Donald Trump has met the interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa -- a day after Washington announced it would lift all US sanctions placed on Syria. The meeting, which took place in Saudi Arabia, is seen as a significant moment for the new Syrian leader, who is a former jihadist, once linked to al-Qaeda. Newshour hears from US businessman Jonathan Bass, who led a US delegation earlier this month to Damascus, and from Syria's minister for social affairs and labour, Hind Kabawat.

Also in the programme: chimps using first aid; and an interview with author Isabel Allende.

(Picture: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets with U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Credit: Saudi Press Agency)