Peoples offer flowers and prays during the 2nd anniversary of late former President Shinzo Abe's assassinated at the site where he was shot near Yamato-Saidaiji station in Nara-Prefecture, Japan on Monday, July 8, 2024. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (Asia Today) -- Japanese p»»»

KUWAIT, Dec 21 (KUNA) -- The fifth Gulf Cybersecurity Conference and Exhibition kicked off in Kuwait on Sunday, with representatives from all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and the GCC Secretariat General attending. In opening remarks, Kuwait National Cybersecurity Center Head, Engine»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces have struck Ukrainian defense industry facilities as well as energy, transport and storage infrastructure used by the Ukrainian armed forces, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack drones, missile troops, and a»»»

At least 16 files disappeared from the Justice Department’s public webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein — including a photograph showing President Donald Trump — less than a day after they were posted, with no explanation from the government and no notice to the public. The missing file»»»

Australians held a moment of silence on Sunday in tribute to the 15 Bondi Beach shooting victims, marking one week since gunmen fired into Jewish crowds on one of the nation's darkest days. A father and son are accused of targeting the family-thronged Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach, a touris»»»

Donald Trump has claimed that he could pay himself $1 billion in US government money as damages for a raid carried out at his Mar-a-Lago estate by the FBI. Federal agents searched Trump’s property in Palm Beach, Florida in August 2022 as part of an investigation into his alleged mishandling of clas»»»

News report by Fawaz Al-Otaibi BEIRUT, Dec 21 (KUNA) -- Amid growing indications of recovery, commercial and tourism activity in Lebanon is witnessing noticeable momentum as the New Year holiday season approaches, traditionally one of the most economically active periods of the year. Preliminary in»»»

Doha, Qatar: The National Command Center (NCC) received the Federal Minister of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany, HE Alexander Dobrindt, and the accompanying delegation. HE Dobrindt was received by Brigadier Ali Mohammed Al Mohannadi, Head of the National Command Center (NCC), along »»»

DOHA: Msheireb Properties announced the launch of the third edition of Baraha Cinema, which will run from December25-January 3, which will include an outdoor cinema experience featuring family films, seasonal activities, and a movie-themed culinary programme. Baraha Cinema is part of Msheireb Downt»»»

Egypt has approved a $300 million tyre manufacturing plant by Prometeon Tyre Group, marking another major step in the country’s drive to localise automotive manufacturing and expand export-oriented industry. The project received formal approval in mid-December 2025 during a session of the Ministeri»»»

Total net wealth across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) exceeded $7.5 trillion in 2024, underscoring the region’s growing financial depth and asset accumulation, according to data from Boston Consulting Group. Saudi Arabia ranked as the region’s wealthiest economy, with total net wealth reaching»»»

Dubai: If you are one of those drivers who likes to cruise along in the fast lane, you might want to think twice. Authorities in Dubai have once again issued a stern reminder about a traffic rule that many motorists continue to violate, and it could cost you Dh400. The Roads and Transport Authority»»»

Taipei, Taiwan: Taiwan police on Sunday ruled out "terrorism" in a metro stabbing in the capital Taipei, where an attacker killed three and wounded 11. A 27-year-old man, identified by police by his family name Chang, set off smoke bombs at Taipei Main Station metro on Friday afternoon before launc»»»

Dubai: A special court has sentenced former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana-II case, which revolves around allegations that the couple retained a Saudi gift at a fraction of its value. The case concerns a Bulgari jewellery set give»»»

The Thiruvananthapuram Seventh Additional Sessions Court on Saturday granted anticipatory bail to acclaimed filmmaker and former legislator P.T. Kunju Muhammed in a sexual assault case filed by a woman from the film industry, according to local media reports. The court allowed the bail under strict»»»

Bulgaria has never abstained when it came to the freezing of Russian assets and voted in favor of their long-term freeze, outgoing Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev told Bulgarian National Television on Sunday. He was asked to clarify Bulgaria’s position after this country, along with Italy, Belgium,»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin's top foreign policy aide said on Sunday that he was sure the chances of peace in Ukraine were not improved by changes to US proposals made by the Europeans and Ukraine, ‌Interfax news agency ‌reported. "This is ‌not ⁠a forecast," ‌Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri U»»»

The constitutional process for forming a new government is expected to begin after January 5, when the procedure for handing out parliamentary mandates officially starts. According to the established order, the first attempt to form a cabinet will be entrusted to the largest parliamentary group, GE»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's schedule does not yet include a phone call with US President Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "It is not yet scheduled, but it can be arranged quickly if necessary," Peskov told reporters.When asked whether Putin planned to wi»»»

Israel's security cabinet approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, bringing the total number approved over the past three years to 69, an official statement said Sunday. "The proposal by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz to declare»»»

Ahmedabad on Saturday received its first indigenously built metro train, marking a major milestone for Gujarat’s urban transport system and India’s push for domestic manufacturing. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the new metro coaches during his visit to the Titagarh Rail Systems ma»»»

Washington, United States: The United States "apprehended" an oil tanker off Venezuela on Saturday, a move Caracas deemed a "theft and kidnapping," in the latest salvo of a pressure campaign by Washington, the US government said. It was the second time in two weeks that US forces have interdicted a»»»

Dubai: Ras Al Khaimah’s Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Police, Brigadier Jamal Ahmed Al Tair, conducted field inspections of several vital areas and dams across the emirate following the recent weather conditions that brought heavy rainfall over the past two days. He was accompanied by Ali Rashid Al »»»

Israel's military said it killed two Palestinians in the north of the occupied West Bank Saturday, accusing one of throwing "a block" and the other an explosive at its soldiers. In a statement the military said that during an operation "in the area of Qabatiya, a terrorist hurled a block toward the»»»

The head of Iraq's highest judicial body said Saturday that the leaders of armed factions have agreed to cooperate on the sensitive issue of the state's monopoly on weapons. However, the powerful Kataib Hezbollah group said that it would only discuss giving up its arms when foreign troops leave the»»»

In 2004, Alexandros Angelopoulos had been arrested, and convicted, for attempting to import 4.5 tons of cocaine from South America into Europe using a fishing trawler. Angelopoulos was released in 2024, after serving 20 years of a 22-year sentence. An earlier release, in 2015, made possible thanks »»»

Sydney: Australians fell silent in flickering candlelight Sunday to honour the Bondi Beach shooting victims, marking one week since gunmen fired into crowds at a Jewish festival. A father and son are accused of targeting the beachside Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people including children and H»»»

Germany’s mass-circulation tabloid Bild published a sharply critical piece targeting outgoing Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, focusing on his behavior during a high-level EU summit dedicated to major geopolitical and economic decisions. In the article, Bild describes how Zhelyazkov drew »»»

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said he is confident that provisions that Europeans and Ukrainians are trying to introduce into the draft peace plan will not bring about long-term stability. "I am more than confident that the provisions that Europeans and Ukrainians have introduced and are trying to impl»»»

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced Professor Badi Baltagi as the winner of the Great Arab Minds Award 2025 in the Economics category, recognising a career that has reshaped modern economic analysis and s»»»

North Korea said on Sunday that Japan's nuclear ambitions "must be prevented at any cost", after a Tokyo official reportedly suggested the country should possess atomic weapons. Pyongyang's reaction came after the unnamed official in the prime minister's office was quoted by Kyodo News on Thursday »»»

Bulgaria has received close to 70 billion leva, or roughly 35.8 billion euro, in grant funding from the start of the transition period (1990s) up to 2024, according to an analysis by the Institute for Market Economy. The volume of grants has grown steadily over time, with more than half of all fund»»»

A senior Japanese government official recently stated that his country should possess nuclear weapons. A Japanese attempt to go nuclear must be prevented at any cost, as it would bring mankind a great disaster,” the director of the Institute for Japan Studies at the North Korean Foreign Ministry wa»»»

The Saudi capital underwent an unprecedented structural shift in its real estate market in 2025, driven by a forward-looking agenda led by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Far from incremental regulation, the year’s measures amounted to a deep corrective overhaul aimed a»»»

Interview by Mohammad Al-Mutairi KUWAIT, Dec 21 (KUNA) -- Director General of the Arab Planning Institute (API) Dr. Adel Al-Wugayan said that the Institute's vision for the next five years is mainly intended to bolster its position as a leading and credible know-how entity.In an interview with KUNA»»»

US forces on Saturday stopped an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela for the second time in less than two weeks, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a blockade on sanctioned vessels. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the operation, carried out with the Defense Department»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia will begin enforcing a mandatory system for paying the salaries of all domestic workers through official electronic channels starting January 1, 2026, a move aimed at strengthening wage protection and increasing transparency in employment relationships. The decision, announced b»»»

On Dec. 21, 1975, the notorious terrorist Carlos the Jackal led a raid on a meeting of OPEC oil ministers in Vienna. German and Arab terrorists stormed in with machine guns, killed three people and took 63 others hostage, including 11 oil ministers. 1 of 8 | On December 21, 1975, the notorious terr»»»

The civic movement Third March (Treti Mart) has formally launched procedures to register as a political party, announcing its intentions at a meeting in Nessebar, Bulgaria. The decision was presented by the chairman of the movement, Tihomir Atanasov, who said an initiative committee has already bee»»»

Australia on Sunday was honoring victims of a gun attack a week earlier on a seaside Hanukkah celebration, as the prime minister announced a review of the country's law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The nation was marking a day of reflection to honor the 15 people killed and the dozens wou»»»

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said Washington's immediate goal on Sudan is a cessation of hostilities going into the new year that allows humanitarian organizations to deliver assistance. Rubio, speaking to reporters at a news conference, said that Washington was engaging with the par»»»

Traffic police have implemented temporary road restrictions in central Athens for Sunday morning’s Athens Santa Run 2025, a charitable fundraising event. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the City of Athens Reception and Solidarity Center (KYADA), supporting vulnerable social groups affected »»»

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a review into the police and national intelligence agencies after the Bondi Beach attack in Sydney. "The ISIS-inspired atrocity last Sunday reinforces the rapidly changing security environment in our nation," Albanese said, using an acronym »»»

Abu Dhabi: A parliamentary report approved by the Federal National Council has revealed that the number of vacant positions across the UAE’s federal government will rise to 7,842 in 2026, stressing the need for new federal initiatives to fill critical roles as government restructuring accelerates. »»»

Images circulated on social media of armed groups opposed to Hamas in Gaza brandishing new weapons. The factions have been presenting themselves as replacements to Hamas in ruling the enclave and have been developing new means to oust the movement. The factions are active in areas in Gaza that are »»»

EU taxpayers will have to pay €3 billion a year in borrowing costs to finance Kiev’s collapsing economy and military under a newly approved loan scheme, Politico reported on Friday, citing senior bloc officials. Kiev’s European backers this week failed to approve a ‘reparations loan’ that would hav»»»

Dubai: Saudi security authorities have arrested 17,880 people residing illegally in the Kingdom over the past week, following a series of coordinated inspection campaigns, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday. Also Read: Saudi authorities detain thousands in nationwide inspectionsOperatio»»»

In an unusual development, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Iraqi government and influential political actors received two extraordinary warning messages over the past two weeks — one from an Arab country and another from a Western intelligence service — containing what were described»»»

Johannesburg: Nine people were killed when unknown gunmen opened fire at a cafe outside Johannesburg early Sunday, police said, in the second such shooting in South Africa this month. Ten more were wounded when around a dozen men attacked in Bekkersdal, in a gold mining area around 40 kilometres (2»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened two new bridges under the Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project, marking a significant milestone in efforts to ease congestion at one of the city’s most critical transport nodes. The bridges, which opened ahead of the planned mid-J»»»