Business, Economics and Jobs

Germany heads to the polls on Sunday, with the country’s stagnant economy and heated rows over immigration policy dominating conversations on the campaign trail.

Only 60 villagers remain in the Spanish town of Libros. The town’s name translates to the word “books” in English, and now, the mayor thinks the key to the town’s salvation is in its name. The grand vision? A state-of-the-art library to put the town on the literary map. 

One legacy of British colonial rule in India is a ban on making and selling an Indigenous spirit called mahua. It’s resulted in a stigma attached to the drink. Entrepreneurs have found a legal workaround to get mahua to market, but some worry that the Indigenous community won’t reap the benefits.

Tourism numbers are sky-high in Japan. The country saw record numbers of travelers throughout 2024, and government officials are hoping to see the numbers double by 2030. But workers are in short supply. So, to adapt to the tourism boom, Japan is turning to everything from robot hotel receptionists to contactless restaurants.

Along the front lines between Russia and Ukraine, battles are fierce and the casualty numbers are mounting. In response, Russia is doing everything it can to recruit new soldiers. Its main solution has been to offer financial incentives, including high salaries and signing bonuses.