Stories for December 22nd 2010

Wednesday, December 22nd 2010 - 05:35 UTC
EU raps European airports for failing to deal with freezing weather

The European Union has strongly criticized European airports for failing to deal with recent freezing weather, which has left thousands of travellers stranded. Around 1,000 flights were cancelled across the continent on Tuesday.
Wednesday, December 22nd 2010 - 05:32 UTC
Oil World reduces Argentine soybean crop estimates because of lack of rain

Oil World has for a second time in two weeks reduced Argentina soybean crop hopes warning that, thanks to dry weather, it could be on course for a fall of more than 20%.
Wednesday, December 22nd 2010 - 05:29 UTC
Uruguay’s sky-blue colours celebrate a hundred years of glory and pride

With the attendance of the country’s highest political authorities including President Jose Mujica and sports’ figures Uruguay celebrated Tuesday the hundredth anniversary of its sky-blue colours, world famous in international soccer.
Wednesday, December 22nd 2010 - 05:26 UTC
US ‘internet neutrality guidelines’ trigger controversy

Amid a firestorm of criticism from both ends of the political spectrum, the United States Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday adopted the first-ever regulations for broadband Internet service, rules designed to foster the fast-evolving market for TV and movies over the Web.
Wednesday, December 22nd 2010 - 05:24 UTC
President Chavez extends broadcast media clamp to the internet

Venezuelan lawmakers have imposed broadcast-type regulations on the internet, barring some types of online messages under measures that opponents say are a threat to freedom of speech.
Wednesday, December 22nd 2010 - 05:18 UTC
Carter wants Brazil to play a role in Mid East peace; US mediation exhausted

On the same day that work began on a new Palestinian embassy in Brasilia, Brazilian president Lula da Silva said that peace in the Middle East was impossible with the United States as a mediator, reported the Palestine News Network.
Wednesday, December 22nd 2010 - 05:15 UTC
Ernst & Young accused of helping Lehman Brothers hide financial problems

New York prosecutors sued Ernst & Young, accusing the accounting firm of helping to hide Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc's financial problems, the first major government legal action stemming from the Wall Street bank's 2008 downfall.
Wednesday, December 22nd 2010 - 05:06 UTC
Portugal on notice for possible credit rating cut in next three months

Portugal was put on notice that its credit rating could be cut and fellow Euro zone debtor Spain had to pay more to issue new debt, suggesting the currency bloc's crisis will rage unabated in 2011.
Wednesday, December 22nd 2010 - 05:05 UTC
OECD says Spain needs urgent labour market and tax reforms

Spain is slowly emerging from recession but needs to cut spending further and introduce labour market reforms, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has said.