Donald Trump was set to meet the leader of Syria and the heads of the Gulf states Wednesday in Riyadh before travelling to Qatar where controversy is swirling over the gifting of a luxury aircraft.The US president was set to “say hello” to Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa during his last day in Riyadh, after vowing to remove sanctions against the war-ravaged country.”I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” Trump said during a speech at an investment forum in the Saudi capital. “What I do for the crown prince,” he added, before being joined on stage by Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman, who along with Turkey has backed the Sunni Islamists who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December.The move comes despite misgivings about the direction of Syria from US ally Israel, which has unleashed military strikes on its neighbour both before and after the fall of Assad, an Iranian ally.Trump will also meet with leaders and representatives from the six Gulf Cooperation Council states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman.The diplomatic sitdowns followed a day dedicated to sealing billions of dollars in commercial agreements, with the United States and Saudi Arabia signing a raft of deals involving energy, AI, weapons and tech. The White House said that Riyadh would purchase nearly $142 billion in arms in what it described as the largest-ever weapons deal.Washington said that Saudi company DataVolt was set to pour $20 billion in artificial intelligence-related projects in the United States. Tech companies including Google will also invest in both countries — likely welcome news for Saudi Arabia which has long faced restrictions securing advanced American technology.- Qatar controversy -Trump was set to head to Doha around midday. The tiny Gulf country that is home to a sprawling US air base has also served as a mediator between Israel and Hamas on ending the devastating war in Gaza. But the stop has largely been muddled by controversy following news that Trump planned on accepting a $400 million luxury plane as a gift from Qatar.The Boeing airplane would serve as a new, more modern presidential jet and then be put to Trump’s personal use once he leaves the White House.The move raises huge constitutional and ethical questions — as well as security concerns about using an aircraft donated by a foreign power as the ultra-sensitive Air Force One.Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, on Tuesday vowed to hold up all Justice Department political appointees in protest over the move. The visit to Qatar comes just days after Washington negotiated directly with Hamas to secure the release of a hostage with US citizenship, Edan Alexander. Qatar, alongside Egypt and the United States, hammered out a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that came into effect on January 19 — a day before Trump’s inauguration — but failed to end the war.The initial phase of the truce ended in early March, with the two sides unable to chart a path forward. Israel resumed air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip, blocked aid and pledged to conquer the territory.On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military would enter Gaza “with full force” in the coming days, saying: “There will be no situation where we stop the war.”Trump was set to finish his tour of the Gulf with a final stop in Abu Dhabi later in the week. 

Lyle and Erik Menendez, who have spent more than three decades behind bars for the grisly shotgun murders of their parents in the family’s luxury Beverly Hills home, could soon walk free after a judge on Tuesday reduced their life sentences.The ruling came after an emotional court hearing in Los Angeles during which the men took full responsibility for the 1989 double killing.”I do believe they’ve done enough over the last 35 years that one day they should get that chance” to be freed, Judge Michael Jesic said.Jesic reduced the men’s original sentences of life without the possibility of parole to a term of 50 years to life. The time they have already spent behind bars means they are already eligible to apply for parole, with a hearing scheduled for next month.The pair have spent two years trying to get their sentences reduced, with a public campaign bolstered by celebrity support from the likes of Kim Kardashian and supercharged by the hit Netflix miniseries “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”Blockbuster trials in the 1990s heard how the men killed Jose and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills mansion, in what prosecutors said was a cynical attempt to get their hands on a large family fortune.After setting up alibis and trying to cover their tracks, the men shot Jose Menendez five times with shotguns, including in the kneecaps.Kitty Menendez died from a shotgun blast as she tried desperately to crawl away from her killers.The brothers initially blamed the deaths on a mafia hit, but changed their story several times in the ensuing months.Erik, then 18, confessed to the murders in a session with his therapist.The pair ultimately claimed they had acted in self-defense after years of emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of a tyrannical father.During their decades in prison, changing social mores and greater awareness of sexual abuse helped elevate the men to something approaching cultural icons, a status that was nourished by a parade of docudramas and TV miniseries. Legal hearings have been so popular that court managers used a lottery system for the public gallery.- ‘Full responsibility’ -On Tuesday, Lyle Menendez, now aged 57, addressed the court via videolink, admitting he had murdered his parents.”I take full responsibility for all my choices… the choice to point a gun at my mom and dad… the choice to reload… the choice to run and to hide and to do anything I could to get away,” he said, according to reporters who were in court.His brother, Erik, 54, told the court he had been wrong to take the law into his own hands and said his actions were cruel and cowardly.”I have no excuse, no justification. I take full responsibility,” he said. “I reached out to my brother for help and convinced him that we couldn’t escape. “I fired five rounds at my parents and went to get more ammunition. I lied to police, lied to my family. I am truly sorry.”The men’s family had earlier pleaded with the judge to show mercy, showcasing the work they have done in prison, including working with terminally ill inmates.Their cousin Anamaria Baralt told the hearing they were reformed and had earned their freedom.”We believe that 35 years is enough,” she said. “They are universally forgiven by our family. They deserve a second chance at life.”Diane Hernandez, niece of Kitty Menendez, said the brothers were “remarkable human beings.””There is absolutely no chance that they would break the law” if released, she said. “Their only desire is to do good.”Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman had opposed the resentencing, insisting that without a full accounting of the lies they had told — he said they gave five explanations for the murders — they should not be allowed out of prison.Under California law, if a parole board recommends the grant of parole for someone convicted of murder, Governor Gavin Newsom has the right to affirm, reverse or modify their decision.

From doctored photos of sex-fueled parties to a racy AI-generated song, a flood of misinformation surrounding music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs threatens to distort public perception of his closely watched New York trial.The larger-than-life rapper faces a slew of charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking, with his former partner Casandra “Cassie” Ventura telling jurors on Tuesday that Combs subjected her to “disgusting” group sex sessions.As allegations surfaced in court, a web of conspiracy theories swirled online — amplified by social media algorithms — threatening to shroud the facts surrounding the high-profile celebrity trial.”Nobody believes the earth is flat when they first hear it, but repeated exposure to conspiracy theories can make them start to ‘feel’ true,” Dan Evon, lead writer for RumorGuard, a site that helps debunk viral disinformation, told AFP.”In that sense, it is possible that a flood of falsehoods about the Combs trial could sway or reinforce public opinion,” he added.A song titled “I Lost Myself at a Diddy Party” and falsely attributed to Justin Bieber recently garnered millions of views across tech platforms, sparking a wave of conspiracy theories about the relationship between the two celebrities.An audio clip of the song, which features lyrics about Bieber losing his innocence after attending one of Combs’s parties, was likely created using an AI tool, according to the disinformation watchdog NewsGuard.Also gaining traction online was a manipulated image of Combs and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sitting next to US President Donald Trump on a couch with young women.In another unfounded claim that went viral, the FBI seized a tape showing Hillary Clinton killing a child at one of Combs’s drug-fueled “freak-off” sex parties.NewsGuard reported that the voice of a supposed whistleblower who made the claim in a widely shared video was AI-generated.- ‘Perfect storm’ -The conspiracy theories lay bare the fragility of a misinformation-filled internet landscape, where views and virality are often mistaken as markers of accurate information.Rampant falsehoods have eroded online trust and turned many social media users into amateur sleuths. In recent months, content creators have pored over videos, photos, and interviews involving Combs and his celebrity associates in search of answers.”Conspiracy theories are as American as baseball and apple pie,” A.D. Carson, associate professor of hip-hop at the University of Virginia, told AFP.But, he said, they tend to merge into a “perfect storm” when a celebrity like Combs becomes the focus of round-the-clock media attention — especially in a criminal case involving sex, power, and politics.Widespread mistrust in the media and public institutions has fueled armies of internet sleuths, who operate on the principle that “there is no truth” and “there are powers that hide information or the real truth from us,” Carson said.”Often the misinformation is in response to what people perceive as misinformation,” he added.Many of these sleuths have drawn parallels between Combs’s case and that of other celebrities convicted of sexual misconduct, including Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and the late financier Epstein.- ‘Global cabal’ -“While there are credible allegations against Combs, conspiracy theories often push beyond the boundaries of what is factually known to allege an even wider and more sinister plot,” said Evon of RumorGuard.”The viral rumors surrounding Combs provide a sliver of proof for other high profile conspiracy theories: That there’s a global cabal involved in sex trafficking.”Diddy’s high profile and the nature of his alleged crimes provide another entry point into this conspiracy,” he added.Combs has pleaded not guilty on all counts, including the racketeering charge that the hip-hop pioneer led a sex crime ring that held drug-fueled sex parties by use of force, threats and violence.The whirlwind of misinformation could distract public attention from the real allegations facing Combs, and in the worst scenario, influence his trial, experts warned.”It’s impossible for people not to be influenced by all the conspiracy theories that are out there,” said Alphonse Provinziano, a family law attorney based in Beverly Hills who often works with celebrities.”This happens with every single high-profile trial,” he told AFP. “The question is: will the jurors follow the rules and not be influenced by that.”

President Donald Trump’s rollercoaster tariff row with Beijing has wreaked havoc on US companies that rely on Chinese manufacturing, with a temporary de-escalation only expected to partially calm the storm, analysts and business owners say.”The only option is to try to keep your head above water and be tossed by the waves, or to go out of business,” said Anna Barker, whose Mississippi-based firm Glo sells luminous toys designed in the United States and made in China.She told AFP that the 90-day reprieve beginning Wednesday is just a mere “blip on the radar.” Placing orders, manufacturing products and shipping them to the United States takes much longer.Trump’s escalating trade war since his return to office saw US duties on Chinese goods — including toys — reach a whopping 145 percent, while Beijing’s countermeasures hit 125 percent.The world’s two biggest economies however agreed at talks last weekend in Switzerland to temporarily lower the levies, bringing US tariffs down to 30 percent and China’s corresponding duties to 10 percent.While cautiously optimistic about the ongoing negotiations, Barker warned the 30 percent rate remains “massive for a small company.”Trump has argued that companies will enjoy zero tariffs if they manufacture in the United States, overlooking costs for any machinery or raw materials that would still need to be imported.”We’re an American company,” Barker said. “Our biggest priority, if it was just up to us, will always be the US market. But it simply can’t be right now.”To stay afloat, she is looking abroad for growth.- ‘Clogged pipeline’ -The pause “may temporarily help unstick” an effective trade embargo since April 9, when steep levies forced many firms to halt imports, said Steve Lamar, president of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA).He warned, however, that the residual 30 percent tariff, stacking on duties from past administrations, will “make for an expensive back to school and holiday season.””The tariffs are still so large that you can’t help but pass them along,” said KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk.This means producers, retailers and consumers could all bear some burden, with small businesses hit particularly hard due to their narrower margins.Freight rates could also surge due to shipping disruptions from the tariffs.”There’s a lot of inventory piling up in factories in China that now need to hit the water,” said Josh Staph, chief executive of Ohio-based Duncan Toys Company.Barker said her company was hurrying to join an “already very clogged pipeline of people racing to shipping ports.”Policy shifts have “triggered both panic and paralysis” among companies, said Swonk.”Every time they see a window like what we have for 90 days now, they’ve got to rush,” she said. “In that rush, you have a self-fulfilling prophecy that shipping costs are going to go up.”- ‘Depressed investment’ -The AAFA’s Lamar has called for Trump to strike lasting deals with China and other countries to give businesses more long term certainty.Without a permanent tariff rollback, the United States will likely continue seeing “depressed investment,” said Philip Luck, economics program director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.”Firms remain in limbo as they try to plan long-term sourcing and investment decisions,” he added.For Barker’s start-up Glo, born of a school project in Mississippi where she and her business partner were college students, the answer for now may be expanding outside the United States.This means shipping Chinese-made products to countries in Europe or elsewhere, even as it remains based in the southern state with around 30 staff.”As contrary as it might seem,” Barker said, “by shifting our focus international, that is to maintain American jobs.”