Brand Dubai has announced that Hatta Festival will be temporarily closed on Thursday, 18th December, and Friday, 19th December due to adverse weather conditions affecting the region. The closure has been implemented to ensure the safety of visitors, staff, and performers at the popular cultural and»»»

The Trump administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion that includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, a move that is sure to infuriate China. The State Department announced the sales late Wednesday during a nationally televised a»»»

The US military said Wednesday that it attacked a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing four people on the same day the House rejected efforts to limit President Donald Trump’s power to use military force against drug cartels. US Southern Command stated on social med»»»

Damascus, Dec. 18 (SANA) Tourism Minister Mazen al-Salhani said Wednesday that the repeal of the U.S. Caesar Act marks a significant shift in Syria’s international engagement, reopens economic channels and paves the way for renewed cooperation, particularly in the tourism sector. Al-Salhani told SA»»»

India has lodged a strong protest against what it has called the "deteriorating security situation" around its mission in Dhaka. On Wednesday, India's foreign ministry summoned Bangladeshi envoy Riaz Hamidullah to convey its concerns about the actions of some "extremist elements", the ministry said»»»

The Trump administration has announced a huge arms sale worth around $11bn (£8.2bn) to Taiwan, which includes advanced rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers and a variety of missiles. This package, which still needs to be approved by the US Congress, will be the second arms sale to Taiwan sinc»»»

Amman: The State of Qatar took part in the 45th session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and the Arab Conference on the Implementation of the Doha Declaration, both held in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The events brought together Their Excellencies ministers and senior officia»»»

Doha: The Public Prosecution, represented by the Institute of Criminal Studies, organised a legal seminar on the landmarks of the legal renaissance in the State of Qatar to commemorate National Day. The seminar, attended by Attorney General of the State of Qatar, H E Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al »»»

Minister of Labour H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri met yesterday with Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Federal Republic of Somalia H E Dr. Salim Aliyow Ibrow. The meeting discussed ways to strengthen relations between the two countries in labour-related fields, and means of supporting a»»»

DOHA: Qatar National Day marks a moment of national pride, celebrating the profound and remarkable journey of progress since the launch of the Qatar National Vision 2030. The nation’s advancement is neither incidental nor fortuitous; it is the tangible result of a disciplined planning and unified c»»»

Doha: President of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA), and President of the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, H E Hamad bin Nasser Al Misnad emphasised that anti-corruption agencies cannot confront the»»»

Dubai: India’s markets regulator has approved a sweeping overhaul of mutual fund regulations, rewriting a framework that has governed the industry for nearly three decades. The changes, cleared by the Securities and Exchange Board of India at its December 17 meeting, aim to lower costs for investor»»»

Doha: Qatar has highlighted the National Strategy to Promote Integrity, Transparency and Corruption Prevention 2025-2030, at a side event held as part of the eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (COSP11). Dedicated to presenting the strate»»»

DOHA: Mediators involved in the Gaza process are scheduled to convene tomorrow (Friday) to develop a comprehensive vision for moving to the second phase, aiming to ensure a smooth transition and sustain progress in ongoing negotiations. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Moha»»»

New York: The five European countries serving as members of the United Nations Security Council praised the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and Turkiye to achieve a ceasefire and advance the 20-point plan aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip. This was stated in a joint press releas»»»

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation called on private sector companies across all the UAE to exercise caution and take all the precautions at work on Thursday and Friday (December 18, 19) due to the expected weather conditions. (Follow the live weather updates here) The ministry has e»»»

Dubai: Rod Stewart's performance at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi last night was a masterclass in timeless showmanship, blending nostalgia, musical excellence and pure joy into one unforgettable evening. The legendary singer proved that age has done nothing to dull his charisma as he led fans on a jour»»»

Doha: The Investment and Trade Court has welcomed a judicial delegation from the Republic of Papua New Guinea. The delegation received a comprehensive presentation on the court’s jurisdiction and operational mechanisms, as well as an overview of the adopted judicial procedures and the digital syste»»»

South Korean National security adviser Wi Sung-lac speaks at a press briefing at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom (R)also addressed the media. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Phot»»»

A South Korean soldier stands guard in a conference room in the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission Conference Building at the joint security area(JSA) of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) near Paju, South Korea on August 25, 2018. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Pho»»»

DOHA: Naseeb Zakhir confirmed his rising form with a commanding performance to capture the feature Zekreet Cup, a Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (75–95) for 4YO+ over 1200m, winning by four and a half lengths. Owned and trained by Osama Omer Al-Dafea and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, the 4-year-old g»»»

Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dan Bongino speaks during a press conference at the Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, December 4, 2025. He announced he was resigning on Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Dec. 18 (UPI) »»»

Jung Yeon-doo (right), head of South Korea’s Foreign Policy Strategy and Intelligence Bureau, and Kevin Kim, U.S. Embassy charge d’affaires in Seoul, pose for a photo during follow-up consultations on the joint fact sheet from a U.S.-South Korea summit at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul on Dec. 16, 2»»»

Assistant Minister of Interior for Technology Affairs Prince Dr. Bandar bin Abdullah bin Mishari affirmed that the strategic agreement signed by the Ministry of Interior with HUMAIN falls within the ministry’s commitment to adopting advanced technologies and localizing artificial intelligence (AI) »»»

DOHA: Under the bright lights of the iconic Lusail Stadium, an irresistible finale awaits as free-scoring Jordan take on Morocco’s rock-solid defence in a thrilling Asia-Africa showdown tonight, with both sides chasing the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 glory. Both World Cup-bound teams arrive at the fin»»»

Doha: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates meet today in the third-place match of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 at Khalifa International Stadium, with both sides chasing consolation after dashing title hopes in the semi-finals. Saudi Arabia enter today’s encounter following a 1-0 defeat to Jord»»»

A pedestrian walks past the Board of Audit and Inspection in Seoul on Dec. 3, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News Agency Dec. 17 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection said it has revised internal rules to end what it calls "policy audits," meaning it will no longer review major governm»»»

Dubai: A mixed-breed rescue dog named Brody has captured the hearts of Dubai’s pet lovers after starring as Sandy in Annie the Musical at Zabeel Theatre. After being badly injured in a dog fight in Sharjah, Brody, fresh from his theatre debut, is now in an adoption trial seeking his forever home. T»»»

OQ, Oman’s global integrated energy group, has commissioned the Ladayn Polymer Programme at Suhar Industrial City during an official ceremony held today under the patronage of Sheikh Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones. The inaug»»»

Cha Jin-ah, a professor at Korea University Law School, speaks during an interview in Seoul on Dec. 16, 2025. Photo by Asia Today Dec. 17 (Asia) -- A Korea University law professor warned that a package of judicial reform bills backed by South Korea's ruling party could weaken judicial independence»»»

AIREV and Intel announced a strategic partnership to bring autonomous AI agents to Intel's next-generation AI PCs. The collaboration will deliver AIREV's OnDemand platform—featuring over 300 AI agents and tools—optimised to run entirely on-device, giving users powerful AI automation without cloud d»»»

President Donald Trump participates in a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Gimhae International Airport terminal, on Thursday, October 30, 2025, in Busan, South Korea. File Photo by Daniel Torok/The White House/UPI | License Photo Dec. 17 (Asia Today) -- China's vast number»»»

Abu Dhabi: In collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters and several strategic partners, the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority has launched the “Winter Safety” campaign. The initiative aims to raise community awareness of seasonal accident risks and encourage safe practices during»»»

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) welcomes the recent decision of the Constitutional Court of the Kyrgyz Republic that the death penalty cannot be reintroduced under the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan, and that proposed constitutional amendments to that effect are impermissible. In its deci»»»

Outlook for next year’s business operations among South Korean small business owners, Dec. 16, 2025. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI. Dec. 16 (Asia Today) -- Nearly half of South Korea's small business owners say policies to boost domestic demand and consumer spending are the most urgen»»»

Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev will continue government-forming consultations with representatives of parliamentary groups in the 51st National Assembly on Thursday, the head of State’s Press Secretariat said on Wednesday. The President will first meet the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms and the»»»

Dubai: Motorists travelling between Dubai and Sharjah are facing significant delays on Thursday, December 18 due to heavy traffic. The congestion has been reported on both Emirates Road E311 and E611 towards Dubai. Heavy congestion is also reported on Al Meydan Road and Al Khail Road. Commuters are»»»

This year, the Kyrgyz Geological Service sold subsoil use rights for 40 sites. The total revenue amounted to $2,353 million, with a combined starting price of $210,600. In 2025, auctions were planned and announced for 60 sites in total. Of these, 40 auctions were successful, with final deals exceed»»»

Since the beginning of the year, the total assets of Kyrgyzstan’s banking sector have grown by 38 percent, reaching 1,125.2 trillion soms, the National Bank reported. According to the central bank, a significant inflow of funds came from depositors, with total deposits rising by 35 percent to 800 b»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) H E Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani received Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security H E Kristi Noem and her accompanying delegation. Both sides reviewed avenues for enhancing bilater»»»

Dubai: Dubai gold prices pushed toward record territory overnight, tracking a relentless global bullion rally that has non-yielding assets firmly in favour amid Fed rate bets and fresh geopolitical flares. For UAE jewellery shoppers and small investors, retail rates are now testing the highest leve»»»

Doha, Qatar: Highlighting the importance of international partnerships in tackling corruption, a senior United Nations (UN) official praised Qatar’s sustained support for global anti-corruption efforts and its close cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Speaking to The Peninsul»»»

Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. military killed four people Wednesday in its latest strike targeting boats in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea as questions continue to swirl around the legality of the attacks. U.S. Southern Command announced the "lethal kinetic strike" on the vessel on X, saying»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US House of Representatives has voted down the Venezuela War Powers Resolution by 211–213, with nine lawmakers not voting. The measure would have required congressional authorization for US military actions against Venezuela, amid recent escalatory steps such as a “total and »»»

Sharjah: Powerful convective cloud formations were observed advancing over the waters off Sharjah on Thursday, as part of Al Bashayer low-pressure system, with heavy rainfall already reported across several parts of the emirate. Also Read: Sharjah ramps up rain readiness with 405 tankers and pumpsL»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar will mark today its National Day with a grand National Parade at the Doha Corniche, alongside a wide range of celebrations taking place across the country, reflecting the nation’s unity, heritage and pride. The parade will serve as the centrepiece of the festivities, bringing tog»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Ghuwayriyah and Al Shahaniyah stations recorded the lowest temperature today at 13°C, the Meteorology Department said in its daily weather report for today December 18, 2025. With Doha recording 19°C, the department reported that the wind was moderate to fresh in speed with strong g»»»

President Donald Trump claimed Venezuela "illegally" seized US oil and rights, declaring, "We want it back." “You remember, they took all of our energy rights. They took all of our oil from not that long ago, and we want it back,” Trump said about Venezuela.On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announ»»»

The US has signed off on a record-breaking $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan, further militarizing the island that China sees as an inalienable part of its territory. Announcing the weapons deal, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency claimed that the arms sales serve US national, e»»»