Month: July 2021

French president reportedly spoke to Naftali Bennett to ensure ‘proper investigation’ after Pegasus project Emmanuel Macron has reportedly spoken to the Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennett, to ensure that the Israeli government is “properly investigating” allegations that the French president could have been targeted with Israeli-made spyware by Morocco’s security services. In a phone call, …

Emmanuel Macron ‘pushes for Israeli inquiry’ into NSO spyware concerns Read More »

Experts warn of danger of untraceable funds if companies accepting payments in cryptos go bust The government could face “limitless” losses as a result of businesses that accept payments in untaxed and untraceable cryptocurrencies going bust, an insolvency expert has warned. A growing number of companies, including the ethical cosmetics firm Lush and office-sharing firm …

Cryptocurrencies could lead to ‘limitless’ losses for UK government Read More »

The writer’s new essay collection covers 200 years of women and science, from Mary Shelley to AI. She discusses burning books and the ensuing Twitter storm, the end of her marriage, and why a move into politics could be next There’s a disconcerting silence outside Jeanette Winterson’s London pied-a-terre. It’s the morning after the night …

Jeanette Winterson: ‘The male push is to discard the planet: all the boys are going off into space’ Read More »

The 14th annual iPhone photography awards offer glimpses of beauty, hope and the endurance of the human spirit. Out of thousands of submissions, photojournalist Istvan Kerekes of Hungary was named the grand prize winner for his image Transylvanian Shepherds. In it, two rugged shepherds traverse an equally rugged industrial landscape, bearing a pair of lambs …

2021 iPhone photography awards – in pictures Read More »

Henry is a fixture in millions of homes – including 10 Downing Street – despite almost no advertising. Meet the man behind a curiously British success story In March this year, photos of the government’s glitzy new briefing room, where Boris Johnson’s new media chief was set to host daily press conferences, leaked to the …

Sucks to be him! How Henry the vacuum cleaner became an accidental design icon Read More »

Tech options to deter would-be intruders, and let you monitor your house from anywhere With the prospect of trips out and holidays finally on the cards, over the next few weeks many of us will be leaving our houses unattended for the first time in months. So now is the time to think about making …

Smart security: how to keep your home safe while you’re away Read More »

Worldwide concern over the use of invasive spyware sold to autocratic regimes The Pegasus project investigation has reverberated across the world; claims about the use of invasive spyware, and the governments that use the technology, have provoked demonstrations, political outrage and calls for industry regulation. Here, Guardian reporters pull together the impact of the investigation, …

Demonstrations and inquiries: the global impact of the Pegasus project Read More »

The Pegasus project has raised new concerns about the Israeli firm, which is a world leader in the niche surveillance market In 2019, when NSO Group was facing intense scrutiny, new investors in the Israeli surveillance company were on a PR offensive to reassure human rights groups. In an exchange of public letters in 2019, …

How NSO became the company whose software can spy on the world Read More »

Twelve essays drawing on years of research into artificial intelligence ask challenging questions about humanity, art, religion and the way we live and love In Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein, a scientist creates life and is horrified by what he has done. Two centuries on, synthetic life, albeit in a far simpler form, has been …

12 Bytes by Jeanette Winterson review – how we got here and where we might go next Read More »

New podcast Manatomy encourages famous men from Chris Hoy to Tim Minchin to open up about their insecurities. Plus: Mark Steel and Marina Hyde ManatomyDanny Wallace and Phil Hilton’s podcast about men and their appearance goes beyond the usual “dad bod” conversation, as a range of celebrities reveal their insecurities and triumphs. Guests include Sir …

How male celebs really feel about their bodies – podcasts of the week Read More »