Mr Trump’s Middle East party: Bad news for Bibi?

Written by: Aarthi Ramnath, Raghav Bikhchandani & Yash Budhwar

Mr Trump’s Middle East party: Bad news for Bibi?

Donald Trump is getting ready for his trip to the Middle East—where he will visit Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia. Conspicuously missing on the itinerary: Israel—an omission that comes amid reports of Bibi-Donald souring. Wtf is going on?

First, the trip: Trump will land in Saudi Arabia today—followed by Qatar and UAE. The entire tour will last until May 16. Btw, the Saudi leg marks the first state visit of his second term. OTOH, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was the first state leader to visit Trump in the White House—yet he didn’t make the list. Sad.

The Donald gift list: The Arabs seem to have realised that Trump has a 100% “what is in it for me?” approach to foreign policy. Hence, the early Diwali for both Trump and his family:

Trump-branded residential towers have been launched in Dubai and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and a developer in April unveiled a Trump luxury golf resort at a state-owned project in Qatar at an event featuring Eric Trump and a Qatari minister. A UAE state and royal family fund earlier this month used $2 billion of a new crypto stablecoin issued by Trump’s World Liberty Financial to invest in a crypto exchange.

Guess what the three countries have in common. Point to note: The list above doesn’t include all the goodies disbursed to other family members—like the $3.5 billion invested by all three nations in a private-equity fund run by damaad Jared Kushner.

The crowning moment: came on Monday when reports of Qatar’s generosity hit the headlines. Doha plans to gift Trump a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet—which will serve as the new Air Force One—and then be “donated” to Trump’s presidential library when he leaves office. This ‘palace in the sky’ may be the most expensive gift ever given to a US president. Trump even toured the premises before accepting this present:

This is a humiliating low—after decades of Hollywood flicks glamourising Air Force One as a symbol of Amreeki pride.

What’s not surprising: Trump is out to make as much moolah as he can over the next four years—much like a low-rent Indian neta: “He’s not a president who used to be a businessman, he’s a businessman who happens to be president.” And that’s why poor Bibi finds himself frozen out—he can’t match the lavish generosity of his Arab neighbours.

A cooling bromance: Netanyahu’s White House visit in February was one giant love fest—with Trump merrily pushing plans for a Gaza Riviera minus its residents. But that ardour had cooled when he came back in April. Trump has since decisively distanced himself from Bibi’s agenda—starting with Iran:

As Mr. Trump heads this week to the Middle East for his first major foreign trip, the president has, for now, rejected Mr. Netanyahu’s desire for joint military action to take out Tehran’s nuclear abilities. Instead, Mr. Trump has begun talks with Iran, leaving Mr. Netanyahu to warn that “a bad deal is worse than no deal.”

Also worrying Bibi: Trump’s agreement with the Houthis in Yemen—who have agreed to cease attacks against US vessels in the Red Sea… but not those of Israel. The announcement came days after a Houthi missile hit the Tel Aviv airport. A cranky Bibi tweeted: “Israel will defend itself by itself. If others would join us, our American friends, very well. If they don’t, we will defend ourselves.” Super sad.

Point to note: There are rumours that Trump is willing to ink a separate security pact with the Saudis—their #1 ask—without requiring them to normalise ties with Tel Aviv. That’s a big break from US foreign policy.

But what about Gaza?: To be clear, the Arabs haven’t put the bombed, starving Palestinians at the top of their wishlist. The Saudis want their nuclear program, UAE wants high-tech AI chips worth billions—and the long-marginalised Qatar wants to stay important to Washington. But Gaza will definitely be on the agenda—much to Tel Aviv’s horror:

Israeli officials are now concerned what a week spent meeting with and being feted by Gulf leaders – all of whom have been critical of Israel’s military assault in Gaza and its ongoing humanitarian blockade of the strip – will mean for Trump’s posture vis-à-vis the war and ceasefire negotiations.

Peace deal ahead?: It isn’t a coincidence that Hamas released the last remaining American hostage—Edan Alexander—on the eve of the visit. Trump wants hostages—but Netanyahu wants to end Hamas (and wipe out Gazans while he’s at it). So while Bibi has vowed to expand the war—and embraced occupation—Donald is eyeing his Nobel peace prize:

Another source familiar with the matter tells CNN the release of Alexander will lead to “immediate peace deal negotiations.”... If a deal with Hamas for the return of more hostages seems within reach, the US will drive up the pressure on Israel to accept it, another source familiar with the matter said.

Until now, there were major doubts about whether Hamas’ leader in Gaza, Mohammad Sinwar, would agree to a limited deal. But Hamas seems to have shrewdly outplayed Israel this time around when it comes to Trump. And Trump’s visit to the region will serve as a pressure point to potentially unlock a deal.

The big picture: This is Donald Trump—a man for all seasons and surprises. What is clear, however, is that Netanyahu cannot give Trump what he wants—paisa plus peace prize—preferably both. The tweet that sums it up: “The entire pro-Israel political class threw their capital into replacing the best Presidential ally they could ask for with the most bribable man alive and none of them foresaw this backfiring.”

Reading list: CNN is best on both the Arab wishlist and the fraying ties with Netanyahu. New York Times looks at Trump’s willingness to give the UAE the AI chips it wants. Morning Brew has a solid overview of Trump’s Gulf business trip. ABC News zeroes in on Doha’s jumbo jet gift. Al Jazeera has the reporting on Alexander’s release and how Washington bypassed Tel Aviv.

India dumps Rohingya refugees into the sea

Yes, you read that headline right. This is what we’re doing now to desperate refugees.

The context: There are approximately 2.8 million Rohingya in the world, and they are a Muslim minority in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar. The Myanmar government—whether military or civil—has ethnically cleansed and killed them for decades—in a series of ‘clearance operations’. Back in 2017, at least 10,000 Rohingya were killed in a single month. Since that time, many Rohingya have fled over the border to Bangladesh—and then on to India. The government has taken an exceptionally harsh line on the Rohingya—refusing to give them asylum and deporting them en masse. This Big Story has more background.

What happened now: On May 6 and 7, at least 69 Rohingya refugees were detained by the Delhi Police. This is what happened on May 8:

Indian authorities have allegedly thrown 43 Rohingya refugees detained from New Delhi into international waters near the maritime border with Myanmar, forcing children, women, and the elderly to swim to safety with life jackets provided to them.

A Supreme Court petition says that “children as young as 15, female minors as young as 16, senior citizens up to 66 years old, and people suffering from cancer and other ailments were among those abandoned into the sea without regard for their lives or safety.”

Point to note: All 43 Rohingya refugees were detained under the pretext of collecting biometric data.

Reminder: While India is not a signatory to the UN Convention for Refugees, it signed on to the Convention against Torture. The Article 3 of this treaty states that no person shall be expelled to a place where there is a threat to their life. The Bay of Bengal certainly fits that description. India has now joined the very unpleasant club of countries that drowns desperate refugees seeking asylum. Exhibit A: the Greek coast guards who are accused of deliberately capsizing boat-loads of migrants.

Reading list: The story has only been covered by the independent Indian news publication Maktoob Media—whose reporting is based on accounts included in a Supreme Court petition.

First ‘analogue’ paneer, now toxic tofu

We have barely recovered from horror stories about fake paneer made of detergent. We are now depressed about tofu—thanks to a Guardian investigation. It found that tofu factories in Indonesia are using plastic waste—yes, actual plastic trash—as fuel to power their boilers. The burning plastic releases toxic fumes and microplastic particles—that settle into the tofu. Yup, Indonesian tofu is served with a side of plastic fibres and a dash of toxic ash.

But, but, but: This is not a story about bad Indonesian practices. The plastic used in tofu production comes from the West. Although Jakarta has banned the import of plastics, they are brought into the country as plastic scraps—mixed in with paper waste. So when the three million tonnes of scrap paper reach recycling mills—the unwanted plastic is sold or given away. That’s why a truckload of plastic costs only $13—compared to $130 for wood.

Data point to note: A tofu factory burns through a truckload of plastic waste every two days. Also: Indonesians consume an average of 8 kg of tofu per person each year. We recommend checking out the detailed Guardian report.

what caught our eye

India vs Pakistan

The Donald continues to claim credit for the ceasefire, and now says that the US averted a ‘nuclear conflict’. Meanwhile, in his first public address since Operation Sindoor was launched, PM Modi said that the operation is not yet over and that New Delhi “will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail” when acting against Islamabad.
Both sides have agreed to cut the number of border troops and not fire a single shot, as part of talks between the respective DGMOs.
Pakistan’s military says one of its jets took a hit in the India clash—but is keeping the damage details under wraps.
Punjab Police have nabbed two men for spying for a Pakistani official in Delhi—one of them was leaking Army movement intel.
India will continue to keep the Indus Waters Treaty on ice for the time being despite the ceasefire.
Wheels up again—AAI to resume civilian flights at 32 airports shut during the India-Pakistan standoff.

business & tech

Klarna tried swapping staff for chatbots—now it’s back to hiring humans after hitting AI’s limits, says Bloomberg.
Say goodbye to WiFi in coffee shops if you're in the US. Brands like Starbucks and Devoción are dissuading remote workers from parking themselves in there all day.
Truecaller has launched a new AI-powered filter that can scan your inbox to pick out ‘important’ messages.
Yahoo Finance has a must-read on Bhutan’s small but ambitious sovereign wealth fund, which is banking on green energy and Bitcoin.

sports & entertainment

The criminal trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs—charged with sex trafficking and racketeering—is officially underway. CNN has the key takeaways from day one, where the central question centred on ‘coercion or consent’.
The Economist (login required) has a good read on South Korea’s booming digital comic industry—webtoons like ‘Solo Levelling’ are racking up billions of views and millions in revenue, and now Hollywood wants in.
Kevin Spacey is back on set—joining conspiracy thriller ‘The Awakening’ in another step toward reviving his career after being cleared of sexual offense charges.
The Hollywood Reporter has a good read on how Europe's dubbing artists are taking the lead in the fight against AI’s growing role in film and TV production.
Mawra Hocane has been axed from the ‘Sanam Teri Kasam’ sequel after criticising India’s Operation Sindoor.
The IPL will resume on May 17 and conclude on June 3—and will be played across just six venues. ESPNCricinfo has the details and revised schedule.
Meanwhile, the PSL is also expected to resume in Pakistan later this week. But, but, but: both leagues face the logistical challenge of bringing back foreign players and staff.

health & environment

Scientists say a genetic mutation may be the secret to why some people thrive on just six hours of sleep a night.
The FDA greenlights Teal Health’s first-ever at-home cervical cancer screening test, offering a less invasive alternative to pap smears.

meanwhile, in the world

The US and China have drastically slashed their reciprocal tariffs and declared a 90-day pause. Quartz breaks it down.
The European Commission has launched a $568 million initiative to lure researchers—especially from the US—to move across the Atlantic.
The Taliban has banned chess across Afghanistan, calling it a gateway to gambling and a violation of the country’s morality laws.
Even from a detention cell in The Hague, former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has been re-elected as mayor of Davao—his family stronghold.
In horrific news, Burkina Faso’s army killed at least 100 civilians in March, according to a new Human Rights Watch report.
Hamas announced plans to release Edan Alexander, the last American hostage in Gaza, as part of efforts to push for a ceasefire and resume aid.
Mexico is suing Google over its rebranding of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, a move linked to a Trump executive order.
After over 40 years of conflict, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey has announced its decision to dissolve and end its armed struggle, a move that could shake up the political and security landscape in the region.
Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order to slash US prescription drug prices, aiming to bring them in line with what other countries pay.
Trump’s cryptocurrency auction, offering dinner and White House tours, has sparked a storm of bipartisan criticism, raised red flags over suspicious trading, and opened the door to foreign influence.

Two things to see

One: It’s official—Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from test cricket—just days after Rohit Sharma’s exit. With 123 matches, 9,230 runs, 30 centuries, and 40 wins as captain—the most by any Indian—Kohli walks away as one of the all-time greats. “There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites,” he wrote in an emotional Instagram post. You can see BCCI’s tribute video to Kohli below. (Al Jazeera)

Two: It’s been six months since Rafa’s last match at the Davis Cup, but the grief is still fresh. As the French Open kicks off next week, the tournament dropped an excellent vid. Narrated by Nadal, it is a lyrical ode to the clay courts he once ruled with an unprecedented 14 titles. Watch the trailer below. You can also read this tribute to his French Open legacy.