A threat-representative ICBM target launches from the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands on March 25, 2019. File Photo by Missile Defense Agency/UPI | License Photo Dec. 15 (Asia Today) -- Foreign Affairs, a publication that »»»

In Kyrgyzstan, the tallest building currently has 27 floors and is nearing completion. Permits have also been issued for the construction of buildings up to 35 stories high. The Minister of Construction, Architecture, Housing and Communal Services Nurdan Oruntaev said on Birinchi Radio. Photo Nurda»»»

Dubai: Actor Dileep was at the Sabarimala Hindu shrine early this morning for a spiritual visit. Clad in a black lungi and long-sleeved shirt, and wearing a mask, he reached the shrine and entered the temple in the early hours. Visuals on local media channels like Asianet captured him walking into »»»

Doha, Qatar: Pyramids FC winger Ewerton admitted that despite falling short against Flamengo in the FIFA Challenger Cup, the Egyptian side’s presence at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup was a landmark moment for the young club. CR Flamengo defeated Pyramids 2-0 at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in the FIFA Cha»»»

A senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader said Sunday that the country would "resolutely support" Hezbollah, its ally in Lebanon, in the group's efforts to confront Tehran's regional foe Israel. The remarks by Ali Akbar Velayati came as Lebanon faces pressure from the United States and Israel to di»»»

The era of ‘Pax Americana’ is over for Europe, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said, adding that the global economy and political order are undergoing a “tectonic shift” in centers of power worldwide. The term ‘Pax Americana’ (American Peace) describes the transatlantic order that emerged afte»»»

Doha, Qatar: Winners of the ninth Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence (ACE) Award have praised the initiative for its effective role in promoting the global fight against corruption and reinforcing the principles and measures enshrined in the United Nations Conv»»»

Doha, Qatar: A champion has yielded its crown, but it’s safe to say it was held on tightly. In the quarter-finals of the FIFA Arab Cup the defending champions Algeria were eliminated after a penalty shootout which saw the United Arab Emirates emerge victorious. The paradox for the Fennecs is that n»»»

Doha, Qatar: Saudi Arabia made a strong start at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, reaching the quarter-finals with wins over Oman and Comoros, before a disappointing 1-0 loss to Morocco denied them top spot in their group. However, Herve Renard’s players bounced back swiftly in a gruelling contest aga»»»

Doha, Qatar: Saudi Arabia and Iraq reached the AGCFF U-23 Gulf Cup final after winning their respective semi-finals at Aspire pitches yesterday. Iraq defeated Qatar 6-7 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in regular time. Al Annabi’s goal was scored by Rashid Al-Abdullah in the 84th minute, whil»»»

Dubai: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has joined the ranks of the world’s leading hedge fund destinations after surpassing 100 registered managers, a milestone that firmly positions the Centre within the top five global hubs for hedge fund managers. Sign up for our daily business newsl»»»

Following the first official visit of President of Kyrgyzstan to Turkmenistan, agreements were reached covering a wide range of issues, from gas supplies to electricity imports. Danil Ibraev, member of the Presidium of the Business Council of the Eurasian Economic Union and President of the Kyrgyz »»»

Qassim Hamadeh woke to the sounds of gunfire and explosions in his village of Beit Jin in southwestern Syria last month. Within hours, he had lost two sons, a daughter-in-law and his 4-year-old and 10-year-old grandsons. The five were among 13 villagers killed that day by Israeli forces. Israeli tr»»»

It has been a year since the fall of the former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the Levantine doomsayers who predicted that it was “Assad or nothing” have been proved wrong. Contrary to their prophecies, Syria has not fractured along ethnic and religious lines. If that was the script, then Syr»»»

Doha, Qatar: The flags of Qatar and the United Nations (UN) were raised at the venue of the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (the UN Anti-Corruption Conference) yesterday. Hosted by Doha from December 15 to 19, the conference will be atten»»»

Dubai: The US Embassy in the UAE has revealed that FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders will receive no special visa advantages beyond faster appointment scheduling, with officials warning fans that they purchase tickets and travel packages entirely "at their own risk." Sign up for our daily business»»»

Japan's new submarine "Jingei" is seen during the launching ceremony at Kobe Shipyard & Machinery Works of MHI in Kobe, Hyogo-Prefecture, Japan on October 12, 2022. A diesel-electric Taigei class submarine "Jingei" is 3,000-ton with system of TCM (Torpedo Counter Measure) and may launch the Boeing »»»

Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan are discussing the expansion of cooperation in the light industry and agriculture sectors. Danil Ibraev, a member of the Presidium of the Eurasian Economic Union Business Council and President of the Kyrgyz Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, reported on Birinchi »»»

King Abdulaziz International Airport recorded a new historic milestone, reaching 50 million passengers in 2025, marking the highest number ever recorded by a Saudi airport since the launch of civil aviation in the Kingdom, and placing it among the world's mega airports in terms of passenger numbers»»»

Doha, Qatar: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani yesterday honoured the winners of the ninth edition of the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence (ACE) Award during a grand ceremony in Doha, reaffirming Qatar’s steadfast commitment to promoting integrity, tra»»»

Doha: Qatar is set to host five-day 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) which will begin today with over 2500 participants from across the globe. The hosting of global conference stems from Qatar’s firm belief in the impor»»»

Dec. 15 (UPI) -- An individual detained by police as a person of interest in the Brown University shooting will be released, authorities and officials said late Sunday as the investigation into the crime continues. The person of interest was taken into police custody early Sunday following a tip th»»»

According to preliminary estimates, Kyrgyzstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) totaled 1,628.6 trillion soms in January—October 2025. Compared to the same period in 2024, GDP increased by 10.2 percent, representatives of the National Statistical Committee said at a press conference. GDP growth edged»»»

President Rumen Radev will begin consultations with representatives of the parliamentary groups in the 51st National Assembly on Monday morning, the presidential press secretariat reported. Radev will meet with GERB-UDF at 10 a.m. and with Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria at 11:30 a.m. On »»»

Stock photo of test taking. File Photo by Pixabay/ F1Digitals Dec. 15 (UPI) -- South Korea's annual College Scholastic Ability Test, known as the Suneung, has drawn international attention after British media outlets highlighted complaints over the difficulty of the 2026 English section and raised »»»

A fire broke out at Aziz market on Gandhi Street in Pervomaysky district of the capital. The press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan reported. According to preliminary reports, the fire broke out in one of the shopping complex’s shipping containers. Emergency services we»»»

Tokyo: Two pandas at a Tokyo zoo will be returned to China in January, Japanese media said on Monday, potentially leaving Japan without the beloved animals for the first time in half a century. Loaned out as part of China's "panda diplomacy" programme, the distinctive black-and-white animals have s»»»

Dubai: The Indian rupee slid to an all-time low on Monday morning, continuing a sequence of losses that has rattled investor sentiment. The exchange rate stood at ₹24.6 per UAE dirham, marking the weakest on record and extending the stretch of declines seen in recent weeks. (Check live forex rates »»»

A high-profile corruption scandal unfolded in Ukraine in November when the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) targeted a corruption scheme in the nation's energy sector involving one of Volodymyr Zelensky's closest associates, Timur Mindich. Viktoriya Namchuk, the spouse of Ukrainian fugitive O»»»

The Unification Church's headquarters in Yongsan Ward, Seoul, South Korea, 15 December 2025. Police investigators raided the facility on 15 December to secure evidence in connection with an alleged bribery case involving politicians from both ruling and opposition parties. photo by YONHAP/EPA SEOUL»»»

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (TSMC) in Hsinchu, Taiwan, File Photo by DAVID CHANG/EPA SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Asia Today) - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's largest contract chipmaker, is considering producing artificial intelligence-related semiconductors at its Kumamoto plan»»»

An investigation has been opened into the alleged beating of a minor girl. The Department of Internal Affairs of Leninsky district of Bishkek reported. A woman T.B. filed a written complaint with the police, reporting that her ex-husband had assaulted their daughter, 16. According to the complainan»»»

Sydney: Australian social media users accused "Islamists" of celebrating the Bondi Beach mass shooting at a Sydney suburb, sharing a video of fireworks going off, which officials said was in fact for Christmas celebrations. The footage is among several threads of misinformation that have emerged on»»»

Muhammad Binghatti, the Emirati genius architect and entrepreneur, is straight-up revolutionising Dubai's luxury real estate scene like a boss on steroids. Snagging the chair at BinGhatti Holding in 2014, he turbocharged his dad's 2008 startup into a design-obsessed empire. This qualified architect»»»

The total volume of remittances to Kyrgyzstan in October 2025 amounted to $340.5 million. The National Bank reported. According to the bank, the largest amount came from CIS countries — $321.6 million. Remittances from non-CIS countries amounted to $18.9 million. At the end of October of this year,»»»

In Shchyolkovo, Moscow region of Russia, a court has handed down sentences to a married couple, an employee of a private medical center, and a woman who gave birth, in a criminal case involving the buying and selling of a newborn child. The Prosecutor’s Office of Moscow region reported. The court e»»»

Dubai: The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has forecast partly cloudy to occasionally cloudy conditions today across the UAE, with a chance of rainfall over some coastal and northern areas. Light to moderate winds will freshen at times as the low-pressure system continues to impact the region.»»»

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and then–Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun had plotted since October 2023 to suspend parliament and replace it with an emergency legislative body, Reuters cites a special prosecutor as saying. To justify declaring martial law in December 2024, Yoon Suk-yeol »»»

Law enforcement officers have detained individuals suspected of illegal trafficking of potent substances in Kara-Suu district of Osh region. The press service of the Department of Internal Affairs of Osh region reported. According to police, on December 12 the Internal Affairs Department of Kara-Su»»»

Speaking at the Digital Civic Circles’ anti-war rally in Mohács, Prime Minister Orbán set out his long-term political mission, addressed the war in Ukraine, and sharply criticized the current direction of the European Union. In a panel discussion at the fourth DPK anti-war gathering, the prime mini»»»

Los Angeles: Two people were found dead at the Southern California mansion of "When Harry Met Sally" director and actor Rob Reiner on Sunday, local broadcaster NBCLA and other media outlets reported. The Los Angeles Fire Department told NBC a man and a woman, approximately 78 and 68 years old, were»»»

Dubai: Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has found himself at the centre of a fresh controversy after appearing in a cameo in Bha Bha Ba, actor Dileep’s upcoming film. The backlash erupted just days after Dileep was acquitted in the long-running 2017 actor assault case, reopening wounds and reigniting d»»»

The volume of industrial production lagged behind the one year earlier level by 2.7% in October 2025. The working day adjusted index is equal to the non-adjusted one. A setback in production occurred in the great majority of the manufacturing subsections. According to seasonally and working-day adj»»»

Starting December 27, a new historical television series titled Kara-Kyrgyz will be presented to viewers on the national television channel and Ethnomedia online cinema platform, the Ministry of Culture of Kyrgyzstan reported. According to the ministry, the series depicts the complex historical per»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai climbed Dh3.75 on Monday compared to Sunday’s levels, reflecting strong global momentum amid mixed signals from the US Federal Reserve. The 24-karat variety traded at Dh521.75 per gram, up from Dh518 over the weekend. The 22-karat gold stood at Dh483, compared to Dh479.7»»»

A major fire broke out overnight at a local market in the village of Aleksandrovka, Chui region. According to preliminary reports, the fire started during the night. Several fire crews were quickly dispatched to the scene. Rescuers worked to contain and extinguish the fire to prevent it from spread»»»

Police are investigating an "apparent homicide" after two people were found dead at the Los Angeles home of director and actor Rob Reiner. Firefighters were called to a house in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, where they found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman,»»»

Chilean President Gabriel Boric has invited José Antonio Kast — who won a decisive 58.18% of the vote — to La Moneda Palace to begin the transfer of power. Who is Kast? A lawyer and founder of the Republican Party, born to German immigrants in 1966.A former UDI congressman who has run for president»»»

Muras football tournament, held in Bishkek with the participation of the country’s president, has concluded. Sadyr Japarov noted that these competitions have become a good tradition in Kyrgyzstan’s public life. He recalled that the first tournament was held in 2021 as part of events dedicated to th»»»

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff reported that a 5-hour meeting in Berlin between Volodymyr Zelensky, Jared Kushner, and US/Ukrainian delegations resulted in significant progress on Trump's 20-point peace plan and economic agendas. "A lot of progress was made, and they will meet again tomorrow morning,"»»»