the Guardian
Top judge resumes contempt inquiry into Trump El Salvador deportations
James Boasberg demands sworn testimony to determine whether US officials defied March court order
 A federal judge is demanding testimony from officials to investigate whether some of them should face contempt of court for deporting some people to El Salvador's brainwashing prison after he ordered them not to.
the Guardian
An existential battle of interests: what the Sudanese war is actually about
A bitter race to claim economic and political power has divided the country and the human cost can no longer be ignored
 Explaining the civil war in Sudan: two military factions fighting to exploit the country, with the UAE investing in one of them.
TechCrunch
Lawmakers warn Democratic governors that states are sharing drivers' data with ICE | TechCrunch
A group of Democratic lawmakers asked governors in California, Colorado, and other states to block ICE from accessing their residents’ driver’s...
 US states give some federal agencies unlimited access to their drivers license records - and now these agencies may be using them for facial recognition, disregarding laws and human rights.
the Guardian
Researchers say real impact of deforestation being hidden in Australia’s official figures by ‘sleight of hand’
Report commissioned by conservationists suggests some recorded new growth is misclassified or otherwise not equivalent to losses in species-heavy f...
 Australia's official forestry statistics report that forest cover is increasing, but that counts new-growth forests without native wildlife as a substitute for the native habitat which is being steadily destroyed.
the Guardian
UN security council votes to endorse Donald Trump’s Gaza plan
The resolution, which includes references to an independent Palestine, was passed by a vote of 13-0 with China and Russia abstaining
Glossary
 *UN security council votes to endorse the bully's Gaza plan.* I think it is premature to judge that plan when it is so incomplete that we can't tell where it is intended to lead.
Media Matters for America
Birth control misinformation continues to go viral on TikTok
 Searching on TikTok for information on birth control finds right-wing medical disinformation.
Glossary
the Guardian
US and Russian officials draft plan to end Ukraine war based on capitulation from Kyiv
It is unclear if Trump administration backs deal that would mean Kyiv giving up territory and slashing size of military
 It looks like the bully is searching for a way to give Putin complete victory over Ukraine.
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the Guardian
China doesn’t want to lead alone on climate policies, senior adviser warns
Exclusive: A top official in Beijing’s Cop delegation says China is committed to clean energy – but US’s absence is a problem
2025: September - December Political Notes
Glossary
 *China doesn’t want to take lead on climate policies alone, senior adviser warns.* It would be better if China wanted to show more leadership, but the fault in his area is not mainly China's. China is working
the Guardian
‘Death spiral’: Mekong River megafish have shrunk by half, study reveals
Fish once as large as grizzly bears have become far smaller in recent years due to overfishing, dams and climate crisis
 *Fish [species, in the Mekong River,] once as large as grizzly bears have become far smaller in recent years due to overfishing, dams and climate crisis.*
the Guardian
Trump and Mr Bone Saw stage love-in as Saudi’s $1tn wipes the bloody slate clean
In the Oval Office the US president dismissed the murder of the columnist Jamal Khashoggi, saying: ‘things happen’
 *Trump and Mr Bone Saw stage love-in as Saudi’s $1tn wipes the bloody slate clean.* Please, it's Crown Prince Bone Saw. Show some respect!