Seoul, Korea
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Often called “Korean Hawaii,” Jeju Island has issued a multilingual guide warning international visitors to act according to a series of viral tourism incidents and examples of disorderly conduct.

Last year, more 13 million people have been seduced by the island and is famous for its shining blue seas, green tea fields, snow-covered shield volcanoes and Harasan. In fact, according to the International Air Transport Association’s 2024 World Air Transport Statistics Report, Seoul from Seoul to Jeju is currently the busiest flight route in the world, travelling for 1 hour and 15 minutes between the island and the South Korean capital last year.

Since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual total of foreign tourists visiting Jeju Island has almost quadrupled to 1.9 million in 2024, according to the Jeju Tourism Association.

In response to its growth and the difficulties that come with it, Korean “Magic Island” staff printed 8,000 guides.

Written in Korean, English and Chinese, the guide is intended to notify foreign visitors who may lack knowledge of local regulations and culture, officials say.

For example, smoking in unspecified areas, jaywalking, scattering, and damaging the environment could result in a fine of 50,000 krw ($35.77) each.

“A violation of the above-mentioned offences shall also be punished by imprisonment or minor fines for a misdemeanor,” the guide warns.

Following the post-covid boom, Jeju residents began complaining about the misdeeds committed by foreign tourists as planes and cruises brought more tourists to the island’s provinces.

For example, a video showing foreign tourists smoking on a jeju bus went viral online in April, spurring anger among Korean commenters.

“I’m going to expel that person and get a fine now. If you don’t pay the fine, please prohibit purchasing tickets,” he commented under the Instagram video.

“Isn’t this basically ignored our country?” another wrote.

Photos of foreign children who defecated on the sidewalk at jeju also stirred up rage online last summer, with many seeking heavy fines from international tourists.

Jeju Island is one of several spots in the region following the pandemic. South Korea’s historic village of Bukong Hanok introduced strict curfews last year for non-residents following complaints from locals about noise levels.

Over the years, Japan has issued warnings by handing out etiquette guides to foreign tourists due to cultural failure. Last year, the historic Zeon district of Kyoto took action against foreign tourists who reportedly ignored rules in prohibited areas and took photos of geisha. Bali, Indonesia’s most popular tourist island, has been tackling the problem of bad tourist behavior for many years.

Meanwhile, in Europe, debate exploded over the pitfalls of the vast debate. In countries like Spain, Greece and Italy, locals have taken them to the city to protest.

Images of local residents shooting pistols with tourists last summer were circulating around the world. The same thing happened this year, when protesters were taking them to the streets of Spain and Italy, including Venice, but in Paris, Louvre staff took a voluntary strike in response to what they felt were an unruly crowd.

Ruben Santopietro, CEO of Visit Italy, a marketing company for various destinations across the country, says respecting the goodwill of its residents is just as important as working on the crowd.

“Cities where residents are not satisfied are cities that do not work,” he told CNN in a recent interview. “It completely loses its identity. Residents feel excluded and the neighborhood becomes touristy.”

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Brisbane, Australia
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Australia is banishing Iran’s ambassador to Canberra after discovering that Iran is behind at least two anti-Semitic attacks on Australian soil.

Australia’s Security Intelligence Agency (ASIO) linked Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Security Force (IRGC). The two arson attacks last year targeted Jewish-owned restaurants in Sydney and the Adas Islamic Synagogue in Melbourne, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a news conference.

“These were amazing and dangerous acts of aggression organized by foreigners in Australian soil,” Albanese said.

Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadegi and three other diplomatic staff were given seven days to leave the country, Albanese said. This is the first time Australia has expelled a foreign ambassador since World War II.

Australia has also suspended operations at Iranian embassies for the safety of consul officials, urging Iranian Australians to leave the country.

Albanese said he believes that Iran’s IRGC (the elite wing of the Iranian army) has been contributing to the projecting of Iranian power by funding militias across the Middle East, opposing them from their homes. He is also listed as a terrorist. The US moved to declare a terrorist group in 2019.

“I’ve said many times that Australians want two things. They want the killings in the Middle East to stop. They don’t want conflict in the Middle East to come here. Iran is trying to do just that,” added Albanese.

“They tried to hurt and terrify Jewish Australians and soothe hatred and division in our community,” he said.

ASIO Director Mike Burgess said the anti-Semitic attacks in Australia were overseen by the IRGC and carried out by intermediary “layer cake.”

“This was overseen by the IRGC through a series of overseas cutout facilitators to coordinators who found a way to fall into Australia,” he said.

The two attacks linked to Iran by ASIO included an arson attack in October 2024 at Lewis’ Continental Kitchen near Bondi Beach, Sydney.

The second attack came against the Adas Isla El Synagogue in Melbourne last December. At that time, two masked assailants were seen throwing liquids into the premises.

Victoria’s counterterrorism investigators have charged two men with the adas synagogue attack. The most recent arrest was made last week. Police alleged that the three broke into the venue of worship and deliberately set fire to the fire.

Anti-Semitist attacks in Australia have skyrocketed since the start of Israel’s retaliation for the attacks across Hamas’ border on October 7, 2023.

“The ASIO is still investigating the possibility of Iran’s involvement in many other attacks. But I would like to emphasize that the administration is not responsible for any acts of Australia’s anti-Semitism,” Burgess said.

Australia’s Home Minister Tony Burke called Iran’s actions an “extraordinary attack” and reached “new, completely unacceptable low.”

“Australia was attacked and Australia was harmed,” Burke said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Australians to leave Iran, saying the government’s ability to protect them is “very limited.”

“I recommend Australians who may be considering a trip to Iran. Don’t. Our message is, if you are an Iranian Australian, leave now if it’s safe to do so,” she said.

There have been no official comments yet from the Iranian government, but Iranian media quickly condemned Canberra’s claims about the state’s involvement in the attack. Fars News Agency, a state affiliated with the state, said Australia had filed “unfounded allegations,” while the para-specialist Tasnim News Agency said the Iranian ambassador was being expelled under “false pretenses.”

The Iranian embassy in Canberra did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

This story has been updated with additional information

Phnom Penh, Cambodia
AP
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Cambodian lawmakers on Monday approved a bill that grants the government the power to revoke citizenship of those who find themselves committed crimes of conspiring with foreigners to harm the national interests.

The Nationality Act amendments, which were approved by all 120 members of the 120 existing parliament, are viewed by critics as a way to curb and control internal dissent against Prime Minister Hun Mane and political opponents of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.

Prior to Sunday’s vote, the 50 Cambodian non-governmental organisations issued a statement saying they were deeply concerned by the “blushes” content of a bill that would allow the government to strip Cambodians of their citizenship. They argue that it will “have a disastrously calm effect on the freedom of speech of all Cambodian citizens.”

“This new amendment to the Nationality Act puts all Cambodians at risk of losing our identity in our behaviorism. If we are stripped of our citizenship, we will lose the foundation of all rights in our home country,” the statement said.

Before it becomes law, the bill must be approved by Cambodian Senate and King Norodom Sihamoni, head of state. Although Cambodia is officially a democratic, Hun Mane’s Cambodian People’s Party holds 120 of the 125 seats in the Diet, controlling all the levers of the government.

The passage of legislation comes during a period of growing nationalism among Cambodians following the border dispute with neighboring Thailand, which fell into a five-day armed conflict in late July.

Cambodian Home Minister Sal Soka told lawmakers that the latest in the law is essential to raising strong feelings among Cambodians.

He suggested that a small group of Cambodians were commenting and acting in ways that are detrimental to the interests of the nation and national security. Appealing to the sentiment of nationalists, he said that “we should no longer qualify as Cambodian citizens” with those who directly or indirectly harm the nation and its people.

This law applies to lifelong Cambodian citizens, people with double Cambodian citizenship, and people from other countries who have been granted Cambodian citizenship.

Some prominent government critics and opposition politicians are known to have double citizenship. Hun Mane and his father Hun Sen resigned as prime minister in 2023 after 38 years of power and have often seen opposition through court cases.

The Cambodian National Rescue Party, the country’s leading opposition, was disbanded by court order in 2017 after accusing Hun Sen’s government of supporting foreign forces and trying to defeat it. Kem Soka, the party leader at the time, was arrested and later convicted of treason after being accused of conspiring with the United States.

Many countries have laws that allow citizenship to be revoked, but often on narrowly defined grounds.

Speaking to villagers and government officials in northern Kampong Thom province in July, Hun Mane argued that out of nearly 200 UN member states, 150 have laws allowing citizenship revocation, including the United States.

“Don’t worry if you are a patriot and you will not oppose the interests of the nation. But if you conspired with foreign forces to destroy Cambodia, yes, you need to worry, and in such cases, you are not Cambodian,” Hun Mane said. “True patriots will not conspire with foreign forces to destroy their nation.”

President Donald Trump is willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He told his Korean counterpart at a meeting on Monday. There they discussed peace on the nuclear weapons capabilities of the South Korean Peninsula and Pyongyang.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, elected in June, asked Trump to help establish peace between the two South Koreans when he visited the White House.

“I think you’re the first president to have so much interest in world peace issues and have actually achieved results,” Lee said. “So I hope we can reconcile on the Korean Peninsula and meet Kim Jong-un.”

He added that if he wanted to “play Peacemaker,” he would “actively support” Trump, and that the US president was “the only person who could actually resolve” between North Korea and South Korea, and continued the war technically after the South Korean war ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

Lee’s meeting was a major test of South Korea’s new leadership when both Seoul’s trade and military ties with the US were facing pressure from Trump’s “America-first” policy.

After his predecessor and conservative political rival were bounced each, Lee, who took office in June, traveled alongside CEOs and business leaders of several top Korean companies who announced numerous investments during their trip.

South Korea’s Air said it intends to purchase 103 aircraft from Boeing, along with the engine and maintenance programs for GE Aerospace and CFM International, according to a statement.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group said in a statement Tuesday that it would increase its US investment to $26 billion from the previously planned $21 billion.

Korean companies are expected to invest a total of $150 billion in the US, Lee announced that they attended after the summit at the South Korean and US business roundtables.

Golf Club and Cowboy Hat

Among the bespoke gifts Lee handed over were Trump’s “Make America Great” campaign slogan, TaylorMade golf putters and two cowboy hats embroidered on the “Turtleship” model.

And in a nod to Trump’s love for golf and various golf facilities, Lee joked that Trump’s tower should be built in North Korea. “I can play golf in Pyongyang too.”

Trump quickly agreed, although peaceful efforts and negotiations between South Korea and both North and North Korea were key parts of his turbulent first period.

“I do that, and we’ll talk. He wants to see me,” Trump said of Kim. “We look forward to meeting him. We will improve our relationship. You will help with that.”

It is difficult to say whether such a meeting might move on. North Korean state media claimed that joint military training between the US and South Korea showed Washington’s intention to “occupy” the South Korean peninsula, Reuters reported local time in South Korea on Tuesday morning.

In this early and last year, Kim and his powerful sister Kim Yeon-Jong vowed to strengthen their rhetoric, maintain North Korea’s nuclear weapons and destroy South Korea with nuclear weapons if Pyongyang is attacked.

North Korea is now able to produce 10-20 nuclear weapons a year as the country expands its capabilities, Lee said on Monday after a meeting with Trump without providing evidence.

Hans Christensen, director of the American Federation of Scientists’ Nuclear Information Project, said the numbers were “higher than normal, so perhaps (that) means North Korea’s additional uranium enrichment capabilities.”

North Korea’s Test launched two new air defense missiles on Saturday, just two days before the summit between Trump and Lee, according to state media KCNA. And Kim, and potentially his arsenal, is strengthened by the burgeoning relationship with Moscow, with North Korean troops being sent to fight for Russia in the war with Ukraine.

It’s probably not the first time Trump has met Kim – someone He boasts of having a “very good relationship.” “He was very good with me…we did well,” he said Monday.

It wasn’t always the case. There was a great deal of tension in 2017 when North Korea escalated its provocation in missile testing. Then Trump untold Kim as “Little Rocketman” and responded with a tweet that threatened him with “with fire and rage like the world has never seen before.”

However, as the two became pen pals, these tensions cooled down, trading what Trump described as a “love letter,” which ultimately led to a series of unprecedented meetings between the two leaders in 2018 and 2019.

At one meeting in the Unarmed Zone (DMZ) between North Korea and South Korea, in a surprising moment, Kim invited Trump across the border to North Korea.

However, talks ended without a breakthrough, and suddenly concluded in Hanoi in 2019. And subsequent denuclearization or peace negotiation efforts were on fire.

Pyongyang then refused to re-engage with the US, experts said, and resumed testing of weapons, which it seemed to pause along with that dialogue. Although they have not yet begun nuclear tests since 2017, Kim has since vowed to increase the country’s nuclear weapons “exponentially.”

Speaking at an event hosted by the Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, South Korea’s Lee warned that the number of North Korea’s nuclear weapons has increased by 2.5 times over the past few years.

The country is currently in the “final stage” of developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that can “target far-reaching distances,” adding that “the situation is getting worse.”

And at a Congressional hearing earlier this year, Army General Xavier T. Branson testified that he hopes the United States will make progress in other parts of its arms program this year.

“Next year, (North Korea) is looking forward to further developing the re-entry capabilities of hypersonic and multiple independent targets to complete (government) goals,” Branson said.

Iran is facing an unordered renewal of sanctions within weeks, unless it returns to negotiations on the future of its nuclear program and allows international testing of the facility.

If Tuesday’s meeting between Iran and three European countries fails to advance, the process to recover sanctions lifted 10 years ago under the groundbreaking nuclear deal could begin at the end of the month.

France, Germany and the UK are telling the United Nations that if Iran continues to violate its obligations under the contract, they will move to reimpose sanctions through what is known as the “snapback” mechanism.

The snapback was incorporated into the 2015 nuclear agreement reached by Iran, the US and Europeans. Under the contract, Iran was granted sanctions relief in return for strict and verifiable restrictions on its nuclear program.

However, after President Donald Trump withdrew from the contract known as the JCPOA, Iran expanded its back compliance by accelerating uranium enrichment, which is close to arms-grade.

In a letter to the UN Security Council last week, foreign ministers from three European countries known as E3 said Iran had violated “almost the entire JCPOA commitment.”

“If Iran is willing to reach a diplomatic solution by the end of August 2025, or if he can’t seize an opportunity for expansion, E3 has made it clear that it is ready to trigger a snapback mechanism.”

Iran has halted nuclear negotiations with the United States, aimed to curb enrichment programs after the US and Israel bombed nuclear sites during the 12-day war in June.

Since then, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog, have not been able to access Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The snapback will automatically re-equip all UN Security Council sanctions lifted under the 2015 deal. These sanctions, introduced between 2006 and 2010, include an arms embargo, restrictions on uranium enrichment and a ban on Iran’s acquisition technology related to ballistic missile programs. The measure also contributed to serious pressure on Iran’s oil and financial sector.

The snapback process takes 30 days, and Europeans recognize that Russia is envisaging a security council presidency in October, which could hinder the process.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut in a call with his counterparts from the UK, France and Germany on Friday warned that causing a snapback mechanism would have serious consequences, state-run news TV reported.

Iran was preparing for a “worst scenario,” an Iranian official told CNN last week that “we take for granted that E3 will run out of the only remaining leverage to please President Trump.”

Sources said among the options Iran is considering, restrictions on Tehran’s cooperation with the IAEA, withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and E3 can be placed on the “hostile state” list.

“E3 is unrelatedly reducing their role by nagging like annoyed children. They have lost their moral and political compasses that can’t understand their status compared to Americans in power politics in West Asia,” the source said.

Tuesday’s meeting will be held at the Deputy Minister’s level, Report TV reported.

Analysts say the rechallenge of sanctions caused by the snapback will undermine the already plagued Iran’s economy.

“In the short term, snapbacks will hurt the Iranian economy, primarily by causing euro liquidity issues. This is important to Iran’s ability to ensure that products of importance like medicines are purchased. Sanctions also apply to Iran’s consumers and business trust.”

However, he said that China “hopes to continue to buy Iranian oil. (United Arab Emirates) will continue to promote trade among Iranian importers. Iraq will continue to act as a market for Iranian exporters.”

Editor’s Note: This CNN travel series was sponsored or sponsored by the countries it emphasizes. CNN maintains full editorial control over the subject, reporting and frequency of articles and videos within the sponsorship, in accordance with our policies.

Summer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is not for the faint of heart. Mercury rises above 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and the bright sun is amazed at the environment that does not interfere with natural shelters.

Traditionally, the United Arab Emirates has embraced outdoor sports and large-scale fitness events, from desert marathons to beachfront yoga sessions. However, during peak summer, these activities are not only uncomfortable, but also potentially dangerous.

This has impacted new ways for residents and tourists to beat the heat, thanks to innovations such as indoor ski slopes and theme parks. It also led to the first indoor mall run launched in 2017 by Gulf Multi Sport, an Abu Dhabi-based sports event company.

Steve Watson, founder and managing partner of Gulf Multi Sport, says the mall-run concept has inevitably emerged. “We wanted to give people the opportunity to maintain their fitness throughout the oppressively hot summer months,” he told CNN.

Due to the mall culture of the UAE, this idea is uniquely suited to the region. Unlike small malls elsewhere, Abu Dhabi shopping centres are a huge multi-level space connected by escalators and wide passageways.

For example, Yas Mall, the city’s largest, spans 2.5 million square feet (230,000 square meters).

This provides runners with a variety of loops and courses that can accommodate a variety of distances, while avoiding overcrowding and ensuring safety. According to Watson, runners usually start in shifted groups using tip timing instead of mass start.

Since 2017, the company has held mall running events at venues such as Yas Mall, Reem Mall and Ferrari World.

For example, the Reem Mall Run series features four races held every month from June to September. Runners can sign up for individual events, earn points throughout the series, and earn shots that will win Reem Mall’s Champion Runner. Each race has a distance of 2.5km (1.5 miles), 5km (3 miles), and 10km (6 miles) and there is practically an option to participate if you are traveling.

Initially, the event was driven primarily by expatriates, but today there is strong participation from the UAE public, which Watson emphasized as a rewarding change. He said families, women and runners of all ages and fitness levels will be taking part in the race, many of whom will support a variety of charitable causes linked to the event, including cancer awareness and environmental sustainability.

Yas Island’s theme park also serves as a race venue. “class=”image_large__dam-img image_large__dam-img – loading “onload = ‘this.classlist.remove(‘ image_large__dam-img– loading ‘)’

“Our women-only event at Ferrari World attracts over 1,000 runners. Many Emirati women value a supportive and private environment. It has become a community tradition, with fathers running alongside their fathers and a group of friends who support each other,” Watson said.

Martin Collado, who is in his late 70s and often runs with his wife Mary, is usually one of the older participants on the course.

“Running inside the mall is climate controlled, the surface is uniform and good, and it’s good that the Original S guides us. Mall runs are more popular and attracts all ages. You can continue running throughout the year,” he said.

Mallrun is not the only option to continue working in Abu Dhabi throughout the summer. For those craving outside air again this year, Marsanana Night Beach opened this year on the leisure and sports hub Hudait Island near the city centre. Dark after swimming spots offer a refreshing way to go when the heat of the day goes away.

This is not a new concept in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai previously opened a beach in Jumeirah at night, but this is the first time I’ve come to Abu Dhabi.

Even at night, the sand remains heated underfoot, and the stationary waters of the Persian Gulf, the hottest ocean on the planet, are the walls of the bathtub. Beach fans can recline into the bed under the umbrella despite the lack of sun in the shade.

“It’s been much more difficult to find outdoor activities here once, and certainly most of the summer is indoors, but we love having this new option, and it’s just a short drive from home.”

The sun sets in Abu Dhabi at 7pm in July and about an hour before the end of September. This is when the evening beach session ends. As soon as the light goes out, the floodlights will turn on and the venue will open from 10pm Monday through Thursday and from late night Friday through Sunday.

Abduljeez Manea, an emirati who works in Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry, says the beaches give residents and tourists the opportunity to experience nature as well. “The sand here is too hot to walk in the daytime, so opening at night is a more suitable idea. We can sit outside in a more relaxed, peaceful environment, still walking barefoot and enjoy the benefits of the beach we love.”

Importantly, Abdulla Yousuf, head of International Business Division of Abu Dhabi’s Cultural and Tourism, said it would also bring more economic opportunities to the area and set foot in nearby restaurants and shops.

“By providing safe and convenient access to beaches after dark, we are improving the quality of life in our community and expanding the Emirate’s appeal as a summer tourist destination,” he told CNN.