Radio Shoma

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has declared January 7 as the new annual national occasion, Zayed the Founder Day, dedicated to celebrating the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's "enduring legacy" and carrying his values forward.

UAE candidate Lana Nusseibeh has emphasised her goal of bringing the "stubborn optimism and relentless practicality of a bridge-building diplomat" to the role of UN Secretary-General.

Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has announced plans to open a seven-bridge network that will connect Ramhan and Jubail Islands to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Highway (E12).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot offered competing claims to lead Israel after Tuesday's election, with Netanyahu calling for a right-wing government and Eisenkot saying voters had rejected the longtime Israeli leader, even as early counting showed no clear winner.

Syria will restore normal passenger and commercial traffic through the Nassib border crossing with Jordan from Wednesday morning, the state news agency SANA reported, after the crossing was briefly closed following Jordanian airstrikes in southern Syria.

Arnab, a powerful cyclone, has stalled close to India's east coast with landfall expected to last two more hours, authorities said on Wednesday.