Nicosia, Mar 31: The National Competitiveness Report for 2009, published by the Institute for Industrial Policy Studies of the National University of Seoul, ranked Dubai 16th out of 65 global economies, saying it is more competitive than Japan, Germany, France and New Zealand.

The report, which is published annually since 2001, considers Dubai as the most competitive economy in the Middle East.

Dubai, Mar 25 : The presentation of ICC Test Championship mace and the ODI Championship shield plus prize money was made to the captains of the Australia and South Africa teams in Johannesburg today.

Captain Ricky Ponting accepted the mace and 175,000 dollars on behalf of Cricket Australia for leading the team that will finish top of the Test Championship table on the annual cut-off date of 1 April. He also picked up a cheque for 75,000 dollars for coming second in the ODI Championship on the same date.

Dubai - British rock band Cold Play will perform in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, their first performance in the Middle East, the entertainment satellite channel MTV Arabia reported Monday.

The concert is planned as a stage in the English rockers' world tour promoting their latest album, Viva la Vida, Samir al-Marzouqi, managing director of MTV Arabia, told German Press Agency dpa.

Dubai, Mar. 23 : The presentation of the Reliance Mobile ICC Test Championship mace and the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship shield plus prize money cheques will be made to the captains of the Australia and South Africa teams in Johannesburg on March 25.

The ceremony will take place at the Wanderers Club and David Richardson, ICC General Manager - Cricket, will make the presentations.

It seems that Pakistan cricket problems after the 3/3 Lahore attacks on Sri Lankan cricketers are not going to be ease in the coming days as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is battling hard to find any sponsors for the up-coming ODI series against Australia scheduled in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from April 22.