World

Southeast Asia is a region of strategic and economic importance, comprising 10 countries that are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The region has a population of about 650 million, a GDP of about $3.2 trillion, and a diverse array of cultures, religions, and political …

Miss Japan is a national beauty pageant that selects the representative of Japan for the Miss Universe and Miss World contests. The pageant has been held since 1952, and has produced three Miss Universe winners and two Miss World winners. The pageant is also a platform for promoting the culture and values of Japan, as well as the empowerment and …

The 2024 presidential election in the United States is expected to be a close and competitive contest, as two rival parties and candidates vie for the White House: Joe Biden, the incumbent president and leader of the Democratic Party, and Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida and leader of the Republican Party. Both candidates have strong and loyal bases, but …

Iran and its proxies pose a serious challenge to the US and its allies in the Middle East, as they pursue their interests and agendas through a range of malign activities, such as nuclear and missile development, support for terrorism, interference in regional conflicts, and cyberattacks. Iran and its proxies have also been responsible for several attacks on US troops …

China is one of the most formidable and persistent cyber adversaries of the US, posing a serious threat to the US national security, economic interests, and democratic values. China has been conducting cyber espionage, theft, sabotage, and influence operations against the US government, military, businesses, academia, and civil society, seeking to gain strategic advantages, undermine US competitiveness, and shape US …

On January 28, 2024, a drone strike targeted a US military base in Iraq, killing two American soldiers and wounding five others. The attack was claimed by a Shia militia group called Kataib Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran. The US accused Iran of providing the drones and the guidance systems to the group, and vowed to hold Tehran accountable …

President Joe Biden has made a bold and unprecedented move by not appearing on the ballot of the New Hampshire primary, the first-in-the-nation contest that has been a crucial and symbolic part of the presidential nomination process for more than a century.  Biden’s decision is a result of his disagreement with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) over the order of …

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 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 …

Wagner Group, a private military contractor linked to the Kremlin, has been accused of committing grave human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in several African countries, where it operates alongside government forces or rebel groups.  The mercenaries, who are allegedly paid and trained by Russia, have been involved in killings, torture, rape, and displacement of civilians, as …