Even a tiny plot of land in India can be a ticket out of poverty. That's because many government programs and benefits are tied to land ownership. One non-governmental organization is running a program to help the rural poor obtain the title to the land they till.

There was some good news amid the deep concern about Europe's sovereign debt crisis. Coordinated action by central banks, led by the Federal Reserve, provided some help for Europe's struggling commercial banks. Economics editor Zanny Minton Beddoes, of The Economist, talks to Steve Inskeep about Wednesday's surprise coordinated action that calmed global markets.

Federal agents in San Diego have discovered a sophisticated drug smuggling tunnel running under the U.S. Mexico border. The tunnel runs between two warehouses, one in Tijuana, the other in an industrial area of San Diego. It's so elaborate it even has an elevator at its entrance in Tijuana.

The world's largest supporter of AIDS programs says it is well short of its fundraising goals because of the global financial crisis. The announcement by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has raised concern about the future for AIDS patients on World AIDS Day.

Members of the Iranian-American community maintain contacts with friends and family in Iran. But that means negotiating the confusing array of sanctions the U.S. government has imposed on Iran for more than three decades. One recent legal case highlights the issue.

Iran may soon face economic measures tougher than anything it has encountered before: The U.S. Congress is considering sanctions against the central bank of Iran, with the likely effect of limiting Iran's oil exports. But some analysts say the move could lead to a dangerous spike in oil prices.