Russian bots and trolls immediately capitalized on the Mueller report, according to research from SafeGuard Cyber.
Why it matters: Russia's social media efforts are often incorrectly thought of as purely election interference. They're actually a year-in, year-out slog aiming to capitalize on any major news story to fracture the U.S. public.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin told a news conference after his summit with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un Thursday he'd speak with President Trump about what they discussed, saying "there are no secrets."
Details: After Putin and Kimmet for the first time on Russky Island, near the port city of Vladivostok, in Russia's far east, for the summit, Putinsaid Russia welcomes Pyongyang's efforts to normalize relations with South Korea and the United States, but he said North Korea needs security guarantees before it gives up its nuclear program.
In the largest mass execution since 2016, Saudi Arabia publicly beheaded 37 citizens for alleged links to terrorism, reports CBS News.
Why this matters: The executed citizens were mostly Shia Muslims, a religious minority in Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia. This will likely add to the growing tensions between the Gulf state and Iran, the predominantly Shia power in the region. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has been trying to curb Iran's influence in the Middle East since his rise to power.
On Thursday Chinese President Xi Jinping will welcome leaders from 37 countries and delegates from over 150 countries at the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing — an opportunity to promote the initiative's successes and address issues raised by its critics.
The big picture: High-profile projects in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Montenegro and elsewhere have undercut the Belt and Road Initiative's promise to deliver "win-win" outcomes, appearing to benefit China at the expense of its partners. Xi will be aiming to repair the damage these scandals have done to the BRI brand.
China's fiscal and monetary stimulus measures have been credited with turning around the country's economy and perhaps underpinning a rebound in European and global trade this year by high-minded economists, including at the IMF.
Why it matters: The congratulations may be a bit premature, a new report from the OECD suggests. While the stimulus has helped improve economic data, China has worsened a problem that was already "excessive and unsustainable."
A U.S. marine veteran accused of raiding North Korea's Embassy in Madrid was denied bail Tuesday by a federal judge in Los Angeles, pending a hearing on his possible extradition to Spain.
Details: Christopher Philip Ahn, 38, is accused of being part of an armed dissident group that allegedly robbed the embassy in February. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jean P. Rosenbluth agreed with a Department of Justicesubmission that Ahn could be a flight risk if released from custody.
