In October 2017, the Catalonia Autonomous Community in Spain held an independence referendum, announcing "independence" despite a ruling from the Spanish Constitutional Court that declared the referendum as a breach.

After the Summit, I ventured to the China trade exhibition on the 2nd floor of MITEC to explore. It was a delightful surprise to encounter items making their market way that were truly unexpected.

After a 4-hour flight from Hong Kong, China to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I found myself contemplating my first visit to this vibrant city. Questions raced through my mind, "Is the food clean in Malaysia? Will I be prone to getting diarrhea? Is Malaysia a safe destination? Will communication with locals be smooth?"

South Korean prosecutors reported on Dec. 15 that they had summoned President Yoon Suk-yeol on Dec. 11, requiring him to appear for questioning at 10 a.m. on Dec. 15; however, Yoon did not attend.

The Chinese National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced today (Dec. 17) the full relaxation and optimization of its visa-free transit policy, effective immediately. The duration of stay for foreign nationals eligible for visa-free transit has been extended from the previous 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days). Furthermore, 21 new ports of entry and exit have been added, increasing the total number of ports to 60 across 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities.

Purchasing suitable airline tickets is an essential part of the journey. With the tourism industry recovering, many airlines have launched promotions to attract customers, among which "free tickets" are the most appealing. Travelers can purchase round-trip tickets on designated routes for zero cost, saving a significant amount on travel expenses. Naturally, "free tickets" are in high demand, but in fact, even with a ticket in hand, traveling with it is not so simple.

In August 2011, a series of riots occurred in the capital city of London, UK. Over 100 young people set fire to police cars, public buses, and buildings along the streets, disrupting traffic and looting dozens of shops. The riots resulted in 35 police officers being injured.

Today (Dec. 13) is the 11th National Memorial Day for the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre.

Recently, several people suffered explosions when using gas cartridge stoves in mainland China.

The suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was arrested on Dec. 9 in Pennsylvania. Thompson was shot and killed on the morning of Dec. 4 outside a hotel in Manhattan, New York City. A masked gunman had been waiting outside the hotel and opened fire on Thompson multiple times upon his arrival before fleeing the scene. Thompson, 50, joined UnitedHealth Group in 2004 and became CEO of UnitedHealthcare in April 2021.

Have you ever considered the possibility of excavating directly through the Earth to reach a nation on the opposite side?

The Water Supplies Department (WSD) recently received inquiries from the public regarding text messages claiming to be from the department, requesting recipients to click on a link to pay outstanding fees. However, the provided link did not lead to the official website of WSD. The department has reported this incident to the police.

On January 6, 2021, a group of supporters of then-President Trump, including members of the far-right organization "Proud Boys," forcibly entered the Capitol building, attempting to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory, leading to widespread chaos. This resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including a police officer, around 140 injuries, and exposed the vulnerabilities in American democracy.

As the year-end approaches, a series of sad news has come one after another. Just recently, Steven Liu Chia-chang passed away, and the renowned novelist Chiung Yao has also peacefully departed. These two individuals had collaborated multiple times during their lives, creating many widely acclaimed film and television songs. Now, their successive passings evoke feelings of sorrow and lamentation.

On Dec. 5, Han Dong-hoon, the representative of the ruling party, the People Power Party in South Korea, stated before the vote on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol that as the party leader, he would do his best to prevent the impeachment from passing.