Free Republic

China also is heading over a demographic cliff. The population has peaked, much earlier than once predicted. With a shrinking population, and a potential two-thirds reduction in working-age population by the end of the century, the PRC might not outstrip the U.S. economically. Still much poorer than America, China is rapidly growing older before it grows rich. That might become its permanent status. The PRC also is rapidly aging and suffers a dearth of women, as a result of the infamous “one-child policy,” which encouraged rural dwellers to abort or kill baby girls.

A jumbo jet-sized mystery has landed in the lap of Argentine officials, who are trying to determine what to do with a Venezuelan-owned Boeing 747 cargo plane with a load of automotive parts and an unusually large crew of 17, including at least five Iranians. The plane operated by Venezuela's state-owned Emtrasur cargo line has been stuck since June 6 at Buenos Aires' main international airport, unable to depart because of U.S. sanctions against Iran and suspicions about its crew.

Dr. Mirah Wilks was known for her research into hate crimes against the LGBTQ community. Her latest project was researching resilience as a means of adaption and survival, The Times of Israel reported. Wilks, 69, was killed inside her home on Sunday shortly after her husband left to go to their local synagogue, The Daily Mail reported. The armed black robbers waited on the roof of the house for Wilks’ husband to leave before they smashed through the ceiling to gain entry into the home. On his return, her husband found the blood soaked body of his wife of 45...

The peso is tumbling after Mexico's president, Enrique Peña Nieto, says he won't meet with US president Donald Trump. The peso is down by 1.2% at 21.3175 per dollar as of 11:57 a.m. ET. The currency was up as much as 0.8% at 20.9358 per dollar around 8:50 a.m. ET. "This morning we have informed the White House that I will not attend the meeting scheduled for next Tuesday with the @POTUS," Peña Nieto tweeted , according to an online translation. This follows Trump's earlier tweet on Thursday morning: "The U.S. has a 60 billion dollar trade deficit with Mexico....

Brazilian police reportedly have a warning for those visiting for the World Cup this summer: If you are robbed, don’t scream. The instruction comes in a pamphlet advising visitors on how to stay safe that will be distributed by Brazilian embassies and consulates, according to a report. “Do not react, scream or argue,” the brochure says. The advice is meant to keep tourists from provoking robbers into further violence once a robbery is underway, as robberies that end in murder are becoming increasingly common. It is also recommended that visitors avoid showing off valuable objects, be careful at night, avoid...

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A Santa Cruz man remains in critical condition Friday evening, as well as a medically-induced coma, from a beating in a Dodger Stadium parking lot delivered by two men wearing Los Angeles Dodgers apparel following the team’s home opener yesterday. Late Friday evening police held a press conference and released a composite sketch of two suspects in the case. One detective referred to the victim as “fighting for his life.” The 41-year-old victim, identified by the Santa Cruz Sentinel as Bryan Stow, was leaving Dodger Stadium with friends, all wearing Giants apparel, around 8:25 p.m....

At first glance, the numbers released by the Census Bureau last week showing a precipitous drop in Detroit’s population — 25 percent over the last decade — seem to bear a silver lining: most of those leaving the city are blacks headed to the suburbs, once the refuge of mid-century white flight. But a closer analysis of the data suggests that the story of housing discrimination that has dominated American urban life since the early 20th century is far from over. Detroit is not the only American city to face persistent residential segregation, but it is among the worst: it...

Granting citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants would expand the "progressive" electorate and help ensure a "progressive" governing coalition for the long term, declared a recent adviser to President Obama whose union group is among the most frequent visitors to the White House.