US announces naval coalition to defend Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks (www.theguardian.com)
Egypt and Saudi Arabia notably absent from Operation Prosperity Guardian as more shipping companies forgo route...
Would you drink toilet water? California wastewater approved for recycling (www.theguardian.com)
Just Stop Oil activist jailed for six months for taking part in slow march [UK] (www.theguardian.com)
China rights activist goes on trial for ‘inciting subversion of state power’ (www.theguardian.com)
Li Qiaochu, a human rights activist detained for nearly three years in China, has gone on trial in Shandong province charged with “inciting subversion of state power”....
X to be investigated for allegedly Not Complying with EU laws on hate speech and fake news (www.theguardian.com)
X to be investigated for allegedly Not Complying with EU laws on hate speech and fake news::EU launches proceedings against Elon Musk’s social media platform under new Digital Services Act
Nobel peace prize awarded to Barack Obama (www.theguardian.com)
US president in surprise win for ‘extraordinary efforts’ to improve world diplomacy and co-operation
Google agrees to pay $700m after antitrust settlement with consumers and US states (www.theguardian.com)
Google has agreed to pay US$700m and to allow for greater competition in its Play app store, according to the terms of an antitrust settlement with US states and consumers disclosed in a San Francisco federal court....
Virginia Confederate memorial to be removed despite Republicans’ objection (www.theguardian.com)
UK telecoms firms told to safeguard at-risk customers in switch to digital landlines | Telecommunications industry | The Guardian (www.theguardian.com)
Texas governor signs bill allowing police to arrest migrants entering US illegally (www.theguardian.com)
German prosecutors charge 27 over alleged far-right plot to topple government (www.theguardian.com)
US man charged in four murders lured victims with promise of buried gold (www.theguardian.com)
Victims fell for alleged serial killer’s tale that he needed help finding gold in area of his Washington state farm, authorities say
Imran Khan deploys AI clone to campaign from behind bars in Pakistan (www.theguardian.com)
PTI party uses ‘voice clone’ of imprisoned opposition leader to give impassioned speech in ‘virtual rally’...
Israeli army says it has uncovered biggest Hamas tunnel yet (www.theguardian.com)
The Israeli army has said it has uncovered the biggest Hamas tunnel in the Gaza Strip so far, just a few hundred metres from a key border crossing....
Meta’s Threads app launches across EU in blow to competitor X (www.theguardian.com)
Meta’s Threads app launches across EU in blow to competitor X::The tech giant’s app, which launched in July 2023, first needed approval from the European Commission over privacy provisions
Paris mayor plans to triple SUV parking tariffs to cut air pollution (www.theguardian.com)
State supreme court dismisses Ohio’s effort to enforce abortion ban (www.theguardian.com)
Abortion clinics have asked judge to block ban after amendment to state constitution was passed enshrining right to procedure...
Serbia’s ruling populists claim sweeping victory in election amid vote-rigging accusations (www.theguardian.com)
Guyana and Venezuela promise not to use force in bitter dispute over oil rich region (www.theguardian.com)
US supreme court refuses to overturn Illinois assault weapons ban (www.theguardian.com)
Law was passed following Highland Park shooting in 2022, and has been challenged by gun shops and gun rights groups...
Gaza society 'on brink of full-blown collapse' says UN official (www.theguardian.com)
Details of thousands of individuals referred to the government’s controversial anti-radicalisation Prevent programme are being shared far more widely than was previously known (www.theguardian.com)
The stated aim of Prevent, which is a voluntary programme, is to divert people from terrorism before they offend. Most people do not even know that they have been referred, with about 95% of cases resulting in no further action.
World watches as landmark Jimmy Lai trial set to begin in Hong Kong (www.theguardian.com)
Territory’s global reputation on the line as media mogul and democracy activist finally tried over alleged national security crimes
France struggles to find right balance as violence at matches escalates (www.theguardian.com)
Death of a fan in early December has led to calls for drastic measures but travel bans have been met with opposition