00:00Good day, welcome to the Gulf News update for Thursday, May the 22nd.
00:08Here are the top stories at this hour.
00:11The UAE has the most efficient government, the strongest decision-making and the lightest
00:15bureaucracy in the world, according to a report by the Swiss-based International Institute
00:19for Management Development.
00:21The IMD report also saw UAE retain its overall eighth position in the global competitiveness
00:26ranking.
00:27His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister
00:31of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, welcomed the findings in a personal message to government
00:35employees.
00:36''We are truly transforming public service in the UAE and here is the proof,'' he said.
00:42Sheikh Mohammed also honoured two winners of the Arab Journalism Awards at the Arab
00:45Media Forum in Dubai last night.
00:47He felicitated Ibrahim Al Abed, Director General of the National Media Council as Media Personality
00:52of the Year, and Ahmad Rajab for winning the Best Newspaper Columnist award.
00:58The UN Security Council faces a dramatic vote on referring the Syrian crisis to the International
01:02Criminal Court for investigation of possible war crimes.
01:06Russia's UN ambassador has said his country will veto the French-drafted resolution, calling
01:10it a publicity stunt that will hurt efforts to find a political solution to the crisis.
01:15Six young Iranians who were arrested for posting a video on YouTube of themselves dancing to
01:20American singer Pharrell Williams' hit song ''Happy'' have been released on bail.
01:24Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted ahead of their release, ''Happiness is our
01:29people's right.
01:30We shouldn't be too hard on behaviours caused by joy.''
01:34In China, explosives held from two vehicles which ploughed into an open market in troubled
01:38Xinjiang have killed 31 people in the deadliest act of violence in the region in years.
01:43The Ministry of Public Security called the attack on the regional capital of Iraqi ''serious
01:47violent terrorist incident''.
01:50In sport, West Indian Lendl Simmons scored the first century of IPL 7 as his unbeaten
01:55100 helped Mumbai Indians beat Kings XI Punjab by seven wickets last night.
02:00In today's doubleheader, Kolkata Knight Riders take on Royal Challengers Bangalore while
02:04Chennai Super Kings face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the evening.
02:09Fans queued since last evening at Virgin Megastores in Mall of the Emirates to buy the first batch
02:14of tickets for the One Direction concert on April 4, 2015 in Dubai.
02:19Organisers told Golf News that over 15,000 tickets, nearly half the capacity of the Rugby
02:24Sevens venue, have already been sold this morning.
02:28And finally, the weather.
02:29Today's high across the UAE will be 38 degrees Celsius, dropping to 29 degrees at night.
02:34That's all for now.
02:35Thanks for watching.
02:36We will be back with the newscast on Monday, but you can always get the latest news on
02:40golfnews.com.
02:49Have a great day.
02:50Bye.
02:51Bye.
02:52Bye.
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