Good morning. We're covering President Trump's trip to the Middle East and talks between Russia and Ukraine. Plus: Surprisingly easy — and delicious — dinner rolls.
Trump's pledge to the Middle EastThe U.S. is done with nation building, foreign intervention and "lectures on how to live," President Trump told an audience in an opulent ballroom in Saudi Arabia this week, effectively denouncing decades of American policy in the Middle East. He urged the people of the region to chart their own "destinies" in their own way. Reactions to his speech erupted swiftly across the region. Trump's remarks came as he continued a four-day jaunt through Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates that's focused on business deals, but also on his broader diplomatic ambitions. Trump yesterday met with President Ahmed al-Shara, another milestone in Syria's bid to break out of its isolation. It was the first time in 25 years that the leaders of the U.S. and Syria had met. Trump later described al-Shara as a "young, attractive guy," adding: "Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter." Deals: Trump announced that Qatar Airways had agreed to buy 210 Boeing jets, and the U.S. and Qatar signed a statement of defense cooperation. Here's a look at the other agreements made on Trump's Gulf tour so far. Gaza: A hospital director said that Israeli strikes overnight had killed dozens of Palestinians in the north. The fate of the Hamas leader Muhammad Sinwar is unknown. If Israel has killed him, it might not change much.
Putin looks unlikely to join peace talks in TurkeyPresident Vladimir Putin does not appear on a list of Russian officials who will attend peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey today, suggesting that he will not come face to face with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine this week. The delegation will instead be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a hard-line Putin aide. President Trump, who had hinted that he might consider joining the talks, said he would skip them. Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, is set to attend, along with Trump's special envoys Steven Witkoff and Keith Kellogg. The stakes could not be higher for both Russia and Ukraine. Neither side is making much progress, though in talks with the U.S. on ending the war, Moscow has made extreme demands that its small gains in battle do not appear to justify. Related:
South Africa's leader criticized Afrikaners going to the U.S.President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa decried the dozens of white South Africans who have already left for the U.S. as "cowardly." Over 8,000 more have expressed interest in resettling in the U.S. "They are running away" from a duty to help South Africa solve its problems, he said on Tuesday, adding, "When you run away, you are a coward." The government strongly rejected the Trump administration's assertion that Afrikaners, members of a white minority that ruled during apartheid Africa, should be eligible for refugee status. Context: Trump has long spread conspiracy theories about the mistreatment of white South Africans. His close adviser Elon Musk, who was born in South Africa, has shared similar views on social media. Each has argued that the lives of white farmers are in jeopardy, a claim that the evidence does not support.
Tech & Business
Pepe Mujica, who died on Tuesday, didn't much like Uruguay's opulent presidential residence, with its chandeliers and marble. So when he was elected he chose to commute from his own home, a three-room shack. The choice was a political masterstroke that showed the value of world leaders who live like their constituents. Lives lived: Nahid Rachlin, whose debut novel "Foreigner" provided insight into life in Iran before the 1979 revolution, died at 85.
An author's return from upheavalJeanine Cummins's 2020 novel, "American Dirt," was a colossal success by most measures, selling more than four million copies in nearly 40 languages. It also ignited a backlash over her portrayal of Mexican migrants that nearly ended her career and her desire to write. Five years later, Cummins has just published a new novel, "Speak to Me of Home," which draws from her family's history in Puerto Rico and the Midwest. She told us about the period of soul-searching that led her to write it. Read more.
Bake: These hearty dinner rolls are a joy to bake and surprisingly easy. Watch: "Friendship" explores the complicated platonic relationships between men. Read: Besha Rodell's memoir, "Hunger Like a Thirst," provides a fascinating history of restaurant criticism. Travel: Learn about mole sauce, tacos and local culture with a cooking course in Mexico City. Restore: Cleaning suede is easier than you think. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.
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