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A money changer sits behind piles of banknotes in Hargeisa in Somaliland, an autonomous, relatively peaceful region in northern Somalia. The self-declared nation of Somaliland, like Somalia itself, lacks a formal banking system, and residents rely on hawaladars to receive money from abroad.

A money changer sits behind piles of banknotes in Hargeisa in Somaliland, an autonomous, relatively peaceful region in northern Somalia. The self-declared nation of Somaliland, like Somalia itself, lacks a formal banking system, and residents rely on hawaladars to receive money from abroad. Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

itoggle caption Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images

Parallels

As Wire Transfer Options Dwindle, Somali-Americans Fear A Lost Lifeline MPR

Every year, money transfer brokers help Somali-Americans send more than $200 million to family members in Somalia. But one of the few banks to support that process will soon back out.

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Even some euro bank notes may need a good scrubbing. Like dollar bills, these notes are made from cotton and they harbor an array of bacteria.

Even some euro bank notes may need a good scrubbing. Like dollar bills, these notes are made from cotton and they harbor an array of bacteria. Thomas Leuthard/The Preiser Project/Flickr hide caption

itoggle caption Thomas Leuthard/The Preiser Project/Flickr

Shots - Health News

Dirty Money: A Microbial Jungle Thrives In Your Wallet

A look at the critters that live on money finds about 3,000 types of bacteria. Most are harmless. But researchers found traces of DNA from anthrax and drug-resistant pathogens, too.

Several Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are developing services that manage consumers' investment portfolios with algorithms rather than people.

Several Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are developing services that manage consumers' investment portfolios with algorithms rather than people. iStockphoto hide caption

itoggle caption iStockphoto

All Tech Considered

Can Robots Manage Your Money Better Than You? Startups Say Yes

A handful of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs say it's time to turn your finances over to bots. Algorithms can monitor a person's financial behavior better than most advisers, they say, and aren't biased by commissions or complex fee structures.

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An image depicts the SatoshiDice website, which exclusively uses Bitcoin, not dollars, for gambling.

An image depicts the SatoshiDice website, which exclusively uses Bitcoin, not dollars, for gambling. NPR hide caption

itoggle caption NPR

All Tech Considered

Is Online Gambling Legal If Bitcoins, Not Dollars, Are At Stake?

With no government ties, Bitcoin is used to buy everything from blogging services to Brooklyn-made cupcakes. Theoretically, millions of dollars are being kept in the digital currency. And it's increasingly being used by specialized websites to offer online gambling. But is Bitcoin gambling legal?

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When Canada switched to dollar coins, or "loonies," its simply took the country's dollar notes out of circulation. The GAO says the U.S. needs a similar plan.

When Canada switched to dollar coins, or "loonies," its simply took the country's dollar notes out of circulation. The GAO says the U.S. needs a similar plan. Ryan Remiorz/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Ryan Remiorz/AP

The Two-Way

Switch To Dollar Coins Could Save $5.5 Billion

Replacing the U.S. $1 note with a coin could save the government around $5.5 billion over 30 years, according to a new report. The GAO says Canada and Britain figured out how to encourage people to use coins instead of paper money: take the paper money away.