slums news stories on Newser

Wall Built to Hide Slum From Anti-Poverty Conference

Rob Quinn — Thu, 03 May 2012 03:22:47 CDT

Delegates attending an international anti-poverty conference in Manila this week were shielded from unsightly poverty by a wall hastily erected by the Philippine government, reports the AP . The makeshift wall put up before the Asian Development Bank conference hid the view of a sprawling slum along a creek from visitors...

Brazil Raids Rio's Largest Slum

Mark Russell — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 06:29:36 CST

Upwards of 2,000 members of the Brazilian police and military, backed by armored vehicles and helicopters, swept through Rio's biggest slum before dawn today, in the biggest anti-gang action since last November , reports the AP . But unlike the previous raid, which was precipitated by a rash of gang violence,...

Slumdog Star Loses All in Fire

Polly Davis Doig — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 08:54:00 CST

Slumdog Millionaire child star Rubina Ali is out on the street after a blaze ripped through her Mumbai slum today. "It's all gone. Even my best clothes, everything," Rubina tearfully told the AP via phone; the 12-year-old also lost her awards, clippings, and photos from the Oscar-winning flick. "We just...

Director Buys Apartment for Slumdog Kid

Harry Kimball — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:08:00 CDT

The makers of Slumdog Millionaire have bought a home for one of the film’s Indian child actors whose real-life shanty was demolished by the Mumbai government, Reuters reports. Azharuddin Ismail is now living in a “comfortable” apartment “in a good neighborhood near his school,” an exec from the fund established...

Second Slumdog Kid's Home Torn Down

Wed, 20 May 2009 08:06:42 CDT

The shanty home of another Slumdog Millionaire child star was torn down by Mumbai authorities today as they demolished part of a city slum where she lived. The stepmother of 9-year-old Rubina Ali, who portrayed a young Latika, the Oscar-winning film's heroine, said her husband was beaten by police who...

Slumdog Star's 'Illegal' Home Demolished

Ambreen Ali — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:23:01 CDT

Mumbai officials tore down the home of Slumdog Millionaire child star Azharuddin Ismail, calling the slum dwelling illegal construction. Ismail’s mother says the family lived there 15 years before police arrived unannounced. “We didn’t even get a chance to remove our belongings,” she tells the Telegraph . The government had promised...

Megacities Stagger India

Rob Quinn — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:02:02 CDT

The explosive growth of India's cities is threatening to drag down the country's economy for decades to come, economists tell the Wall Street Journal . The global trend toward urbanization has gone into overdrive in India, but most cities aren't prepared to deal with the influx of migrants from the countryside,...

Dad Wants to Sell Slumdog Child Star

Katherine Thompson — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:52:25 CDT

The family of Slumdog Millionaire child star Rubina Ali really is stuck in the slums of Mumbai, and her father may be trying to trade her in for his ticket out, the News of the World reports. The tab contacted Rafiq Qureshi, posing as a rich Dubai couple interested in...

Slumdog Makers Give $740K to Educate Poor

Ambreen Ali — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:27:13 CDT

To combat accusations that Oscar sensation Slumdog Millionaire is a form of “poverty porn,” the filmmakers have donated about $740,000 toward a health education initiative in Mumbai’s slums, the Times of London reports. The funds are in addition to trusts set up for the movie’s child actors. “Some but...