Trump’s High-Energy Saudi-Arabian Meeting with the President of Syria and the Security Problem of the Middle East

President Trump is in Saudi Arabia to meet with the leader of Syria. A $10 million reward was placed on his head a few months ago. Following Trump’s announcement that he plans to lift sanctions on Syria, this meeting is taking place. Since the ousting of the Assad regime, the country’s economy has suffered.

The meeting was added to Trump’s schedule at the last minute after he said he would lift the U.S. sanctions on Syria.

“It’s not going to be easy anyway. So it gives them a good, strong chance, and it was my honor to do so,” Trump said, noting that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had asked him to remove sanctions.

The White House press secretary said on social media that the president encouraged him to work with Israel by signing the Abraham Accords. The White House posted an image of the meeting, but reporters traveling with Trump were not allowed in the room.

The Last Two Decades of the Restoration of Syria as Revised by the U.S. Consul General Alembeh Sharaa

Over the past two decades, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Syria, aimed at the regime of Bashar al- Assad who took over the country after his father’s death. Hafez had ruled Syria for decades with an iron fist.

The sanctions remained in place when Assad fled the country, after a surprise attack on him by a group of rebel fighters. Sharaa was himself on the U.S. list of designated terrorists at the time for his past links to al-Qaida and Islamic State, but that designation was swiftly removed as Sharaa vowed to build an inclusive society with protection for all of Syria’s myriad ethnic and religious minorities.

In an effort to ease some of the fears and encourage more support for his efforts to rebuild his country, Sharaa has traveled to the Arab world and other nations trying to convince them of his abilities as a diplomat. This month, he flew to Paris to meet President Emmanuel Macron, who has also called for an easing of sanctions.

Sharaa and those around him have even hinted at friendly ties with Israel, which has been carrying out a series of airstrikes inside Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, at first saying it wanted to avoid weapons falling into the hands of extremists, and then to protect the Druze minority who live on both sides of the Israel-Syria border, and who have fought clashes with Sunni factions allied with the new government. Israeli troops have also taken over positions along the border with the Israel-controlled Golan Heights that were once held by Syrian forces, a move Israel says is to protect its own territory.

Three Trump officials with ties to antisemitic extremists. And, Syria sanctions may lift: NPR uncovers the Russian-Ukranian conflict

NPR identified three officials from the Trump administration with close ties to antisemitic extremists. This includes an individual labeled by federal prosecutors as a “Nazi sympathizer” and a prominent Holocaust denier. This revelation follows the Trump administration’s use of the fight against antisemitism as a justification for deporting pro-Palestinian student protesters and implementing funding cuts to universities. Read the breakdowns on each official and their ties to antisemitic individuals.

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Representatives from Russia and Ukraine will gather in Turkey for negotiations tomorrow, entering a new phase in an attempt to halt or end the war. It’s the first time the two countries have had direct talks in a long time. Trump has suggested he might stop by.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be on Capitol Hill today to testify for the first time since stepping into the role of secretary of Health and Human Services. Since taking the position, Kennedy has fired thousands of staff members, canceled billions of dollars in grants to universities and public health departments, and purged scientific leaders. He will testify before the House and the Senate to explain why he wants less money for his department in the coming year.

Source: 3 Trump officials with ties to antisemitic extremists. And, Syria sanctions may lift

How to Make the Most Of Resistance Starch in Your Kitchen: How to Create the Supernutrient without Inflammation and Insulin Sensitivity

Spanish-language albums are in the top two spots in the all-genre chart for the first time. The top position was taken by Bad Bunny. In a surprisingly strong debut right behind him is the Mexican American band Fuerza Regida with their ninth album. After eight years of making music, the group’s new album, 111XPANTIA, marks a return to their traditional style after a brief shift to a more electronic sound on their previous album. What sets the group apart is the magnetism of their melodies and how they dance with a pop-like groove. What makes a song special is shown in the snippets from the album.

Whole grain or brown rice and pasta are more healthful than white rice and pasta, which is why it’s important for a diet doctor to recommend it. But in the past decade, food scientists have figured out a way people can digest carbohydrates more slowly. They found a secret in white pasta and white rice called resistant starch. The studies show that if you eat more resistant starches it will improve your gut health, lower inflammation in the body and enhance yourinsulin sensitivity. Here’s how you can create the supernutrient in your own kitchen: