A deal on the disputed Chagos Islands faces more hurdles. Here's what to know

The governments of Britain and Mauritius have reached a final deal to settle the future of the Chagos Islands but have been barred from signing it by a British judge. The contested archipelago in the middle of the Indian Ocean is home to a strategically important U.S. military base. An initial deal was reached in October to transfer sovereignty of the islands from the U.K. to Mauritius, allowing Britain to retain control of Diego Garcia, the island where the base is located. Displaced Chagossians say they were cut out of the negotiations. In response to a legal claim by two Chagossian women, a judge on Thursday halted a ceremony to sign the agreement.