The idea for her company Alter came from Kitaina’s own difficulties in finding the perfect psychologist for her. She went through six psychologists before she found one she was comfortable with.

Netmonet allows customers to pay a tip to their waiter, barber, or manicurist by scanning a QR code tipping with a card, removing the need for carrying cash.

The Kuril chain of more than 50 islands stretches 1,200 km from the southern tip of the Kamchatka peninsula to within sight of Japan’s northernmost Island, Hokkaido.