2 hours ago Keir Starmer’s envoy seeks to woo Donald Trump’s team over Chagos islands row

The president-elect is seeking legal advice from Pentagon in a bid to veto the controversial agreement

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8 hours ago UK government seeks meeting with Trump team over Chagos Islands agreement

National security adviser will travel to Washington in attempt to persuade US president-elect not to rip up dealUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s national security adviser is to travel to Washington as the UK government tries to persuade Donald Trump not to rip up the Chagos Islands agreement, the Guardian has learned.Jonathan Powell, who negotiated the Chagos deal earlier this autumn, is drawing up plans to visit the US capital in the coming days, four government sources said. Continue reading...

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11 hours ago Trump officials to receive immediate clearances and easier FBI vetting

Exclusive: president-elect’s team planning for background checks to occur only after administration takes over bureauDonald Trump’s transition team is planning for all cabinet picks to receive sweeping security clearances from the president-elect and only face FBI background checks after the incoming administration takes over the bureau and its own officials are installed in key positions, according to people familiar with the matter.The move appears to mean that Trump’s team will continue to skirt FBI vetting and may not receive classified briefings until Trump is sworn in on 20 January and unilaterally grant sweeping security clearances across the administration. Continue reading...

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26 hours ago Jack Smith drops election interference charges and classified documents case against Donald Trump – live

Special counsel points to longstanding ban on criminal prosecution of a sitting president and says team faced unprecedented situationProsecutors drop Trump criminal case over efforts to overturn 2020 electionCorey Lewandowski, an adviser to Donald Trump, has said that he and the president-elect have “no concerns at all” regarding Pete Hegseth’s confirmation by the Senate as the next US secretary of defense.During an appearance on NewsMax, Lewandowski was asked if Trump had any concerns about Hegseth and his nomination, to which Lewandowski responded: “We have no concerns at all.” Continue reading...

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33 hours ago Trump’s team concerned Starmer will complete Chagos Islands deal before inauguration

Exclusive: The row deepens as Keir Starmer’s envoy flies into Mauritius today to hold talks with their prime minister about completing the Chagos Islands deal

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