Here are the stories shaping the day:

• President Donald Trump announced more than $243.5 billion in economic deals between the United States and Qatar on Wednesday, including a $96 billion agreement for Boeing to sell up to 210 jets to Qatar Airways.
• President Trump met with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday after the president announced that he would lift sanctions on Syria.
• Drug overdose deaths in the United States dropped sharply in 2024, falling to their lowest level since before the pandemic.
• We asked the parents of autistic children to weigh in on RFK Jr.’s plan to find the cause. Here’s what they said.
• 🍵 Culture: Why training students’ head, hands, and heart matters.

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