3 d. ago Trump the AI salesman makes deals in the Gulf – and rich men benefit

The president sold the US model of the industry that made it: enormous power concentrated in the hands of a few menHello, and welcome to TechScape. This week in tech: Donald Trump the AI salesman visits the Middle East; 23andMe gets bought, mostly for its data; and Elon Musk’s bot hallucinates an offensively incorrect historical record – twice.Legal aid hack: data from hundreds of thousands of people accessed, says MoJHow to protect your data after a cyber-attackScattered Spider hackers in UK are ‘facilitating’ cyber-attacks, says GoogleLargest US crypto exchange says cost of recent cyber-attack could reach $400m Continue reading...

Economics

4 d. ago John Oliver gives ‘hot take’ on HBO Max’s constant rebranding and compares it to Trump’s Gulf of Mexico name change

‘Sometimes, hypothetically, before we can even get used to one dumb name, some genius comes along and only makes it dumber,” John Oliver snarked Sunday night

Politics

5 d. ago Trump makes the Gulf states feel powerful, but the real test is: can they stop Israel’s war? | Nesrine Malik

The US president’s deference to his Middle Eastern allies is hollow if they cannot affect what happens in their own back yardDonald Trump’s visit to the Middle East last week was an exercise in disorientation. Both in terms of rebalancing the relationship between the US and the region, and in scrambling perceptions. In Riyadh, he told the Saudi royals there would be no more “lectures on how to live”. He lifted sanctions on Syria so that the country may have a “fresh start”, and he fawned over the camels and lavish architecture (“as a construction guy,” he said at one Qatari palace, “this is perfect marble”). Never has Trump appeared more in his element, surrounded by the wealth of sovereigns, the marshalling power of absolute monarchies, and their calculated self-orientalisation and over-the-top flattery.The same man who enacted the Muslim ban in his first term was strolling around mosques and shrugging off the radical path to power of the Syrian president: “Handsome guy Tough past,...

Politics

6 d. ago Trump news at a glance: Gulf deals in the spotlight as experts warn receipt of overseas gifts ‘unprecedented’

Experts warn the message being sent by the White House is that American foreign policy is for sale. Key US politics stories from Saturday 17 May at a glanceWith Donald Trump’s headline-making tour of the Gulf region now over, focus has now fallen on the deals made during the trip – for US companies, and for the president himself.Former White House lawyers, diplomatic protocol officers and foreign affairs experts have told the Guardian Donald Trump’s receipt of overseas gifts and targeted investments are “unprecedented” as the White House remakes US foreign policy under a pay-for-access code that eclipses past administrations. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago UN chief ‘alarmed’ as Israel launches major ground offensive in Gaza – Middle East crisis live

United Nations secretary general António Guterres called on Saturday for a permanent and immediate ceasefire Israel launches major offensive in GazaAn Iraqi political official, speaking to the Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment, said that Iran’s al-Quds force commander Esmail Ghaani had paid a visit to Baghdad prior to the Arab League summit and “conveyed messages of support for the Iranian-American negotiations” for a nuclear deal and a demand for the lifting of crippling sanctions on Iran.The Arab League is meeting in Baghdad on Saturday to discuss Gaza and other regional crises, but some leaders are expected to miss the talks that come straight after US president Donald Trump’s Gulf tour. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza overnight as UN human rights chief warns of ‘ethnic cleansing’ – Middle East crisis live

UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Türk says ‘we must stop the clock on this madness’Israel launches major offensive in GazaAn Iraqi political official, speaking to the Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment, said that Iran’s al-Quds force commander Esmail Ghaani had paid a visit to Baghdad prior to the Arab League summit and “conveyed messages of support for the Iranian-American negotiations” for a nuclear deal and a demand for the lifting of crippling sanctions on Iran.The Arab League is meeting in Baghdad on Saturday to discuss Gaza and other regional crises, but some leaders are expected to miss the talks that come straight after US president Donald Trump’s Gulf tour. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago ‘Very disturbing’: Trump receipt of overseas gifts unprecedented, experts warn

White House remakes foreign policy under pay-for-access code that critics say could violate US constitutionFormer White House lawyers, diplomatic protocol officers and foreign affairs experts have told the Guardian that Donald Trump’s receipt of overseas gifts and targeted investments are “unprecedented”, as the White House remakes US foreign policy under a pay-for-access code that eclipses past administrations with characteristic Trumpian excess.The openness to foreign largesse was on full display this week as the US president was feted in the Gulf states during his first major diplomatic trip abroad this term, inking deals he claimed were worth trillions of dollars and pumping local leaders for investments as he says he remakes US foreign policy to prioritise “America first” – putting aside concerns of human rights or international law for the bottom line of American businesses and taxpayers. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago US supreme court upholds block on Trump deportations under Alien Enemies Act as judge questions Ábrego García case – live

Justices block Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants; judge frustrated by DoJ’s failure to detail efforts to return wrongly deported manSupreme court blocks Trump bid to resume deportations under 1798 lawAlso on Iran, AFP reports that Trump said earlier that Tehran should make a quick decision on an American proposal for a nuclear deal or “something bad will happen”.Speaking in Abu Dhabi as he finished his Gulf tour, Trump said his administration had handed Iran a proposal for a agreement, adding that “they know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen”. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Trump was in his element as a guest of the Gulf’s autocratic monarchs. So what did the trip actually achieve?

The four-day trip let Trump play dealmaker to the tune of trillions of dollars — but his eagerness to please the oil-rich Gulf states could help Beijing gain access to American AI tech, writes Andrew Feinberg

Politics

7 d. ago Gianni Infantino under pressure to release details of Gulf trip with Donald Trump

Fifa president accompanied US president in Middle EastHuman Rights Watch wants ‘meaningful accountability’Gianni Infantino should account for his trip alongside Donald Trump to the Gulf this week and “detail precisely what it achieved for football and human rights”, according to a leading critic of Fifa’s governance.Human Rights Watch says that Infantino’s trip, in which he accompanied the US president to Qatar and Saudi Arabia and missed a series of key meeting at Fifa’s annual congress, was indicative of the lack of “meaningful accountability” at the top of football’s global authority. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Republican fiscal hardliners block key vote for Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ – live

In a major setback for Trump’s sweeping tax agenda, five Republicans stood in the way of passing the bill from advancing toward a full House vote next weekAlso on Iran, AFP reports that Trump said earlier that Tehran should make a quick decision on an American proposal for a nuclear deal or “something bad will happen”.Speaking in Abu Dhabi as he finished his Gulf tour, Trump said his administration had handed Iran a proposal for a agreement, adding that “they know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen”. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Trump claims ‘8647’ photo from former FBI director James Comey was call to assassinate him – US politics live

US president claims ‘a child would know’ what that slogan means as US Secret Service investigates now-deleted photo of seashells posted on InstagramAlso on Iran, AFP reports that Trump said earlier that Tehran should make a quick decision on an American proposal for a nuclear deal or “something bad will happen”.Speaking in Abu Dhabi as he finished his Gulf tour, Trump said his administration had handed Iran a proposal for a agreement, adding that “they know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen”. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago UEFA release unprecedented Gianni Infantino statement after controversial Donald Trump trip

Gianni Infantino angered those present at the annual FIFA Congress in Asuncion, Paraguay on Thursday after arriving late following a trip around the Gulf states with Donald Trump

Politics

7 d. ago Trump hails trade deals amid report the US will send letters to about 150 countries setting out new tariffs – US politics live

President claims he has made agreements worth more than $200bn with the UAE; US to send letters over next few weeks telling countries their new ratesUS government records reveal Latin American leaders have spent millions hiring Washington’s top lobbyists to push for a laundry list of requests – from free-trade deals, security assistance and energy investments – heard by the Trump administration, according to an analysis by the Guardian and The Quincy Institute.Since the lead-up to Donald Trump’s election as president in November 2024, Department of Justice records show that at least 10 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have registered their top officials and envoys as foreign principals under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (Fara). Fara aims to promote transparency by requiring those working as foreign agents to disclose their activities and compensation.Trump said that, while “150 countries” wanted to agree deals, “it’s not possible to meet the number of people that w...

Politics

7 d. ago Trump says people in Gaza are starving and US will take care of situation

Intense Israeli airstrikes continue to hit Gaza as US president completes final day of Gulf tour in Abu DhabiMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has said people are starving in Gaza and the US would have the situation in the territory “taken care of”. Gaza has suffered a further wave of intense Israeli airstrikes overnight.On the final day of his Gulf tour, the US president told reporters in Abu Dhabi: “We’re looking at Gaza. And we’re going to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Uefa accuses Infantino of pursuing ‘private interests’ on Trump’s Gulf tour

Fifa boss arrives late at congress from US president’s tripEurope delegates walk out in protest at schedule changesUefa has accused the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, of pursuing “private political interests” ahead of his responsibilities to football. The shock intervention from European football’s governing body came after several national delegates walked out on the annual Fifa congress earlier on Thursday.The delegates, who included the president of Uefa, Alexander Ceferin, and the chair of the Football Association, Debbie Hewitt, did so in protest at alterations to the meeting’s schedule, caused by Infantino arriving late to proceedings after accompanying Donald Trump on a tour of Gulf states. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Uefa accuses Infantino of pursuing ‘private interests’ on Trump’s tour

Fifa president arrives late at congress after Gulf tripEurope delegates walk out in protest at schedule changesUefa has accused the Fifa ­president, Gianni Infantino, of pursuing ­“private political interests” ahead of his responsibilities to football. The shock intervention from European football’s governing body came after several national delegates walked out on the annual Fifa congress earlier on Thursday.The delegates, who included the president of Uefa, Aleksander Ceferin, and the chair of the Football Association, Debbie Hewitt, did so in protest at alterations to the meeting’s schedule, caused by Infantino arriving late to proceedings after accompanying Donald Trump on a tour of Gulf states. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago US supreme court live: justices question whether limiting court power is practical in birthright citizenship case

Nancy Pelosi joins protests outside court as justices hear arguments case that could create different citizenship rules in different statesSupreme court hears birthright citizenship disputeWhat is US birthright citizenship?Here are some pictures from when Donald Trump arrived in the United Arab Emirates a short while ago, where he was greeted by the UAE president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the Abu Dhabi airport. It’s day three of Trump’s Middle East trip aimed at drumming up investment in the US and securing lucrative economic deals with the oil-rich Gulf nations.Donald Trump said there won’t be movement on Ukraine peace talks until he and Russian president Vladimir Putin get together. Continue reading...

Society

8 d. ago Supreme court live: justices hear arguments on birthright citizenship dispute

US president rails against rule as justices will hear case that could create different citizenship rules in different states while legal challenges continueWhat is US birthright citizenship and why is it being disputed at the supreme court?Here are some pictures from when Donald Trump arrived in the United Arab Emirates a short while ago, where he was greeted by the UAE president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the Abu Dhabi airport. It’s day three of Trump’s Middle East trip aimed at drumming up investment in the US and securing lucrative economic deals with the oil-rich Gulf nations.Donald Trump said there won’t be movement on Ukraine peace talks until he and Russian president Vladimir Putin get together. Continue reading...

Society

8 d. ago Middle East crisis live: Trump says US should turn Gaza into ‘freedom zone’ as dozens killed in Israeli strikes

US president’s reported comments in Qatar come as scores killed in a second consecutive night of heavy bombingGaza’s civil defence agency has said that the death toll from Israeli strikes overnight into Thursday is up to 82 people, updating a previous toll.“The number of martyrs from Israeli airstrikes on Gaza has risen to 82 after the occupation targeted several homes in northern Gaza,” civil defence spokesperson Mohammad al-Mughayir told AFP, after the agency earlier reported at least 50 dead (see 8.27am BST).We’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this there [are] two steps to doing this, there is a very, very nice step and there is the violent step, but I don’t want to do it the second way. Continue reading...

Events