Timeline: September 2007

THE NATION

9 The UAE shuts down 40 international and local companies as part of a crackdown on money laundering and illegal dealing in strategic dual-use equipment and dangerous material banned under the NPT treaty and other UN resolutions.

10 Russian President Vladimir Putin signs cooperation pacts with the UAE that cover crime preventions, air services, standardisation and metrology, political consultation, space science for peaceful purposes and banking.

13 The Burj Dubai reaches 555.3 metres and is now at 150 storeys, the world's tallest structure snatching the title from Canada's CN Tower.

16 The Emirates Institute for Advanced Science and Technology [EIAST] announces the launch of DubaiSat-1, the UAE's first research satellite into space by the end of next year.

19 His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launches Dubai Cares, a campaign that aims to fund the education of poor children worldwide.

- The Abu Dhabi 2030: Urban Structure Framework Plan is announced with a Dh600 billion master development plan.

25 Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum issues instructions that journalists in the country will not be jailed for doing their work.

27 Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, issues directives to establish the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Innovation, an international award that aims to acknowledge excellence in innovative solutions for problems on a global level.

THE REGION

3 George W. Bush pays a surprise visit to Iraq for a war council meeting.

- British troops withdraw from Basra city in Iraq.

4 Former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is elected head of Iran's Assembly of Experts.

- Israel's Supreme Court orders the state to redraw the route of its West Bank wall near a Palestinian village.

7 A suicide bomber kills at least 22 people and wounds 107 in a failed bid to assassinate President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika in the town of Batna in Algeria.

13 Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, a Sunni Arab tribal leader, is killed by a bomb in Ramadi, Al Anbar.

- An Egyptian court sentences four editors of independent newspapers to a year in prison each.

17 Saudi Arabia announces it has signed a £4,43 billion deal to buy 72 Eurofighter typhoon planes.

19 Anti-Syrian lawmaker Antoine Ganem dies in a car bombing in Beirut, Lebanon.

25 Yemen signs a deal with Powered Corp of US to build nuclear power plants at an estimated cost of $15 billion (Dh55.05 billion) over 10 years.

THE WORLD

4 Two successive suicide bombings rip through the city of Rawalpindi in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing 25 people and injuring 68.

6 Indonesia and Russia sign a billion dollar arms deal which offers Jakarta credit to buy arms over 15 years.

10 The Zephyr, a lightweight, solar-powered plane built by British defence and security technology company Qinetiq, breaks a world record for unmanned flight by staying aloft for 54 hours.

10 Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is arrested and deported to Saudi Arabia, four hours after his return from exile.

12 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the youngest Japanese leader, resigns after less than a year in power.

- The Philippines anti-graft court sentences former president Joseph Estrada to life imprisonment after he is convincted of plunder.

- Russian President Vladimir Putin dismisses his prime minister and government after Mikhail Fradkov, Prime Minister, and the entire cabinet resigned three months prior to parliamentary elections.

- The Russian air force tests a giant fuel-air bomb which the military says is the biggest non-nuclear explosive device in the world.

18 Nepal's Maoist rebels quit the interim government and vow to disrupt November election preparations unless the monarchy is abolished.

17 Michael B. Mukasey is appointed President George W. Bush's third attorney general replacing Alberto Gonzales.

19 A woman climbs onto the elevated mound between matches at the autumn grand tournament in Tokyo, breaching a 1,400-year Sumo wrestling history.

21 Seventy-five suspected Taliban and at least six civilians are killed in a bomb attack in western Kabul, which was directed against a convoy of French troops travelling in armoured vehicles.

- Chile's Supreme Court orders the extradition of Former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori to Peru to face charges of corruption and human rights violations.

24 More than 100,000 people flood the streets of Yagon, Myanmar's biggest city, to join the Buddhist monks' protest against the ruling generals.

BUSINESS

2 Bahrain officially opens the Lost Paradise of Dilimun, part of Phase I of the $1.3 billion plus Al Green Development.

3 Leighton International, the international arm of Australia's largest construction group Leighton Holdings, acquires a 45 per cent stake in Dubai-based Al Habtoor Engineering.

7 Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum addresses the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, stating that education and enlightenment are the strongest weapons in breaking the cycle of poverty.

9 The UAE's gross domestic production (GDP) increases by 23.4 per cent at current prices to Dh599.2 billion.

9 E-commerce consumers in the UAE exceed 1.16 million and spend over $1.15 billion in 12 months.

19 Sharjah issues rent bye-laws stipulating that landlords cannot increase rent until three years after signing the lease, and every two years thereafter.

20 Borse Dubai and Nasdaq join hands to launch a global platform for OMX.

25 The Dubai Government issues Law No. 11 of 2007 establishing Dubai Maritime City.

27 Transparency International ranks Qatar as the least corrupt Arab country at 32nd among 180 countries. The UAE ranks 34th.

SPORTS

5 The Al Ahli Club announces the signing of three new foreign players: Marcos Assuncao and Clederson Cesar de Souza of Brazil and Gregory Dufrennes of France as well as a new coach Yousif Al Zuwawi from Tunisia.

- India beat England by two wickets to win the sixth one-day international at the Oval and level the seven-match series at 3-3.

6 The UAE bodybuilding team brings back three silvers and a bronze from their first Asian Body Building Championship, held in Shanghai, China.

- Leading international news agencies launch a boycott of the 2007 Rugby World Cup after failing to reach an agreement with organisers over rights and restrictions.

7 Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar is expelled from the Twenty20 championship after hitting his teammate Mohammad Asif.

8 Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya clinches the UAE's fourth individual gold medal in the European Open Championship.

- England crush India by seven wickets in the seventh and final One-Day International at Lord's in London.

- Justin Henin Hardin, the world's number one tennis player, wins the US Open - the year's final grand slam title.

9 Roger Federer becomes the first man to win four consecutive US Open titles, beating No 3 Novak Djokovic in the final.

13 Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful smashes the fastest half-century in Twenty20 cricket, throwing the West Indies out of the world championships.

14 Rahul Dravid, who won the sobriquet The Wall, steps down from Indian captaincy having failed to handle the pressure it brought.

16 Ferrari's Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland records his third consecutive Belgian Grand Prix victory at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.

19 Indian left-hander Yuvraj Singh stormed his way to the record books after clobbering six sixes in one over off Stuart Broad in the Twenty20 World Cup against England at Durban.

21 Arbitration panel upholds charges against Floyd Landis for using performance enhancing drugs to win the 2006 Tour de France.

22 Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance and Industry, passes a resolution setting up the Executive Bureau of the Dubai Sports Council.

24 India clinches the inaugural trophy of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup after beating Pakistan in the finals held at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

29 Vishwanathan Anand is crowned world champion in chess after winning the marathon tournament in the 2007 World Championship in Mexico.

ENTERTAINMENT

5 Pink, the multi-million seller American singer, performs to a large crowd at Dubai Media City.

6 Luciano Pavarotti, the world-renowned Italian tenor, dies at 71 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

8 The 64th Venice International Film Festival is held with Ang Lee's spy film Lust, Caution winning the top award (best film).

9 The MTV Music Awards are held in Las Vegas, Nevada, with RnB artist Rihanna clinching the best music video award for the song Umbrella.

17 Britney Spears' management company terminates her contract after just over a month.

22 Marcel Marceau, the French mime who revived the art of mime and brought poetry to silence, dies at 84.