After months of a much-publicized row over censorship in search results, Google and the Chinese state have come to an agreement that will extend the search company’s license to operate for at least another year in the world’s most populous country. –JCL

Al Jazeera English:

Internet search engine Google has had its Chinese licence renewed for at least another year after months of dispute over censorship of search results.

The licence renewal, which was announced by Google on Friday, was granted by the ministry of industry and information technology after the internet company stopped automatically rerouting search requests from mainland China to a Hong Kong service. 

Internet users searching at Google.cn from within mainland China will now be required to click on a link before they are taken to a site based in Hong Kong.

The compromise allows the US-based company to continue to operate in the world’s biggest internet market and removes a potential diplomatic sticking point between Beijing and Washington.

Read more

Your support is crucial...

As we navigate an uncertain 2025, with a new administration questioning press freedoms, the risks are clear: our ability to report freely is under threat.

Your tax-deductible donation enables us to dig deeper, delivering fearless investigative reporting and analysis that exposes the reality behind the headlines — without compromise.

Now is the time to take action. Stand with our courageous journalists. Donate today to protect a free press, uphold democracy and uncover the stories that need to be told.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG