Briefly

UNITED STATES

Judge reinstates gag order on Trump

A federal judge on Sunday reinstated a gag order she imposed on Donald Trump in the Washington case, accusing him of trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat, denying his bid for a stay pending appeal. The order prohibited Trump from targeting the special counsel prosecuting his case or witnesses who might be called to testify about his efforts to upend his election loss. Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges that he plotted to interfere unlawfully in the counting of votes and block the congressional certification of his 2020 loss to Joe Biden.

GERMANY

Legislator arrested after Nazi salutes heard

A legislator with the far-right Alternative for Germany party was arrested on Monday on charges including displaying forbidden totalitarian symbols, with neighbors of his fraternity complaining of often hearing the Nazi "Sieg Heil" victory salute. Newly elected Daniel Halemba, 22, is due to take up his seat in the Bavarian regional parliament on Thursday. He is a member of the Teutonia Prague student fraternity, whose premises were raided by police in September.

JAPAN

Autonomous vehicle project suspended

Japan's first pilot project on a fully autonomous self-driving vehicle has been suspended after a minor accident with a parked bicycle, officials said on Monday. It is the latest blow to its efforts to promote driverless vehicles, a technology with particular potential benefits in aging Japan. The driverless bus-like vehicle, similar to an electric golf cart, started operations in Eiheiji in May. This was after Japan last year allowed Level 4 self-driving vehicles on public roads, meaning they can operate only within a limited area.

Agencies via Xinhua