Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has been ranked as the safest city in the world for the eighth consecutive year, according to the online database Numbeo. The city scored 86.8 out of 100 in the Safety Index, which measures the level of crime, health care, traffic, and pollution in 329 cities around the world. How Abu …

The Pandora Papers are a collection of more than 11.9 million leaked documents that expose the hidden wealth and tax avoidance of some of the world’s most powerful and influential people. The documents were obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and shared with more than 600 journalists from 150 media outlets in 117 countries. The Pandora Papers …

Singapore and China have signed a visa-free agreement that will allow their citizens to travel to each other’s countries without a visa for up to 15 days. The agreement, which will take effect on February 1, 2024, is the first of its kind between China and a Southeast Asian country, and marks a new milestone in their bilateral relations. The …

The US and Iran may not have diplomatic relations, but they do have a secret channel of communication that they use to avoid escalating tensions and prevent misunderstandings. This channel is known as the Swiss back channel, and it involves the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which acts as a mediator between the two countries. On January 23, 2024, the US …

Fried toothpicks are the latest craze among Korean netizens, who are posting videos of themselves eating the crunchy snacks on social media. The trend started as a challenge to see who can eat the most fried toothpicks without hurting their mouths or teeth. The challenge is inspired by a popular Korean street food called tteokbokki, which are spicy rice cakes …

CNN Philippines, the only predominantly English-language channel on free TV in the Philippines, is expected to shut down its operations by the end of 2024, due to financial losses and the expiration of its licensing agreement with CNN.  The shutdown of the network, which has been delivering world-class journalism for nine years, is a blow to journalism and press freedom …

Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expected to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2024, after completing most of the negotiations.  The CEPA will be a milestone in the bilateral relations between the two countries, which have seen significant growth in trade and investment in recent years. The CEPA will also bring mutual …

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, is facing a dilemma as he prepares for the 2024 presidential election, which will mark the end of his second and final term.  Jokowi has to decide whether to endorse a successor from his ruling coalition, or to remain neutral and respect the democratic process. His choice could have significant implications for …

Russia has accused the United States, South Korea, and Japan of forming a military alliance that is preparing for war with North Korea. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the allegation at a UN press conference on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, where he criticized the increased military activity and exercises of the three countries in the region. Lavrov said that …

North Korea, one of the most isolated and repressive countries in the world, has imposed harsh punishments on its citizens who watch or distribute South Korean shows, which are banned by the regime.  A rare video footage, obtained by a South Korean research group, shows two teenage boys being sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for watching K-dramas, or …