– The French Constitutional Court gave the green light for the controversial “millionaire tax” increase to 75 percent. President François Hollande got himself thus the rage of executives and football on the neck, threatening to strike. Ultimately, the Court drew a line through the bill, because 66 percent tax is the statutory maximum for individuals.

– From Austria: The traditional New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will focus this year on the anniversary of the First World War. This will include the “Friedenspalmen Walzer” by Josef Strauss. Clemens Berg, President of the Vienna Philharmonic, announced that Daniel Barenboim will be the conductor and the “Wiener Philharmoniker” deliberately invited an orchestra leader who has often came up with his “West-Eastern Divan Orchestra” for peace and human rights.

On June 28, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will also give a concert in Sarajevo, the city where in 1914, the Austrian heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sofie, Duchess of Hohenberg were assassinated. Their murder sparked the outbreak of the First World War.

– The President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, has answered the criticisms of his policies by several German economists. In an interview with the German weekly Der Spiegel (The Mirror), Draghi  pointed out that in reality, the inflation is low and uncertainty is reduced. He stressed that although the crisis has not been totally overcome, there are “many encouraging signs of recovery”.

I want to personally welcome to France, Gina & Abigaile Tansuico. Hello also to Marlon, Evelyn, Luz & Joyce Tansuico, to Berly Tugas of Paris and to my listeners in the Philippines, Mrs. Lourdes Mejia and son Danny Mejia and to UE High School Batch ’78. 

See you again on Wednesday, same time, same station. Have a great week ahead of us. Take care. I love you all!