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Brittney Melton
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In the last few days, the U.S. military buildup has achieved a critical mass in the Middle East and could be ready to sustain a bombing campaign against Iran. A second aircraft carrier is moving into the Mediterranean and 50 additional fighter jets are arriving. President Trump remains non-committal about using force.
The Iranian pre-Islamic revolution of 1979 flag is seen near the U.S. Capitol during a march in support of the people of Iran by members of the American-Iranian community in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 14. The demonstration comes after the bloody crackdown on protesters last month, while President Trump has been massing warships in the Middle East. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Yesterday, at the first-ever Board of Peace meeting, Trump's team unveiled ambitious plans for Gaza's coastline: high-end condos and skyscrapers. The president formed the group to oversee his ceasefire plan in Gaza. Trump announced that member states have pledged $7 billion for the area's reconstruction, and the U.S. would commit $10 billion to the board. Some world leaders are raising concerns that the Board of Peace could upend world order.
Authorities released King Charles' brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor yesterday after he spent the day in police custody. Officials are investigating whether the former prince sent sensitive government information to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor is still under investigation. Today, police are searching the homes of the British royals. Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest marks the first time in nearly four centuries a royal has been taken into custody.
An internal email obtained by NPR reveals a striking divide over the future of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. While Trump publicly outlined a grand revamping of the iconic venue, the leaked plans showcase more modest refurbishments. Earlier this month, the administration announced the center would close to the public starting this summer. The center's closure came after a wave of high-profile cancellations by artists who say the Trump administration had politicized the arts.
A new study suggests that engaging in a particular form of brain training may cut dementia risk for decades. spawns/Getty Images hide caption
Living Better is a special series about what it takes to stay healthy in America.
Participating in brain training could help you stave off Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia for at least 20 years. A study of older adults who participated in a cognitive exercise experiment in the 1990s, which aimed to increase the brain's processing speed, came to this conclusion. The federally funded study of 2,802 people found that those who completed eight to 10 roughly hour-long cognitive speed training sessions, along with at least one booster session, lowered their risk of a dementia diagnosis over the next two decades by about 25%.
Sinead Keenan, Caoilfhionn Dunne and Roisin Gallagher in How To Get To Heaven From Belfast. Christopher Barr/Netflix hide caption
Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Chris Hemsworth stars as a virtuoso jewel thief in the thriller Crime 101. Mark Ruffalo plays the detective tracking him down.
📺 TV: Three messy longtime friends work together to solve a mystery from their youth in the new part mystery, part comedy series How To Get To Heaven From Belfast.
📚 Books: Michael Pollan's A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness explores consciousness, both personally and technologically.
🎵 Music: Jill Scott's return after a long absence and Brent Faiyaz's attempt at a mid-career pivot offer opposing visions of artistic advancement with their R&B albums, both released the same day.
🎭 Theater: In the new off-Broadway comedy BigFoot! The Musical, the protagonist is really anyone who has ever been othered, co-producer Amber Ruffin tells NPR.
🍽️ Food: Presidents Day might be over, but that doesn't mean you still can't eat like a president. Check out these recipes from the former heads of the U.S. (via WBUR)
An Amazon Prime delivery van sits parked near a Walmart store in California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
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