Morning everyone. This morning we report on the shocking death in custody at Sydney’s Silverwater jail of a man suffering from severe mental illness and how he was left “pleading and begging” to his guards for water. We also have an investigation into how Chinese migrants are risking their lives to reach Australia, tech companies get more time to work out how to stop youngsters accessing adult websites, and there’s some jaw-dropping news from New York.
Australia
Marsden dies | The Australian author John Marsden, beloved for young adult novels including the Tomorrow series and The Rabbits, has died aged 74.
Exclusive | This morning, we report on a shocking death in custody at Sydney’s Silverwater jail. Simon Cartwright, a man suffering severe mental illness, was deliberately denied water by guards, who joked about his repeated pleas for help and left him unobserved in his cell, where he died from a treatable illness that was inexplicably missed. Simon’s family have told the Guardian his treatment is incomprehensible and have called for urgent change.
Tech extension | Tech companies will have two extra months to finalise plans to restrict children from accessing adult websites, as Australia’s rushed under-16s social media ban legislation forces the sector to grapple with crossover issues with the two regulations.
Festival tests | New South Wales will trial pill-testing at music festivals after a years-long push by advocates calling for the government to heed harm reduction evidence.
Campaign launch | Fatima Payman’s new political movement is launching a search for candidates as it sets its sights on winning Senate seats in New South Wales and Victoria at the next federal election.
World
Exclusive | More than 140 Facebook content moderators in Kenya have been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder caused by exposure to graphic social media content including murders, suicides, child sexual abuse and terrorism. Workers at a contractor said violent, graphic and sexually explicit videos left them fearful to go outside.
Middle East | Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli troops will occupy a recently seized buffer zone in Syria for the foreseeable future, as intense efforts continued to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Bomb suspect | Russia has detained an Uzbek citizen who investigators allege placed the bomb that killed Lt Gen Igor Kirillov on the instructions of Ukraine’s security service, the country’s investigative committee has said.
Tate tax | Police can seize more than £2m (A$4m) from the influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan after they failed to pay a penny in tax on £21m (A$42m) of revenue from their online businesses, a court in London has ruled.
‘Magnificent’ | A New York state resident has found a complete mastodon jaw just below the surface of their lawn, after spotting two large teeth protruding from the ground.
Full Story
The prince and the spy
The allegation that the Chinese businessman Yang Tengbo, who has links to Prince Andrew, has been spying for China has caused a serious stir. Tengbo says the allegation is “entirely untrue” and denied doing anything unlawful. Dan Sabbagh and David Pegg report.
In-depth
Some use student visas to reach Japan or Thailand. Some fly to South America and trek to the US. Others try the European route. But for the growing number of Chinese people trying to flee authoritarian rule and a faltering economy at home, a new high-stakes escape route has been revealed: through the Indonesian archipelago to a smuggler’s boat destined for Australia. Helen Davidson and Chi-hui Lin investigate.
Not the news
In her latest Antiviral column, our medical editor, Melissa Davey, examines whether retinol, vitamin A and other compounds can really keep your skin healthy and “youthful”.
Sport
Cricket | Australia were denied by India as the third Test finished in a draw but not before the tourists had exposed some of their opponents’ familiar failings.
Premier League | Ruben Amorim has insisted Marcus Rashford is not close to leaving Manchester United and urged the forward to embrace the “biggest challenge” of proving himself at his boyhood club.
Football | There are three Carabao Cup quarter-finals taking place this morning: Arsenal v Crystal Palace, Newcastle v Brentford, and Southampton v Liverpool.
Media roundup
The Sydney Morning Herald has an analysis of the schools that did best in the HSC with one climbing more than 220 places in the rankings. The Age says Jaclyn Symes has “one of the most difficult jobs in politics” as she prepares to be sworn in as Victoria’s treasurer. A grandad’s routine dental visit revealed a terminal illness, according to the Adelaide Advertiser. Wild wind and rain is still lashing south-east Queensland, the Courier Mail says.
What’s happening today
Business | ANZ holds its annual general meeting
Economy | NRMA gives its update on petrol prices over Christmas
Industrial relations | Judgment in case over industrial action relating to the Sydney rail network
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
