For today, links to seven reports: from Reuters, the Associated Press, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (SYRIA 5-13-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA, UKRAINE, YEMEN and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Trump meets Syria’s rebel leader Sharaa, urges him to establish ties with Israel. From Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia today and urged him to normalise ties with long-time foe Israel, after a surprise U.S. announcement that it would lift all sanctions on the Islamist-led government. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from AP and Middle East Eye.

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FROM MAY 13  Trump announces lifting Syria sanctions, by Sean Mathews | Middle East Eye  “I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,” U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday to applause and a standing ovation during a speech in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from AP and Reuters.

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Syrians celebrate U.S. plan to lift sanctions, by Ayah El-Khaldi | Middle East Eye  Syrians took to the streets and flooded social media platforms on Tuesday following an unexpected announcement by US President Donald Trump that all American sanctions on Syria would be lifted. READ MORE . . .

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