For the second time in two months, it has been revealed, a Labour Party member of Britain's Parliament received a formulaic and non-committal response to specific questions she had asked the U.K. government on behalf of some of its citizens – who also happen to be regarded by the U.S. as Americans, and therefore face considerable hardship as a result of the way the U.S. taxes such "accidental Americans."

Last month's trial over the constitutionality of the Canadian government's enforcement of America’s FATCA legislation was, of course, hugely important for American expats around the world, all of whom are waiting, or perhaps should be, to hear how the court ultimately rules. For some, though, it was also a chance to study the gavel habits of a country other than the United States, and then sit back and wait for the gavel imagery that almost inevitably follows such events.

Beginning in April, the U.S. will give greater priority to immigrants seeking to work in the States who have advanced degrees from U.S. universities, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced.