Prime minister appoints woman as Minister of State for HAPPINESS

In a bid to make its citizens happy despite the negative headlines emerging from the country, the United Arab Emirates has appointed a Minister of State for Happiness.

Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed took to Twitter to announce a Cabinet reshuffle in which 29-year old woman Ohood al Roumi, was given the responsibility of injecting some joy into the country.

She was one of seven women named to posts in the new 29-member Cabinet.

Mohammed insisted that happiness is very important as it would bring growth in 'plans, projects, programs [and] indices.

Among the prime minister's other new hires was 22-year-old Oxford University master's program graduate Shamma al-Mazrui. She was named minister of state for youth affairs.

'The new cabinet focuses on the future, youth, happiness, developing education and combating climate change,' tweeted the 66-year-old prime minister, who is also the Emirati vice president and ruler of Dubai.

Many powerful officials kept their jobs under the Cabinet shake-up. They include the ministers of interior and foreign affairs.

The Cabinet announcements came two days after Sheikh Mohammed outlined plans to privatize some public services and merge a number of government ministries.

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