EU leaders have nominated German defence minister, Ursula von der Leyen, as the next European Commission president.
The announcement comes three days after difficult negotiations exposed deep division among the 28 heads of state and government.
Von der Leyen, a loyal confidante of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, would be the first female Commission president if confirmed by the European Parliament.
Her nomination needs an absolute majority of the chamber's 751 members to be ratified.
Reopening of Gaza's Rafah crossing expected Monday
Gaza's main border crossing in Rafah will reopen for Palestinians on Monday, Israel said, with preparations underway at the war-ravaged enclave's main gateway that has been largely shut for almost two years.
Winter storm death toll in United States reaches 90
Nearly 90 people have died in bitter cold affecting areas of the United States from Texas to New Jersey, according to media reports citing local authorities.
Pakistan says 145 militants killed after attacks in Balochistan
Pakistan's security forces killed 145 militants over 40 hours after coordinated attacks across Balochistan, the chief minister of the southwestern province said on Sunday, as the authorities battle one of the deadliest flare-ups in years.
Israeli strikes kill 26 in Gaza, health officials say
Israel carried out its heaviest airstrikes in Gaza in weeks on Saturday, killing 26 people according to local health authorities, in attacks on a Hamas-run police station and on apartments and tents in an area sheltering displaced Palestinians.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, and Minister of Defence has approved a AED500 million development plan to transform Umm Suqeim Beach into a major new public waterfront destination.
The United Arab Emirates has signed a cooperation agreement between the UAE Aid Agency and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to support humanitarian response efforts in Sudan.
A delegation of more than 100 Emirati media professionals and artists has departed the UAE for Kuwait to take part in the UAE–Kuwait Media Celebration, organised by Dubai Press Club.
