Newspaper headlines: ‘PM defies US to cede Chagos’ and ‘oil price scare’

Several front pages reflect on the UK’s decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The Financial Times describes it as “Historic accord”, but the Daily Mail says critics have called the deal “shameful”, summarising with the headline “Starmer’s surrender”.

The Times reports that Sir Keir Starmer received private warnings from the United States about the deal and there were concerns among officials that it could benefit China, an ally of Mauritius, a claim denied by government insiders.

In its editorial, the Daily Telegraph has described the move as a “national scandal”, labelling it a “giveaway”. The Mirror disagrees, saying ministers have “finally put right one of the last remaining wrongs from British colonial rule”. In its coverage, the Guardian focuses on the reaction of Chagossians.

The paper says not everyone is happy sovereignty has been passed to Mauritius but it quotes one campaigner who says the deal is a “recognition of the injustice done against those who were forced to leave their homes”.

The I says UK scientists are working on a vaccine to “wipe out ovarian cancer within five years”. The jab, which is being created by researchers at Oxford University, works by teaching the immune system to recognise and attack the earliest stages of the cancer. The paper says there are hopes it could be given to women preventively on the NHS, “with the aim of eliminating the disease”.

The Mirror also covers the story, with the headline “scientists aim for world first”.

Boris Johnson has told the Telegraph he believes Britain needs a referendum on its membership of the European Convention on Human Rights. The former prime minister says there’s a “strong case” to give the public a say on the matter. He also suggests the ECHR doesn’t “provide people with protections they wouldn’t otherwise have”.

Many of the papers have picked up on Prince William saying he didn’t attend this summer’s Olympics in Paris because he didn’t want to risk bringing Covid home to his wife during her cancer treatment. “Wills Olympic virus fear” says the Sun, while “Prince missed Paris to keep Kate safe” is the Times’ take.

He made the comments yesterday while meeting some of Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic swimmers. He said after hearing of athletes catching Covid his family had watched “the whole thing” at home rather than attend any events in person.

The Times celebrates “dogged rescuers” who came together to help save Rose the Jack Russell who was trapped on a “cliff for a week”. The dog had fallen through a gap in a rocky outcrop near Halifax in West Yorkshire. The paper says the community stepped up after two failed rescue attempts by the fire service. Volunteers managed to free Rose by drilling and cutting into the rock.

Rose’s owner has thanked those who worked “day and night” — while the rescuers have been invited for free pints at local pubs.