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What Greece Can Learn From South America

Credit Orestis Panagiotou / EPA /Landov

Greek demonstrators protest in Athens on Nov. 8. Similar economic crises in Argentina and Uruguay a decade ago may be instructive for Greece today.

Credit JIM BOURG / Reuters/Landov

Argentina's President Christina Fernandez de Kirchner won re-election in October with the country enjoying a relatively strong economy. Here, she answers questions during at the G20 Summit in Toronto in 2010.

By Juan Forero

As Greece struggles with a financial crisis, there have been violent protests, creditors demanding their money, people losing their jobs and officials hunkering down.

A decade ago, that was the scene in South America when Argentina and Uruguay defaulted. The two handled the economic calamity in very different ways. Economists say their approaches –- and what's happened in each country since — are instructive for European leaders as they try lifting Greece from its turmoil.

2:03 pm

Wed December 21, 2011

Who Gives The Long-Term Jobless A Helping Hand?

By Kathy Lohr

More than 40 percent of the long-term unemployed say they've received a lot of help from family and friends. But only 1 in 10 reports getting much help from churches or community groups, according to an NPR/Kaiser Family Foundation poll.

While family may be the first stop for help, these groups say they're indeed seeing large numbers of people who have been out of work a long time.

'We're Overwhelmed Now'

1:56 pm

Wed December 21, 2011

Appreciating The Ugliness Of The Christmas Tree

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Credit Courtesy of Ken Harbaugh

Ken Harbaugh lives near Cleveland. He is currently finishing his first novel.

By Ken Harbaugh

Ken Harbaugh is a former Navy pilot and an NPR commentator.

Our Christmas tree gets uglier every year. It's not the tree's fault. This year we sprung for a Frasier Fir, cut fresh at a local farm. It has soft needles, that ideal pinecone shape, and a pointy top perfect for holding a star. But when we got home, I felt like apologizing. This tree did not deserve what we were about to do. We re-cut the bottom, mounted it in its holder, and gave it water. For about five minutes, our tree looked beautiful. Then came the decorations.

1:38 pm

Wed December 21, 2011

BofA's Countrywide To Pay $335 Million, Settling Lending Discrimination Case

By Eyder Peralta

The Justice Department is calling it the "largest residential fair lending settlement in history:" Bank of America's Countrywide Financial has agreed to pay $335 million to settle a lawsuit that claimed it discriminated against black and Latino borrowers.

1:07 pm

Wed December 21, 2011

Turbulence As Europe Passes Fee On Plane Emissions

Credit Fabrice Coffrini / AFP/Getty Images

Air travel contributes only 2 to 4 percent of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. A new ruling says airlines flying into an out of European airports will have to pay a price for the carbon dioxide they emit from burning jet fuel. Above, a plane takes off from the Geneva airport on March 11, 2010.

By Christopher Joyce

A European court ruled Wednesday that airlines flying into and out of European airports will have to pay a price for the carbon dioxide they emit when they burn jet fuel.

U.S. airlines, which had been fighting the idea in court, say the European Union is trying to force other countries to reduce carbon emissions. Europe currently limits carbon dioxide emissions from its major industries to curb global warming. The ruling cannot be appealed, and the decision likely to end the dispute.

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2:04 pm

Wed December 21, 2011