As of December 19, 2025, the interstellar visitor known as 3I/ATLAS (officially designated C/2025 N1) is making its closest approach to Earth before continuing its journey out of our Solar System. This enigmatic object, the third confirmed interstellar comet to pass through our neighbourhood, has c»»»

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young delivers opening remarks at the Northeast Asia Peaceful Coexistence Forum at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 12. Photo by Asia Today Dec. 18 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's Unification Ministry is seeking a larger role in shaping North Korea policy, but cr»»»

Mourners lay flowers as a tribute at the Bondi Pavilion in memory of the victims of a shooting at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, on Monday, December 15, 2025. Photo by NSW Premier's Office/UPI | License Photo Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday proposed a national gun buy»»»

A police officer suspected of raping a minor has been detained in Bishkek. Sources in law enforcement agencies reported on December 19. According to preliminary reports, the schoolgirl contacted the juvenile affairs inspectorate of the Internal Affairs Department of Sverdlovsky district and reporte»»»

KUWAIT, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- The price of Kuwaiti oil went up by 63 cents to USD 59.55 per barrel (pb) on Thursday, compared to USD 58.92 pb the previous day, said the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) on Friday.In global markets, Brent Crude rose by 14 cents to USD 59.82 pb and West Texas Intermediat»»»

MADRID, Dec 19 (KUNA) -- Spain strongly condemned the announcement of new sanctions adopted by the United States against two judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging their direct involvement in politically motivated and illegal actions against the Israeli occupation.In a statement»»»

Greece's Coast Guard rescued about 545 migrants from a fishing boat off Europe's southernmost island of Gavdos on Friday, one of the biggest groups to reach the country in recent months. The migrants were found during a Greek search operation some 16 nautical miles (29.6 km) off Gavdos, Reuters quo»»»

Brussels, Dec 19 (SANA) The European Council reiterated support for Syria and its people, calling on all parties to respect its sovereignty and territorial unity. In a statement following its meeting in Brussels on the Middle East situation, the council expressed support for an inclusive and peacef»»»

TradeEuropeEU delays signing Mercosur free trade deal, againJon SheltonEU leaders have once again delayed signing a comprehensive trade deal with South America. Now 25 years in the making, lawmakers expect an agreement to be signed in January. https://p.dw.com/p/55ggHAfter a quarter century, the EU»»»

Dubai: Snowfall transformed parts of northern Saudi Arabia into an unexpected winter playground this week, drawing residents outdoors to ski, celebrate, and capture a scene rarely seen in the Kingdom. In the mountainous areas of Tabuk and Hail, particularly around Jabal Al Lawz near the Jordanian b»»»

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has temporarily suspended ferry services between Dubai and Sharjah due to ongoing adverse weather conditions. Passengers are advised to monitor official updates and consider alternative travel arrangements. The RTA thanked commuters for their understanding an»»»

A draft set of aviation rules «APKР-6. Part IV. Operation of Aircraft. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles» has been submitted for public discussion in Kyrgyzstan. The document was prepared in accordance with a Cabinet of Ministers resolution delegating rule-making authority to state bodies and is aimed at br»»»

Dubai: British professionals and business owners moving to the UAE are arriving better prepared than before, with visa pathways, budgets, and timelines increasingly planned in advance. Immigration specialists say the shift reflects growing use of long-term residency options and a more strategic app»»»

The future USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) sails on its own power for the first time out of Newport News, Virginia on April 8, 2017. File U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ridge Leoni/UPI | License Photo Dec. 18 (Asia Today) -- HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering said »»»

“This National Assembly has been absolutely illegitimate from the start. We are in a mafia dictatorship that cannot survive under a market economy,” said Ivelin Mihaylov, leader of the Velichie party, on the last day of consultations with President Rumen Radev before the head of State starts the pr»»»

In a declaration read out in Parliament on Friday, Vazrazhdane said the Bulgarian State will give Ukraine between BGN 1 billion and BGN 2 billion as an interest-free loan, which will be repaid under two conditions – when Russia pays reparations to Ukraine, or, if that does not happen, when the EU c»»»

The Dubai Government Media Office confirmed on Friday that all main roads across the emirate remain open and accessible, citing information from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Click here to go to the live weather blog In a post on its official X account, the Media Office expressed appreci»»»

During Central Asia + Japan Business Forum in Tokyo, Ravshanbek Sabirov, head of the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, met with Nobumitsu Akai, the management of JFR Co. Ltd., to discuss prospects for cooperation in biotechnology. The National Investment Agency’»»»

Israel is weighing extraordinary legal measures that could result in the execution of up to 100 Hamas fighters accused of taking part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Defense Minister Israel Katz and Justice Minister Yariv Levin have discussed the creation of a dedicated military court to try hundreds o»»»

China's military will step up training and "take forceful measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," its defense ministry said ‌on Friday ‌in ‌response ⁠to a ‌planned $11.1 billion US arms sales package to Taiwan. The ministry urges the US to "immediately ⁠cease arms ‌sa»»»

Democrats on the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform have released a new batch of photographs obtained from the estate of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, offering a disturbing and fragmentary glimpse into materials investigators say point to his network, methods, and contacts»»»

EU leaders agreed on Friday to provide a massive interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years, but they failed to bridge differences with Belgium that would have allowed them to use frozen Russian assets to raise the funds. Follow our liveblog for the»»»

Moon Geun-sik, a special professor at Hanyang University’s Graduate School of Public Policy, appears on Ato TV’s live program “Koo Pil-hyun’s Military” on Nov. 12. Photo by Asia Today Dec. 18 (Asia Today) -- Nuclear-powered submarines should be viewed as an industrial, technology and energy strateg»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual year-end address on Friday, December 19, reviewing the key results of 2025 and outlining priorities for 2026. Putin is addressing the public live from Moscow’s Gostiny Dvor, where the president is holding his year-end press conference.The event c»»»

President Rumen Radev has concluded consultations with all political parties represented in the National Assembly and emphasized the need for urgent measures to restore trust in the electoral process. He announced that he will hand over the first exploratory mandate to form a new government after t»»»

On December 19, during his official visit to Japan, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov met with Emperor Naruhito of Japan. During the conversation, the two sides discussed strengthening friendly ties, developing cultural and humanitarian cooperation, and expanding mutual understanding a»»»

Washington: Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) announced that Qatar Investment Authority has increased its stake in the company. MSE is a leading firms that integrate sports, media, and entertainment. The Authority first invested in MSE in 2023, as part of its focus on long-term, high-value in»»»

Damascus, Dec. 19 (SANA) Syria’s Central Bank (CBS) Governor Abdulkader Husrieh welcomed on Thursday the Australian government’s decision to lift sanctions on the Syrian financial sector. In a statement on his Facebook page, Husrieh said that Syrian financial institutions can now conduct banking ac»»»

When yesterday's afternoon downpour began, it transformed Dubai's bustling streets into scenes of hurried chaos within minutes. Outside Business Bay Metro Station, commuters emerged from the underground to find themselves facing sheets of rain with nothing but briefcases and handbags for protection»»»

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of “sanctioned oil tankers” into and out of Venezuela, US forces seized an oil tanker off the country's coast and the military attacked three more alleged drug-smuggling boats in the region — all in the course of a week. Also Read: 8 killed as 3»»»

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young speaks during a briefing to President Lee Jae Myung on the ministry's 2026 policy plan on Friday. The ministry called for a "year of peaceful coexistence" with North Korea. Photo by Yonhap Dec. 19 (UPI) -- South Korea's Unification Ministry on Friday said it ai»»»

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (center R) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (center L) leave after their meeting in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. File Photo by Kremlin Press Office/UPI | License Photo Dec. 18 (Asia Today) -- North Korean media increasingly refer to Kim Jong»»»

DOHA: Qatar's retail sector in the country remained stable during the third quarter of 2025, underpinned by resilient consumer spending and continued growth in tourism, according to market insights from Cushman & Wakefield. While overall activity was steady, performance varied notably across retail»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Union's sanctions against Russia have deprived France of more than half of its exports to the Russian market, Sputnik calculated on Friday, using Eurostat data. According to the figures, over the first 10 months of 2025 Paris supplied Moscow with goods and services w»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The children and grandchildren of those who made the decision about the EU loan to Ukraine will be paying for the loan, it is clear that Ukraine will not repay it, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. Orban said the EU abandoned the idea of ​​confiscating Russian assets wh»»»

President Vladimir Putin is holding his combined year-end press conference and Direct Line from Moscow’s Gostiny Dvor, reviewing the results of 2025 and outlining priorities for 2026. The format, first merged in 2023, brings together questions from reporters and citizens from across the country. Mo»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The signing of the trade agreement between the European Union and South American trading bloc Mercosur has been postponed until January, media reported, citing a diplomatic source. The signing of the agreement was planned for Saturday. European Commission President Ursula von der»»»

Dubai: The weekend is upon us, and while the weather has calmed down a bit, the roads are still flooded and staying home just feels like the right call. What better way to enjoy the cosy vibes than curling up with a great movie? Rainy days have a way of slowing life down. The noise softens, plans d»»»

Several meetings held by US Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin with the leadership of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) point to American attempts to reinforce the political and security partnership with the Yemeni government while containing internal divisions within the internationally »»»

US President Donald Trump and former US President Bill Clinton are among several high profile figures who are known to have associated with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump and Clinton were each photographed with Epstein several times over the 1990s and early 2000s and occasionally»»»

Johannesburg: A social media picture of Achraf Hakimi in Rabat this week gladdened every Moroccan football supporter as the kingdom prepares to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from Sunday. The 27-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star was wearing sun glasses, a red, white and black sweater, »»»

Doha: The volume of real estate transactions recorded with the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice during November 2025 reached QAR 2,261,414,442. Analytical data issued in the Ministry of Justice’s Real Estate Bulletin revealed the registration of 530 real estate deals d»»»

Nolte FZE, Germany’s leading premium kitchen brand, concludes 2025 marked by strategic growth across the Middle East and key global markets. The company strengthened its position in the UAE, advanced large-scale initiatives in Saudi Arabia, expanded its dealer and project networks, and entered new »»»

Doha: In the end, the final step was one too far. CR Flamengo though came as close as they possibly could, pushing the might of Paris Saint-Germain all the way to penalties in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final. At the end of a remarkable fortnight where the club claimed four major trophies, the g»»»

DOHA: Luis Enrique hailed an “incredible, unforgettable” year after Paris Saint-Germain completed a six-trophy haul in 2025 by lifting the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Doha. The dramatic penalty shootout victory over Flamengo at a packed Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, where PSG edged the Brazilian side 2-1»»»

Primark, the international fashion retailer, has today announced major plans to expand its presence in Romania, confirming four new store openings for 2026. The announcement comes as the company celebrates its anniversary in the market this week, marking three years since the opening of its first R»»»

President Rumen Radev announced that he will hand over the first exploratory mandate to form a government after the New Year. The head of state said that during the consultations, held with parliamentary forces on the possibility of forming a regular cabinet under the current legislature, a shared »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Law and common sense have prevailed for now, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Russian special presidential envoy for economic cooperation with foreign countries, said on Friday, commenting on the European Union's decision not to confiscat»»»

The Sharjah Civil Defence Authority (SCDA) has urged residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution as unstable weather and heavy rainfall continue to affect the emirate this week. The advisory follows warnings from the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) of a deep low-pressure system expected»»»