Business, Finance & Economics

A tiny Himalayan nation’s big crypto gamble

Bhutan has emerged as an unexpected player in the world of cryptocurrency. The Himalayan kingdom holds the fourth-largest state-owned stockpile of Bitcoin in the world. Its decision to capitalize on the trend has also provided a lifeline for the country’s struggling economy.

Earth homes make a comeback in a Colombian town

The Big Fix

This dying Spanish town is turning to books to put it on the literary map

Arts, Culture & Media

As Japan’s economy adapts to a tourism boom, so does daily life 

Japan in Focus

Global maritime shipping is aiming to reach zero emissions by 2050

Environment

Traders in Ghana face uncertain future after world’s largest secondhand clothing hub razed in fire

A devastating blaze has wiped out the world’s largest secondhand clothing hub located in Ghana. Having no insurance, thousands of traders now face an uncertain future.

In Japan, an automotive light bulb manufacturer pivots to growing mushrooms 

Japan in Focus

The global shift toward new automotive technologies can be difficult for companies producing parts that may become obsolete. It’s straining local economies in areas with a lot of manufacturing, like Japan’s Shizuoka prefecture. To adapt, one company specializing in automotive light bulbs has expanded into mushroom cultivation. 

Bougainville: The world’s next new country?

A South Pacific island is offering America the deal of the century. Is Washington listening?

Meet the Jamaicans who harvest the Champlain Valley’s apples

Immigration

Jamaican migrant workers are a huge part of the backbone that sustains New York’s North Country orchards.

Whaling continues in Japan despite worldwide protests 

Japan in Focus

Despite a global outcry and growing unpopularity, Japan’s whaling industry continues to thrive. Although whale meat sales have declined sharply over the years, most Japanese people continue to believe in their right to the delicacy.