Context:

President Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia during his second term focuses on strengthening economic ties and military sales, including a $1.4 billion weapons deal with the UAE. A group of Afrikaners was granted refugee status in the US under Trump's administration, despite South Africa's president denying their persecution claims. Trump signed an executive order intending to lower US drug prices by aligning them with international rates, though its impact remains uncertain. Texas' restrictive abortion laws have led to increased sepsis cases among women experiencing miscarriages, with treatment varying significantly by hospital location. Accelerating global sea level rise, primarily driven by ocean warming, is exacerbated by reductions in US climate research funding under the Trump administration, hindering scientific progress in tracking these changes.

Dive Deeper:

• President Trump's arrival in Riyadh marks his first visit to the Middle East during his second term, aiming to secure economic and military agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, including a significant weapons sale to the UAE.

• The US granted refugee status to 59 Afrikaners alleging discrimination, despite South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's denial of such persecution; meanwhile, refugee resettlement for others fleeing crises has been suspended.

• An executive order by Trump aims to reduce drug prices by linking them to international prices, with potential consequences for non-compliance, though the authority and timeline for these changes remain unclear.

• Texas' abortion law, enacted in 2021, has led to a rise in sepsis cases among women with miscarriages, as hospitals vary in their treatment approaches, with some delaying care due to legal fears.

• Climate change has accelerated the rate of sea level rise, driven by ocean warming and ice sheet melting, while US climate research efforts have been hampered by funding cuts and staff reductions at NOAA.