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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: microfinance

microfinance stories: 6 news summaries

Microfinance Bubble Traps Poor in Debt

Predatory lenders
offer easy cash with gouging interest rates

Aug 13, 09 8:46 AM CDT
(Newser) - Microfinance, loaning tiny sums to the world's poor to help start small businesses, began as an anti-poverty strategy but quickly became highly profitable for private equity firms and foreign investors. In India, writes the Wall Street Journal, poor neighborhoods are being bombarded with high-interest loan opportunities, resulting in a bizarre... More »

MORE ABOUT:
India • loans • poverty • microfinance • predatory lending • lenders

 Obama Defends Handshake, 
 Urges Cuba to Free Prisoners 

Bolivian prez accuses US of assassination plot

Apr 19, 09 3:59 PM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama defended his friendly chat with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and asked Cuba to free its political prisoners, the Wall Street Journal reports. At the close of the Summit of the America's today, Obama brushed off Republican criticism, saying that turning a new page with Venezuela and Cuba represents... More »

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Barack Obama • Latin America • Venezuela • Mexico • Cuba • Bolivia • Mexican drug war • assassination • Evo Morales • political prisoner • Hugo Chávez • microfinance

Interview

'Western Aid, Celebs Are
Hurting Africa'

'Anti-Bono' author rips help for sapping continent's strength

Feb 22, 09 5:39 AM CST
(Newser) - Dependence on celebrities as spokesmen and Western aid are bad for Africa, argues Deborah Solomon's latest interview subject, Dambisa Moyo. The Ivy-educated former investment banker argues in her new book that the culture of aid for Africa discourages entrepreneurship. "You also disenfranchise African citizens, because the government is beholden... More »

MORE ABOUT:
China • Africa • Bono • aid programs • microfinance • celebrity humanitarianism • Dambisa Moyo • Deborah Solomon

Portman Wants to Talk About Microloans,
Not Movies

Teams with Jordan's queen to help women

Oct 7, 08 5:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Among Hollywood actresses, Natalie Portman may be an anomaly. “As opposed to talking about fashion,” the 27-year-old says she prefers discussing poverty alleviation. The Israeli-American discovered FINCA International, a microfinance program for women, through her inspiration, Jordan’s Queen Rania, a Palestinian and an “incredible woman whom... More »

MORE ABOUT:
philanthropy • Jordan • charity • Harvard • microfinance • Natalie Portman • Arab Israeli conflict • Queen Rania

OPINION

What Killed Bear, Lehman Is What the World Needs

Subprime loans bring relief to millions worldwide

Sep 21, 08 12:44 PM CDT
(Newser) - Sure, subprime loans toppled two pillars of American investment banking, gutted the world’s largest insurer, and plunged the entire US financial system into a tailspin. But they are exactly what the world needs today, Daniel Gross argues in Slate. “Far from the madding, depressed crowds of Wall Street,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
subprime mortgages • interest rate • loan • microfinance • consumer credit • banks

eBay Launches Microfinance Loan Site

Users can lend money to the world's poor... and earn interest

Oct 29, 07 6:23 PM CDT
(Newser) - EBay's newly launched MicroPlace lets users make loans through PayPal or a bank account to needy entrepreneurs worldwide. The idea? Even small sums can help poor people build businesses to raise themselves out of poverty. The site's founder remembers one Bangladeshi woman who bought a handloom, thus earning enough to... More »

MORE ABOUT:
investing • eBay • social responsibility • poverty • private lenders • antipoverty • developing world • microfinance

6 Stories


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