New Mexico attorney general highlights real-world consequences of online dangers prevalent on firm’s Instagram and Facebook apps

Three men have been arrested and charged with sexually preying on children via Meta’s social networks in New Mexico, the state’s attorney general announced Wednesday.

The arrests stemmed from an investigation into the potential harm to children caused by Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, codenamed “Operation MetaPhile”. Undercover agents posed as children, whom the three men solicited for sex, according to the criminal complaint. The sting operation is part of an ongoing lawsuit launched by Raúl Torrez’s office in December that alleges Meta has allowed its social media platforms to become marketplaces for child predators.

It’s less than six months until election day, and Donald Trump is choosing his running mate. It’s quite the spectacle

• Sign up for The Stakes: a free newsletter on the 2024 US presidential election

Hello there, and welcome to the Guardian’s brand new US election newsletter. I hope you’re having a nice week.

It’s less than six months until election day, and Donald Trump, when he’s not in court or looking at racing cars , is spending time weighing his vice-presidential pick. It’s becoming quite the spectacle.

• Goalkeeper returned to training this week after thigh problem
• Unai Emery: ‘If he is available 100%, he is going to play’

Unai Emery has said he will make a last-minute call on whether Emiliano Martínez will face Olympiakos as they attempt to overturn a first-leg defeat to reach the Europa Conference League final. Martínez, who returned to training this week after a thigh problem, has travelled to Athens but Emery confirmed he will speak to the club doctor before making a final decision on the morning of the game. Robin Olsen will again deputise if Martínez is not deemed fit enough to start.

Martínez was withdrawn at half-time against Chelsea last month but the goalkeeper, whose penalty-shootout heroics in Lille helped Villa into the semi-finals, could make a timely comeback in Greece.

Rasoulof is one of Iran’s leading directors and his film The Seed of the Sacred Fig is due to premiere at Cannes film festival

The Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison, flogging, a fine and the confiscation of property, his lawyer has confirmed.

Writing on X , Babak Paknia, a human rights lawyer representing Rasoulof, said that the judgment was confirmed in a court of appeal and the case had now been sent for enforcement.

Challenge cited California state law that allows plaintiffs and defendants to remove judge they believe can’t grant impartial trial

The California judge presiding over Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, has removed himself from the case. Judge Ethan Schulman on Monday sustained a challenge from Musk’s lawyers, which cited a California state law that allows plaintiffs and defendants to remove a judge they believe cannot grant an impartial trial.

The law, known as California Code of Civil Procedure 170.6, does not require the person issuing the challenge to provide any factual basis for their claim that the judge is prejudiced against them. Each side in a case gets one such peremptory challenge, which is granted as long as it is filed with correct language and within a certain time frame.

Domestic abuse commissioner criticises lack of warning of policy to free prisoners in England and Wales up to 70 days early

Survivors of domestic abuse have been put in danger by ministers’ failure to give notice of the early release from prison of their abusers, a Home Office adviser has said.

Nicole Jacobs, the independent domestic abuse commissioner, criticised the lack of warning of a new policy to free prisoners up to 70 days early from full jails.

Exclusive: plans revealed in new leaked dossier sent to unions ahead of crunch meeting with Keir Starmer

Labour has vowed it will change the law to ban fire and rehire, after a war of words with unions who accused the party of watering down its pledges on workers’ rights.

The plans are revealed in a new leaked dossier, which was sent to trade unions ahead of a crunch meeting with Keir Starmer and contains sweeping plans for an overhaul of workers’ rights including on employment status, protection against unfair dismissal and union representation.

Christopher Kirker tells members that normal waiting times will apply for most women as concerns raised about tokenism

The chair of the Garrick has told its members that the club may consider “allowing one or two exceptional … lady members” to join in the near future but that normal waiting times will apply for the majority of women.

A leaked email from Christopher Kirker to all members on Wednesday described Tuesday’s vote ending the London institution’s men-only rules as “momentous” and addressed questions about how quickly the club might move to admit women.

Sir Paul Marshall claimed ownership of thousands of silver bars, but finders are not always keepers

The joint owner of GB News has lost a legal battle with the South African government over £34m of silver secretly salvaged from a second world war shipwreck.

Sir Paul Marshall, who is lining up a bid for the Daily Telegraph , had claimed ownership of 2,364 silver bars his company had recovered from the bottom of the Indian Ocean.