Spain population shrinks amid crisis Spain's population fell in 2012 for the first time in decades, as immigrants left the country amid a major economic crisis, official figures show. More
Obamas paid $112,000 in taxes in 2012 President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama paid more than $112,000 in taxes in 2012, an effective federal income tax rate of more than 18% for 2012, according to the White House. The Obamas and Vice President Biden and his wife released their tax returns Friday, three days before the April 15 tax filing deadline. More
China's first lady serenaded Tiananmen troops ...The country has no recent precedent for the role of first lady, and also faces a tricky balance at home. The leadership wants Peng to show the human side of the new No. 1 leader, Xi Jinping, while not exposing too many perks of the elite. More
In Transit Blog: The Red One, Next to the Fiat The Hertz Corporation recently expanded its Supercar rental offerings in Europe, increasing the number of cars and models available in Britain and Spain, and adding Italy, France and (beginning in April) the Netherlands, to the countries where the premium cars can be rented. More
“The once-unthinkable prospect of U. S. military action on Mexican soil is dominating the political conversation in Mexico as the country braces for President-elect Donald Trump’s second term,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“With Trump and his allies this year floating the use of American military force against Mexico’s drug cartels, Mexican officials have tried to learn whether he is serious or merely blustering to gain leverage in talks about shutting down the pipeline of migrants and drugs heading into the U.
Wall Street Journal: “Republicans held on to control of the House of Representatives in November by one of the thinnest margins in the country’s history—even smaller than in the current Congress—a result that will have them walking a tightrope again for the next two years. The drama starts next week when the party tries to elect a new speaker on the first day of the new session, with fresh grumblings about leadership setting the stage for an unpredictable vote.”
“Republicans won 220 seats to Democrats’ 215.
“South Korea’s leadership crisis deepened on Friday after lawmakers voted to oust a second head of state, the acting president, in less than two weeks,” the New York Times reports.
“The move prolonged the political vacuum that has gripped South Korea since President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the country this month by briefly putting it under military rule for the first time in decades.”
“Lawmakers impeached and suspended Mr.
“With much fanfare, Ukraine was granted permission to fire Western long-range missiles at Russian military targets more than a month ago. But after initially firing a flurry of them, Ukraine has already slowed their use,” the New York Times reports.
“Kyiv is running out of missiles. It also might be running out of time: President-elect Donald Trump has said publicly that allowing U.