Putin exploits sanctions

RUSSIA: With U.S. Senate approval on a package of sanctions—and support from President Donald Trump unclear—Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be using transatlantic disunity and divisions over sanctions policy to threaten Ukraine and Eastern Europe, writes former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Also weighing in on the importance of a tough stance with Russia is former Supreme Allied Commander at NATO James Stavridis: “[U.S.] credibility as a global force for good is deteriorating by the moment.”

NORTH KOREA is focused on hacking too, but more to raise money than to disrupt alliances.

UNITED STATES: Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is staking out a role as Washington’s champion on human rights. He and other Republicans this week challenged Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a letter in reaction to troubling news reports that the State Department may roll back the declaration of genocide by ISIS. Stated another way: Republican senators are asking a Republican White House not to undermine the work of the Obama administration in defending persecuted people in the Middle East.

IRAQ: After some confusing reports about the Christian mayor of Alqosh being sacked in favor of a Muslim Kurd, it appears the municipal council has elected a new mayor, Chaldean Catholic Lara Yussif Zara.

MALTA’s prime minister, Joseph Muscat, said his money is on Brexit not happening.

I’M READING My Brilliant Friend, the first of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels (because summer) and Silence by Shusaku Endo.

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