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U.S. president Trump says he would take unilateral action to blunt North Korean threat, if China does not offer to help. He also said on Twitter that China would gain in its trade negotiations with a better deal "if China solved the North Korean problem." This follows the visit by president Xi Jinping of China to the White House in April 2017.

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The Russian currency, the rouble crashed to 0.8 cents to the US dollar from 1.3 cents. It has now bounced back to 1.2 cents. Peter Coy of the NYT says this is the result of Russian oil and gas exports to Europe and other parts of the world which continued after sanctions for the invasion of Ukraine. The increase in oil prices from the war actually increased Russian oil revenues by a third. Another reason is the steps taken by the Russian government to ask for payment for energy supplies in roubles. 

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With hyperinflation of an astounding 1 million percent, the popularity of Mr. Maduro has slipped to 14%, says this report in the Washington Post. The opposition leader has about 60% popularity according to a recent Datanalysis poll. The military, says the Washington Post, is not defending Maduro, it is defending themselves. Even a amnesty law may not be sufficient. 

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Deepening frustration and economic diffficulties in Iran over sanctions. The Iranian currency, the rial, loses a third of its value.

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The U.S. responds to Iran's threat to close the Straits of Hormuz, a vital route for oil tankers.

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Layoffs, cost saving measures that hit Russian suppliers at Renault's Russian operations OAO Avtovaz, taken by Swedish born CEO Andersson during his 2 years at the company lead to his resignation. The layoffs hurt ordinary Russians in Togliatti, a city 500 miles east of Moscow, leading to social discontent. The slump in the Russian economy following western sanctions led to decline in auto sales, and the situation was precarious. The minority partner Sergei Chemezov owns 25% of the company, is a friend of Mr. Putin, and says Andersson took business away from local suppliers. Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault credits Andersson with modernizing the plant and operations at Avtovaz.

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A second round of talks in Baghdad concludes after the first round in Istanbul, Turkey. No agreement is reached. A third round of talks is planned in Moscow for June 18-19, 2012. The bloc of countries negotiating with Iran is composed of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, known as the P5+1. Talks were led by the EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, and by Saeed Jalili for the Iranians. Ashton said they had found common ground but significant difference remain.

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U.S. vice president Mike Pence visits the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea and says that North Korea should not pursue its nuclear weapons program. Pence says the U.S. wants to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear program "through peaceful means" but "all options are on the table." Pence said North Korea should not test "U.S. strength and resolve."  Snap elections are to be held May 9, 2017 in South Korea, with one of the candidates saying he would reconsider deployment of the THAAD missile system. Following the deployment of THAAD anti missile system in South Korea China has responded with a economic boycott of South Korean goods. Seoul is only 30 miles from the border with North Korea and the sentiment in South Korea is to avoid military action which would affect the region around Seoul of 20 million people. The missile tests by the North are also seen as a threat to South Korea and Japan. China sees the THAAD system as an effort to increase American presence in the region and has opposed deployment. The U.S. response has been to speed up the deployment of the THAAD missile system ahead of the election in South Korea on May 9, 2017. ...

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Questions raised by Nicholas Kristof of the NYT on Russian hacking during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Kristof says the implausible or far fetched idea of foreign interference in U.S. elections is not as implausible as it may appear.

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The Washington Post editorial board warns against repeating the mistake made by president Obama of an hasty withdrawal from trouble spots in the Middle East. Many of the negative events in 2014-2017 were a result of a lack of action where needed or hasty withdrawal leading to the refugee crisis in both Syria and the European Union, and an increase in terrorism, This also led to the rise of extreme politics in many countries, and outside interventions that have worsened the situation.