Today’s edition of quick hits. Today’s edition of quick hits. * Difficult diplomacy : “U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and other Middle East leaders in London on Friday, as U.S. and Israeli negotiators prepared to revive long-suspended talks to reach a cease-fire and hostage deal with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.” * The BRICS summit : “For three uninterrupted days this week, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, basked in the attention of other