A ceremonial opening of the city’s central square took place in Talas following its full reconstruction. At the same time, the main New Year tree was lit up. The square was equipped with new modern lighting, the City Hall’s press service reported. Residents and guests were congratulated on the open»»»

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk attends the EU Council Summit in Brussels, Belgium, Thursday. EU leaders are meeting to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, the EU's next multiannual financial framework, the EU enlargement process, and the geoeconomic situation in the European Union. EPA/O»»»

The United Arab Emirates has an effective program known as government accelerators, which identify problems faced by people and help resolve them. In the past, Kyrgyz entrepreneurs spent days, months, and sometimes even years collecting the required documents. Now, identified issues are forwarded t»»»

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized the EU’s planned 90-billion-euro support package for Ukraine for 2026–27, calling it “lost money” and arguing that future generations would bear the cost, Reuters reported. 📌 Key points from his statement: 🔹 It is “clear” Ukraine will not repay the E»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The refusal to confiscate Russian assets is a victory for international law, and it avoided a dangerous precedent, Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever said on Friday. "I think also international law has won today. We avoided stepping into a precedent that risks undermining legal»»»

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has urged private schools and early childhood centres in Dubai to take extra precautions over the coming days as unstable weather is expected. Schools are advised to prioritise staff safety and, where possible, implement flexible or alternative w»»»

Over the past two — three years, Kyrgyzstan’s gross domestic product growth has not fallen below 9 percent. The task set by the President is to maintain these growth rates, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev said in an interview with state television channels. According to him,»»»

Marina Fedorova’s chrome-plated sculpture Starship will be unveiled at the official opening of the 4th edition of DIFC Sculpture Park on 26 November 2025 and remain on view through 31 May 2026. The work is part of the artist’s ongoing Cosmodreams project. The work began as an oil painting. Fedorova»»»

Blending centuries-old Ayurvedic wisdom with modern scientific innovation, Almora Botanica introduces a new era of mindful sophistication to Dubai’s wellness landscape. Founded by Ravi Prasad, a lifelong practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine, the brand redefines skincare that is pure, effective, and s»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Union will provide Ukraine with a 90 billion euros loan ($105.5 billion), secured by the EU budget and potentially reimbursable from frozen Russian assets, European Council President Antonio Costa said on Friday. "In October, we decided that the European Union would »»»

The US Senate has confirmed Jared Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut and close associate of SpaceX founder Elon Musk, as the new head of NASA. The measure passed by a wide margin on Wednesday. Isaacman, 42, financed and took part in two civilian crewed SpaceX flights, one of which featured a»»»

EU lawmakers have backed a bill for a “military Schengen area” that would eliminate the bloc’s internal borders for the purposes of rapid troop and materiel movements in the event of a conflict with Russia. Top EU officials have already used claims of an alleged threat from Russia to justify huge m»»»

Dubai: Unsettled weather is expected to continue across the UAE over the coming days, starting with a sharp drop in temperatures and widespread atmospheric instability on Friday, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has said. Friday is forecast to be partly cloudy to cloudy, with convective clo»»»

Dubai Police have urged motorists and road users to exercise caution as adverse weather continues across parts of the UAE. Rain, strong winds, thunderstorms, lightning, and occasional hail have reduced visibility on roads. Click here to go to the live weather blogFor minor accidents during rain, mo»»»

Dubai: On December 19, 1975, Dubai marked a defining moment in its infrastructure journey with the opening of the Shindagha Tunnel — the emirate’s first fixed underwater road crossing beneath Dubai Creek. Fifty years on, the tunnel stands as a lasting symbol of Dubai’s early ambition to modernise c»»»

A significant salary increase is planned in Kyrgyzstan for 2026. Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, announced in an interview with state television channels. According to him, during the first stage, starting in 2026, the salaries of teachers, healthcare workers»»»

Dubai: Food delivery services across the UAE were temporarily paused on Friday as heavy rainfall, strong winds and poor visibility disrupted road conditions, prompting platforms to prioritise rider safety over service continuity. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Major a»»»

The International Criminal Court slammed a "flagrant attack" on its independence on Thursday after the United States imposed sanctions on two more judges over their role in investigating Israeli officials for possible war crimes in Gaza. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an ICC »»»

An alleged leader of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang was charged in New York with racketeering and drug and firearms offences, US officials said on Thursday. Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, 42, whose whereabouts are unknown, faces a $5 million US reward for information leading to his arrest or »»»

The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday approved former Iraqi President Barham Salih as the next head of the UN refugee agency, the first from the Middle East since the late 1970s. The 193-member body elected the 65-year-old by consensus. The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday appr»»»

Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein victim Haley Robson speaks during a press conference with other victims on the Epstein Files Transparency Act outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, in November. The House Oversight Committee is investigating as many as 95,000 photos of Epstein with high »»»

Buddhist and Christian leaders attend a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul on Dec. 18. Photo by Asia Today Dec. 18 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's largest Buddhist order held a Christmas tree lighting ceremony Thursday at Jogyesa Temple in central Seoul, bringing together rel»»»

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday his country needed a decision this year on a plan to use frozen Russian assets to plug Kyiv's yawning budget gap, telling European leaders gathered at a summit in Brussels that the use of Russian assets to defend against Russian aggression was "m»»»

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told EU leaders at a summit in Brussels that the signing of a free trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur would be postponed to January, diplomatic sources said, amid French-led opposition to the mammoth transatlantic pact that sparked angry prot»»»

Some brand it 'the most crucial EU summit' since the financial crisis of 2008. A last chance to stave off bankruptcy for a Ukraine government that might run out of money by the end of spring. To stare down increased hybrid attacks from Russia. But with Vladimir Putin insisting that it's not 'Europe»»»

European Union leaders have struck a deal to give Ukraine a €90bn (£79bn; $105bn) loan after failing to agree on using frozen Russian assets. The agreement, which leaders said would meet Ukraine's military and economic needs for the next two years, came after more than a day of talks at a summit in»»»

Dubai: Dubai Police have issued a public advisory urging motorists and road users to exercise caution as adverse weather conditions continue to affect parts of the UAE. In a statement shared on social media, Dubai Police said the country is experiencing rain, strong winds, thunder, lightning and, i»»»

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan had set a goal of achieving a consolidated budget of 1 trillion soms by 2027. Recently, I submitted amendments and additions to the current year’s budget to the Zhogorku Kenesh—we are planning a budget of 1,093.1 trillion soms. Chairman of the Cabinet of Minis»»»

Police in Sri Lanka have arrested three men for allegedly burning a wild elephant with flaming torches while trying to chase it away, local media reported. A video of the incident, which took place in a village in the country's north, triggered fierce backlash as it circulated on social media this »»»

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young arrives at the Government Complex Seoul in Seoul on Dec. 11. Photo by Asia Today Dec. 17 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's Unification Ministry said Wednesday that the Korean War Armistice Agreement is "military in nature" and does not prohibit the peaceful use of »»»

Japan's central bank has raised its main interest rate to the highest level in 30 years as the country faces a cost-of-living squeeze. In a widely expected decision, the Bank of Japan's policy board, led by governor Kazuo Ueda, increased its benchmark rate by a quarter of a percentage point to "aro»»»

Patna: The police apprehended two accused involved in an alleged attempted abduction of a doctor in Bihar's Chhapra following an encounter in the Revelganj area of the district. The arrested men have been identified as Ranjan Yadav and Sonu Rai. Both accused sustained gunshot injuries to their legs»»»

The UAE has been hit by heavy rain showers since Thursday afternoon. Now forecasters are warning people to be ready for more over the weekend. While the worst of the downpours seem to be forecast for Friday morning, the National Centre of Meteorology has stated that Saturday and Sunday will possibl»»»

Frank Walls died by lethal injection on Thursday for a 1987 double murder and became the 19th inmate executed in Florida in 2025. Photo Courtesy of the Okaloosa Department of Corrections Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Florida upped its execution record to 19 after enforcing the death penalty via lethal injection»»»

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol enters a courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, 26 September 2025. Photo by EPA/YONHAP Dec. 17 (Asia Today) -- A South Korean military internal investigation found the government decided in late 2023 to resume leaflet drops targeting Nort»»»

Migrants are placed into vans by the U.S. Border Patrol after crossing the border wall from Mexico near Campo, Calif., about 50 miles from San Diego, in 2024. The agency is increasing trainee recruits at its academy in Artesia, N.M. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo Dec. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. »»»

Have you ever noticed that every interaction in life is really a negotiation? From toddlers refusing broccoli to teenagers lobbying for the latest gadgets, life is one continuous exercise in give-and-take — and we rarely pause to examine it. I see this truth the moment I wake up. Chanel, my cat and»»»

Dubai: Emirates has cancelled several flights scheduled for Friday, 19 December, as adverse weather continues to affect Dubai and surrounding areas. In an update issued late on December 18 (9:39 pm GMT+4), the airline said poor weather conditions across the UAE and the wider region have disrupted o»»»

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick participates in a Hanukkah reception in the East Room at the White House in Washington on December 16, 2025. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo Dec. 17 (Asia Today) -- Korea Zinc's decision to build a large-scale smelter in the United States is drawing bro»»»

MEXICO CITY: A blunt critique of Mexican bread by a British baker sparked a cascade of social media outrage, ultimately leading to a public apology. In an interview for a food-themed podcast that resurfaced online, Richard Hart, the co-founder of Green Rhino bakery in Mexico City and a well-known f»»»

North Korean hackers accounted for a record $2.02 billion in global cryptocurrency thefts in 2025, which accounted for most of the $3.4 billion stolen this year, according to an industry report released on Thursday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Dec. 18 (UPI) -- North Korea topped its»»»

The Australian government has announced a gun buyback scheme in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack - its deadliest mass shooting in decades. The scheme is the largest since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, which left 35 people dead and prompted Australia to introduce world-leading gun control meas»»»

United Nations: Barham Salih, a former Iraqi president who was himself once a refugee, has been elected the UN High Commissioner for Refugees at a time when the agency faces the twin crises of shrinking resources and a huge increase in people needing its help. The General Assembly on Thursday elect»»»

China's TikTok owner on Thursday agreed to sell a majority stake in the popular social media app to U.S. investors to maintain access in the United States. Photo by Alex Plavevski/EPA-EFE Dec. 18 (UPI) -- The owner of TikTok has signed an agreement to create a joint venture that will make the popul»»»

Dubai: For many metro users, Zoom stores were a fixed part of the commute. A predictable stop between ticket gates and platforms. Over the past few months, that familiarity has started to fade. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Several Zoom outlets inside Dubai Metro sta»»»

TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance has signed binding agreements with US and global investors to sell the majority of its business in America, TikTok's boss told employees on Thursday. Half of the joint venture will be owned by a group of investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati inves»»»

STARKE, Florida: A man convicted of fatally shooting a man and his girlfriend during a home invasion robbery was put to death Thursday evening in a record 19th execution in Florida this year. Frank Athen Walls, 58, was pronounced dead at 6:11 pm following a three-drug injection at Florida State Pri»»»

A stream of hot caramel runs through the Thomas Tunnock factory just outside Glasgow. From the second floor where it is made, it runs along conveyor belts down to the first floor, bringing a a sweet, warm aroma to the building. But working with caramel is not easy. Experienced workers have to check»»»

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the state has set an ambitious target of establishing 25 fully functional medical colleges by 2030 as part of its long-term strategy to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and create a robust pool of medical specialists. Addres»»»