The environment is central to Bhutan's Gross National Happiness. The Index measures a myriad of issue including attitudes on conservation, pollution and waste. Preserving 60% of Bhutan's forests is enshrined in the constitution to maintain the country ecological diversity. Julie McCarthy for NPR hide caption
Dennis Whittle takes a tour of development projects in Myanmar. Courtesy of Dennis Whittle hide caption
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left walks with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on Saturday at U.N. headquarters in New York. At a U.N. conference, Xi pledged billions in Chinese aid to developing nations. Bryan R. Smith/AP hide caption
Workers with Ceria wait for a pipe-welding machine to finish connecting two sections of plastic irrigation pipe in Bario, Malaysia. The company has brought mechanized farming to the Kelabit Highlands. Jerry Redfern for NPR hide caption
A grandmother and her grandson sit on the belongings that they have salvaged from their collapsed homes on April 29, 2015 in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Omar Havana/Getty Images hide caption
As China continues its massive economic growth, especially in cities, the government continues to severely limit people's rights. Is that system sustainable? Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
The city of Hollywood, Fla., bought the Homeless Voice shelter from its owner, a longtime advocate for the homeless who agreed to stay away from the city for the next 30 years. Greg Allen hide caption
Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei (left) speaks during the signing ceremony of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank last year in Beijing. Getty Images hide caption
Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, and Asian leaders approved an agreement on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing in Oct., 2014. European countries are beginning to sign up too. Takaki Yajima/AP hide caption
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama unveiled the Let Girls Learn program at the East Room of the White House on Tuesday. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
David Hermlin is a singer, dancer, musician and songwriter — oh, and a global activist, too. Sample lyric: "I will fight for my dream, and I will never give up." Courtesy of David Hermlin hide caption
Random violence in Syria makes it a dangerous place for aid workers. This month, members of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent transported Syrians from a rebel area to a part of Aleppo controlled by the Assad regime. Baraa Al-Halabi/AFP/Getty Images hide caption