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Friday

India's Poor Reel Under Microfinance Debt Burden

Activists of The All-India Democratic Women's Association protest Dec. 14 in Hyderabad, India, in front of the Reserve Bank of India, the nation's central banker, against microfinance institutions. Since then, the Andhra Pradesh state assembly passed a law that makes it so difficult to make loans that microfinance companies say they won't be able to do business. Noah Sheelam/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Noah Sheelam/AFP/Getty Images

Asia

India's Poor Reel Under Microfinance Debt Burden

Microfinance companies have been accused of predatory lending and collection practices so harsh that they drove some borrowers to suicide. One state government in India has enacted legislation that will, in effect, put the microlenders out of business.

India's Poor Reel Under Microfinance Debt Burden

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Middle East

Palestinians In Global Push For Statehood

The U.S. is continuing diplomatic efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks but the prospects do not look good. The Palestinians are now bringing their fight for independence into the global arena.

Palestinians In Global Push For Statehood

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FP Editor Discusses Global Thinkers List

Blake Hounshell, managing editor of Foreign Policy, edited the magazine's second annual 100 Global Thinkers List. Hounshell talks about three people from the list most Americans have never heard of, and what we might expect to see from them in the coming year.

FP Editor Discusses Global Thinkers List

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History

Linguist: Kwanzaa, Sans Swahili

Tomorrow marks the end of the week-long holiday, Kwanzaa. Started in 1966 as a way for African Americans to celebrate their cultural heritage, Kwanzaa uses the East African language, Swahili, to name its days. In a recent online column, linguist and commentator John McWhorter argues that Swahili should be dropped from Kwanzaa. He tells host Michel Martin why.

Linguist: Kwanzaa, Sans Swahili

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Planet Money

Spain Could Spoil Global Economic Recovery

As the year ends, there are small signs that the economy is mending. But one country could change that: Spain. Economists and European leaders are worried that debt problems in Spain could have major implications for the entire global financial system.

Spain Could Spoil Global Economic Recovery

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Kidnappings Highlight Al-Qaida's Rise In The Sahara

Soldiers from Niger patrol the road between Agadez and Arlit in September. Issouf Sanogo/Getty Images hide caption

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Issouf Sanogo/Getty Images

Africa

Kidnappings Highlight Al-Qaida's Rise In The Sahara

How to counter and curb growing Islamist militancy and banditry in the Sahel — the vast, poorly policed zone that straddles the African nations of Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Algeria — is a priority for governments in West Africa, Washington and beyond.

Kidnappings Highlight Al-Qaida's Rise In The Sahara

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Turkey Flexes Economic, Political Muscle In Iraq

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) meets with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Istanbul, Dec. 22, 2010. Turkey is vying with Iran to be the most influential regional power in Iraq. Tolga Bozoglu/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Tolga Bozoglu/AFP/Getty Images

Turkey Flexes Economic, Political Muscle In Iraq

Turkey is stepping up its role in Iraq, vying with Iran as a regional power. These powerful neighbors use investments and building projects to ensure long-term influence. Northern Iraq is the staging ground for Turkey's bid, as competition heats up ahead of the U.S. withdrawal of troops.

Turkey Flexes Economic, Political Muscle In Iraq

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Dubai Restaurant Offers A Taste Of North Korea

The Okryu-Gwan restaurant in Dubai is a rare import from North Korea. The restaurants serve as an important source of hard currency for Pyongyang. Other branches are in China, Nepal and Thailand. Peter Kenyon/NPR hide caption

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Peter Kenyon/NPR

Asia

Dubai Restaurant Offers A Taste Of North Korea

A North Korean restaurant in Dubai provides a taste of Pyongyang for those who may never get there, and hard currency for the regime. It's tiny compared with the venerable original in Pyongyang, but the noodles are a hit -- and the waitresses sing.

Dubai Restaurant Offers A Taste Of North Korea

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Princess Revives Swati Culture One Stitch At A Time

Swati embroidery is being revived "one stitch at a time" in the vocational institution established in a wing of Ahmed Zeb's home in Saidu Sharif, the old capital of Swat. The princess has taught hundreds of women "to stand up, avoid charity, [and] earn with dignity." Julie McCarthy/NPR hide caption

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Julie McCarthy/NPR

Asia

Princess Revives Swati Culture One Stitch At A Time

In northwest Pakistan's war-torn Swat Valley, a member of the former royal family is creating jobs and dignity for widows on both sides of the conflict. A princess has founded a vocational center to teach women how to make traditional textiles -- and earn a living.

Princess Revives Swati Culture One Stitch At A Time

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Thursday

Obama Appoints Four New Ambassadors

Using his power to make appointments when the Senate is in recess, President Obama has appointed four new ambassadors -- to Syria, Turkey, Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic. The four nominees have been waiting an average of five months for Senate confirmation; Robert Stephen Ford, named ambassador to Syria, had been waiting since February. His nomination was blocked by Republicans who didn't want to "reward" Syria as it provides support to Hezbollah and Hamas.

Obama Appoints Four New Ambassadors

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Warning Of Genocide In Ivory Coast

An Ivory Coast soldier stands guard during a rally held by Charles Ble Goude (unseen), leader of Ivory Coast's Young Patriots, in Abidjan on Wednesday. Defiant Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo's most notorious lieutenant on Wednesday urged the strongman's diehard supporters to launch an unarmed assault on rival Alassane Ouattara's UN-defended base. Sia Kambou/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Sia Kambou/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Warning Of Genocide In Ivory Coast

The nation's new U.N. ambassador, appointed by the presidential candidate judged to have won the recent election, says supporters of incumbent Laurent Gbagbo are preparing to strike at their opponents.

Ofeibea Quist-Arcton on the latest news from the Ivory Coast

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Iran Spat Pits President Against Supreme Leader

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gives the presidential decree to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his second term during a ceremony in August 2009. Since that time, a political fissure has emerged within Iran's conservative camp, threatening possible open conflict between the two men. AP/Office of the Supreme Leader hide caption

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AP/Office of the Supreme Leader

Middle East

Iran Spat Pits President Against Supreme Leader

A political fissure is threatening possible open conflict between Iran's two top officials. Recent actions by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appear to be part of a wider plan to enhance the powers of his own presidency, at the expense of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran Spat Pits President Against Supreme Leader

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