Timeline: April 2007

THE NATION

3 A fire breaks out in Industrial Area No. 13, affecting 14 warehouses and causing extensive damage. It is considered one of the biggest fires in Sharjah in recent years.

8 The Cabinet approves the setting up of the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking in line with a federal law.

9 General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is honoured by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for his efforts to achieve sustainable clean environment.

11 Knowledge Village launches the Dubai International Academic City as part of a long-tem strategy to develop the region's talent pool. It will house 25 international universities and is expected to be completed within seven years.

12 Lulu Island - a man-made, six-square-kilometre island that stretches from the Abu Dhabi breakwater to the Mina Zayed area - opens to public.

15 A daring robbery takes place at the Wafi City mall in Dubai. An armed gang loots luxury store Graff, taking jewellery worth Dh50 million in one minute and 45 seconds. n The Sharjah Department of Culture and Information announces the discovery of copper artefacts more than 4,000 years old at Wadi Helou.

17 UAE announces the “UAE Government Strategy'', a three-year development plan which focuses on the improvement of government services by bringing them in line with international standards, with emphasis on education, healthcare and judicial services.

19 His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approves the plan to extend the Dubai Creek up to the Arabian Gulf, passing through Business Bay, Shaikh Zayed Road, Safa Park and Jumeirah.

23 Dubai Police announce the deployment of 60 armed policemen in shopping malls in Dubai.

THE REGION

1 Shaikha Al Jufairi, the only female candidate to win a seat in Qatar's Central Municipal Council elections, secures the highest number of votes among the 125 contestants.

2 Kuwait's new education minister, Nouriya Al Sabeeh, takes the oath in parliament without wearing a hijab, leading to protests by some Islamist MPs. She became the second woman minister in the cabinet line-up announced on March 25.

4 Iran releases 15 British sailors in a dramatic end to the two-week stand-off that triggered a new diplomatic crisis between Tehran and the West.

9 President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announces Iran has begun enriching uranium “on an industrial scale.''

11 Bombs explode in coordinated attacks outside Algerian prime minister's office and a police station, killing at least 23 people and wounding more than 160.

15 Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas launch a US-initiated series of meetings. 10 US troops begin building the 5km cement wall around Al Adhamiya, a predominantly Sunni area in Baghdad surrounded on three sides by Shiite communities.

18 Car bomb kills more than 170 people in Baghdad - the deadliest attack in the city since the US and Iraqi forces launched a security crackdown aimed at halting the country's slide to civil war.

21 Mohammad Essam Goneim Al Attar, an Egyptian-Canadian dual citizen, is convicted of spying for Israel and sentenced to 15 years in prison. n Shells pound Mogadishu, killing at least 73 people in the battle between militant Islamists and allied Somali and Ethiopian troops.

27 One hundred and seventy-two terror suspects are arrested by Saudi Arabia, along with weapons and cash. They were plotting airborne attacks on oil facilities and army bases. 28 A suicide bomber strikes a crowded street near a revered Shiite shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala killing at least 55 people and wounding another 70.

THE WORLD

2 A powerful earthquake and tsunami strike Solomon Island, swallowing entire villages and killing at least 12 people with many more missing.

6 The US acknowledges the “global challenge'' posed by climate change after a report by UN experts warned of devastating damage to all continents from global warming. 7 Johnny Hart, a famous cartoonist and regarded as one of the best, dies of heart attack at the age of 76. He also co-created ‘The Wizard of Id', which won numerous awards.

12 Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao offers Japan the hand of friendship as he addresses the Parliament in Tokyo - the first such address in 22 years by a Chinese leader.

14 More than 300,000 Turks march to Tandogan Square to attend the Republican rally in Ankara against picking Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan as the ruling AK Party's presidential candidate.

16 At least 32 people, including the suspected gunman, are killed at the Virginia Tech university in the deadliest campus shooting incident in US history.

21 Space tourist Charles Simonyi, an American billionaire, returns to Earth along with a Russian-US crew after a two-week round trip into space.

22 South Korea reaches a deal with North Korea to resume massive rice aid as well as agreeing to the first run of trains across their heavily fortified border in 50 years.

23 Boris Yeltsin, former Russian president, dies at the age of 76 from a heart attack.

25 A Democratic-controlled Senate passes legislation that would require the start of a US troop withdrawal from Iraq by October 1, propelling Congress towards a historic veto showdown with President George W. Bush.

26 President Vladimir Putin launches an attack against foreign interference in Russian affairs and threatens to withdraw from a key defence treaty in response to a planned US anti-missile system in Eastern Europe.

27 Workers digging the future site of a Wal-Mart store in Arizona, US, unearth the bones of a pre-historic camel that is estimated to be about 10,000 years old.

30 Miles Hilton-Barber, a blind British adventurer, lands in Sydney after completing a record-breaking journey, halfway around the world, in a micro light aircraft.

BUSINESS

2 Dow Jones Indexes, a leading global index provider, and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) launch the Dow Jones DFM Index and Dow Jones DFM titans 10 Index as part of the Dow Jones Islamic Market Index series.

4 The UAE achieves the highest ranking among the Arab countries on the Berlin-based Transparency International's corruption Perception Index. The UAE led with a score of 6.2 points, ahead of Qatar that came second with 6 points. #

10 The UAE's Federal National Council approves the latest Companies Law amendment allowing family-owned businesses to convert to public companies by listing a minimum stake of 30 per cent. n The UAE leads the Arab world in competitiveness, according to a report released at the World Economic Forum. The UAE ranked 29 among the 40 most advanced economies in the world and lead the four Gulf countries included in the list.

11 Dubai World consolidates its dry docks and maritime business by bringing Dubai Dry docks, Al Jadaf Shipyard and Platinum Yacht Management under a single umbrella - Dubai Dry docks World (DD World).

23 According to rankings compiled by market research firm Millward Brown, Google replaces Microsoft as the world's top-ranked brand.

29 Abu Dhabi launches a Dh11.5 billion eco-tourism project - Desert Islands - combining six nature reserves spread across eight island including Sir Bani Yas, Dalma and Discovery. n The government of Ras Al Khaimah announces a joint venture with US-based Argentum Development Company LLC to construct a Dh10 billion tourism and hospitality hub - International Hospitality Trade and Training Zone (ihottz) - on 350 acres of prime real estate.

SPORTS

1 The UAE FA opens gates for outstanding young expatriate footballers to take part with local clubs in official competitions. n American swimmer Michael Phelps breaks his fifth world record after wiping out more than two seconds off his own world mark for 400-metre individual medley to collect his seventh gold medal at the World Championships.

2 India's Viswanathan Anand is formally crowned the world No. 1 in chess with 2,786 rating points, replacing Veselin Ropalov of Bulgaria at the top.

3 Al Wasl defeat defending champion Al Ain with a convincing 4-1 margin in the final of the President's Cup at Zayed Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

7 Former UAE champion Ahmad Bin Sougat teams up with co-driver Jasem Al Baloushi to win the golden sword of the 1,000 Dunes Rally for a historic fourth time.

15 Ferrari driver Felipe Massa of Brazil finishes 2.3 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton, winning the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix held at the Shakir circuit in Manama.

16 Boo Weekly chips in to save par on the last two holes and claim his maiden PGA Tour victory by a shot at the weather-delayed Heritage Classic in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

20 Australia defeat New Zealand by a World Cup record 215 runs in their final Super Eight match to extend their unbeaten run in the tournament to 27 since they last lost to Pakistan in 1999.

24 UAE tennis player Omar Behroozian is given the top seeding at the 19th Marbella Open Tennis Championship.

28 Australia beat Sri Lanka in the final to capture their fourth ICC World Cup title at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

ENTERTAINMENT:

20 Bollywood actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai tie the knot capping three days of delirious festivities.

26 US rapper and hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg is barred entry into Australia after failing the character test required to enter Australia.

27 Richard Gere apologises for causing any offence when he kissed Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty at an Aids awareness event in India. n Cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, a musical genius, dies at the age of 80 in Moscow.