1. The G7 group reported a "successful meeting" at which they were unable to agree about anything. UK and US belligerence over Syria was not matched by other parties. US secretary of state is going to Moscow and "might get a meeting with Putin". Before that, however, Italian President Sergio Mattarella is definitely getting such a meeting at Putin's invitation. Boris Johnson pulled out of his scheduled visit - probably just as well.
2. Toshiba is collapsing, basically because it took a gamble on nuclear power. The fallout (sic.) from Fukushima has wrecked this financial strategy and brought down one of Japan's biggest companies.
3. United Airlines is in disgrace for dragging a doctor off a flight.
4. Polls on the French election get tighter and tighter - anything could happen. Surprising gain by the far left candidate Melenchon. What does it all mean? Basically, that people are confused and do not know what is for the best - far right, far left, conservative, independent - still an awful lot of "don't knows" at this late stage.
5. Main benefit to Russia of the US air strike is that the price of oil has gone up.
6. It's pink moon day.
Replies
BBC: "There seems to be no central guiding brain behind the evolution of the Trump team's foreign policy. The US president himself has failed to articulate any clear approach. With regard to Syria that may be unsettling. With regard to North Korea, it could be potentially catastrophic." http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39568261
The degree to which French opinion is split is well illustrated by aggregating the opinion poll ratings for the four leading candidates...