>> this will come to." >> welcome. >> budapest -- just before hungary takes the european union presidency. europe's air-traffic gradually returned to normal, but thousands of passengers are still stranded. spain's legendary lot of brings holiday cheer to the lucky winners. >> a controversy amid media law in hungary tiding control of news outlets has met with protest at home and harsh criticism abroad.

the governing party passed legislation on tuesday and the new law means penalties can be imposed on print and electronic mail -- electronic media. this takes place just as budapest since the presidency of the european union. >> the parliamentary opposition protesting against the restriction on freedom of expression. the criticisms have been echoed by the european continent -- european countries across the continents. >> article 11 says every citizen has the right to freedom of expression and every citizen has a right to information and pass on information without the authorities terfering. i think the commission, which is the guardian of the trees, has to react. >> as the fur trade -- the future european union president, hungary has

responsibility for the image of the european union in front of the world. >> but the government's appears to have a different interpretation of that responsibility. the main opposition hundred and socialist party has urged the president not to sign a lot and refer it to the constitutional court instead. >> january 1st is the day hungary takes over presidency of the european union. we asked our correspondent how the new law is being received among the european union politicians. >> privately, people say it looks like a throwback to a totalitarian repression when hungary was a soviet satellite. what is going on, the timing is appalling. privately, there is a slightly different tone, that it could be seen contrary to e charter of fundamental rights, but the questions of policy of me a plurality are a matter for national authorities.

the commission has no intention of making any statements today, but the timing is deeply embarrassing, exactly the day hungary takes over running the european union for six months. we have this apparently regressive law and remember, they have said it will not stop the hon. press and other media criticizing hungary and the presidency if they want. people are confused and the commission wants to see the detail of what this law might entail. >> the united states senate has ratified a landmark treaty on ar reduction with russia. the final vote on the start treaty concluded just minutes ago. 71 senators voted in favor, 26 against. that gives it the two-thirds majority needed. the u.s. and russia want to reduce the number of nuclear warheads deployed to 1500 each. the passing of the treaty comes after a long tussle in the senate. the vote is seen as a key

victory for the obama administration. earlier, we asked our washington correspondent how president obama was able to gain republican support for the ratification of the start treaty. >> i think president obama was very smart in splitting the republican party by saying i will give another $85 billion to modernize nuclear weapons of the united states, so some republican senators said we will support this new start. other republicans, like senator dick lugar, he has been in the soviet union and russia very often and knows about foreign- policy. when people like him say this is the right thing to do, they just do it and don't care much about the rest of the republican

party. in the end, i think it was clever to bring other politicians like the former president bush and henry kissinger into the discussion. they did -- they support the new start treaty with russia and when they said we will support the treaty, other republican politicians, senators in the senate also supported the treaty. >> president obama has signed a law allowing gays to serve openly in the military for the first time. the new lot overturns the don't ask, don't tell policy which forced game men and women to keep quiet about their sexual orientation or face dismissal. the ban will not be lifted immediately. the president and his top military advisers determine how to implement the law. students across italy have been

taking to the streets to protest university reforms treated thousands joined demonstrators in the capital and other cities and police blocked off parts of central rum to block a repeat of last week's violent clashes. the prime minister's government says it will save billions of europe while strengthening higher education. the upper house is due to vote on wednesday. in ivory coast, they have urged the international community to use force to oust the incumbent. the designated prime minister says inrnatnal sanctions have had no effect. he has refused to step down since the vote last month. international observers and the united nations say he lost. >> there is tension in the streets of abidjan.

they're out in force, but they could be a target because even support of the opposition. -- because of that you and the support of the opposition. >> i am concerned for the mission. it will put our peacekeepers in a critical situation in the coming few days. >> supporters of the opposition leader are on edge. they say gunmen have been roaming the neighborhood that night, kidnapping and killing activists. this was the defiant leaders response. >> i call on you to become, the united nations and french will leave our country. i am ready to talk with the opposition even to the rebels that still support him. >> the un is sending an extra 500 peacekeepers to the ivory

coast. >> let's talk about a very naughty german bank. >> deutsche bank has agreed to pay nearly $554 million to authorities to settle a case involving fraudulent tax shelters which shielded investors from paying taxes. the case began when there is a broader crackdown which provoke -- which promotes tax evasion. >> for years, the u.s. has been collecting evidence on tax shelters deutsche bank offered between 1996 and 2002. they concluded the package cost the american government billions of dollars in lost revenue. >> the investigation uncovered practices at investment bank,

bankers trust, which is taken over in 1999. bankers trust was put in charge of managing high asset clients, apparently directing into illicit tax shelters. deutsche bank says it's pleased the investigation is over and says it had already made provisions for the fine. as part of the settlement, deutsche bank will pay more than half a billion dollars to the u.s. government. it must also refrain from offering tax shelters like these in the future. it has to accept and outside experts that will monitor compliance. in a similar settlement last february, swiss bank, ubs, agreed to pay the u.s.'s $780 million for helping american customers high income in swiss bank accounts. >> earlier, i spoke to a banking expert and i asked him to explain more about these tax shelters.

>> i can't tell you anything about the exact business they have done, but they are done to help to escape tax with help of the international banks. to try to get money to a place where they can pay the least taxes. that is nothing new. the question is,s it in accordance with local tax laws. apparently, deutsche bank did too much in this case. >> the settlement of $550 million, will this be painful for deutsche bank? >> on one hand, it is an awful lot of money, but on the other hand, the story is over. so it is a once news and never again. that is good for the stock price of the databank. they have to have this equity like all the big banks to cover

the regulatory demands, so it is a good thing it is finished and forgotten so we can look into the future without any problem from the past. >> how did this go on this along without making headlines? >> seen in, both agreed there had to be some kind of negotiation. this would help reduce the damage done to the bank in a way that is a very fair by the american authorities to do it this way. i think that what exchanged of deutsche bank did not agree to really confess and bring up a very clear statement. >> thank you. let's have a look at some market indices in detail. we go to frankfurt where the index closed down word. the 50 index closed down as well. in new york, the dow jones is currently going up. the euro is currently trading

for one $0.3091. the gi w said it the german economy is likely to go by 0.7% in the final quarter of 2007 -- of 2010. they described an increase in industrial orders indicating demand remains strong in the biggest economy in europe. economists point out it is not domestic consumption and powering german growth. most new orders came from abroad. the cost of importing to germany as rising. the federal statistics office says import costs have jumped by 10% in the last 12 months, showing the biggest increase in a decade. this reflects rising prices for energy like oil and natural gas and even more so for metals and raw materials. ira our prices have doubled since november of 2009 while the price of imported grain and

coffee increased by half over the same time. >> thank you. europe's main international airports are struggling to return to normal after days of snow and freezing conditions which left many passengers stranded. the harsh winter weather caused such severe problems, the european union officials are considering new rules on minimum infrastructure requirements. >> step-by-step, flight traffic has been picking gap as our operations return to near normal at frankfurt airport. all in the 60 flights were cancelled on wednesday, down from several hundred a day earlier in the week. >> the situation has clearly east. all three runways are operational and we can make full use of our capacity. the traffic flow is back on track, but the air flow of european traffic has yet to return to normal. capacity's everywhere are being

put to full use until winter loses its grip. >> seats on flights have to be found for 3500 passengers who have been stranded in frankfurt. that comes at a time when travel volume is at its heaviest of the year. both passengers and staff airports have to improvise to make sure people finally get to their destination. >> passengers are advised to contact the airlines and say i have a flight plan to, can i expected to go ahead as scheduled or, are there alternatives? >> from christmas at the latest, airports are expected to have artfully regained operations. until then, it is important travelers remain patient. >> let's hope all of them took out lottery tickets. in spain, the biggest lottery rewarded ticketholders with 2.3

billion heroes and christmas prices. the legendary top prize is being shared among holders of 20 tickets. each one is worth 300,000 euros. >> of the main prize, the fat one, and holder of the winning number is in line for a big payout and a musical treat. but it's not about making millionaires. each number is sold 195 and -- 195 times and is said to produce more winners. that is why so many spaniards take part. and, cross their fingers that they will get lucky.

let's hope we are lucky, she says. we do prefer the fat one. we would freak out. we want a big piece of it. with the economic crisis hitting hard, many families can do with the winnings, but the biggest winners it -- the biggest winner is the state, which earns a quarter of the proceeds. >> there are only two shopping days left. people in berlin are buying last-minute christmas gifts for their loved ones. right now. santa claus is preparing to leave the north pole, or in this case, the jolly fellow is writing a way in north england. he is accompanied by his reindeer. there he is. how he manages to delight children all over the world each year, let's face it, that is his secret and we are not going to tell you even if we knew.

we will be back in a moment.

>> welcome back. it is the season of gift-giving. and it would not be christmas without a host of data about consumer spending and new studies on the sociology of gift-giving or getting. take peaking, for example. a british insurance company reports 37% of british adults, not children, take a sneak peek at their guests. snooping over an hour to find them under beds or back of closets. german researchers have been busy on this one with people spending at average of two letters 45 euros on christmas gifts. here is a statistic that may not

come as much of a surprise -- women tend to be the better gift givers, but there are exceptions. >> she's on the hunt for a christmas present for her boyfriend, a man who has everything, so every year she faces the same challenge. >> it really difficult to find something, especially when you have been doing it for a few years. there is a certain approach you stick to and it's harder year to year. >> and it's not unusual to find yuletide more pressure than necessary. >> it is an onerous task for many people, although gift giving is a voluntary act, we know guests are expected at christmas. we would like everyone who is

close to us in as far as possible to be given some fun chosing -- something chosen especially for them. >> he says it's usually up the value of the gift that counts, he has been studying why people give presents to each other. >> people give gifts have a desire to bond. they do not do it out of convention, but because the relationship is important. so gifts cement social relationships. it is the same all over the world. gift-giving is one of the few truly global phenomena -- in all cultures, people exchanged gifts for special occasions.

they have signed up for a course in soap making. they learn how to manufacture soap by hand and choose the shape, color and fragrance themselves. it is more original than buying expensive cosmetics. >> id like to give handmade soap because it is nice to give something you have made yourself rather than buying or ordering something. it is handmade with love for the person in mind. i decided to give so as a present because i think it's an unusual gift. it is definitely suitable for christmas. it is handmade and created with a personal touch. >> the tradition of gift-giving at christmas has been around barely 200 years in europe and north america. industrialization and higher standards of living led to the

commercialization of many aspects of life, including christmas. it has become a mass phenomenon with strict rules and rituals. as a recipient, you must show pleasure at getting the guest. then, while unwrapping the paper, speculate over what it could be, then the next step is to show how much you like it, whether you mean it or not. >> that's one of the biggest problems in giving a gift -- how it is perceived, whether the recipient sees it as mark of appreciation or an admission of guilt or other failures. you do not know in advance, and that's wh makes it exciting. >> exciting and unnerving. she still has not found a suitable gift for her boyfriend. she can feel the time ticking

away. >> every year, it's the same. i think it over and over and eds and going to go out and buy something nice. and i don't find anything. time drags on and i have to decide on something at the last minute. >> many people are like this when it comes to buying gifts. but there are different types of gift chasers. for instance, we have last minute givers that always leave it until christmas eve to get president spot. -- to get presents bought. there are sensitive givers that set high standards because their gifts are supposed to express their feelings. then there are the youth you -- you'll tide refuseniks whose refusal to participate can show a lack of enthusiasm. there are boring givers who always give the same presence or money.

finally, there are the show- off's who like to put themselves at the center of attention and express their superiority over others. it can lead to a competition where people try to outdo each other in the gift giving states. a good anthropological example of this is potlatch. this is what some of first nation canadians call their festival where people try to outdo each other. clans would put the extravagant gifts on each other and eventually went broke doing so. there is an element of strategy also because presence are usually reciprocated and it is difficult to tell beforehand how much effort or expense people will get to. nobody wants to be left looking stingy. one further pitfall, there's always the chance against will not go down well, meaning all the time and money spent on it

was practically for nothing. >> in purely economic terms, everyone should buy their own gifts. that would minimize the money wasted. on the other hand, you can buy the socialist team that comes with gift-giving. -- you cannot by the socialist team that comes with a gift giving. -- you cannot by the social esteem that comes with gift- giving. >> she feel's made the right choice with her present. after three hours, their self is -- there soap is ready, perfumed with frankincense and myrrh. it's just right for christmas. >> i have a great feeling as i always like getting from the heart. now i have a heart in my hands that i made myself. >> after her long search, she has also found a guest. it wasn't what she had in mind, but it's something to staff in

the stocking nonetheless. -- something to stuff in it is talking nonetheless. >> i went for an mp3 player because i anyone that one. i will think of a spontaneous present later. he deserves one at some time later, i will buy him something spontaneously. >> but for many, the search for the perfect present goes on it's the effort, the thoughts and feelings that go into the search that value. every guest we give or get encapsulate time devoted to family and friends. >> just a few days left to get those present bought. if you are the last minute type, it is time to start thinking about it. if you are the organized type, you can kick back and stay tuned for more news and information. thank you for watching.

here's a look at the latest headlines. good bye for now. u forget it. yourself, so don't fall.

u forget it. now he tells us. how far am i off the floor? about twelve inches. twelve whole inches?