very effective in reducing public expenditure’ since being elected More

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    Trump says Zelensky will be involved in Russia Ukraine peace talks after three hour call with Putin

    US President Donald Trump says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be involved in conversations for a future ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.Trump made the comments to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida where he was returning from the Daytona 500 event on Sunday (16 February).Trump also said that he “spoke long and hard” with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff was with him for “a very extended period, like about three hours”.Trump added: “I think he wants to stop fighting.” More

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    Donald Trump defends JD Vance’s claims Europe is ‘losing its freedom of speech’

    President Donald Trump has defended comments made by Vice President JD Vance after he launched a scalding attack on European democracies.The US Vice President used his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday (14 February) to say the greatest threat facing the continent was not from Russia and China, but “from within”.The address was met by silence in the hall, and later denounced by several politicians at the conference. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said it was “not acceptable”.President Trump was asked for his thoughts on Vance’s comments as he signed a further batch of executiv eorders on Friday. More

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    Donald Trump confirms call with Keir Starmer to plan ‘friendly meeting next week’

    US President Donald Trump has confirmed he received a call from UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to plan a “friendly meeting”.Mr Trump said he is expecting to meet with Sir Keir next week, adding the pair get along “very well”.The pair are expected to discuss tariffs implemented by the US president.Speaking at a signing of executive orders on Friday (14 February), Mr Trump told reporters: “I think he wants to come next week or the weekend.”Mr Trump told reporters it was Sir Keir’s request to meet, stating: “I met himtwice already. We get along very well. He’s a very nice guy.” More

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    Keir Starmer responds to Donald Trump’s steel tariff blow

    Sir Keir Starmer insisted he would “always put our national interest first” in response to Donald Trump’s steel tariffs.The prime minister told MPs the UK would not “abandon” steelworkers amid warnings that the UK steel industry faces a devasting blow when Mr Trump’s 25 per cent tax on imports to the US comes into effect next month.Speaking at PMQs on Wednesday (12 February), Sir Keir said: “British steel is an essential part of our heartlands, and we will not abandon our skilled workforce, and it needs a level-headed assessment of the implications, which is what we’re going through at the moment.” More

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    Boris Johnson says Mar-a-Lago is a great place for people of Gaza to settle

    Boris Johnson says Mar-a-Lago is a great place for the displaced people of Gaza to settle.The former prime minister was quizzed on Donald Trump’s plans for the Middle East, at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Wednesday (12 February).The former Conservative leader said his recent work trip to Mar-a-Lago made him realise what a great place it was.He said: “It’s an absolutely fantastic place if you want to resettle millions of people there.”His comments come after Trump said he would “own” the Gaza Strip, declaring it would be a “real estate development for the future” in an interview with Fox News. More

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    UK can ‘cuddle’ EU and US at the same time amid Trump tariff threats, minister says

    Britain can cuddle Europe and the US at the same time, a minister has said, as Donald Trump’s steel tariffs threaten to spark a global trade war.Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds denied that the UK would have to choose between aligning itself more closely with the EU or the US with tensions between the two mounting.And he said: “I think it is perfectly possible to cuddle more than one person at the same time.”It comes after Mr Trump announced a worldwide 25 per cent tariff on steel on Monday, triggering panic over the future of Britain’s fragile industry. More