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Political Shooting: Congressman Steve Scalise was seriously injured by a man who attacked him while practicing for a Democrats vs Republicans baseball game. The perpetrator was supposedly a Bernie Sanders supporter – quickly denounced by the Senator – but the inevitable call for greater civility in Washington will likely fall on deaf ears. Divisive rhetoric from Trump quickly restarted normal service.
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New Russia sanctions: the US Senate voted 97-2 for new Russia sanctions, resulting from election interference. The House will need to pick up the legislation but since it is attached to a bill sanctioning Iran over its ballistic missile program it has a good chance of becoming law. The bill targeted financers of Russian export pipelines – notably effecting Nord Stream 2 – much to Merkel’s annoyance.
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Qatar crisis: while the blockade holds fast a media war continues, with both sides trading claim and counter-claim. The Saudi alliance said it was drawing up a list of grievances against Qatar, rather than demands. There were reports claiming that Saudi Arabia gave Pakistan an ultimatum to pick a side in the dispute. The US agreed to sell Qatar advanced weaponry (planes) as part of a reassurance plan.
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