# World

Cuba Legalizes Purchase and Sale Of Private Property

Cuba announced Thursday it is allowing the purchase and sale of real estate for the first time since the early days of the revolution, the most important reform yet in a series of free-market changes ushered in by President Raul Castro. The change follows the legalization in October of the purchase and sale of cars.

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Chicago Youth Program Fights Violence With Employment

Nearly 700 children were hit by gunfire last year in Chicago. In an effort to reduce the violence, a program called CeaseFire is working to curb gang activity by helping at-risk youth find employment. CeaseFire also patrols the streets of poorer, urban neighborhoods to stop crimes before they happen.

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Chicago Will Pay Cab Companies to Go Green

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley launched a new Green Taxi Program Friday that will encourage the taxi industry to purchase cost-effective hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. More green cabs will help the city move closer to reaching carbon emission goals set out in its Chicago Climate Action Plan, while also improving air quality.

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Suburbs Encourage Artists to Dress Up Vacant Buildings

More suburban downtowns are burdened with empty storefronts, but a growing number of Chicago area communities are encouraging artists to dress up the vacant buildings' windows with art under glass.

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Bicycle Transports Mini Library to Brazil's Homeless

Created one year ago by a 61-year-old librarian who became homeless, a large red tricycle that carries a small library through the city of São Paulo, Brazil encourages reading among people who live on the streets and cannot otherwise access libraries typically requiring ID and proof of residency.

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Paris Employs Sheep to 'Mow' Lawn at City's Gardens

Officials in Paris this week looking for a greener way to keep its lawns mowed, replaced the fleet of noisy gas-guzzling lawnmowers with a small flock of sheep that are grazing the city's open spaces. The scheme also cuts down on the need for chemical herbicides.

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US Senate Defeats Big Banks; Limits Debit Card 'Swipe Fees'

The US Senate defeated an attempt by big banks to derail financial reform scheduled to take effect next month that will bring some overdue common sense to the debit card fees banks are allowed to charge merchants.

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Family Empowers 16,000 Women With Microfinance

Very poor women in Peru are improving the lives of their families, thanks to business smarts, determination and a small business micro loan from Finca Peru, the family-run social enterprise that helps educate its 16,000 local micro-borrowers in savvy business growth.