Unification Minister Chung Dong-young (left) and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun attend a National Assembly committee session in Seoul on Nov. 28. File Photo by Yonhap News Agency Dec. 16 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's National Security Office, Unification Ministry and Foreign Ministry sought to project u»»»

Irish tricolour flags have been erected on street lights all over Dublin in recent months in what has been branded by some as an anti-immigration campaign. Several politicians and anti-racism activists have accused those putting up the flags of marking territory and intimidating tactics. Far-right »»»

The West’s short-sighted sanctions campaign has led Germany to lose over 70% of its exports to the Russian market, analysis of Eurostat data shows. Before anti-Russian sanctions were imposed — in January-September 2021 — German companies exported goods and services worth roughly $22.9 billion to Ru»»»

Dubai: The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) has issued a yellow dust alert for Wednesday morning, covering key areas of the UAE and warning residents to take precautions. The alert highlights the risk of blowing dust and significantly reduced visibility, which the NCM forecasts may drop to less»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar registered a total value of transactions across various payment systems worth QR18.626bn during November 2025 with total number of transactions reaching 62.806 million. In a post on its X platform, Qatar Central Bank (QCB) stated yesterday that the point of sale transactions acco»»»

Doha, Qatar: Builders VC recently led a delegation of senior executives from four of its portfolio companies to Doha, engaging with Qatar’s innovation ecosystem at a time of accelerating national focus on advanced digital and AI-enabled technologies. The visit, which preceded the announcement of QA»»»

Europe is approaching a decisive moment, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned in a video interview with Patrióta, as Brussels prepares decisions that could push the European Union into serious economic trouble and draw it closer to war. According to PM Orbán, the coming days will show whether Europe »»»

Riyadh: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassim Mohammed Al Bedaiwi stressed the importance of evaluating and developing the digital infrastructure of the General Secretariat and its affiliated organisational units, to keep pace with developments in this field. This came duri»»»

DOHA: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has said that implementation is underway to strengthen Qatar’s education system, with ongoing construction and development set to deliver more than 40 new schools of high global standards by 2030. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and H»»»

DOHA: Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H E Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi and Acting Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), John Brandolino, officially inaugurated the new training premises of the UNODC Regional Center for Combating Cybercr»»»

Doha, Qatar: The National Planning Council (NPC), in collaboration with the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CGB), organised the quarterly Planning, Quality, and Innovation Forum yesterday, bringing together directors of planning, quality, and innovation departments from various gov»»»

On the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, supported by the country’s leadership, a so-called «migration amnesty» has been applied to foreign citizens residing in the country illegally. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a result of the measures taken, about 9»»»

AMMAN — The total area of licensed buildings in the Kingdom increased by 12.3 per cent during the first ten months of 2025, reaching 8.2 million square metres, compared with 7.3 million square metres recorded during the same period in 2024, according to official data.

The Department of Statistics »»»

Doha, Qatar: Saudi Arabia have been crowned champions of the AGCFF U-23 Gulf Cup Qatar 2025, after claiming a 2-0 win overIraq in the final match held at Stadium 974 yesterday. The tournament took place in Qatar from December 4-16, bringing together rising U-23 football stars from across the region»»»

Doha, Qatar: Lusail International Circuit (LIC) received Three-Star Environmental Accreditation from the FIA – its highest level of recognition for environmental performance. LIC stands out as the world’s only venue to hold FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation that hosts Formula 1, MotoGP, an»»»

Washington: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met in Washington D.C. with HE Senator Chuck Schumer, the US Senate Minority Leader. Discussions during the meeting highlighted the close strategic relations between the State of Qatar »»»

Doha: The Council of Ministers Secretariat General celebrated Qatar National Day during an event held yesterday for this auspicious occasion, through which the true meanings of loyalty, patriotism, and pride were embodied and deeply ingrained in the spirit of the people of Qatar. Minister of Justic»»»

With growing demand for energy at home, Egypt is diversifying its global partners to secure additional natural gas supplies, to maintain power generation and industrial productivity. In recent years, one of its key gas partners has been Israel, but negotiations over a supply deal recently hit the r»»»

Doha, Qatar: Full concentration for 90 minutes has been the hallmark of Jordan’s campaign at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, helping them register five straight wins, collect maximum points, score 10 goals and concede only two. Jordan’s impressive form prompted Issam Smeeri, one of the standouts from»»»

Washington: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met today in Washington D.C. with several members of the US Senate and the House of Representatives. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Senator Steve Daines,»»»

Doha, Qatar: QNB hosted two special events in Doha as part of its Premium Partnership with the French football club, Paris Saint-Germain, during the team’s annual winter tour in Qatar. The tour presents an exciting opportunity for fans and customers to engage with the celebrated Paris Saint-Germain»»»

Doha, Qatar: When you think about the names to have worn the colours of Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain over the years, not many will stand out more than that of Ronaldinho. The Brazilian legend – a football icon all around the globe – spoke to FIFA about his time at the two clubs, who are set to »»»

Ai Chip startup Rebellion aim to challenge Nvidia as unicorn. Computer chips circuits boards. File Photo by Jon Sullivan/Wikimedia Commons Dec. 16 (Asia Today) -- Rebellion Chief Executive Park Sung-hyun said Tuesday the South Korean AI semiconductor startup wants to "compete head-to-head" with Nvi»»»

Abu Dhabi: An Abu Dhabi court has ordered a company to pay Dh200,000 in compensation to the heirs of an employee who died as a result of the company’s negligence, in a ruling that underscores employers’ legal responsibility to ensure workplace safety. The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative »»»

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invited Jordanian companies to invest in India, saying they can look forward to good returns on their investments as the country is growing at over 8%. Speaking at the India-Jordan Business Forum meet here, Modi said India is soon going to become the t»»»

The Saudi Exports Development Authority (SAUDI EXPORTS) organized a trade mission for Iraq and Syria in conjunction with the Made in Saudi Expo 2025 in Riyadh, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday. The missions involved 87 Saudi exporters and 32 importing companies, representing key sectors i»»»

Doha: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani sent a cable of congratulations to H E Philip Joseph Pierre on the occasion of his swearing-in as Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, wishing him success in his duties and further progress and pr»»»

Doha, Qatar: The semi-finals of the 11th edition of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 lived up to its promise of high-quality matches and enthusiastic crowds, resulting in the well-deserved qualification of the Jordanian and Moroccan national teams for the final, scheduled for Thursday at Lusail Stadium»»»

In the summer of 2015, Islamic State terrorists overran the ancient central Syrian city of Palmyra, looting and bulldozing its treasures and architecture in the weeks and months that followed. Just over a decade later, on 13 December, it once again attacked the city. This time, an IS operative infi»»»

DOHA: Speaker of the Shura Council H E Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim met yesterday with Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana H E Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who is currently visiting the country. At the outset of the meeting, the Speaker of the Shura Council welcomed his Ghanaian c»»»

Doha, Qatar: Paris Saint-Germain and France superstar Ousmane Dembele won the Best FIFA Men’s Player 2025 at a special event at Fairmont Katara Hall in Doha yesterday. The dynamic attacker has been rewarded following an incredible season for PSG. He was a talismanic figure during the club’s run to »»»

The Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan rejected the appeal of Zhogorku Kenesh candidate Zhyldyzkan Dzholdosheva, who demanded that the Central Election Commission overturn the results. As a reminder, Zhyldyzkan Dzholdosheva received the majority of votes in electoral district No. 8 and was supposed to get»»»

US President Donald Trump ordered on Tuesday a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in Washington's latest move to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government, targeting its main source of income. It is unclear how Trump will impose the move against the sanc»»»

Doha, Qatar: Another piece of silverware in a stellar year would further underline Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance in 2025 as they chase the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. But the task is far from straightforward, with in-form CR Flamengo standing in their way in tonight’s final at the Ahmad Bin Ali St»»»

President Donald Trump and President of South Korea Lee Jae Myung shake hands during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on Monday, August 25, 2025. File Photo by Al Drago/UPI | License Photo Dec. 16 (Asia Today) -- South Korea and the United States could use closer co»»»

Candidates who have been approved to participate in the Hajj in 2026 and have fully paid for the trip have been reminded of the requirement to undergo mandatory vaccination. The Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of Kyrgyzstan (SDMK) reported. According to it, vaccination of pilgrims will be carr»»»

Dubai: The Central Bank of Oman launched a partial payment system for cheques effective December 15, covering all types regardless of value. Beneficiaries must now accept whatever funds sit in the drawer's account if it's less than the cheque amount, rather than seeing the payment bounce entirely. »»»

1 of 2 | A South Korean flag patch is seen on an ROK soldier's uniform, South Korea, February 10, 2025. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo Dec. 16 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's military authorities are reportedly considering a complete replacement of combat uniforms after the military»»»

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday plans to recent the military's Chaplain Corps on ministry. File Photo/Sgt. Jim Goodwin | License Photo Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Tuesday he would restore the role of the Chaplain Corps, saying political correctness ha»»»

President Rumen Radev will hold meetings with representatives of the parliamentary groups of BSP–United Left and There Is Such a People (TISP). The meetings are part of the consultation procedure with representatives of the parliamentary groups in the 51st National Assembly following the resignatio»»»

An event marking the 30th anniversary of the General Assembly resolution on the millennium anniversary of the Manas epic, a key monument of Turkic cultural heritage, was held at the UN headquarters in New York. The UN News Service reported. Photo UN. Event marking the 30th anniversary of the Genera»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Labour Court has ordered a contracting company to pay Dh195,000 to a site supervisor, covering end-of-service benefits, unpaid salaries and unused annual leave, after finding no evidence that the company had settled the worker’s entitlements. In its ruling, the court said t»»»

President Donald Trump participates in a Hanukkah reception in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on December 16, 2025. Later that day, he ordered a naval blockade of Venezuela. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo Dec. 16 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered "a»»»

The number of victims of VML_KG pyramid scheme fraud may reach up to 12,000 people. Police Lieutenant Colonel Cholpon Nazarkulova, an officer at the Main Criminal Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, announced on Birinchi Radio. She noted that more than 230 complaints from »»»

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Commercial Court has ordered a young man to pay Dh87,383 to a car rental company after finding that he failed to meet his financial obligations under a long-term vehicle lease agreement. In its ruling, the Court of First Instance also ordered the termination of the lease co»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Ukraine could cease to exist if the conflict continues and a more dangerous global conflict could erupt if peace is not achieved, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko warned. "If the escalation continues, the consequences could be very grave for Europe and the entire wor»»»

Dubai: Dubai gold prices are hovering just below their all-time highs, tracking a powerful global rally in bullion. Local buyers face some of the highest rates on record, with further moves hinging on US inflation data and fast-escalating geopolitical tensions. Sign up for our daily business newsle»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said he designated the incumbent Venezuelan government as a foreign terrorist organization and ordered a "complete" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela. "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever ass»»»

Finland's delegate to last month's Miss Universe pageant held in Thailand has sparked a racism firestorm over a viral photo that showed her pulling the corners of her eyes. Sarah Dzafce, who has been dethroned, uploaded the photo with the caption "eating with a Chinese". The slanted-eyes pose is of»»»

The team of Kyrgyzstan became the champions of Asia in gymkhana for the 2025 season, taking the first place in the overall team standings at the Asia Auto Gymkhana Championship. The Federation of Motorsport and Road Safety reported. According to it, the Kyrgyz team scored 114 points at the end of t»»»