Gulf Yearbook 2015 by Gulf Property

GULF YEARBOOK 2015 Pan Asian Media

MG Mine Gulf properties DPS.ai

CMY

12/20/15

3:42 PM

Thank You!

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of the UAE

an Asian Media, publisher of the Gulf Yearbook 2015, takes this opportunity to thank all our stakeholders, the visionary leadership of the UAE, our sponsors, advertisers, our printing and distribution partners, our readers and well wishers. Gulf Yearbook is an annual publication aimed at spreading information and knowledge to those who want to know and to be in the know and those who dare to care. Pan Asian Media is a UAEbased small publishing house with limited means to support its unlimited vision and would like to offer this publication to the UAE and GCC readers – free of charge – as information and knowledge gradually become free. The audacity of our courage comes from the Visionary Lead-

HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

ers of the UAE who continuously inspire us to do more and to positively influence others so that we all can make the world a better place to live. We offer our sincerest gratitude to the UAE’s leadership, especially the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Supreme Council Members and Rulers of all the Emirates for making the UAE a safe haven for all of us. We are grateful to those who have trusted us in this venture and helped us fund this project. Gulf Yearbook will also be made available online – the entire book from cover to cover as an E-book – for more people to access it globally. We are particularly grateful to

2015

JANUARY 2015 RETROSPECTIVE

Dedication

Gulf Yearbook 2015 is dedicated to the heroes of the UAE Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives in restoring peace and stability in Yemen and elsewhere to make the world a better place to live

We would also like to extend our sincerest thanks to: Mr Hesham Al Qassim, CEO of Wasl; Mr Tariq Chauhan, CEO of EFS Group; Mr Faizal E. Kottikollon, Chairman of the KEF Holdings; Mr Rizwan Sajan, Founder Chairman of Danube Group; Mr Shamlal Ahamed, Managing Director of Malabar Gold and Diamonds; Mr Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group; Mr Joy Alukkas, Chairman and Managing Director of Joyalukkas Group Wasl Asset Management for sponsoring the Gulf Yearbook 2015 and boldly supporting this noble venture at its inception to spread information and knowledge so that we could get this printed and distributed freely along with a leading newspaper to maximise its reach. We take this opportunity to also wish everyone a very Happy New Year for 2016 and beyond. Gulf Yearbook is our New Year’s Gift to all. Happy reading! Kindly give us feedback on: editor@panasian1.com. g – Pan Asian Management

Gulf Yearbook 2015 7

2015

Year of Challenges and JANUARY 2015 FOREWORD

By Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum

President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Airline & Group

It is forecasted that the economic impact of aviation and tourism on Dubai’s GDP will rise to $53.1 billion in 2020, and will support over 754,500 jobs...

8 Gulf Yearbook 2015

he year 2015 brought a different set of challenges and opportunities for the Emirates Group. In every aspect of our operations, we continued to strengthen our international footprint, maintain business growth, and set benchmarks within the air transport and travel industry. Our organisational mindset and strong business foundations set us apart, and we believe it will position us optimally for the long term. In spite of increased economic pressure around the globe in 2015, both Emirates and Dnata grew in terms of capacity, capability and global reach. Emirates’ strategy remains unchanged – focussing on organic growth by ramping up our network and fleet, connecting city pairs that propel the engines of business and support tourism in the markets we serve, all while keeping our customers at the heart of what we do every day. Emirates added 6 new destinations in 2015, and we also added frequencies and deployed larger aircraft to 40 cities. We introduced an aviation first – the two-class A380 at the Dubai Airshow, and it now flies to cities spanning east and west – with more to come online in 2016. We continued to invest in our fleet and received 26 new aircraft in 2015, with another 36 – 20 A380s and 16 Boeing 777300ERs – to be delivered in 2016. Flying the latest aircraft means we can offer our customers the latest onboard features and comforts, and it also

means greater operational efficiency, which is important for our long-term sustainable growth. For Dnata, our strategic acquisitions have helped us pursue our business ambitions on an international scale in the air services industry. Together with organic growth within our existing operations, Dnata has continued on its path to become one of the world’s most admired air services companies. It has invested in its people, capabilities, and technologies across its main business interests spanning: travel services, airport and ground handling services, catering and other services. Dnata's footprint now spans over 70 countries, and its wide-ranging businesses have yielded outstanding results. Aviation is the cornerstone of Dubai’s economy, and the Dubai government has a clear strategy for the city’s long-term growth. The aviation investments put in place in 2015 and beyond stem from the support of visionary leaders who understand that focused planning, an integrated approach and methodical execution will alter where the world chooses to visit, and connect. One of Dubai’s greatest assets is its superior connectivity. We can reach two-thirds of the world’s population within an eight hour flying radius, and Dubai has capitalised on its geo-centricity by investing in its airport and other critical infrastructure – for tourism, commerce, and global events. We have, and are continuing to in-

Opportunities

fluence global air transport by linking Dubai to the world, and seamlessly connecting the world through Dubai. It is forecasted that the economic impact of aviation and tourism on Dubai’s GDP will rise to $53.1 billion in 2020, and will support over 754,500 Dubai-based jobs. Today, passengers have direct flight connections from Dubai to over 149 cities with populations of over 1 million people, creating potential export markets of over 916 million people. That’s 13 per cent of the world’s population. These economic opportunities have been made possible by efficient air transport links, and are helping to accelerate the pace of Dubai’s economic growth and diversification. By 2020, Emirates expects to carry 70 million passengers on more than 300 aircraft. As the government and business community have begun to gear up for Expo 2020, the role of aviation will become even more critical. Planning ahead to capitalise on the possibilities of the future, Emirates and Dnata have expanded their workforce in 2015, and have also announced an enterprise-wide strategy to place data at the heart of the organisation, which will in turn transform Emirates and Dnata into leading customer-centric, travel experience enterprises. The transformation strategy will help us to reinvent business processes and we will see its benefits cascade into every area of our organisation in the coming five years. It has not been plain sailing

throughout 2015, we’ve had to navigate through the difficulties as well. Plummeting fuel prices have significantly lowered our operating costs, but has hit consumer confidence in many economies dependent on oil. Globally, the strong US dollar against other major currencies has also eroded our profitability across the organisation. Regional unrest continues to interrupt services to key markets in the Middle East and elsewhere. We are monitoring developments, and safety will always be the priority as we continue to chart alternative flight paths to avoid trouble spots. Protectionism in the US also has sparked much debate in the last year, and wide-ranging campaigns have been waged against us. We have made our case to the US government that we do not receive subsidies and play the game like everyone else. We urge the US carriers – Delta, America and United – to compete where it matters – on product and service. And we hope the US government will come to a decision that supports the interests of businesses and consumers benefitting from the air connectivity and superior product that we offer. As we have always done – I am confident we will continue to make strides in spite of the external difficulties. We will continue to work hard to stay ahead, and our investments put us in a strong position to embrace the future and all of the possibilities and challenges that come with it. g

2015

JANUARY 2015 FOREWORD

By 2020, Emirates expects to carry 70 million passengers on more than 300 aircraft. As the government and business community have begun to gear up for Expo 2020, the role of aviation will become even more critical...

– Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group

Gulf Yearbook 2015 9

2015

JANUARY 2015 EDITORIAL

Contents

Foreword Preface UAE Status Update The World At A Glance The Milestones of 2015 Chronology of Events January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015

GULF YEARBOOK 2015

08 13 14 16 18 42 42 64 86 106 126 148 170 192 214 236 258 280

The annual Gulf Yearbook is aimed to promote and share a culture of information and knowledge within the society, so that the consumers are in a better position to know the socio-economic and political environment they belong.

EDITORIAL

Contents, layout and design by the editorial team of Pan Asian Media and are fully copyright protected.

EDITOR Saifur Rahman PUBLISHER Tajeen Akhtar RESEARCH Diana Fernandez MARKETING Kanchan Bhojwani

EDITORIAL & COMMERCIAL ADDRESS Pan Asian Media MFZ-LLC P.O. Box : 39865, Dubai, UAE Tel : (9714) 2281021 Fax : (9714) 2281051 E-mail: editor@panasian1.com

LICENCE AND COPYRIGHT

All rights to Gulf Yearbook is reserved with Pan Asian Media MFZ-LLC. Gulf Yearbook is an annual publication of Pan Asian Media MFZ-LLC, licenced by RAK Media City. No part of this book may be produced or transmitted in any form – print or electronically – without written permission from the Publisher. g

10 Gulf Yearbook 2015

Gulf Yearbook

any of us grew up in a very pre-computerised analog environment where most things were done manually. It was an era of print media, cyclostyle, photocopier, analog telephone and fax machines. People used to communicate by writing letters – snail mail, delivered by postmen while money used to be remitted through money orders or postal orders. Payments used to be done through pay-orders. All these sound like pre-historic. Cross-border goods used to be procured using a system called Mail Order, through which people used to buy electronics and household appliances from one country and get it delivered to by Mail Order companies. Although these might sound like tall orders, but life used to be slow and simple – with no Emails, SMS or Facebook status updates to bother us. It was an era of Sony Trinitrons and Walkmans. Sony was yet to launch Wega models. There was no computer, no internet and definitely no mobile phones in our lives. It was a fully analog life running on a manual mode. However, there was one good thing common to most of us – we used to read a lot. We used to even smell the paper of the book we read – such was the level of our passion for information and knowledge. We used to not only read thrillers, but also newspapers, general knowledge and current affairs books. In the last 25-30 years, things

have changed drastically. It’s more a digital life now filled with E-mails, SMS, Facebook, Whats App and Skypes. Young people do not know how to write letters. They do not read newspapers, periodicals, general knowledge books, let alone those of current affairs. Although they seemed to be more ‘connected’, most of them are actually ‘disconnected’. They live in a world of their own, separated from the real one. They have unconsciously confined their lives to a virtual world dominated by electronic gadgets. Instead of talking, they What’s App each other. Gulf Yearbook is an attempt to recall important developments of the year that shows the real picture of the world we live in – the happenings, our comfort and danger zones. By simply putting the facts and news headlines together and by trying to analyse them, we are merely trying to tell everyone – that they should know what environment they live in. Yearbook is not a new concept. It has been there in different parts of the world in different formats. However, I haven’t seen one in the GCC, other than the UAE Yearbook, which is a narration of the socio-economic progress of the country. Gulf Yearbook 2015 seeks to promote the culture of sharing information and knowledge. It is intended as a reference guide for those who dare to care. g

– Saifur Rahman

2015

JANUARY 2015 FOREWORD

A benchmark year for UAE

By Hesham Al Qassim

Chief Executive Officer Wasl Asset Management

he year 2015 will go down in history as a particularly significant one for the UAE. From a purely real estate perspective, the country’s property market is currently witnessing a slight correction as a result of global factors. These include the drop in oil prices, the fall in the price of gold, the political situation in the region and the weak value of several global currencies. As with any sector, the real estate sphere has a cyclic nature and as such, is subject to both growth and contraction. Despite the correction currently being experienced, there are still numerous projects, governmental and private, that are being developed across the city, with the overall picture being that the market has matured. The UAE’s property sector is now governed by the principles of supply and demand and is protected by an advanced regulatory system; factors which have positioned it as one of the most favoured global real estate markets for investors. This is a clear indication of stability and the general optimism in the sector, which is expected to experience a heightened level of growth from 2017 to 2020. This increase in activity will be characterised by a greater emphasis on affordable homes – a focus that will help underpin the

success of developers and the real estate arena as a whole. In a broader sense, 2015 will go down in UAE history as a benchmark year for one simple reason – it was decreed the ‘Year of Innovation.’ In 2014, the visionary leaders of the country announced that 2015 would focus on innovation in order to prepare it for post-oil economic environment. The ultimate aim for this project was to take it to the next level of development that will be dominated by innovative and smart projects, thereby helping the UAE to remain ahead of the game. The vision has been matched by significant initiatives. Funds worth Dh300 billion have been announced that will help develop skills, human talents, institutions, industries and practices position the country as leaders in the regional and global economy in the years to come. The UAE currently hosts the world’s largest airport for international passengers, the largest international airline, the world’s largest duty free operations, one of the world’s largest ports and some of the world’s biggest free economic zones. In addition to developing green economy and Islamic economic practices. The government is empowering institutions to develop smart solutions that will make the economy less reliant on fossil fuel and make it sustainable. In short, the UAE’s economic environment remains a positive one with a number of landmark initiatives that will elevate the country’s position in the global economy. g

The UAE’s property sector is now governed by the principles of supply and demand and is protected by an advanced regulatory system; factors which have positioned it as one of the most favoured global real estate markets for investors...

– Hesham Al Qassim CEO, Wasl Asset Management Group Gulf Yearbook 2015 11

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2015

JANUARY 2015 STATUS UPDATE

$107.5 trn

World GDP in 2014 (Purchasing Power Parity)

$78.28 trn World GDP in nominal terms in 2014

$16,100

per capita GDP in the world in terms of PPP

3.3%

projected world GDP growth in 2015

$4.75 trn

value of 37,431 mergers and acquisitions in 2015

$34.53

price of crude oil – the lowest in recent times

4.2%

growth of the emerging economies in 2015

$588 bn

remittance flow in 2015

-----------------------------------------Source: IMF and World Bank

16 Gulf Yearbook 2015

Global economy

lobal economy is projected to grow 3.3 per cent in 2015, marginally lower than in 2014, with a gradual pickup in advanced economies and a slowdown in emerging market and developing economies. In 2016, growth is expected to strengthen to 3.8 per cent, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A Reuters report said, “The world economy may be set for another year like 2015, with modest growth in developed economies offsetting persistent weakness elsewhere but generating very little inflation and keeping interest rates low. “The U.S. Federal Reserve's long-awaited rise in rates from zero showed confidence in the world's largest economy, but rival China is still struggling for a foothold with rate cuts,” it said. A setback to activity in the first quarter of 2015, mostly in North America, has resulted in a small downward revision to global growth for 2015, IMF said in it’s half-yearly update on global economy. “Nevertheless, the underlying drivers for a gradual acceleration in economic activity in advanced economies — easy financial conditions, more neutral fiscal policy in the euro area, lower fuel prices, and improving confidence and labour market conditions — remain intact,” IMF’s World Economic Outlook report said in July. Growth in advanced economies is projected to in-

crease from 1.8 per cent in 2014 to 2.1 per cent in 2015 and 2.4 per cent in 2016. “The economic recovery in the euro area seems broadly on track, with a generally robust recovery in domestic demand and inflation beginning to increase. Growth projections have been revised upward for many euro area economies, but in Greece, unfolding developments are likely to take a much heavier toll on activity relative to earlier expectations,” the report said. “In Japan, growth in the first quarter of 2015 was stronger than expected, supported by a pickup in capital investment. However, consumption remains sluggish and more than half of quarterly growth stemmed from changes in inventories.” Growth in emerging market and developing economies is projected to slow from 4.6 per cent in 2014 to 4.2 per cent in 2015. “The slowdown reflects the dampening impact of lower commodity prices and tighter external financial conditions — particularly in Latin America and oil exporters, the rebalancing in China, and structural bottlenecks, as well as economic distress related to geopolitical factors — particularly in the Commonwealth of Independent States and some countries in the Middle East and North Africa,” it said. A rebound in activity in a number of distressed economies is expected to result in a pickup in growth in 2016. “In 2016, growth in emerging market and developing economies is ex-

grows at 3.3%

pected to pick up to 4.7 per cent, largely on account of the projected improvement in economic conditions in a number of distressed economies, including Russia and some economies in the Middle East and North Africa.

Deepening Income Inequality

World Economy Forum (WEF) has identified income inequality as the top challenge in 2015. Income inequality specifically is one of the most visible aspects of a broader and more complex issue, one that entails inequality of opportunity and extends to gender, ethnicity, disability, and age, among others. “In developed and developing countries alike, the poorest half of the population often controls less than 10 per cent of its wealth. This is a universal challenge that the whole world must address,” WEF said. “As the world’s rich continue to accumulate wealth at record rates, the middle class is struggling. Today, the top 1 per cent of the population receives a quarter of the income in the United States. Over the last twenty-five years, the average income of the top 0.1 per cent has grown twenty times compared to that of the average citizen. Rising security concerns around the world threaten the stability of states and their citizens – remains a major concern, WEF says. From renewed violence in Gaza to Russia’s intervention in

the Ukraine and the rise of the Islamic State, geopolitical tensions have dominated headlines for much of 2014 and 2015. Dedicated efforts are being taken to diffuse these conflicts, yet it seems all but certain that two related trends, ‘Rising geo-strategic competition’ and ‘Intensifying nationalism’, will continue to propel global concerns over the next 18 months.

Remittance Flow

Weak economies in Europe, especially Russia, have slowed the growth of remittance flows in 2015. Weaker currencies visà-vis the US dollar, and lower oil prices are further restricting the ability of many migrants to send money back to family and friends, according to the World Bank’s latest Migration and Development Brief. Remittances to developing countries are expected to reach $435 billion in 2015, registering a growth of 2 per cent from last year. This represents a slowing in the growth of remittances from the 3.3 per cent in 2014. Global remittances, sent home from some 250 million migrants, are projected to grow by 1.3 percent to $588 billion. In 2016, remittances to developing countries are expected to rise by about 4 per cent, reaching $453 billion, buoyed by the recovery in the United States and Europe. Global flows of remittances are expected to reach $610 billion, and then rising to $635 billion in 2017. g

2015

JANUARY 2015 STATUS UPDATE

7.38 bn

World population as at December 22, 2015

139.41 m

No of people born in 2015 (Jan 1 and Dec 22)

58.38 m

No of people died in 2015 (Jan1 – Dec 22)

1.4 billion

population of China as at December 22, 2015

1.29 bn

India’s population as at December 22, 2015

7.5%

growth in Indian GDP projected in 2015

6.8%

growth in China’s GDP projected in 2015

$435 bn

remittance to developing world in 2015

-----------------------------------------Source: IMF, World Bank and the United Nations

Gulf Yearbook 2015 17

2015

A game-changing year JANUARY 2015 DEVELOPMENTS

here have been a number of significant socioeconomic and political events taken place in 2015 that will have farreaching consequences and impact lives in future that might have gone unnoticed by most people. Although news of political conflicts, natural disasters and economic slowdown creates more powerful headlines, consumers’ lives are impacted more by technological innovations and creativity that rarely makes strong news headlines. How many people have taken note of some of the most significant developments of the year – such as the first solar aircraft to fly across the world or the availability of 3-D printing machines? Some might remember the release of the latest version of the iPhone 6s – due to their love for the gadget. News such as the development of the first self-regulating artificial heart – that could give a heart patient a new lease of life has not even made to the front page of newspapers, that focussed more on the insurgency in Iraq, Syria and parts of the Middle East. This section, offers a glimpse of some of the most significant developments of the year 2015.

European Refugee Crisis

More than a million displaced people fled the war-torn cities of the Middle East and Africa to Europe through East Europe

18 Gulf Yearbook 2015

Solar-powered global flights

olar-powered international passenger flights might become a reality in future as demonstrated by Solar Impulse 2 – a Swiss long-range solar-powered aircraft project, led by Swiss psychiatrist and aeronaut Bertrand Piccard (who co-piloted the first balloon to circle the world non-stop) and Swiss businessman André Borschberg. In 2015, they aimed at circumnavigating the Earth by a piloted fixed-wing aircraft using only solar power. An earlier prototype had performed its first test flight in 2009, and demonstrated 26 hours of continuous flying in 2010. The team completed successful solar-powered flights from Switzerland to Spain and Morocco in 2012, and conducted a multi-stage flight across the USA in 2013. Building on the experience of this craft, a larger follow-on design (Solar Impulse 2) was planned to make a circumnavigation of the globe. This flight was initially planned for 2014, but following a structural failure of the aircraft's main spar during static testing, it was rescheduled. The mission takes place over a period of five months from the beginning of March to the end of July 2015, using zero fuel to cover a distance of 35,000 kilometres (22,000 miles). g

and the Mediterranean Sea seeking refuge from the conflicts. As war escalated in Syria and Iraq, hundreds of thousands of displaced innocent families left the region for the

safety of their lives, ending up either dead or in Europe. However, in a show of courage, European leaders stood up defying opposition to welcome the refugees with an

2015

Year of Innovation in UAE JANUARY 2015 MILESTONES

he year 2015 will be remembered in the history of the UAE as a Year of Innovation – that saw the government announce Dh300 billion funds to develop a innovation-driven economy that will keep the country remains ahead of the competition. The UAE’s leadership has led the country’s efforts to build a safe, happy, smart and technologically advanced nation. As part of the objectives, the UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced a 10-point set of goals. These are: 1. Happiness of UAE citizens remains a top priority of government and provide world-class housing, first-rate learning systems and high quality, modern healthcare services to citizens. 2. Increase financial allocations to improve the quality of life, support family stability and continue government spending on major development projects to stimulate economic growth, generating more jobs and enhancing social stability. 3. Diversify economy and income sources and ensure sus-

tainable development. 4. Build a sustainable economy far from dependence on oil by investing in human development, technology and innovation. The objective of the Dh300 billion plan is to build a vibrant knowledge-based economy. 5. Promote national identity and loyalty. 6. Paying more care and attention to the teaching profession to make teaching one of the most attractive jobs. 7. Promote social responsibility, so it becomes official practice in lives. Bringing happiness to people is itself a joint responsibility. 8. Build a national responsible media to promote national image to the world. 9. Maximising investment in the youth to unleash talents. Efforts for empowering women should continue so that they may participate in development. 10. Promote security and stability to make sure the country remains an attractive investment destination, an international trade, business and tourism centre and a favourite destination for living and working. g

Our nation has developed a successful development model, presenting to the world a pioneering experiment in justice, rule of law, economic diversification, judicious harnessing of resources and sustainable development...

– HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of UAE Gulf Yearbook 2015 19

2015

JANUARY 2015 DEVELOPMENTS

open arm, providing food and shelter. German Chancellor Angela Merkel led the European Union in embracing the helpless immigrants, many of whom have either drowned in the sea or died on their way to Europe. However, European citizen’s show of compassion was in sharp contrast to the merciless killings of innocent people by the Islamic State militants and made the gesture by the Europeans more human. Following this, the United States, Canada and Australia also have opened doors to the refugees.

Artificial Intelligence

After a half-decade of quiet breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, 2015 has been a landmark year. Computers are smarter and learning faster than ever. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence exhibited by machines or software. It is also the name of the academic field of study which studies how to create computers and computer software that are capable of intelligent behaviour.

New Horizons arrives at Pluto

In July 2015, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft performed a close flyby of Pluto, becoming the first mission in history to visit the distant world. This probe – launched in January 2006 – had travelled 3 billion km through space. At its closest approach, it flew 12,600 kilometres (7,800 miles) above the surface, with a relative ve-

20 Gulf Yearbook 2015

JANUARY 2015 MILESTONES

Self-regulating artificial heart

he development of self-regulating artificial heart reaches a new milestone after successfully being implanted in a human body that functions. However, in 2015, these lifesaving artificial limbs have been made commercially available for buying from the market – something that is going to change the people with heart problems live! In 2013, French Professor Alain Carpentier engineered the first self-regulating artificial heart, using biomaterials and electronic sensors. The device weighed 900 grammes, was roughly the same size as a real heart and could imitate its functions exactly. In a 10-hour operation, it was successfully implanted within a 75-year-old patient at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris. Permanent artificial hearts had been around since 1982, with similar inventions that preceded them going back to the 1940s. Unlike previous versions, Carpentier's invention was the first to be completely artificial and self-regulating. Electronic sensors and microprocessors could monitor blood pressure and flow in real time – instantly adjusting the pulse rate – while a ‘pseudoskin’ made of biosynthetic, microporous materials could prevent blood clots, which had been a major issue in the past. By 2015, after a period of clinical trials, it is now available with a price between 140,000 and 180,000 euros ($190,000 to $250,000). g

locity of 13.8 km/s (49,600 km/h; 30,800 mph). The initial photos revealed a surprisingly young terrain, evidenced by the lack of impact craters and suggesting that vol-

canism or some other geological process reshaped the landscape within the last 100 million years. The onboard cameras showed icy mountains reaching up to 11,000 feet (3,300 metres)

Millennium Development Goals reduce poverty

he year 2015 will mostly be remembered in history as the year of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In 2000, world leaders pledged to work to achieve eight MDGs adopted by the United Nations – with a headline objective to reduce global poverty by a half, promote gender equality and empower women, achieve universal primary education, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDs, malaria and other disease, environmental sustainability and develop global partnerships, by 2015. Progress towards reaching the goals was mixed. There were setbacks. But overall, the reduction in poverty and increased access to health, education, technology and other essential services was without precedent in many countries' histories. “The global mobilisation behind the MDGs has produced the most successful anti-poverty movement in his-

tory,” UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, said. “By putting people and their immediate needs at the forefront, the MDGs reshaped decision-making in developed and developing countries alike.” Globally, the number of people living in extreme poverty has declined by more than half, from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 836 million in 2015. The proportion of undernourished people in the developing regions has fallen by almost half, from 23.3 per cent in 1990–1992 to 12.9 per cent in 2014–2016. The primary school net enrolment rate in the developing regions has reached 91 per cent in 2015, up from 83 per cent in 2000. The number of out-of-school children of primary school age worldwide has fallen by almost half, to 57 million in 2015, down from 100 million in 2000. Many more girls are now in school compared to 15 years ago. In South Asia, 74 girls were enrolled in primary school for every 100 boys in 1990. Today, 103 girls are en-

rolled for every 100 boys. Women now make up 41 per cent of paid workers outside the agricultural sector, an increase from 35 per cent in 1990. The average proportion of women in parliament has nearly doubled during the same period. The global under-five mortality rate has declined by more than half, dropping from 90 to 43 deaths per 1,000 live births between 1990 and 2015. Despite population growth in the developing regions, the number of deaths of children under five has declined from 12.7 million in 1990 to 6 million in 2015 globally. Since the early 1990s, the rate of reduction of under-five mortality has more than tripled globally. Since 1990, the maternal mortality ratio has declined by 45 per cent worldwide. New HIV infections fell by 40 per cent (2000 to 2013), from 3.5 million cases to 2.1 million. In 2015, the world leaders have agreed to a new set of goals is established for 20162030. g

Gulf Yearbook 2015 21

2015

JANUARY 2015 DEVELOPMENTS

high, comparable to North America's Rocky Mountains. A large, light-coloured region measuring 1,590 kilometres (990 miles) across was nicknamed ‘the heart’ and then formally named Tombaugh Regio, in honour of astronomer Clyde Tombaugh who discovered Pluto in 1930. New measurements also showed that Pluto was slightly larger than previously thought, with a diameter of 2,370 kilometres, compared to earlier estimates of 2,306 kilometres. Because of the vast distance between Pluto and Earth (radio communications took four and a half hours, even at the speed of light), it was only possible to return a faint signal at 1 or 2 kilobytes per second. It would therefore take over a year to transmit all of the images and data. New Horizons would continue to explore the Pluto system for five months, including its five moons, before entering the Kuiper belt and eventually leaving the Solar System, heading in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius.

Electric car ownership hits 1 m worldwide

In 2010, there were about 25,000 electric cars on the world's roads. This number grew exponentially during the next five years, reaching over a million by the end of 2015. Pure electric car sales were led by Japan with a 28 per cent market share of global sales, followed by the United States with a 26 per cent share, China at 16 per cent, France with 11

22 Gulf Yearbook 2015

2015

JANUARY 2015 OPINION

A year of ideas & innovation

By Sultan Bin Sulayem Chairman DP World

World’s first zero-carbon city opens

he first phase of Masdar City – a $22 billion eco-project – is completed in 2015. This huge development is located in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Entirely pre-planned and selfcontained, it is the world's first carbon neutral, zero waste and fully sustainable city. A multitude of green technologies are utilised – including the largest solar power plant in the Middle East, rooftop photovoltaics, wind farms, geothermal sources and a hydrogen power plant. The city's water needs are fulfilled by a solar-powered desalination plant. There are extensive recycling systems too. Masdar City will initially be home to around 7,000 residents and 15,000 commuters. Its commercial sector is primarily concerned with the manufacture of environmentally-friendly products. Automobile usage will be restricted in the city, residents instead will be using integrated forms of mass transit and personal rapid transit, when fully functional. It will be connected to the rest of Abu Dhabi through rail and existing roadways. It contains a university, an institute of science and technology and hosts the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Masdar City will undergo major expansion. The final phase of the project will be completed by 2025, covering an area of 6 square kilometres (2.3 square miles). By then, it will contain over 50,000 residents and 1,500 businesses. g per cent and Norway with 7 per cent. On a per capita basis, the leaders by far were Norway (6.1%) and the Netherlands (5.55%) with Iceland (0.94%) considerably behind in third

place. The biggest electric car companies were Nissan, GM/Opel, Toyota, Tesla and Ford. Despite growing rapidly, electric cars still only accounted for

n the eve of the UAE’s 43rd National Day in 2014, the federal cabinet met in an old fort in Fujairah and approved a national innovation strategy that would place the UAE on a path to achieve the next stage in its development. The UAE Vision 2021 emerged from that meeting with the aim to make the country a global leader by the time it celebrates the Golden Jubilee of the Union in 2021. Declaring 2015 as the Year of Innovation was the first step and UAE Innovation Week was observed with over 800 events and scores of initiatives in education, health, energy, environment, space, service sectors and the launch of the Dh2 billion Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Fund designed to provide financing solutions for innovators. Meanwhile, DP World has been busy launching innovative projects during the year. The Rotterdam World Gateway, provides an unrivalled level of automation and customer service with its fully automated cranes and robotic vehicles. It brings a new era of technology and efficiency in port operations. With RWG, the future of container port operations promises to be cleaner, greener, safer, quicker, more inclusive and brighter. Closer to home, DP World is leading solar energy develop-

ment with one of the largest rooftop solar power projects in Jebel Ali Free Zone and Mina Rashid, while its TURN8 programme for start-up companies is seeking ideas that can be refined and commercialised. Innovation has also been embedded in the psyche of the country. In the 1970s, when GCC nations were searching for new ways to step up oil exports, the leadership in Dubai looked in the opposite direction. The result was the world’s largest man-made port, Jebel Ali Port, designed to serve as the gateway to a region of two billion people. Today, Jebel Ali Port together with the free zone generates over 20 per cent of Dubai’s GDP. Dubai has shown that innovation can be used to spur economic development, with more effective processes, products and services. A report commissioned by DP World identifies five innovations that will affect almost all aspects of trade and logistics process: robotics and automation; autonomous vehicles; the Internet of Things and big data; simulation and virtual reality; and cyber security. It may sound like an exotic world of cutting-edge technology, but it’s the way the world is moving. The pace of change has never been faster in our history and all of it will change the face of what we do in trade and logistics. The year 2015 has been a landmark year in the UAE’s development and a foundation on which to build the UAE’s vision of becoming a global hub for innovation in the 21st century. g

It may sound like an exotic world of cutting-edge technology, but it’s the way the world is moving. The pace of change has never been faster in our history and all of it will change the face of what we do in trade and logistics...

– Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem Chairman DP World

Gulf Yearbook 2015 23

2015

JANUARY 2015 DEVELOPMENTS

a tiny percentage (0.1%) of the billion or so total cars in the world. The main factors limiting their uptake were the high cost (even after government incentives), range anxiety, charging times and lack of public recharging infrastructure. A number of notable innovations were underway, however, that would allow these vehicles to continue their upward trend. Arguably the greatest advance was an ongoing fall in the price of batteries; from an average of $900/kWh in 2010, to under $600/kWh in 2015 and forecast to reach $300/kWh by 2020. Battery production would see a dramatic increase with Tesla's ‘Gigafactories’ beginning in 2017. Tesla was also constructing a ‘supercharger network’, offering high-speed charges for free. By the end of 2015, around 98 per cent of the US population would lie within range of a station.

Windows 10 to change computing

Following the much-criticised Windows 8, Microsoft launches a major overhaul of the operating system in 2015. It is designed to run on a wide range of platforms – including the Big Data and Internet of Things – with a tailored experience for each. Windows 10 addresses a number of usability issues, refining the ‘Metro’ interface and bringing back the traditional Start Menu. Users can now switch between multiple desktop screens for a tidier workspace. The OS features a more unified code base, for improved

24 Gulf Yearbook 2015

2015

JANUARY 2015 OPINION

Tourism a key economic driver

By Essam Kazim

Chief Executive Officer Dubai Tourism

NASA confirms finding water in Mars

nited States space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) confirmed in October the existence of flowing liquid salty water on Mars, fuelling the possibility of life on the Red Planet. “Today, we’re revolutionising our understanding of the planet,” said Jim Green, Director of planetary science at NASA Headquarters in Washington, during a press conference in October. “Mars is not the dry, arid planet that we thought of in the past - under certain circumstances, liquid water has been found on Mars.” Speculation has been mounting that NASA’s announcement would involve flowing water. Scientists have long known that there is frozen water at Mars' poles, but they have never discovered liquid water. The discovery could have huge consequences for future expeditions, including NASA's goal of sending a manned mission to Mars by the 2030s. Scientists have based their findings on an analysis of the mysterious dark streaks on Mars’ surface called Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL). The streaks have intrigued scientists for some time, fading during cooler months and recurring annually at nearly the same locations. “The dark streaks form in late spring, grow through the summer and disappear by the fall,” explained Michael Meyer, lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Programme at NASA Headquarters. g

compatibility and simpler transfer of data between various devices and services. There is a greater focus on apps. Advanced gesture recognition is also incorporated, now that 3D cameras are becoming more common. It also deals with power management issues.

DDR4 memory reaches home PC market

The fourth generation of double data rate (DDR4), synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) after DDR (2002),

s the new year begins, we are able to take a critical look at the last 12 months and reflect on the progress made – to continue to raise the international profile of Dubai’s tourism and commercial offering. In 2013, Dubai’s Tourism Vision for 2020 was announced, with the primary goal to welcome 20 million visitors to Dubai annually by 2020. To achieve this, we identified three key areas of focus – maintaining market share in our traditionally largest key source markets, investing in markets with high growth potential and lastly, increasing repeat visitors from all markets and encouraging them to stay longer. For this vision to come to fruition, we require an annual growth rate of 7-9 per cent, and while fluctuations are expected, our growth over the last five years has averaged 8 per cent, indicating that we are very much on track. Performance figures in 2015 continued in the same upward trend, underlining the headway we are making. A key driver to this success was connectivity, with Dubai’s two home-grown airlines, Emirates and flydubai. Both airlines launched numerous new routes or increased capacity on existing ones, resulting in even more convenient access to the region. Dubai’s cruise industry was also a significant revenue

driver with a 42 per cent increase in cruise tourists as of November 2015. Dubai’s accessibility also improved, driven by the easing of UAE visa policies that have made it easier to visit the emirate. Citizens from more than 45 countries can now obtain a visa on arrival with positive results evidenced by the increase in visitors from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and in particular, China. In order to accommodate the expected 20 million visitors per year, Dubai is also expanding its hotel portfolio and room inventory, with a total of 140,000 to 160,000 keys targeted by 2020. Significant progress was made in 2015, with Dubai’s hotel inventory exceeding 670 establishments and over 96,300 rooms at the end of October. In order to support and develop Dubai’s growing events sector, Dubai Tourism has also implemented online platforms, aligned with Dubai’s Smart City initiative, aimed at automating thus speeding up and simplifying the entire events application, licensing and ticketing process, and providing an electronic ticket distribution system. Since the start of November 2014, DTCM has registered 513 venues, 303 organisers and 24,527 performers, and issued 9,201 permits via the new platform. While I am proud of all that has been achieved this year, there is still much work to be done in realising our vision. I look forward to what’s to come in 2016 and beyond. g

In order to accommodate 20 million visitors per year, Dubai is also expanding its hotel portfolio and room inventory, with a total of 140,000 to 160,000 keys by 2020. Significant progress was made in 2015, with Dubai’s hotel inventory exceeding 96,300 rooms.

– Essam Kazim CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing Gulf Yearbook 2015 25

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JANUARY 2015 DEVELOPMENTS

DDR2 (2004) and DDR3 (2007) reaches consumers in 2015. It features greater speed, memory density and energy efficiency, with devices using 20 nanometre (nm) process technology allowing consumergrade modules of up to 32 GB. Though Samsung and others introduced DDR4 memory boards in 2013, processor boards like Intel's Broadwell did not yet support this standard. High-end servers in data centres were able to take advantage of DDR4 in 2014. However, the home PC market would have to wait until 2015.

The Archival Disc format is launched

This year sees the release of a new optical disc format with up to 300 GB capacity, jointly developed by Sony and Panasonic. For comparison, dual-layer Blu-rays can store up to 50 GB. Known as Archival Disc, it is initially aimed at industries like digital cinema (for storage of 4K/2160p video), broadcasters and cloud centres handling big data. The discs can withstand changes in temperature and humidity, in addition to dust and water, ensuring readability for at least 50 years. Future versions with capacities of 500 GB and 1 TB are planned. Even denser storage mediums will eventually be possible using molecular, holographic systems to read/write data in three dimensions. A technology known as Holographic Versatile Disc (HVD) had been demonstrated in the prior decade, with standards published in 2007. A number of release dates were

26 Gulf Yearbook 2015

2015

JANUARY 2015 OPINION

It’s been a good year, overall

Executive Vice Chairman Dubai Duty Free

Launch of the Apple Watch

he launch of the game-changing device – Apple Watch, a smartwatch developed by Apple Inc – is a major development for consumers that will change the way people use computer, mobile, camera, watch and generally change their lifestyle. The goal of the Apple Watch was to free people from their phones. It incorporates fitness tracking and health-oriented capabilities as well as integration with iOS and other Apple products and services. The device is available in four variants: Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch, Apple Watch Hermès, and Apple Watch Edition. The Watch is distinguished by different combinations of cases and first or third party interchangeable bands. Apple Watch relies on a wirelessly connected iPhone to perform many of its default functions such as calling and texting. It is compatible with the iPhone 5 or later models running iOS 8.2 or later, through the use of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Announced by Tim Cook, Apple CEO, on September 9, 2014, the device was available for pre-order on April 10 and began shipping on April 24, 2015. The Apple Watch quickly became the best-selling wearable device, with the shipment of 4.2 million smartwatches in the second quarter of 2015, according to analyst firm Canalys. g

announced, but these all passed. This format will later resurface, however, as storage requirements continue to grow exponentially.

Earthquakes kill 9,000 in Nepal

On Saturday 25 April a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. It severely shook the lives of at least 8 million people. It was followed by a second

By Colm McLoughlin

quake on May 12 that had left hundreds of thousands homeless. The combined death toll from both the earthquakes crossed 10,000. Nepal’s major cities, including the capital Kathmandu, have been badly damaged and rural areas near the epicentre have been completely cut off by avalanches. two massive earthquakes that struck Nepal on 25th April and 12th May have left hundreds of thousands families without shelter and livelihoods.

verall it has been a good year for Dubai Duty Free, we have grown our business and expect sales to be close to $2 billion. We have increased our staffing levels to 6,194 from 5,618 and we are set to open 7,000 square metres of new retail in Concourse D in early 2016, which will be a very welcome addition to the existing retail footprint of 26,000 sq metres in Dubai International Airport. Of course there have been challenges this year including the drop in Russian travellers, which we estimate to have cost us around Dh200 million in sales, with Russian passengers being among the top spenders historically. A weak Euro has also impacted our business. There has been a change in the behaviour of Chinese shoppers. So all of these things combined has made it a challenging retail environment. On the plus side of course, Dubai International is a major transit hub, and we have seen increased spend from other groups such as the African passengers, who have grown in numbers this year and this is reflected in the increased spend amongst this group. The GCC and India continue to be a key markets for us. With challenges come opportunities, and we have consistently looked at ways of improving our retail offer to a di-

verse passengers mix. As I mentioned earlier, we have collaborated more closely with our suppliers to ensure that we are delivering the right products at the right prices wherever possible. We have increased our online presence significantly this year and as a result our online sales will reach around Dh50 million in 2015 and we expect that to rise significantly next year. The Global GDP growth forecast for 2015 is around 2.5%, which is a modest figure that reflects the many highs and lows that we have seen over the past 12 months with a weakening euro, lower oil prices and a rebalancing of growth in emerging markets such as China. Some regions of the world have done better than others and the good news is that the UAE continues to drive regional change with an economy that has remained exceptionally buoyant throughout. The UAE’s long held investment in infrastructure, technology and logistics is matched by its social spending. This has ensured a resilience and strong foundation and we are witnessing the benefits of this despite global uncertainties. The year 2015 was declared by the UAE as the Year of Innovation and the UAE aims to become of the most innovative nations in the world. This focus which embraces new technologies, is one of the most positive aspects of the year and will reap benefits for the UAE for many years to come. So overall, it has been a good year. g

The UAE’s long held investment in infrastructure, technology and logistics is matched by its social spending. This has ensured a resilience and strong foundation and we are witnessing the benefits of this despite global uncertainties...

– Colm McLoughlin Executive Vice Chairman Dubai Duty Free

Gulf Yearbook 2015 27

2015

JANUARY 2015 DEVELOPMENTS

JANUARY 2015 OPINION

Towards universal healthcare

Expo 2015 held in Italy’s Milan city

The World Expo 2015, held in Milan, the first time the city has hosted the event since 1906 – has recorded 20 million visitors during its six-month operation from May 1 to October 31, 2015. More than 100 nations participated in the Expo. The main theme was the future availability of food and water supplies and the state of nutrition and health in the years to come. New technology was on display with the aim of reducing poverty and famine around the world. A working prototype of a vertical farm is also presented as an alternative to traditional agricultural methods. The event is a catalyst for talks among concerned parties such as farmers, non-profit organisations, humanitarian workers and environmentalists, initiating new movements for change.

Supercarriers

The first in a new generation of US aircraft carriers, mostly known as the ‘supercarriers’ is launched this year. The Gerald R. Ford-class replaces the aging Nimitz-class which has been in service since 1975. This new class of ship includes some major improvements. These include: increased automation, electromagnetic aircraft launch systems to replace previous steam mechanisms, increased stealth, a new type of nuclear reactor for more efficient power consumption, high tech radar and flight control, as well as the ability to carry the new F-35 Light-

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2015

By Dr Azad Moopen Chairman Aster DM Healthcare Group

3D Printing comes of age

lthough 3D Printing technology has been evolving for some time, the technology has become more accessible to the consumers in 2015, which will change the way people print and make things at home. Three-dimensional printing is the process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), refers to various processes used to synthesize a three-dimensional object. A 3D printer is essentially a type of industrial robot. Successive layers of material are formed under computer control to create objects ranging from plastic bottles to aircraft parts and prosthetic limbs. It's a growing market worth an estimated $5.2 billion this year, according to market analysts Canalys. 3D printing signals the beginning of a third industrial revolution, succeeding the production line assembly that dominated manufacturing starting in the late 19th century. Using the power of the Internet, it may eventually be possible to send a blueprint of any product to any place in the world to be replicated by a 3D printer with elemental inks capable of being combined into any material substance of any desired form. g

ning II fighter jet. Ten carriers are commissioned in total, at a cost of $14 billion each. The 10th and final ship will be launched by 2040.

Elizabeth II is the longest monarch in British history

On 10th September 2015, Elizabeth II became the longest

reigning monarch in British history – surpassing the record held by Victoria, her great-great grandmother. Having ascended to the throne on 6th February 1952, Elizabeth II has reigned for 63 years and 328 days (At December 31, 2015). The six decades of her reign have witnessed enormous changes on the world stage – including the dismantling of the British Empire, the civil rights

he Middle East has been in the midst of many challenges in 2015 due to the geopolitical situation in the region coupled with significant slide in oil price. I have been in Dubai now for more than quarter of a century and has witnessed a remarkable phenomenon which baffles common sense. Whenever there are issues around, Dubai thrives! This is because of its preeminent position as an oasis of peace and safety. In fact, we witnessed some positive developments in the healthcare sector during 2015. The most important was the rolling out of mandatory insurance in Dubai. Even though the universal insurance coverage is incomplete, the positive impact of this is already reflecting in better utilisation of access to healthcare. This is likely to increase in the next year as more and more people are getting compulsorily covered through this scheme. Apart from making healthcare accessible to all, this is likely to have overall salutary effect in the domain including service levels and quality. Another very important development in healthcare is the increasing focus on digitalisation. Both government and private sectors are moving into implementation of EMR and related technologies for patient records and transcription of medical

data. Mobile health is bringing healthcare to the doorsteps of people with some providers including us starting pilot platforms for M health delivery. I find the focus on quality assurance in healthcare going up with the regulatory bodies becoming stricter on implementation of standards. Most of the institutions are getting accredited by well recognised international accrediting bodies like Joint Commission International etc. One important change in the healthcare sector is the increasing flow of patients for medical problems to Dubai from neighbouring countries. Dubai is gearing up for attracting international patients. There is already a flow of patients for aesthetic procedures. With the increase in number of hospitals having high end facilities and establishment of premier institutions like the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid University Hospital at DHCC in association with Harvard Medical School, there will be more flow of patients to Dubai which will have a positive impact on the overall healthcare sector. There are some negative overhang on the sector as the reflection of the drag on the local economy. The lull in construction sector might bring down the number of people coming to the country which can have some impact on the healthcare providers. Healthcare is one sector which is the least and last affected whenever there is a downward pull on economic indicators. g

We witnessed some positive developments in the healthcare sector in 2015. The most important was the rolling out of mandatory insurance in Dubai. Even though the universal insurance coverage is incomplete, the positive impact of this is already reflecting in better utilisation of access to healthcare...

– Dr Azad Moopen Chairman Aster DM Healthcare Gulf Yearbook 2015 29

2015

JANUARY 2015 DEVELOPMENTS

movement, the growing empowerment of women in society, the development of the Space Age, accelerating globalisation, the fall of communism in Europe, the end of the Cold War, the dawn of the information age, and the rise of China, to name but a few. Now aged 89, she is becoming noticeably frailer and has scaled back her official duties. Her eldest son Charles will succeed her, becoming King Charles III.

Dawn at Ceres

Dawn was a robotic spacecraft sent by NASA on a mission to the asteroid belt. It reached Vesta in 2011, before rendezvousing with the dwarf planet, Ceres, in March 2015. Ceres and Vesta are the two most massive members of the asteroid belt: 950 and 530 kilometres in diameter, respectively. Dawn was the first probe to study and photograph them at close range. Both bodies formed very early in the history of the Solar System, thereby retaining a record of events and processes from the time of the formation of the terrestrial planets. Of particular interest on Ceres were two distinct bright spots inside a crater, which led to speculation about a possible cryovolcanic origin or outgassing. Higher resolution images also confirmed that, instead of one or two spots, there were actually several. In addition to being the first probe to explore a dwarf planet, Dawn was also the first to enter into orbit around a celestial body, study it, and then re-embark under powered flight to a second target. g

30 Gulf Yearbook 2015

2015

JANUARY 2015 OPINION

Innovation for development

By Faizal E. Kottikollon

Climate deal to help save environment

eaders of nearly 200 countries approved a historic climate change deal in Paris on December 12, 2015, setting the course for a historic transformation of the world's fossil fuel-driven economy within decades in a bid to arrest global warming. After four years of fraught talks under the aegis of the United Nations, often pitting the interests of rich nations against poor, imperiled island states against rising economic powerhouses, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius declared the pact adopted, to the standing applause and whistles of delegates from almost 200 nations. Hailed as the first truly global climate deal, committing both rich and poor nations to reining in rising emissions blamed for warming the planet, it sets out a sweeping, long-term goal of eliminating net manmade greenhouse gas output this century. "It is a victory for all of the planet and for future generations," said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who led the U.S. negotiations in Paris. "We have set a course here. The world has come together around an agreement that will empower us to chart a new path for our planet, a smart and responsible path, a sustainable path." It also creates a system to encourage nations to step up voluntary domestic efforts to curb emissions, and provides billions more dollars to help poor nations cope with the transition to a greener economy powered by renewable energy. For U.S. President Barack Obama, it is a legacy-defining accomplishment that, he said at the White House, represents "the best chance we have to save the one planet that we've got." The final agreement draws a more ambitious objective of restraining the rise in temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a mark scientists fear could be a tipping point for the climate. Until now the line was drawn only at 2 degrees. While leaving each country to pursue those measures on its own, the agreement finally sets a common vision and course of action after years of bickering over how to move forward.g

Chairman KEF Holdings

he Year 2015 can be a myriad different things to different people. Even as the world grapples with a range of crises – financial, political and even humanitarian – the UAE has once again demonstrated that it continues to be a melting pot of cultures, which is focussed on making the future better for everyone who calls it home. Aided by the country’s visionary leadership and a long tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship, UAE continues to be an oasis of peace and development that encourages people to develop new ideas and implement them. For me and my organisation, the year will be remembered as the year we embarked upon a game-changing initiative that truly makes the 2015, a Year of Innovation for us. What we at KEF have embarked upon, is a new way to do things in construction. We are using technology and robotics for constructing buildings in a way that truly lives up to the adage ‘The Future is Now’. Soon, our facility coming up in Jebel Ali, Dubai, will see robots assemble and build structures from start to finish. Right from the planning and design stage to the structural architecture to details such as interiors fit-out including flooring, wall panelling and painting, fixing doors and window panels,

and interior décor– everything will be automated, carried out by robots on an assembly line model. This offsite pre-cast concrete factory and robotics enabled modular construction technology will reduce human efforts significantly as well as reduce waste, construction time and costs on projects. It will ensure on-time delivery of projects as per agreed design specifications. Our new technology could have a far-reaching impact both at an industry and at a social level. On the one hand it will accelerate the speed with which construction is done, while on the other it will help in reducing the cost of construction by minimising waste. It will have a ripple effect as the development of affordable homes in the UAE and India get fast-tracked and homebuyers get access to affordable homes sooner than expected. The development of our new technology for offsite construction falls in line with the theme of 2015 – the Year of Innovation – and offers a great example on how technology and innovation can play a catalyst’s role in bringing necessary changes in business and society. This is a clear manifestation of what the UAE leadership wants from the future business leaders and a sign of the government’s commitment towards driving innovation. Innovation will really determine who dominates the future. For me, 2015 will be a milestone year. g

The development of our new technology for offsite construction falls in line with the theme of 2015 – the Year of Innovation – and offers a great example on how technology and innovation can play a catalyst’s role in bringing necessary changes in business and society...

– Faizal E. Kottikollon Chairman KEF Holdings Gulf Yearbook 2015 31

2015

JANUARY 2015 OPINION

Towards another oil crisis

By Dr R. Seetharaman Group Chief Executive Doha Bank

The GCC economies are bracing themselves for slower growth and tighter liquidity conditions on account of fall in oil prices. The Gulf countries have seen their fiscal and current account surplus narrowing this year and are expected to see deficits on both these counts next year...

– Dr R. Seetharaman Group CEO Doha Bank

32 Gulf Yearbook 2015

he global economy is expected to grow by 3.1 per cent this year as against expectations of 3.5 per cent at the beginning. The advanced economies are expected to grow by 2 per cent this year as against expectations of 2.4 per cent at the beginning of the year. There is a risk that slowdown in emerging economies could defeat the weak advanced economic recovery. The deflation risks can also emerge on account of significant fall in oil price and other commodities thereby contribute to global slowdown. The risk of currency war has also emerged on account of Yuan devaluation by Chinese Central Bank. The European Central Bank which had stimulated its monetary easing early this year had pledged by end of this year to continue its €60 billion-a-month bond buying programme until March 2017 “or beyond”. The expectations of Monetary tightening by US Fed in 2015 were finally met when it hiked the rates in December. There were some indications of recovery in oil prices in second Quarter of 2015 on account of drop in US rig counts and political tensions which were short lived as Iran nuclear deal came into effect which could add to the global oil supply glut. At the

end of this year we see that oil is at levels seen during the global financial crisis levels near $35 per barrel after the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that global oversupply of crude could worsen next year. In response to climate change the COP 21, Paris came with a deal in Dec 2015 to peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and achieve a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century, to keep global temperature increase well below 2C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C and to contribute $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2020, with a commitment to further finance in the future. The GCC economies are bracing themselves for slower growth and tighter liquidity conditions on account of fall in oil prices. The Gulf countries have seen their fiscal and current account surplus narrowing this year and are expected to see deficits on both these counts next year. These economies will have budgeted low oil prices in the light of current market conditions. The focus will be on non-hydrocarbon diversification and new sources of revenue to manage fiscal deficits. The GCC economies have good sovereign ratings which will also enable them to borrow to fund their fiscal deficits. Oil prices have witnessed a bumpy ride this year and it needs to seen in 2016 as to whether this will continue or not. g

2015

JANUARY 2015 OPINION

By Rizwan Sajan

Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty

he year 2015 will also be remembered in history for another significant initiative – Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that replaces the Millennium Development Goals that expired on December 31, 2015. The 17-point SDGs are aimed at ending all forms of poverty and hunger by 2030. The agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. On 25 September 2015, the 193 countries of the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Development Agenda titled Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that includes: End poverty in all its forms everywhere; end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture; ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages; ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and

32 Gulf Yearbook 2015

2015

A mixed bag for building

JANUARY 2015 DEVELOPMENTS

promote lifelong learning opportunities for all; achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The working agenda also seeks to ensure availability of water and sanitation for all; ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth or all; build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation; reduce inequality; make human settlements inclusive, safe and sustainable. The plan of action also seeks to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns; take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development; protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse

land degradation and halt biodiversity loss; promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. “The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve,” said a statement. “Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders, will implement this plan. We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet.” g

Chairman Danube Group

he year 2015 has been a mixed bag for the building materials industry. While the first half of the year continued in good shape carrying on with the price tag of 2014, the second half of the year saw prices decline by 30-40 per cent in some materials, especially price of steel. This drastic decline will obviously reflect on the turnover value of most companies and might reflect in negative growth – although the volume might be higher. The problems have been compounded with lower oil price and a decline in equity that collectively have dampened the market sentiment. Banks have become very cautious while liquidity situation remained very tight, although there isn’t any shortage of work in the construction business. Projects that were announced in 2013 and 2014 have mostly been tendered out with most of them are currently in various phases of development. So, these projects will continue to drive the construction activities and keep the demand of the building materials stable. Besides, due to the World Expo 2020, the government will start tendering out projects linked to the mega event and developers are expected to deliver the projects that will be needed to host such an event. Prices of building materials as well as construction activities

will continue to be dominated by the ground realities that remain positive due to the pending demand for housing. Dubai’s population is expected to grow from 2.4 million in 2015 to 4.2 million by 2020 – a year when the emirate will host more than 20 million international guests at its hotels and serviced apartments while Expo 2020 venue will cater to 25 million visitors – both domestic and international. On the resident population growth, an increase of 1.8 million people in five years translates to an addition of 360,000 people per annum, resulting in annual housing demand of 18,000 units in Dubai. However, the on the supply side, developers are delivering 12,000 homes a year. So, there could be a shortfall of 6,000 homes per annum, or 30,000 by 2020. These numbers indicate that the demand will outshine supply – which will have an effect on both house price and rents. So, while the market sentiments are down, I do not see any reason to panic as the prospects are good and the market fundamentals remain sound. There has been a pent up demand for affordable housing. If developers and banks could join hands to offer a better price point and payment option, 85 per cent households of the emirate who live in rented homes, will be encouraged to buy properties that will stimulate the demand further and help accelerate the construction activities. So, I do not see the situation as present tense, rather – future perfect. g

There has been a pent up demand for affordable housing. If developers and banks join hands to offer a better price and payment option, 85 per cent families living in rented homes, will be able to buy properties that will stimulate the demand further and help accelerate the construction activities...

– Rizwan Sajan Chairman Danube Group

Gulf Yearbook 2015 33

2015

A year of consolidation JANUARY 2015 OPINION

By Tariq Chauhan

Chief Executive Officer EFS Group

The year 2015 would be remembered in the corporate world as the year of consolidation. It is also an indication that corporates in the Gulf region are well prepared to mitigate the recession fallouts...

– Tariq Chauhan Group CEO EFS Group

34 Gulf Yearbook 2015

he year did began with the looming fears of recession while economic predictions were far too pessimistic. Although in reality, little did happen to prove that negativity right. The global GDP growth remained at 3.5 per cent whilst Middle East growth did over by few points inspite of low oil price. The world at large was turbulent and the Middle East in particular remained politically hot and more so due to the conflicts in Syria and Yemen. This political turmoil and continued slump in oil prices impacted the economic development and the government spending in particular. Besides the stock markets witnesses serious fluctuations and faced the onslaught of poor market sentiments. The other factors that further dampened the market sentiments was the shakeup of Chinese currency and stock market. The plunge was a big surprise as very fewer people ever anticipated this. With this backdrop, there is indeed a silver lining. In the third quarter results of many corporates were exemplary. These results are worth a closer purview. These companies have embarked on operating efficiencies as their profits and growth is largely from existing business. These performances are not driven from growth but operating efficiencies, achieved

through service innovation, technology integration and expansion of online options. Our business strategy for 2015, have well factored in the lessons of the 2008 recession to negate any impact. At the budget planning and thereafter we continued taking measures of prudence and adopted sustainability as the core criteria for growth. Therefore, managing cost and building strong shared services helped us improve operating margins. Besides, we went on to adopt people progression as an important tool to ensure high retention as well a cost engineering tool to augment growth and prudence. Technology remained a vibrant tool of business empowerment to mitigate other risks of cost escalations. Interestingly, whilst our gross margins were pushed back by market by few points, we still achieved a growth of above 20 per cent maintained with even higher annual net profit margins. In economic slowdown , service innovation and operating efficiencies are some of the most significant tools to sustain commercial prudence. The year has been a year of visible and measured success against many odds. The year 2015 would be remembered in the corporate world as the year of consolidation. It is also an indication that corporates in the Gulf region are well prepared to mitigate the recession fallouts whilst governments have their own challenges and are contemplating plans to mitigate this. g

2015

JANUARY 2015 OPINION

Growth through innovation

By Thumbay Moideen Founder President Thumbay Group

he year 2015 will be remembered in the history of the UAE as a Year of Innovation – that saw the government announce Dh300 billion investment in developing an innovation-driven economy that will keep the country ahead of the competition and ahead of its time. With the oil and commodities prices remaining low and a subdued global growth outlook that might reduce the oil-exporting countries’ current account surplus, this brilliant move could not have come at a more appropriate time. The move also reflects the forward-looking thinking of the UAE’s visionary leadership to keep the country ahead of the game in a challenging global environment dominated by negative news headlines that reflects a nervous global environment. Innovation and creativity are going to determine who stays ahead of the game. As we move towards the second half of the second decade of the third millennium, when more than half of the world population have embraced urban lifestyle and poverty been reduced by a half in the developing world, growth could only come by creating an enabling environment where ideas could be turned into reality that could make our lives better – be it smart working solutions, smart mobile applications that makes

things easier or using drones instead of a physical courier service for the delivery of parcels. While the rest of the world grapples with socio-economic and political issues, regional conflicts and insurgencies, the UAE has taken the right approach by investing in its future. It’s not only transforming eservices to m-services but is also developing a smart government where all the essential services could be sourced through mobile applications. That way, the residents of the UAE have been blessed. The security, safety and the enabling environment created by the UAE leadership has helped foreigners like ourselves to identify gaps, develop ideas to fulfill gaps and build businesses and institutions that help the country. As an organisation, we have grown our business through innovation. That is a way of business for us. If the culture of innovation spreads across the society, the UAE will definitely be on top. That way, the year 2015 will go down in history as the year when everything started. In fact, the future has just arrived in the UAE and it will usher in a new era. The second most important development is the greater awareness on sustainability – something that every business in the UAE is trying to achieve. The once buzzword is gradually becoming part of our system. If businesses become sustainable, the UAE economy will be able to cope with recession and remain sustainable. g

While the rest of the world grapples with socio-economic and political issues, regional conflicts and insurgencies, the UAE has taken the right approach by investing in its future...

– Thumbay Moideen Founder President Thumbay Group

Gulf Yearbook 2015 35

2015

JANUARY 2015 OPINION

A year to become sustainable

By Joy Alukkas

Chairman and MD Joyalukkas Group

The economic dynamics is part of the cyclic movement in the economy and is a temporary situation. This is a polite reminder for us not to be extravagant and to remain vigilant and focussed on the core activities. It will help the country’s private sector to become more resilient, more matured and emerge stronger... – Joy Alukkas Chairman and MD Joyalukkas Group 36 Gulf Yearbook 2015

lobal economies are much more dynamic compared to earlier times, everyday is a roller coaster ride for business today, wherein it’s difficult to predict future. Hence its important in this extremely dynamic times to learn, how to keep the head out of water even in all scenarios? How to remain profitable even during downturn, when sales slow down and cash flow suffers. This brings to the forefront the importance of sustainability. That is, how to make businesses sustainable and make them recession-proof? In the absence of growth and expansion options, the key for a strong business or enterprise is to make money while the revenues may remain the same, or even decline. This is where operational efficiencies come in place to make sure the bottom line expands despite a flat top line revenue. While most companies cut corners by cutting marketing budget, reducing manpower and shrinking operations – the key is to do ‘more’ with ‘less’. Technology, outsourcing, smart buying plays a great enabling role in strengthening operational efficiencies. However, there are certain things that can’t be left to these factors. A more integrated approach

in operation that creates synergies amongst various departments and branches is crucial. Also strengthening digital channels helps to mitigate risks. However, thinking out of the box also plays a good role, especially exploring other opportunities in the downturn. Gold and jewellery trade is not immune to the dynamic economic situation. Therefore, we all are facing similar challenges as any other business. Although the market remains fundamentally strong, the overall sentiment of consumer go up and down based on various factors, such as the low oil price, equity bubble, regional conflicts elsewhere is good enough to dampen consumer confidence. Hence, people can get more cautious in spending, especially in buying jewellery when the prices are going down – more reasons for people to wait and see if they can get a lower price. However, the economic dynamics is part of the cyclic movement in the economy and I believe is a temporary phenomenon. This is a polite reminder for us not to be extravagant and to remain vigilant and focussed on the core activities. The good thing is, the current economic situation is helping the country’s private sector to become more resilient, more matured and emerge stronger, once the economy comes back to a more robust growth. I see it as an interesting phase in our journey towards excellence reaching greater heights. g

2015

Time to rethink strategy JANUARY 2015 OPINION

By Shamlal Ahamed

Managing Director Malabar Gold & Diamonds

he cyclic nature of economic performance allows corporate leaders to reflect on business activities, growth strategy and sustainability – especially when economy slows down. That’s exactly what some of the companies’ executives might be doing right now in addition to looking at opportunities – which exist even in economic downturn. The current economic environment offers an opportunity for all to reflect and make business sustainable, so that companies can withstand pressures of slowdown. The same goes to companies operating in the gold and diamond jewellery industry. Gold and diamond jewellery trade is one of the top five contributors to the UAE economy. It has come of age and needs to be taken to the next level. Despite having become one of the world’s largest centres of gold trade, Dubai largely remained a trading and retail hub of gold and diamond jewellery and bullion trade. With the exception of a few gold refineries that process semi-refined yellow metals to its purest form, there isn’t much value addition done – a situation that needs to change. A few local jewellers have jewellery making facility in the UAE that represents 10-15 per cent of the jewellery consumption. So, there has been a big

gap in jewellery making. As an organisation that holds long-term view on the overall business, we are a firm believer of the long term sustainability of the UAE’s attractiveness as well as Dubai’s competitive advantage in the Middle East. As a result, Malabar Gold & Diamond has undertaken a conscious decision to invest in a large jewellery manufacturing and logistics facility in Dubai and strengthen the ‘Made in UAE’ movement. Once opened, it will be the largest jewellery manufacturing facility in the Middle East with a capacity to manufacture 2 tonnes of jewellery per month. It is being set up with an investment outlay of Dh100 million that will create more than 200 jobs and help reduce the UAE’s dependence on imported jewellery. The UAE’s strong connectivity makes the development of the manufacturing and logistics base a more rational move for us. We have already purchased the land at the Techno Park where the new facility will be built. This will help us deliver new and innovative designer jewellery and export them in different countries in Europe, Asian, Africa, America and Australia. The move will not only help us become a more diverse but also company make our business more sustainable. The year 2015 will be remembered in the history of gold and diamond jewellery business for lower price and low volume transactions resulting in a lower turnover across the industry. g

Dubai largely remained a trading and retail hub of gold and diamond jewellery and bullion. With the exception of a few gold refineries that process semirefined yellow metals to its purest form, there isn’t much value addition done – a situation that needs to change.

– Shamlal Ahamed Managing Director Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Gulf Yearbook 2015 37

2015

A year of uncertainty JANUARY 2015 OPINION

By Mohanad Alwadiya Managing Director Harbor Real Estate

For many, the year 2015 will be remembered as a time of market irrationality, investor uncertainty and, in some cases, real fear of a return to a global recession...

– Mohanad Alwadiya Managing Director Harbor Real Estate

38 Gulf Yearbook 2015

he year 2015 would be remembered as a year of uncertainty and doubt; when progress towards long term objectives was overshadowed by the sheer enormity of what remains to be done, when new initiatives were devalued by doubt and a year when an avalanche of issues went unresolved because of uncertainty. The year 2015 was an important period on the humanitarian calendar. For the past 15 years, the United Nations has used its 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as the core development framework for the world. Its 2015 report revealed significant progress had been made towards all the MDGs. Millions of lives have been saved and improved living conditions provided for many more but the progress is overshadowed somewhat of what remains to be done, particularly in the areas of child mortality where, despite great achievements, 6 million children under 5 years of age died during 2015. As a father, I will definitely remember this shocking statistic. It will also be remembered as the year that the global economic recovery started to slow amidst doubts surrounding its true health. Commodity prices collapsed and confusion reigned as central banks of various nations sent mixed messages on divergent monetary

policies, quantitative easing and interest rates. Coupled with shock currency devaluations and overblown estimates of contagion, markets around the world were sent into a maelstrom of volatility. For many, 2015 will be remembered as a time of market irrationality, investor uncertainty and, in some cases, real fear of a return to a global recession. The year will also be remembered as one of continued and widespread geo-political tension. Whether it be in the former Soviet bloc, Middle East, Eastern Europe, South China Sea, Asia or between the world’s super-powers, geopolitical turmoil has been ubiquitous. And while some may fear a new Cold War, the escalation of violence against innocents by ISIS and the export of its brand of terror to the world brings the stark realisation that humanity has rarely been so divided and so distant from any form of meaningful peace. However, there have been some highlights. The real estate has displayed a resilience and maturity that simply did not exist in years past. The uncertainty, doubt and even fear did not result in panic, overreaction nor despair, but a recognition that the market is responding as it should as it seeks equilibrium and sustainability. While 2015 may be remembered as the year of unresolved issues, the opportunity exists for all of us to make 2016 the year of resolve, progress and renewed confidence. That’s why I prefer to look forward. g

2015

A year to remember

JANUARY 2015 OPINION

By Iftekhar Ahmad

Chief Financial Officer Ali Bin Ali Group, Qatar

nother year of success and determination is paving its way for a smarter tomorrow. The world has witnessed some significant turnarounds this year, specifically in the Middle East. From drop in oil prices to UAE’s Year of Innovation, from Qatar’s FIFA 2022 confirmation to Iran’s nuclear deal, from continuing turbulence in fellow nations to the emergence of the Islamic State, the year 2015 would definitely be a ‘Year to Remember’. Qatar, as ever, has an inspiring past and looking forward to a challenging but impressive future. With global index compiler MSCI upgrading UAE and Qatar to Emerging Market status, marking a new era for their capital flows and facilitating more access to funds from around the globe. Inspite of the fluctuating economic and political trends across the world, Qatar’s GDP continued its impressive growth. The past year witnessed unexpected and dramatic developments on the economic and financial levels whereby oil prices dropped to one third of its peak price. This impacted the general revenues of all oil-exporting countries including the GCC. However, most evidences show that Qatar’s gross domestic product (GDP) recorded positive growth rates mainly due to Qatar’s adaptation of wise economic

and financial policies based on the diversification of the sources of national income, reinforcing the great contribution of non-hydrocarbon sectors in the GDP and for the first time Qatar’s non-hydrocarbon sector is forecasted for 2015 to contribute more than 50 per cent of the GDP. The year 2015 also witnessed the announcement of the FIFA 2022 winter dates, removing all doubts about the hosting of the events by Qatar and creating excitement for the host country to steadily organise itself for the mega event. It is the first time that an Arab nation would be hosting the event and it would also be the first time that an event of its kind would be held in Nov-Dec. The year 2015 was an important landmark of the pre-agreed millennium development goals (MGDs) way back in 2000. Qatar can look forward to achieving further development as it has attained most of the MDGs well before the deadline, 2015. However, a few challenges still remain for the country before it fully achieves all the goals. Qatar has launched one of the Gulf region’s first Energy Monitoring Centre (EMC) to manage its smart grid and monitor solar power generation. With many more such high ended efforts and launch of a wide range of initiatives and research, educational and social events, which all aim at realising Qatar National Vision 2030, and supporting the development process in the State.g

From drop in oil prices to UAE’s Year of Innovation, from Qatar’s FIFA 2022 confirmation to Iran’s nuclear deal, from continuing turbulence in fellow nations to the emergence of the Islamic State – the year 2015 would definitely be a ‘Year to Remember’...

– Iftekhar Ahmad Chief Financial Officer Ali Bin Ali Group

Gulf Yearbook 2015 39

2015

Year of affordable living JANUARY 2015 OPINION

By Fred Durie

Chief Executive Officer Nshama

Trendy affordable communities fill a white space that was never addressed. This is a strong example of how Dubai’s property sector is maturing by providing a wider bandwidth to accommodate the largest cross-section of households. In future, 2015 will be known for the evolution of trendy affordable communities...

– Fred Durie CEO, Nshama

40 Gulf Yearbook 2015

or years, discussions have raged on the need for affordable housing in the UAE and the GCC. Many reasons were cited as to why value housing projects can never really take off and why developers would only focus on projects that appeal to the higher income segment. The most important factor was the huge cost of land that makes value housing projects not feasible enough for most developers wishing to maximise their profits. It is estimated that some 50 per cent of Dubai’s households earn between Dh9,000 to Dh15,000 per month, while 35 per cent of the households earn between Dh15,000 to Dh25,000. Thus, nearly 85 per cent of the households have been practically outside the remit of freehold era, simply because the ‘price was too high’ to invest in homes. However, a shift in outlook, encouraging developers to explore the affordable housing space, was catalysed in end2014 with the launch of Dubai Plan 2021. One of its strategic goals is to provide housing for all to establish Dubai as the ‘preferred place to live, work and visit.’ Nshama, a private developer of integrated communities for affordable living, was the first mover in identifying this opportunity and leveraging it. We had a clear strategy – and that was to build self-sustaining

communities with affordable homes that enable people to shift from a rental model to an own home lifestyle. Through our flagship project, ‘Town Square,’ we are delivering what is called the ‘live at your price’ opportunity. This means, people with a monthly income of Dh15,000 plus can buy into our communities that are thoughtfully designed with all lifestyle amenities. From trendy hotels and cinemas to a vibrant central park, extensive retail and F&B amenities, we were replicating the concept of ‘master-planned communities’ but with a focus on affordability. We leverage economies of scale and work with the best-in-class contractors to set price levels where we did not have to compromise on quality. This is the most significant shift that Dubai’s property sector has witnessed in 2015. It will go down in history more so because a larger percentage of Dubai’s residents now have the opportunity to live in owned homes, and save on rents that otherwise go as ‘dead investment.’ As Dubai prepares to host Expo 2020, demand for housing is only set to increase. Trendy affordable communities fill a white space that was never previously addressed. This is a strong example of how Dubai’s property sector is maturing by providing a wider bandwidth to accommodate the largest cross-section of households to own their dream homes. In future, 2015 will be known for the evolution of trendy affordable communities. g

2015

A year of breakthroughs JANUARY 2015 OPINION

By Omar Kaddouri President and CEO Rotana Hotels

o say that 2015 has been a year of much political and economic turmoil globally would be to state the obvious. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has once again trimmed its global growth forecast for 2015 and has warned that downside risks to the world economy appear more pronounced than they did before. The IMF’s revised forecast of 3.1 per cent is the lowest since the global financial crisis of 2009, and was prompted by a number of factors – led by slower growth in China and Russia and continuing uncertainty in stock markets around the world. Meanwhile, the sharp decline in oil prices has been putting the squeeze on countries in the GCC. The impact of falling oil prices once again brings into focus the importance of economic diversification and the need for the Gulf countries to build adequate financial buffers – something the UAE and Saudi Arabia have had admirable success in achieving, which in turn has allowed these nations to withstand the pressures of low oil prices. The ongoing political unrests plaguing the region, particularly the conflict in Syria, has engendered a human tragedy of historic proportions, resulting in the loss of thousands of innocent lives and triggering an unprecedented refugee crisis. It’s a cri-

sis that calls for a united stand and concerted action from countries in the region and around the world, and one can only hope – for the sake of our peoples – that an end to this conflict is in sight. From a technology standpoint, though, 2015 was a year of significant breakthroughs and innovations that further changed the way we do business, get around, and communicate with each other. Technology is also driving new efficiencies across all industries, and as the CEO of a hotel management group, I know first-hand the wonderful ways in which the power of technology can transform the hospitality sector. Speaking of technology and innovation, no country in the GCC has built innovation into its economic development strategies and its agenda for nationbuilding more than the UAE, and it’s only apt that 2015 was declared by the UAE Government as the Year of Innovation. The UAE’s National Innovation Strategy is focused on fostering innovation in seven key sectors, and these far-sighted initiatives promise to build the institutional and human resources capacity that is needed to lead the nation into the future. As we step into 2016, the challenge facing the Gulf region is to cultivate a climate of optimism and confidence, while continuing to harness the power of technology, in order to usher in an era of peace and prosperity for our peoples. g

The impact of falling oil prices once again brings into focus the importance of economic diversification and the need for the Gulf countries to build adequate financial buffers – something the UAE and Saudi Arabia have had admirable success in achieving...

– Omar Kaddouri President and CEO Rotana Hotels

Gulf Yearbook 2015 41

2015

The Year of Innovation Begins

JANUARY JANUARY 2015

2015

JANUARY JANUARY 2015

The UAE has designated 2015 as the year of Innovation to promote the culture of innovation and technology to prepare it for the post-oil challenges and spearhead the future growth of the UAE economy ...

“The future will be for those who adopt innovation. We want our public and private sectors to explore new horizons to develop our economy. Innovation is our only way to build a great history of the UAE...”

– His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

42 Gulf Yearbook 2015

Gulf Yearbook 2015 43

2015

JANUARY 2015 JANUARY January 23, 2015: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz dies. Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz (inset) becomes new King

single economic block of 171 million people and a gross domestic product of US$3 trillion is formed.

January 2, 2015, Friday Libyan tanker spills 4,500 tonnes of crude after collision near Singapore.

2015

JANUARY 2015 JANUARY

January 1, 2015: Dubai creates another Guinness World Record for hosting the World’s Largest LED-Illuminated Facade at the new year’s celebration this year

The United States enacts more sanctions on North Korea in response to their alleged involvement in the hacking attack on Sony.

January 3, 2015, Saturday A series of massacres in Baga, Nigeria and surrounding villages by Boko Haram kills more than 2,000 people.

Turkey permits the building of a Syriac church in Istanbul, the first construction of a Christian house of worship allowed since the founding of the modern republic in 1923.

Two people died and seven others sustained injuries after a petrol tanker burst into flames following a crash during thick fog on the morning of January 2, in Zayed City in the Western Region.

January 1, 2015, Thursday Dubai ushers in 2015 with a new Guinness World Record – world’s most-watched new year’s eve spectacle: A dazzling never-beforeseen show of fireworks, LED light and laser beam displays, has once again positioned Dubai on the global map with the world's most-watched New Year's Eve spectacle. The event also clinched the Guinness World Records title for the World’s Largest LED-Illuminated Facade on Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. OIC expresses deep disappointment at failure of a draft resolution calling Israel to end occupation of Palestinian territories. UAE also expresses grave concern over Security Council's failure to adopt Palestinian statehood resolution.

Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas and becoming the 19th Eurozone country.

44 Gulf Yearbook 2015

China sets aside over US$14.5 billion to help needy families and individuals in 2015.

At least 35 people were crushed to death during a New Year’s Eve midnight-countdown gathering along Shanghai’s riverfront. Most intense Ebola transmission in West Africa reported in western Sierra Leone.

The death toll of the suicide bombing in Ibb, Yemen, that occurred on December 31 rises to 49 with the injury count rising to 70. The Palestine Authority signs a treaty to join and participate in the International Criminal Court.

Formation of Eurasian Union The Eurasian Union (EAU) – a political and economic union consisting of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, creating a

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz’s condition is stable after treatment for lung infection, says Saudi Press Agency.

MS Bulk Jupiter, a Norwegian-owned cargo ship, sinks off the coast of Vietnam, with eighteen dead and one survivor.

Business and Economy Dubai’s government announces Dh41 billion budget for 2015, an 11 per cent increase in revenue compared to 2014. Revenue from government services represents 74 per cent of total government income. The budget allocates 13 per cent towards infrastructure, while social development in health, education, housing and community development account for 35 per cent. January 4, 2015, Sunday Dubai Duty Free consolidates its position as the world’s single largest travel retail operation with annual sales reaching Dh6.99 billion (Dh1.91 billion) in 2014. Heavy fog forced UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways

to cancel 20 flights overnight after heavy fog descended on the UAE capital.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority builds Dh98 million regional green vehicle workshop.

UAE’s Emirates Identity Authority said, the electronic card readers it had distributed to public and private sector organisations since the middle of 2013 until December 2014, numbering about 700,000, resulted in savings to the tune of Dh50 million for the recipient organisations. Kuwaiti investments in Egypt reaches $2.8 billion.

A US drone strike kills eight Uzbek people claimed to be linked with Al Qaeda in Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force strikes Taliban positions in Khyber, Pakistan, killing 31 people.

Pope Francis announces the appointment of 20 new cardinals, many of them coming from outside of Europe.

A six-story building collapse in Nairobi, Kenya, kills one person and leaves several injured. January 5, 2015, Monday A Czech archaeological team discovers the tomb

Gulf Yearbook 2015 45

2015

JANUARY 2015 JANUARY

the first half of 2014, Federal Customs Authority said.

January 5, 2015: Political unrest erupts in Bangladesh

Food imports of Arab countries amounted to US$56 billion in 2011, and are projected to soar to US$150 billion by 2050, according to the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) on Food Security in Arab Countries.

Abu Dhabi-based contractor Al Jaber Group wins SR1.8 billion Abha Airport development project in Saudi Arabia. Tabreed completes Dh2.6 billion refinancing of existing debt facilities.

of formerly unknown Ancient Egyptian queen Khentakawess III who lived during the Fifth Dynasty.

Sharjah Media Corporation establishes Sharjah 24 news service.

As many as 138 journalists killed in 32 countries in 2014 – the second deadliest year in ten years. Political unrest starts in Bangladesh with opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party leads a country-wide blockage hurling petrol-bombs.

The site where Jesus Christ may have been tried, prior to his crucifixion, opens to the public for the first time located under an abandoned prison building, called Kishle, that is part of the Tower of David Museum ground in Jerusalem.

China relaxes controls over the export of rare earth elements after losing a case brought by the United States at the World Trade Organisation.

Ireland becomes the first European nation to be allowed to export beef to the United States since the mad cow disease scare 15 years ago.

For the second day in a row a multi-story residential building in Nairobi, Kenya, collapses, this time an 8-story building, killing one person with eight people still missing.

46 Gulf Yearbook 2015

South Korea announces that it will repatriate the remains of Chinese Peoples Liberation Army soldiers killed in the Korean War.

Lebanon implements stricter immigration rules on its Syrian border in response to the refugee crisis caused by the Syrian Civil War.

News emerges that two days prior hundreds of Boko Haram militants had overrun several towns in northeast Nigeria and captured the military base in Baga. Two militants, one wearing a suicide vest, kill two Saudi Arabian border guards and a general near the border with Iraq.

An avalanche near the Rettenbach glacier in the Austrian Alps, kills two prospects for the United States ski team, Ronnie Berlack and Bryce Astle.

Taiwan's justice ministry releases former President Chen Shui-bian from jail on a one-month medical parole.

The Justice Department charges two American citizens of Gambian descent with violating the Neutrality Act by helping to finance and lead the 2014 Gambian coup d'état attempt. Business and Economy UAE’s non-oil trade reached Dh794.3 billion in

Air Arabia said, it will open a new international hub in Jordan, its fifth fixed-based operation globally, following the acquisition of a 49 per cent stake in Petra Airlines, as the Sharjah-based airline expands its operations.

Sports In ice hockey, the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship closes with Canada beating Russia in the gold medal game, while Slovakia captures bronze.

January 6, 2015, Tuesday Ebola kills 8,153 people in West Africa, infects 20,650, says World Health Organisation.

Scientists at Oxford University begin a new Ebola vaccine trial on 72 healthy volunteers.

UAE launches humanitarian fundraiser to help one million people in the Levant survive powerful snow storm.

Sharjah Ruler issues Emiri decree regulating committees' work.

Cuba starts releasing political prisoners as part of an historic agreement with the United States announced in December 2014, marking a new chapter in relations between the two neighbours.

NASA announces the discovery of three new planets capable of supporting life.

The first high-speed rail project in the state of California breaks ground in Fresno, California.

2015

JANUARY 2015 JANUARY

Various California state district attorneys fine Safeway a total of $10 million for the illegal dumping of electronics and pharmaceuticals into landfills. Clashes with ISIL in Anbar province kill 23 Iraqi Army soldiers and allied Sunni fighters.

The Combined Joint Task Force combating ISIL conducts ten airstrikes in Syria, eight of them targeting the contested city of Kobani, with the airstrikes destroying fourteen ISIL fighting positions and a building. Two commuter trains collide at Mesquita, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, injuring 158 people.

43 US states report an epidemic of influenza, with 21 confirmed deaths.

A gunman shoots a doctor at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, and then kills himself.

The 114th United States Congress begins. The US Congress re-elects John Boehner to his third term as Speaker. NASA's Kepler space observatory announces the discovery of three new planets in the Goldilocks zone capable of supporting life.

Business and Economy WTI crude oil price falls below $50 a barrel to $48.46, the first time it has been below $50 since April 2009.

Oman Crude Oil below $50 per barrel, down 55 per cent from 2014 peak.

Saudi Arabia lifts ban on imports of cattle, sheep and goats from Georgia and chicks from Belgium.

American luxury fashion company Coach, Inc. agrees to purchase shoe brand Stuart Weitzman for $574 million.

January 7, 2015, Wednesday A girl fell to her death from a balcony in Dubai after her mother left her alone on New Year’s Eve to go to a party with a boyfriend. The five-year-

Gulf Yearbook 2015 47

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JANUARY 2015 JANUARY

kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Philippines President Benigno Aquino III demands an investigation after a drone purportedly belonging to the United States Navy is found in the Philippine province of Quezon, the second found in the country.

January 8, 2015, Thursday On the night of January 7 and morning of January 8, assailants throw grenades and fire guns at three mosques throughout France. January 7, 2015: Attack on French magazine Charlie Hebdo killing 12 people, shocks Europe

old suffered fatal injuries after dropping from the third floor apartment in Dubai some time after midnight, police said. She was found on the pavement below in a pool of blood by a passerby in International City. Nine million Syrian refugees require assistance to face harsh winter conditions, says UAE.

Palestinians to join International Criminal Court, says Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General.

Eurozone consumer prices fall in December for the first time since 2009, by 0.2 per cent.

Gunmen attack the Paris office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, killing twelve people and injuring ten. A 2011 issue had depicted a cartoon of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). French police identify three suspects in the killings with raids being conducted in the city of Reims for the assailants, brothers Said and Cherif Kaouchi, aged 32 and 34, respectively, and Hamyd Mourad, 18. Archaeologists in China uncover 2,800-year-old tombs (Eastern Zhou dynasty) in Hubei province.

A car bomb explodes outside a police college in the Yemeni capital Sana'a with at least 38 people reported dead and more than 50 wounded.

Nature publishes the findings of Northeastern University scientists that a new class of drug can

48 Gulf Yearbook 2015

One of the suspects in the Charlie Hebdo killings, Hamyd Mourad, voluntarily surrenders to police in Charleville-Mézières while the other two suspects are still at large. Boko Haram militants raze the entire town of Baga in north-east Nigeria, killing 2,000 people. Boko Haram now controls 70 per cent of Borno State, which is the worst-affected by the insurgency. A suicide bomber targets a police checkpoint in the town of Youssifiyah in Iraq, killing seven people.

Schools in the Midwestern and Northeast United States close for a second successive day due to bitterly cold temperatures.

A catamaran, Pura Vida Princess, catches fire and capsizes off the coast of Punta Leona, Costa Rica, while carrying 98 passengers and ten crew; leaving three dead.

An unknown gunman shoots dead Nerlita Ledesma, a journalist from the Philippine tabloid Abante in the province of Bataan. Her death is the 172nd murder of a journalist since the return of democracy in 1986 and the 31st during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III.

Brunei officially bans all future public celebrations of Christmas, in accordance with its conservative Islamic law Shariah.

Sri Lanka goes to polls to choose a new presidential with a tight contest predicted between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and challenger Maithripala Sirisena.

Business and Economy Dunkin' Donuts signs a franchise agreement for 1,400 new cafes in China by the year 2035. Coca-Cola announces that it plans to cut 1,800 jobs worldwide.

Subaru recalls 199,000 vehicles (2008-2014), citing brake line rust issues.

The Obama administration fines Honda $70 million for failing to report deaths and injury complaints from 2003 to 2014.

Sports The US Olympic Committee chooses the city of Boston as the American bid city to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. January 9, 2015, Friday Mahinda Rajapaksa concedes defeat to Maithripala Sirisena.

UAE's Show Compassion Campaign raises Dh150 million for refugees in Levant.

US President Barak Obama proposed the Free Community College Plan making two years of community college free for those willing to work for it.

The two suspect brothers in the Charlie Hebdo shooting take a hostage at a sign printing company, Création Tendance Découverte, in the French town of Dammartin-en-Goële. The standoff ends with the two brothers dead and the hostage released.

More than 7,300 refugees flee Nigeria's Borno State to neighbouring Chad while over 1,000 are trapped on Kangala island in Lake Chad, following the Boko Haram massacre in Baga town.

A 193-vehicle pileup along a snowy Interstate 94 highway in Michigan leaves one motorist dead and 20 injured. A fire among the vehicles which includes a chemical tanker and a truck loaded with fireworks further compounds the disaster. Former Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra appears to face impeachment charges over a failed rice subsidy scheme.

2015

JANUARY 2015 JANUARY January 9, 2015: Sri Lankan voters elect Maithripala Sirisena President of Sri Lanka to replace Mahindra Rajapaksa

Russia lists transsexual and transgender individuals among those with "personality and behavioural disorders" who will be banned from obtaining driving licenses.

At a court in New York City, a US District Judge sentences the radical imam Abu Hamza Al Masri to a life sentence for terrorism offences in the United States.

In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, blogger Raif Badawi receives 50 lashes for "insulting Islam". This first punishment is part of a sentence of ten years' imprisonment and 1,000 lashes. He will receive 50 lashes a week for 19 more weeks. A shooting into a car in San Francisco, California, leaves four men dead. Business and Economy China to permit online sale of prescription drugs. Foreign investors purchased Dh1.7 billion worth of shares on Dubai Financial Market.

Sports The AFC Asian Cup holds the opening ceremony, followed by the first game in Group A between Australia and Kuwait in Melbourne Rectangular Stadium. Australia wins the match 4–1.

January 10, 2015, Saturday A traffic accident between an oil tanker truck and passenger coach kills 57 people on the Pakistan

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January 11, 2015: Kolinda GraberKitarovic becomes first female President of Croatia

National Highway Link Road near Gulshan-eHadeed, Karachi.

A mass poisoning at a funeral in Mozambique involves beer that was deliberately contaminated with crocodile bile leaving at least 56 dead and 146 hospitalised. A shooting spree in Moscow, Idaho, U.S., leaves three dead and one injured. After a high-speed chase in the neighbouring state of Washington, Pullman police arrest the suspect, John Lee. A suicide bomb attack on a Shiite mosque in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, kills at least seven people.

A female suicide bomber, believed to be aged around 10 years old, kills herself and 19 others, possibly against her will, at a market in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, Nigeria.

SpaceX successfully launches a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as part of boosting its Dragon spacecraft into space for a Monday arrival at the ISS in the SpaceX CRS-5 resupply mission. However, an experimental recovery attempt of the first stage fails when it crash-lands on a floating platform possibly due to insufficient hydraulic fluid.

The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District in San Francisco, USA, temporarily closes the Golden Gate Bridge for three days to install a $30 million moveable barrier between opposite traffic flows.

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Business and Economy UAE Ministry of Economy said it seeks to build knowledge-based activities to contribute five per cent to the country’s economy as part of its plans to strengthen the knowledge-based economy.

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development said that construction work at its US$167 million residential housing development in Kabul, Afghanistan, has been completed. January 11, 2015, Sunday UAE Cabinet Launches National Programme for Government Communication realising UAE Vision 2021. In the UAE, 2,800 people from 91 nationalities embraced Islam in 2014, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, said.

Dubai Police said, they’ve captured a man who abused his position working for a VIP to fraudulently buy Dh35 million worth of jewellery with dud cheques. The Emirati man, who stole from jewellery shops in Dubai, was caught trying to sell the luxury jewels in Oman at discounted prices, police said.

Former foreign minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović narrowly defeats incumbent president Ivo Josipović and will become the first female president of Croatia on February 18, 2015.

The new Sri Lankan government said, it will investigate allegations of a coup attempt by Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a bid to retain power after being defeated at the polls. Thousands of police and military personnel prepare to secure a Paris unity rally with up to a million people expected to attend, protesting against Charlie Hebdo shooting.

An arson attack on the German newspaper Hamburger Morgenpost, which published cartoons from Charlie Hebdo, causes no injuries but leads to two arrests.

More female suicide bombers, each believed to be around 10 years old, kill themselves and three others at a market in the northeastern city of Potiskum, Nigeria.

Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501: Divers retrieve the flight data recorder from the crashed jet.

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The death toll from the Karachi traffic accident rises to 62.

Public photographs become available of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket after the experimental recovery attempt of the first stage fails and crashlands on a floating platform in the SpaceX CRS5 resupply mission.

Business and Economy UAE ranks first among Arab and 22nd globally in Global Investment Indicator.

Dubai Aluminium has completed the syndication of a US$1.8 billion 7-year corporate term loan facility. Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) General Index increased 238 points during 2014, closing at 4528 points, with market capitalisation touching Dh464 billion in 2014.

The Middle East will need to invest around $18 billion over the next five years in new pipelines and associated infrastructure, reports say.

Dubai Investments eyes expansion, Dh400 million acquisitions in financial and real estate sectors.

January 12, 2015, Monday Most smartphone users in the UAE spend five hours per day on social media apps like Facebook and Whatsapp, a new study has said. The Connected Life report, carried out by the global market research firm TNS, found 86 per cent of users in the UAE spend that time browsing.

Apparent Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) computer hackers attack the feeds for the United States Central Command for Twitter and YouTube. Cameroon kills 143 Boko Haram fighters in clashes.

A school bus plunges off of a cliff on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent leaving at least five people dead and two missing.

January 11, 2015: SpaceX successfully launches a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida

An electrical malfunction causes a fire in the Washington, D. C.'s Metro subway system near L'Enfant Plaza Station resulting in one death with 84 people taken to hospitals, mostly from smoke inhalation.

In Rovinari, Romania, a father and 6 siblings, aged from 6 months to 7 years, die after a gas water boiler emits carbon monoxide.

A serviceman stationed at the Russian 102nd Military Base, Valeri Permyakov, kills six members of an Armenian family, including a two-yearold child, and, in addition, wounds a six-month-old child, in Gyumri, Armenia. The death toll from poisoned beer in the Mozambique rises to at least 69 with 169 in hospital.

Business and Economy Value of Middle East wire and cable industry to reach US$1 trillion by 2018.

More than $200 billion to be invested in GCC Rail projects, reports say.

Sports In association football, Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid C.F. wins the FIFA Ballon d'Or for the best player of the year for his second successive year.

In American football, the Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Oregon Ducks to win the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas by 42–20.

January 13, 2015, Tuesday UAE spends half a billion dirhams on football

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mer President Hosni Mubarak (a May 2014 sentencing of three years in prison for embezzlement).

The U.S. Supreme Court rules 9–0 in favour of homeowners that the Truth in Lending Act clearly states that a simple notice by the homeowner to the bank within three years seeking to rescind their mortgage suffices over an actual court-filed lawsuit. Business and Economy Emirates Airline said, it added 10 new A380 routes in 2014 across the world.

January 13, 2015: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani holds talks with the UAE

shirt sponsorship: The UAE spent more on European football shirt sponsorship than any other country last year, with firms ploughing a staggering half a billion dirhams into teams. Led by Emirates and Etihad, the deals saw the UAE overtake Germany in terms of total spend last year, shelling out Dh593 million, according to a report by sports marketing research company Repucom. Middle Eastern sponsorship, mainly led by the UAE and Qatar, has increased six-fold between the 2009/2010 and 2013/2014 seasons, said the report, and it now accounts for almost a fifth of sponsor spending in the European leagues.

sites across the country beginning tonight.

Construction of the concrete dome for the Unit 1 Nuclear Reactor Containment Building in the UAE has been completed.

Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa: China sends an additional 232 People's Liberation Army medical workers to West Africa to combat the outbreak.

Afghani President Ashraf Ghani visits UAE to bolster bilateral ties.

Week-long UAE Compassion Campaign concludes, raising more than Dh228 million.

The Federal National Council (FNC) passed a bill to amend certain articles of the Federal Law No. (24) of 1999 concerning the protection and development of environment.

Charlie Hebdo shooting: France announces plans to deploy 10,000 troops to protect sensitive

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2014–15 Russian military intervention in Ukraine. A passenger bus comes under heavy fire near a check point in eastern Ukraine leading to at least ten civilians killed and many others injured.

Rob Wainwright, the Director of Europol, tells a British parliamentary committee that up to 5,000 European Union citizens have joined jihadist groups in the Middle East. Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501: Divers recover the cockpit voice recorder from the crashed jet.

The death toll from contaminated beer in the Mozambique rises to at least 72.

The World Health Organisation monitors an avian flu outbreak in Taiwan, as H5N8 avian flu virus infects nine farms. Pope Francis arrives in Sri Lanka to begin a six day Asian tour.

Egypt's highest court overturns and initiates a retrial on the only remaining conviction against for-

Real estate transactions in Dubai crosses Dh218 billion in 2014.

Dubai Financial Market's market capitalisation increased at the end of 2014 by 24.3 per cent to Dh322.6 billion.

Slump in world oil prices will not impact UAE economy, OPEC has no plan to cut output, says UAE Energy Minister: January 14, 2015, Wednesday Dubai Police said, it brought every street under surveillance with CCTV cameras. Officials claim a substantial increase in the number of CCTV cameras means that virtually no street is off the surveillance grid at any time. In 2010 Dubai had 25,000 cameras installed across the city.

UAE expands bilateral air transport agreement with Iran, a major trading partner, paving the way for more flights between the two countries.

A bomb destroys a transmission tower in Pagalungan leaving much of the Philippine provinces of Maguindanao and North Cotabato without power.

Taiwan protests China’s new air routes near the median line of the Taiwan Strait and vows to step up surveillance of aviation activity.

Pope Francis canonises Saint Joseph Vaz at a beachfront park at the Indian Ocean, and later visits the northern portion of Sri Lanka for a prayer service at the shrine of Our Lady of Madhu.

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January 14, 2015: All streets in Dubai has come under surveillance with CCTV cameras

Floods devastate Mozambique and Malawi, with at least 73 deaths and over 70,000 homeless. President of Italy Giorgio Napolitano announces resignation.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency rules that anti-Muslim advertisements placed on Muni buses must be permitted because of freedom of speech.

The U.S. state of Georgia executes Vietnam War veteran Andrew Brannan for the 1998 murder of Laurens County sheriff's deputy Kyle Dinkheller.

Business and Economy flydubai celebrates listing of US$500 million sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai.

Caesars Entertainment Corporation operating unit said, it will file for bankruptcy in Chicago.

A collision between a train and a prison transport bus near Penwell, Texas leaves at least eight prisoners and two corrections officers dead.

Japanese cabinet approves a record defence budget with a plan to buy surveillance aircraft and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to improve security of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea claimed by both Japan and China.

Sports In rock climbing, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson become the first climbers to free climb the Dawn Wall face of the El Capitan cliff in Yosemite National Park in the United States, the world's largest granite monolith.

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January 15, 2015: Pope Francis makes a historic visit to the Philippines

Target will close all of its 133 stores in Canada and put Target Canada into bankruptcy.

Electronics retailer RadioShack Corp said, it will file for bankruptcy protection by next month.

Sports UAE qualifies for eighth round in Asia Cup after beating Bahrain.

January 16, 2015, Friday NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researchers state that 2014 was the hottest year since record keeping began in 1880. January 15, 2015, Thursday Afghan security officials arrest five men in Kabul in relation to their suspected involvement in the Pakistan school massacre. Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines: Pope Francis arrives in Manila and meets Philippines President Benigno Aquino III. Philippine authorities in Manila concentrate street children in cages with some even chained in anticipation of Pope Francis' pastoral visit.

The Motion Picture Academy announces the nominees for the 87th Academy Awards best picture at Beverly Hills, California. The nominations are American Sniper, Birdman, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Selma, The Theory of Everything, and Whiplash.

Business and Economy The Swiss National Bank abandons the cap on the franc's value relative to the euro, causing turmoil in international financial markets.

Dubai Financial Market said, the value of shares bought by foreign investors from January 11 to 15, reached about Dh2.52 billion, while value of stocks they sold stood at Dh2.52 billion.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority increases capacity of Phase II of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to 200 MW. The World Bank states that the Philippines can end poverty in a single generation.

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International Criminal Court opens initial probe into recent Gaza conflict.

The US Department of Defense announces that it will send 400 troops to train moderate Syrian rebels in the spring of 2015.

The Obama Administration imposes restrictions on state and local police's ability to seize personal property under the guidelines of the Equitable Sharing federal programme.

An explosion of the Hunga Tonga submerged volcano in the South Pacific Ocean, near Nuku'alofa, Tonga, disrupts air travel and creates a one-kilometre new island.

Flash flooding continues since January 14 in the African nation of Malawi with at least 176 people killed and 110,000 displaced.

Mexican authorities arrest an alleged hitman for the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel, Felipe Rodriguez, in connection to the September 26, 2014 death of 43 college students.

The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to consolidate and hear four appellate rulings whether there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. It is currently allowed in Washington, D.C. and 36 states.

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter finds the Beagle 2 spacecraft that disappeared in 2003 intact on the surface of Mars. An error had stopped the spacecraft's solar panels from working and

communicating back to Earth.

Business and Economy U.S. federal magistrate Carl Barbier's ruling caps BP's fine under the Clean Water Act for its 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico at $13.7 billion.

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The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at US$43.14 a barrel on Thursday, compared with US$41.65 the previous day,

The Obama Administration eases trade restrictions with Cuba, now permitting the sale of tools and equipment for private-sector use in Cuba. January 17, 2015, Saturday The UAE has allocated more than $700 million to support renewable energy in developing countries, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State, and Chairman of Masdar, said.

The UAE signs partnership agreements with four new Pacific island countries to deploy renewable energy projects under the $50 million UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund.

The UAE National Innovation Committee (NIC), in its first meeting, approved 30 programmes and initiatives to be implemented in the next three years as part of the National Innovation Strategy (NIS) that aims to put the UAE among ten most innovative nations in the world within seven years. Gunmen abduct the chief of staff to Yemen's president in the center of the capital, Sana'a. Ukrainian crisis: Clashes between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russia rebels over Donetsk International Airport intensifies. Pope Francis celebrates mass at Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)-hit city of Tacloban with an audience of half-a-million people.

The Pope cuts his Tacloban trip short as an approaching typhoon threatened the city in the Philippines. An entourage plane accompanying the Pope and carrying government officials experiences high

January 16, 2015: Crude oil price trades around US$41-43 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a new low

winds and blows off the runway minutes after the pontiff's aircraft takes off safely in the Philippines.

The Bridger Pipeline Company spills up to 50,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River, near Glendive, Montana.

Pemberton Township, New Jersey police arrest a woman and charge her with the murder of her newborn baby girl which she set on fire. Officers extinguish the fire, but the child later dies.

January 18, 2015, Sunday Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sissi arrives in the UAE on his first official visit since being elected president.

UAE re-selected on International Renewable Energy Authority (IRENA) council for another two year term.

An Israeli helicopter strike near the border with Syria kills two senior IRGC figures and six members of Hezbollah. Boko Haram militants kidnap 80 people and kill three others from villages in north Cameroon.

A clash with Hindu villagers in Sarayian village in India's Bihar state leaves at least three Muslim villagers burned to death.

Pope Francis celebrates Holy Mass in Manila to a crowd of 6 to 7 million, the largest papal gathering since 1995 World Youth Day mass cele-

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January 18, 2015: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sissi holds talks with UAE leaders in Abu Dhabi

brated by late Pope John Paul II in the same place, despite pouring rain.

Icy roads from a freezing-rain storm cause at least four deaths in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.

Indonesia executes six people for drug trafficking including foreign citizens from Brazil, Malawi, the Netherlands, Nigeria, and Vietnam. Business and Economy Emirates NBD reports 58 per cent jump in net profits to Dh5.1 billion in 2014.

Dubai Customs conducted 380,000 inspections and 512 seizures in 2014.

Sports AB de Villiers made the fastest century in ODI cricket history, reaching 100 off just 31 balls against the West Indies.

January 19, 2015, Monday Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State militants in the town of Kobanî, Syria on the Syria-Turkey border capture the strategic Mishtenur hill killing eleven fighters.

Dubai 360 launches the world’s largest online interactive city tour. Dubai360.com, which is being referred to as the first of its kind online interactive tour, allows viewers to explore every angle of the city from the comfort of their own home, providing

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a first-hand experience in the virtual world. Developed over 18 months, and utilising 1,298 pieces of panoramic video and photo content, Dubai 360 is the world largest and highest quality interactive city tour.

Clashes in the Yemeni capital Sana'a leave at least nine dead and 67 injured. Houthi rebels seize the official Saba News Agency and surround the residence of the Prime Minister.

Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa fire on protesters opposing efforts by President Joseph Kabila to delay presidential and parliamentary elections due in 2016 leaving at least four people dead and ten injured. Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who had accused President Cristina Kirchner of covering up Iranian links to the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in order to open up trade with Iran, dies of a gunshot.

Seminole County, Florida (Orlando-area) prosecutors charge five underage Winter Springs High School students with the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in November 2014.

The city of Grozny in Chechnya holds a protest with 60 per cent of the population in attendance in opposition to the Charlie Hebdo cartoons.

NASA releases new pictures from the Dawn spacecraft as it approaches from a distance of

January 20, 2015: US President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union Address

238,000 miles of Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Dawn will go into orbit around the dwarf planet on March 6.

Business and Economy UAE targets Dh750 billion in non-oil exports in 2021. UAE has become the world's fourth largest aluminium producer.

UAE lender Mashreq bank reported a 33 per cent growth in net profit to Dh2.4 billion in 2014.

Sports In alpine skiing, American Lindsey Vonn wins the World Cup super-G at Cortina for her 63rd career World Cup race win, giving her sole possession of the all-time World Cup wins record.

January 20, 2015, Tuesday In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama tells his countrymen that the country is in a better shape with rising employment, lower fuel costs and increased supply of solar power, reducing the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Half of UAE residents are not saving up for their retirement or do not plan to start because of the high cost of living, according to HSBC.

Houthi rebels take over the residence of the President amidst calls by the rebel leader for ne-

gotiations to adjust the country's power structure.

The ISIL threatens to kill two Japanese citizens unless it receives a ransom of $200 million.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claims responsibility for the attack on the town of Baga, Nigeria in which an unknown number of civilians were killed.

According to preliminary tests at the Glendive, Montana city water treatment plant, the January 17 oil spill in the Yellowstone River contains benzene, a chemical that causes cancer. Business and Economy China’s economy grew 7.4 per cent in 2014, its slowest growth in 24 years.

The UAE needs to invest more than Dh1.3 billion in fisheries and aqua culture, a study conducted by the Ministry of Economy (MoE) says.

UAE budget carrier Air Arabia said it will launch direct flights to Urumqi, the largest city in Western China from the UAE from February 10, 2015.

Oil services company Baker Hughes will lay off 7,000 people due to falling crude oil prices.

January 21, 2015, Wednesday Ukranian President Petro Poroshenko accuses Russia of sending 9,000 soldiers to help separatists in eastern Ukraine.

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January 22, 2015: The number of daily flights across UAE airports will more than double from 2,200 flights daily to 5,100 by 2030 a day

January 22, 2015, Thursday Air traffic in UAE predicted to double in next 15 years. According to figures, air traffic in the UAE is expected to rise from the current 2,200 services a day to 5,100 by 2030.

January 25, 2015: More than 531 million people used public transport services in Dubai

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After Houthi forces seize the presidential palace, Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi resigns after months of unrest.

United Nations launches $1 billion appeal for global Ebola response.

Lutz Bachmann resigns as a leader of PEGIDA, a German anti-Islamist organisation, after controversy was sparked by a headshot photo of himself posing as Adolf Hitler.

Mexico's Volcán de Colima erupts.

The pollution gauges that were set up along roadside stations to monitor Hong Kong reach the maximum level of their ranges.

The New England Journal of Medicine publishes research that implies the presence of formaldehyde, a cancer-causing chemical, may occur in limited situations of e-cigarette vapour.

Italian police seize 5,361 ancient artifacts worth $64 million from a Swiss-Italian trafficking ring.

Business and Economy eBay announces plans to spin off its PayPal business and fire 2,400 employees during 2015. Dubai property developer Nakheel reported a 43 per cent jump in its net profits to Dh3.68 billion in 2014, up from Dh2.57 billion recorded in 2013. American Express plans to cut 4,000 jobs.

Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom announces a plan to shift its European natural gas pipeline from Ukraine to Turkey, through a proposed link under the Black Sea to Turkey.

Microsoft announces Windows Holographic as part of the Windows 10 operating system which was released later in 2015.

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An explosion near a civilian trolleybus in the city of Donetsk kills at least thirteen people. Separatists and pro-government forces blame each other for the incident. Business and Economy The European Central Bank announces an aggressive money-creation programme, printing more than one trillion new euros and stimulus of 60 billion euros a month to start in March and intended to run through to September 2016.

Customers worldwide have rated Emirates as the Best Airline in 2014, according to an annual study by eDreams, one of the largest e-commerce travel companies in Europe, strengthening its global reputation.

January 23, 2015, Friday Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz dies. He is believed to be 90. Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, assumes the throne. King Salman says he plans to continue with his predecessor's diplomatic and economic policies.

Air traffic in Dubai came to standstill for 55 minutes from 3:00 to 3:55 as a result of malpractices of some members of the public who flew recreational unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the air navigation passages of planes.

The Doomsday Clock moves two minutes forward, leaving only three minutes from midnight due to the threat of global nuclear war and climate change. It is the closest it has been to midnight since 1984. The U.S. Southern District of Alabama strikes down the state ban on same-sex marriage, saying it has violated equal protection and due process rights. Alabama becomes the thirty-seventh state where such marriage is legalised.

Thailand's military-appointed legislature votes to impeach former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for her role in overseeing a government rice subsidy programme that lost billions of dollars.

Sports Sumo wrestler Hakuhō Shō wins a record-breaking 33rd makuuchi championship. January 24, 2015, Saturday Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front party wins the Zambian presidential election.

A rocket attack on an open-air market in Mariupol, Ukraine, leaves at least 27 people killed and more than 90 injured. The pro-Russian rebel leader, Alexander Zakharchenko, announces an offensive on Mariupol.

The ISIL kills eight Lebanese soldiers in the northeastern Lebanese village of Ras Baalbek.

Japan states that it is seeking to verify a video that claims the killing of Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa by Islamic State militants.

The measles outbreak at Disneyland (Anaheim), spreads from California to six other states. It now involves at least 85 cases.

Business and Economy Subsequent to the January 15 announcement that Target Canada would close all 133 stores,

they announce the layoff of 17,000 employees.

January 25, 2015, Sunday The number of people using public transport in Dubai has increased to 531 million people in 2014 compared to 441 million in 2013. Public transport includes the Dubai Metro, tram, buses, abras, ferry, water taxi and water bus. US President Barack Obama meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a three-day visit in India.

The anti-austerity SYRIZA party wins a plurality in the 2015 Greek legislative elections.

Around 30-50 people die in clashes between the Philippine National Police and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front threatening a peace agreement between the Philippines government and the rebels. The Miss Universe pageant crowns Miss Colombia Paulina Vega in Miami, Florida.

A massive blackout strikes Pakistan, leaving 80 per cent of the country without electricity at its height as officials rush to restore power.

Business and Economy Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank reports a 16 percent jump in its net profit to Dh4.2 billion in 2014. Dubai Islamic Bank reports 63 per cent jump in

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January 27, 2015, Tuesday US President Barak Obama and King Salman of Saudi Arabia hold a bilateral meeting in Riyadh, following the burial of King Abdullah.

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Flights from the UAE to Baghdad have been suspended with immediate effect after a Flydubai aircraft was hit by small arms fire as it landed in the Iraqi capital. Abu Dhabi Police reported 61 deaths in 2014 due to over speeding cars.

January 28, 2015: Dubai International Airport becomes the world’s busiest hub for international passenger traffic, taking away that title for the first time from London’s Heathrow Airport

net profit to Dh2.8 billion in 2014, compared to Dh1.7 billion for 2013.

Dubai Investments Park has spent over Dh4 billion in the last 17 years to build and elevate its infrastructure to world-class standards.

January 26, 2015, Monday A FlyDubai aircraft was hit by small arms fire as it landed at Baghdad airport. Local media reported that a sniper had fired on the aircraft on Monday night and that Baghdad Airport was shut down following the incident.

UAE’s airports, which handled about 100 million passengers in 2014, will be able to handle 250 million passengers by 2020.

India honours billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates with the Padma Bhushan award for their work on improving health in developing countries as the country celebrates Republic Day. Australia celebrates National Day.

Kurdish fighters recapture at least 90 per cent of the city of Kobanî in Syria as fighting intensifies with the Islamic State.

The winter storm across the Central and Eastern United States causes the cancellation of over 6,000 flights, disrupting public transport services in New York City and Boston.

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The US FBI arrests three alleged Russian spies working in the United States.

The Church of England ordains Libby Lane as their first female bishop, at York Minster, UK.

India’s most celebrated cartoonist and humorist RK Laxman (B. October 24, 1921) dies at 93.

Business and Economy Standard & Poor's ratings agency cuts Russia's credit rating to junk status due to the impact of falling oil prices and sanctions.

The UAE’s airports are investing up to $50 billion in new and expansion projects with smooth and efficient operations being the key expectation. Dubai Smart Government's ePay generates Dh7 billion in 2014.

Deyaar, a Dubai-based developer, reports 82 per cent jump in net profits to 281.9 million in 2014, up from Dh154.5 million recorded in 2013.

A day after the radical-left SYRIZA party wins the Greek elections, it forms an anti-austerity government with the right-wing Independent Greeks.

Sports 2015 Hong Kong Marathon: A 24-year-old man dies in a hospital after his collapse and subsequent head injury just one hundred meters from the finish line.

Dubai created another Guinness World Record – the world’s longest handmade gold chain, with 5.52 kilometres in length and weighing 256 kg.

The number of Umrah performers passing through King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah since the start of Umrah from the month of Safar until the end of the month of Rabi' I, 1436, crossed one million. Five gunmen at the Libyan Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli attack with at least ten dead.

The death toll from the January 26 crash of a Hellenic Air Force F-16 fighter jet in southern Spain rises to eleven. New England, US, sees the worst of the blizzard with Boston, Massachusetts covered in two feet of snow.

American 1964 Nobel Prize-winning physicist Charles Hard Townes, who helped invent the now-ubiquitous laser, dies at the age of 99.

Business and Economy Sharjah Government announced a Dh17.7 billion budget for 2015.

Etisalat said it sold its 53 per cent stake in French-speaking West African operations to Maroc Telecom for 474 million euro.

Union National Bank reports 16 per cent increase in net profit to Dh2.02 billion in 2014, up from Dh1.74 billion in 2013. January 28, 2015, Wednesday Dubai International Airport has become the

January 25, 2015: The Miss Universe pageant crowns Miss Colombia Paulina Vega in Miami

world’s busiest hub for international passenger traffic handling 70.5 million passengers last year, taking away that title for the first time from London’s Heathrow Airport that served 68.1 million. But it remains ahead of Dubai in terms of overall passengers when domestic flights are factored in.With domestic flights included Heathrow topped out at 73.4 million passengers in 2014, about three million more than Dubai.

The number of international tourists reached 1.13 billion in 2014, about 51 million more than in 2013, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said.

Akram Hasson becomes leader of Israel's former ruling party Kadima and thus the first Druze ever to lead a Jewish party.

Business and Economy The Chinese yuan becomes the fifth most-highlyused currency in the world. The price of OPEC's basket of twelve crudes stood at $44.08 a barrel OPEC said.

Consumer spend on pharmaceutical products will

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King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia names a new cabinet and replaces officials in several key government positions.

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Two balloonists, American Troy Bradley and Russian Leonid Tiukhtyaev, cross the Pacific Ocean in gas balloon and have surpassed the distance and duration records for gas balloons.

January 29, 2015: Abu Dhabi has been named the safest city in the Middle East and one of the 25 safest cities in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Safe Cities Index 2015

increase to Dh5.03 billion by 2020, a Dubai Chamber study said. National Bank of Abu Dhabi reports 18 per cent increase in net profits to Dh5.57 billion in 2014. Etihad Airways to hire 6,000 Emiratis in 5 years.

US Air Force picks Boeing 747-8 for the next replacement of Air Force One.

January 29, 2015, Thursday Abu Dhabi has been named the safest city in the Middle East and one of the 25 most safest cities in the world, according to the latest Economist Intelligence Unit’s Safe Cities Index, 2015. The index ranked the UAE capital ahead of Milan, Rome, Shanghai and Moscow.

Shiite Houthi rebels seize a Yemeni military base south of the capital, Sana'a. Forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh had manned the captured base.

Business and Economy The Philippine economy grew by 6 per cent in 2014 making it one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. This is the longest sustained growth period in the country since the 1950s, official figures show. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and French energy firm Total signed the new 40year concession for the ADCO onshore oil fields.

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Commercial Bank of Dubai reports a 19 per cent growth of in net profit to Dh1.2 billion in 2014.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 370: Without recovering any physical evidence, including the data recorders, Malaysia officially declares the loss of Flight MH 370 over the Indian Ocean an accident meaning that victims families can seek compensation. January 30, 2015, Friday Pakistani Taliban-linked group kill 40 people and injure 50 in a bombing at a mosque in Pakistan's Sindh province.

Islamic State fighters kill Kurdish commander Brigadier General Shirko Rauf and five other peshmerga soldiers in fighting in Iraq's Kirkuk. Israel announces plans to build 430 new settler homes in the West Bank.

Los Angeles police arrest American hip hop mogul Suge Knight on suspicion for murder in relation to the January 29 hit-and-run incident in Compton, California.

Justice Minister Michael Masutha paroles South African apartheid-era death squad commander Eugene de Kock, nicknamed "Prime Evil", after having served 20 years for killing activists. Zhelyu Zhelev, who became the first democratically elected president of Bulgaria, dies at 79.

The German Chemical Society's Angewandte Chemie International Edition publishes research from chemist Donald Fleming of the University of British Columbia announcing the discovery of a new form of chemical bond, the vibrational bond.

Business and Economy The new Greek government rejects any further cooperation with its main international lenders known as the troika (the Eurogroup, the IMF, and the ECB); instead, it wants to negotiate directly with other European countries.

Sports The UAE secured the third position in the 16th AFC Asian Cup football when they defeated Iraq.

January 31, 2015, Saturday UAE immigration authorities completes 2.1 million transactions online since the application was put into service in 2012, including 1,203,922 services were completed in 2014 compared to 843,858 transactions in 2013. Abu Dhabi police seizes 4,775 vehicles in 2014 for over speeding, a major cause for accidents.

Flights to Baghdad resumes after three days when a FlyDubai aircraft struck by gunfire.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority releases the standards for installing photovoltaic panels to produce electricity from solar power in buildings in Dubai, as part of the initiative to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. For the first time in 165 years California had a rainless January.

Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists conduct peace talks as fighting rages in eastern Ukraine. Voters elect Sergio Mattarella President of Italy.

January 31, 2015: Former German president Richard von Weizsäcker dies at the age of 94

Richard von Weizsäcker, who was president of West Germany from 1984 to 1990 and became the first president of reunified Germany from 1990 to 1994, dies at the age of 94.

Lizabeth Virginia Scott (September 29, 1922 – January 31, 2015) an, American film actress, known for the most beautiful face of film noir during the 1940s and 1950s, dies at the age of 93.

Sports American Serena Williams defeats Maria Sharapova of Russia in the Women's Singles final. It is the sixth Australian Open crown and 19th Grand Slam singles title for the world No. 1. Australia defeats South Korea 2–1 in the final of the Asian Cup football.

In golf, Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who does not turn 18 until 24 April, becomes the youngest golfer of either sex to be ranked number 1 in the world, surpassing the previous record of Tiger Woods by nearly four years. g

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2015

The Killing Fields of SYRIA Death toll crosses 210,000

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The four-year civil war turns Syria into a killing field with United Nations estimates more than 210,000 deaths. The country is turned into a collection of mass graveyards while those on the run for their lives, are becoming homeless, displaced and refugees at the mercy of an uncertain destiny...

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from the Philippines after a deadly battle threatened to derail the March 2014 peace deal to end the Moro insurgency.

Artillery shelling of Donetsk leaves at least one civilian dead while five Ukrainian Army soldiers are killed in heavy fighting.

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February 1, 2015: UAE exported 25 million barrels of crude oil to Japan in December 2014. The UAE is Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2nd biggest supplier of energy

A shootout between Lesotho Defence Force soldiers and two former bodyguards of Prime Minister Tom Thabane leaves at least one bystander killed and three others wounded.

A female suicide bomber attacks minutes after the President of Nigeria leaves an election rally in the city of Gombe resulting in at least one death and eighteen people injured.

The four remaining original copies of the Magna Carta go on public display at the British Library in London to commemorate the 800th anniversary signing of the document in June 1215. February 1, 2015: Syria turns to a collection of mass graveyards of people who have become a victim of the civil war. Death toll crossed 210,000 on February 7, 2015 and counting...

February 1, 2015, Sunday Pro-democracy protesters peacefully return to the streets of Hong Kong for the first time since the end of Occupy Central protests in December.

United States observes National Freedom Day.

Malaysia observes a national holiday to mark the formation of the federation in 1948 with 9 sultanates.

Egypt deports Australian journalist Peter Greste after being jailed with two Al Jazeera colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed 400 days before. Four-hundred African migrants charge past Moroccan border forces by throwing rocks, trying to storm border fences separating Spain's North African enclave Melilla, but guards repel them. Business and Economy The UAE's crude oil exports to Japan amounted to 25.08 million barrels in December last year,

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representing 22.8 per cent of total Japanese imports, which was 110,135 million barrels.

Dubai Investments profit surges 63 per cent to Dh1.34 billion.

Sports In tennis, Novak Djokovic of Serbia beats Andy Murray of the UK in the Australian Open Men's Singles Final. Djokovic is the first man to win five Australian Open championships in the open era.

In handball, France beats Qatar in the final to win a record fifth world championship.

February 2, 2015, Monday Traffic mortalities on the 10 most dangerous roads in Abu Dhabi have decreased by 23 percent in comparison with last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statistics. Dubai Health Authority conducts 1.7 million medical fitness tests in 2014. Foreign investors withdraw "billions of pesos"

A winter storm causes the cancellation of school in the midwestern United States and the cancellation of 1,000 flights.

Canadian academic William Schabas resigns as the head of a United Nations committee investigating alleged Israeli war crimes in an offensive in the Gaza Strip during 2014 due to Israel alleging bias due to consultancy work he did for the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

Former International Monetary Fund head Dominique Strauss-Kahn goes on trial in France on pimping charges.

Iran successfully puts the Fajr satellite in orbit using a Safir-B1 rocket.

Business and Economy File sharing site Pirate Bay returns online after having been shut down by Swedish authorities in December 2014.

February 3, 2015, Tuesday Political unrest intensifies in Bangladesh as In the town of Chauddogram with anti-government protesters charge firebomb in a bus full of sleeping passengers, leaving seven people dead and several with severe burn injuries.

US President Barack Obama holds a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan

Egyptian Army soldiers fire warning shots at the Gaza Strip after an explosion occurs on the Gaza side of the border near a convoy.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant posts pictures of Jordanian Air Force pilot Muath AlKasasbeh being burnt alive which Jordan believes are a month old.

American author Harper Lee announced plans to publish her second book, a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird, that was completed in the 1950s but misplaced. July 14, 2015 will be the release date for Go Set a Watchman.

Australian authorities orders the evacuation of residents of the Western Australia town of Northcliffe as a bushfire approaches.

An explosion at the Galleria 220 shopping center in the Perth suburb of Morley kills at least one person and injures nine others.

Ten people die in Cook County, Illinois while shoveling snow.

A collision between a commuter train and a passenger vehicle kills six in Valhalla, New York.

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Anthem Inc. discloses that criminal hackers have broken into its servers and potentially stolen over 80 million records that contain personally identifiable information from its servers.

A TransAsia Airways ATR 72 turboprop aircraft with 58 people on board en route from the Taiwanese capital Taipei to Kinmen, Taiwan crashes into the Keelung River near Taipei just after liftoff killing at least 31 people with several injures and missing.

100 km/h winds spark a scrub fire near the Christchurch suburb of Hornby in New Zealand destroying two homes with several others damaged.

Fiji will adopt a replacement for its flag which it says is a symbol of colonialism.

February 6: Political unrest continuing in Bangladesh with more civilians dying every day. Progressive forces bring out peace rally against the protestors – demanding free and fair elections

The Iranian parliament passes a new bill that requires President Hassan Rouhani’s administration to cancel the Geneva interim agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme in case of new US sanctions, as a response to a similar action by the Congress.

The investigator into the death of Argentinian prosecutor Alberto Nisman states that Nisman had drafted a request that President Cristina Fernandez be arrested for allegedly attempting to derail his investigation of the 1994 AMIA bombing that killed 85 people. John Baird resigns as the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

World Meteorological Organisation ranks 2014 as hottest year on record.

Business and Economy UAE national oil companies lost Dh38 billion in 10 years due to lower oil prices, says Minister of Energy.

Standard & Poor's reaches settlements totalling $1.5 billion with the U.S. Justice Department and

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several U.S. states for inflating ratings on subprime mortgage bonds in the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis.

February 4, 2015, Wednesday Jordan executes convicted Iraqi terrorists Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouli in response to the execution by ISIL of Jordanian Air Force lieutenant Muath Al-Kasasbeh.

Sri Lanka celebrates Independence Day, marking the island country’s freedom from the United Kingdom in 1948. Gunmen storm Libya's Al Mabrook oil field.

A shell hits a hospital in the rebel-held city of Donetsk killing at least three people with many injured.

Boko Haram militants reportedly raid the Cameroonian town of Fotokol in Cameroon's Far North Region with scores of people killed.

The Chad Army claims to have killed 200 militants and lost nine soldiers in fighting in northern Nigeria.

Business and Economy Under investigation for corruption, Mao Xiaofeng resigns as the President of Minsheng Banking Corporation. China's Communist Party anti-graft agency links him and disgraced Chinese official Ling Jihua. Arab World exports to Brazil at $11.42 billion in 2014.

February 5, 2015, Thursday The UAE suspends air strikes against the Islamic State after a video of a Jordanian air force pilot being burned alive is published online. The suspension involves concerns over a lack of coalition search and rescue capabilities in Syria to recover downed pilots. Syrian state news agency SANA claims that insurgent group Jaysh Al Islam has conducted a rocket attack on Damascus with at least eight people injured.

A Paul Gauguin painting, Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?), sells to a Qatari buyer for close to $300 million.

A China shopping mall fire started by a nine-yearold boy at the city of Huizhou in Guangdong province kills at least 17 people.

Eddie Ray Routh goes on trial for the alleged

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murder of American Sniper Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield in the Texas town of Stephenville.

The jury at Southwark Crown Court convicts British 70s glam rock star Gary Glitter on child sexual abuse charges with the prospect of life imprisonment.

Tunisia gets a unity government led by Habib Essid, the new Prime Minister.

Business and Economy American pharmaceutical company Pfizer announces plans to acquire Hospira at a cost of $17 billion.

American electronics retailer RadioShack files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

February 6, 2015, Friday ISIL claims that the American female hostage Kayla Jean Mueller has been killed by Jordanian airstrikes at the outskirts of Raqqa, Syria. The White House says that they have no proof of her death.

Boko Haram attacks two towns in Niger but is repulsed by the Niger Army with assistance from the Chad Air Force.

Ecuador declares a state of emergency in the Galápagos Islands after a ship, The Floreana, carrying hazardous materials ran aground January 28.

Mexican police find at least 61 bodies in an abandoned crematorium in Acapulco.

The Supreme Court of Canada strikes down a ban on assisted suicide meaning doctors can now assist mentally competent patients with severe and incurable conditions to die.

The Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott faces a possible leadership vote when the parliament resumes sitting after backbencher Luke Simpkins announces that he will move a motion calling for a leadership spill. Xanana Gusmão resigns as the Prime Minister of East Timor ahead of an expected government restructure next week.

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in eastern Ukraine, at talks in Minsk attended by their Russian and Ukrainian counterparts.

Bombings in Baghdad kill at least 37 people hours before the city's curfew was due to end. ISIL claims responsibility.

TransAsia cancels dozens of flights to retrain its pilots following the February 4 crash of TransAsia Airways Flight 235 which killed at least 43 people.

February 7, 2015: Death toll in Syria crosses 210,000, says a Syrian watch group in Britain

Houthi rebels take control in Yemen and dissolve the parliament.

A 21-year-old Emirati student on a scholarship in the United States saved a young woman knocked down by a car and robbed on the spot when most other passers-by walked away, a newspaper reported on Friday.

Business and Economy German engineering firm Siemens announces plans to axe 7,800 jobs, 3000 of which are in Germany.

China's gold output climbed 5.5 per cent in 2014 to nearly 452 tonnes, making the country the world's biggest gold producer for the eighth straight year.

February 7, 2015, Saturday The death toll after nearly four years of civil war in Syria has risen to 210,060, nearly half of them civilians, but the real figure is probably much higher, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Britain-based Observatory, said that 10,664 children and 6,783 women were among the dead.

North Korea test fires a new "ultra-precision" intelligent anti-ship missile which is to be deployed across its navy.

France's President Hollande, German Chancellor Merkel play a key role in brokering a peace deal

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A gunman shoots six people, killing four, including several children, in Douglasville, Georgia, ending with the gunman committing suicide.

A 17-year-old male opens fire on a man at the Monroeville Mall in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, striking his intended target as well as two bystanders hospitalising three people.

Queensland Liberal National Party voters elect Lawrence Springborg as their leader with JohnPaul Langbroek as deputy leader.

Slovak election officials announce same-sex marriage referendum invalid due to low voter turnout, although greater than 90 per cent votes favour of the referendum. The 21 per cent voter turnout is far short of the minimum 50 per cent or greater turnout required for the results to be legally binding. The UAE has won the bid to host the Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention in 2018.

Nigeria postpones its general election for six weeks to allow its armed forces to take control of the Boko Haram-controlled parts of the country.

Sports Swiss tennis star Roger Federer, will be eyeing seventh crown at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship later this month.

February 8, 2015, Sunday In Cairo, Egypt, clashes between police and fans of Zamalek SC kill 22 people. Egyptian authorities indefinitely suspend football league matches. UAE Drones for Good Award announces winner

of US$1 million international prize.

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences members present the Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

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Stay with Me (Darkchild Version)" wins Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

Morning Phase performed by Beck wins Album of the Year.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts members present the British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Opera House in London. Boyhood wins Best Film with Richard Linklater winning the Best Director award.

Sports The Ivory Coast wins the Africa Cup of Nations, beating Ghana 9–8 penalties after a 0–0 draw.

February 9, 2015, Monday US President Barack Obama holds a bilateral meeting and a press conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.

Fighting in the past 24 hours kills at least nine Ukrainian soldiers.

An artillery shell causes a massive explosion at a chemical plant in Donetsk. Boko Haram launch a raid on a prison in the town of Diffa in Niger. Authorities repel the attack with limited casualties.

Hooded gunmen attack French police in the city of Marseille, which Prime Minister Manuel Valls is due to visit. Several attacks, including a suicide bombing, kill at least 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, in a predominantly Shiite part of the capital city.

Members of Ireland's police force Garda Síochána raid the Dublin home of former MEP Paul Murphy TD, taking Murphy into custody along with three other activists and politicians opposing the water-tax-rate change, stirring nationwide speculation of "political policing." The police later release all four without charges.

Fenruary 7, 2015: France and Germany push for a peace deal in Ukraine

Islamists from Al Shabab kill a member of the parliament Abdullahi Qayad Barre in the capital city of Mogadishu, Somalia.

Mountaineers claim to have found in the Andes the wreckage of LAN Chile Flight 210 that disappeared in August 1961 killing 24 people on board including eight members and two coaches of the Club de Deportes Green Cross football team.

The U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, sets alltime records for amount of snow on the ground and amount of snow over 30-day and 40-day periods in 17 days.

Bahrain suspends the newly launched Al Arab News Channel.

Business and Economy A Canadian gold mining company, Tahoe Resources, agrees to buy Rio Alto Mining for more than CAN$1 billion, part of an ongoing consolidation in the precious metals mining industry.

Samsung reveals potential for next generation smart TVs to eavesdrop.

Dubai foodstuff trade soars 14 per cent, hits Dh66 billion in Q3 2014. February 10, 2015, Tuesday Fighting kills fifteen people and leaves 60 injured as missiles hit Ukraine's military headquarters in the city of Kramatorsk.

The Obama Administration announces the creation of the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration

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Center, a new US federal government agency that will be a fusion center between existing agencies and the private sector for real-time use against cyber attacks.

The UAE ranked 25th in the Natixis Global Retirement Index with its retirees outperform several western nations, including the US and UK in key indicators.

Wang Yu-chi resigns as Taiwan's Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council responsible for maintaining relations with the People's Republic of China.

The Federal Court of Malaysia rejects opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's appeal against sodomy charges meaning he will start serving a five-year sentence.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. states that a 50-person bribery case involves New York City inspectors, landlords, and contractors with payoffs to get safety violations dismissed and procure phony eviction orders.

The February 7 Delhi Legislative Assembly election results in the Aam Aadmi Party leading in 63 out of 70 seats.

Business and Economy Apple, Inc. becomes the first company in the world to close with a market capitalisation over $700 billion.

Global oil demand is estimated to have grown by 0.95 mb/d in 2014, representing an upward revision of 20 tb/d from the previous month, according to OPEC. Dubai Mall welcomed a record 80 million visitors in 2014. February 11, 2015, Wednesday Iraqi clashes and attacks kill at least 31 people.

A 106-car pileup occurs on Yeongjong Bridge in Incheon, South Korea, leaving two men dead and more than 65 people injured.

The United States, United Kingdom, and France close their Yemeni embassies and evacuate their

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staff due to terrorist activities and continued unrest.

Leaders from Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine meet in the Belarusian capital Minsk for peace talks.

Police arrest a suspected shooter Craig Stephen Hicks for killing a Muslim family of three in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Police state that the shooting was motivated by a long-standing neighbour dispute over parking.

A shooting at a wedding in Newtownbutler, Northern Ireland kills one and injuries one while another victim was injured by a knife attack, officials say.

February 10, 2015: The Obama Administration creates the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Centre – a new federal agency to combat cyber crime

Business and Economy Rite Aid, one of the largest chains of pharmacies in the United States, announces that it is purchasing EnvisionRx, a pharmacy benefits manager, from TPG Capital, for $2 billion. February 12, 2015, Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin announces the third peace agreement.

US President Barack Obama signs the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act into law.

Fighters from the Al Qaeda affiliated Ansar Al Sharia take control of an army base in southern Yemen.

Reporters without Borders's annual review finds "(t)here was a drastic decline in freedom of information in 2014" because of information wars and action by non-state groups.

The FBI launches a hate crime investigation into the February 11 killing of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The US Senate confirms Ashton Carter as the 25th Secretary of Defense.

Business and Economy Online travel and leisure booking website Expedia announces plans to buy rival Orbitz for $1.3 billion.

February 13, 2015, Friday Several days of clashes with Kokang rebels in the north of the country kills forty-seven Myanmar Army soldiers with dozens wounded.

Ahead of the upcoming February 15 start of the agreed ceasefire, fighting in the past 24 hours kills eight Armed Forces of Ukraine service personnel.

Pakistan announces the arrest of twelve Tehriki-Taliban Pakistan in relation to their alleged involvement in last year's school massacre.

Police and gunmen exchange gunfire in Peshawar after an explosion is reported at a nearby Shia mosque.

Boko Haram fighters attack Chad for the first time after 30 fighters crossed Lake Chad in four motorboats and attacked the village of Ngouboua. Chad recently joined Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon in a military coalition against Boko Haram.

A bus crashes with a freight train in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, killing at least sixteen peo-

ple and injuring 30.

Sierra Leone quarantines 700 homes in the Aberdeen district of Freetown following the death of a fisherman.

United Nations negotiators produce an early draft on an agreement to be put to a conference on climate change in Paris in December. An Egyptian court orders the release from prison of Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy in Cairo.

The Governor of Oregon John Kitzhaber resigns amid allegations his fiancee used taxpayer resources to aid her green-energy consulting business. Kate Brown moves up to Governor from being the Secretary of State. Business and Economy Fitch Ratings downgrades Ukraine's credit rating to junk bond status predicting it is likely to default on its debts. February 14, 2015, Saturday Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warns of a threat to a planned ceasefire tonight from

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A motorcycle gunman shoots and kills a journalist in the Philippines who had been critical of local officials' alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. The murder of the journalist is the 34th since the regime of Benigno Aquino III began in 2010. Canadian Police foil a planned Valentines Day massacre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Business and Economy Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) issued 59,130 commercial permits during the year 2014, 13 per cent higher than the licences issued in 2013.

February 14, 2015: Blizzard hits US eastern states

heavy fighting today and accuses Russia of "significantly increasing" its offensive. In a live interview he ordered all Ukrainian forces to cease fire after midnight.

Myanmar launches air strikes against rebels in the Kokang area as dozens of soldiers have been killed and dozens more wounded in fightings in recent weeks.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has started commissioning a study of using driverless vehicles in Dubai as part of its endeavours to utilise the latest technologies in the field of smart mobility solutions to be considered for use in Expo 2020.

Abu Dhabi Police said, the number of criminal cases handled by Abu Dhabi Police, has dropped by 18 per cent in 2014 compared with the 2013 figures; while cases of bounced checks handled by the directorate were down by 20 per cent last year compared to 2013.

Danish Police seek a gunman who fired an automatic weapon at a free speech seminar in Copenhagen, Denmark, killing a documentary maker Finn Nørgaard and injuring Swedish artist Lars Vilks known for controversial drawings of the prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Among the injured are also three police officers who had been

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guarding the seminar area.

Pope Francis appoints twenty new cardinals resulting in a majority of members of the College of Cardinals being from outside Europe for the first time ever.

At the 65th Berlin International Film Festival, the film Taxi by Iranian director Jafar Panahi wins the Golden Bear. There is a blizzard warning in place for eastern Massachusetts in the northeastern United States.

Twelve people die of swine flu in the Indian state of Gujarat taking the death toll to 136 since January with 130 new cases reported. The UAE suspends its embassy operations in Yemen due to security concerns surrounding the recent Shiite Houthi rebel take over of the country.

The Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott issues a last-minute plea for Bali Nine drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran facing the death penalty in Indonesia.

Former President of Chad Hissène Habré will stand trial in Senegal for alleged war crimes, torture and crimes against humanity.

Sports The 2015 Cricket World Cup begins with New Zealand playing Sri Lanka at Christchurch's Hagley Oval and Australia playing England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

February 15, 2015, Sunday Danish Police seek a gunman who fired on three people near a Copenhagen synagogue a day after the shootings at the Free Speech Gathering. One person dies.

Danish police kill a man at the Nørrebro train station after an exchange of gunfire. The police believe he was the man responsible for the two previous attacks.

The Myanmar Army kills around a dozen Kokang rebels and capture another eight in Kokang offensive.

A suicide bomber kills seven and wounds 30 in Nigerian city of Damaturu.

The Islamic State releases a video purportedly showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians who had been previously kidnapped in Sirte. Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sissi announces a seven-day mourning period and calls for a security meeting with the country's top security body.

A house under construction collapses in the Indian city of Mughalsarai in the state of Uttar

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Pradesh killing twelve people and injuring two.

A Turkish court remands seventeen police officers into custody for allegedly being part of an illegal wiretapping program targeting politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen.

Voters in the German city state of Hamburg go to the polls with the governing Social Democratic Party of Germany led by Olaf Scholz retaining power.

Abu Dhabi Traffic reports 8 per cent decrease in traffic accident deaths in 2014.

Business and Economy RAK tourism exceeded Dh1 billion in revenue in 2014

Metro Dubai transports 14 million passengers, Tram 301, 000 passengers last January

Dubai-based Emaar Properties, developer of the world’s tallest tower Burj Khalifa, announced a 30 per cent jump in net operating profits to a record Dh3.35 billion ($ 912 million) higher than FY 2013 net operating profit of Dh2.56 billion ($699 million). Sports In ski jumping, Anders Fannemel of Norway sets a new world record with a leap of 251.5 m (825 ft) at Vikersund.

February 16, 2015, Monday Egypt bombs Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant targets in the city of Derna in Libya following the execution of 21 Coptic Christians recently.

During the ceasefire, fighting kills at least five Ukrainian Army soldiers with 22 injured. Nigeria regains the key town of Monguno from Boko Haram. A winter storm warning is in place for Washington, D.C. and the American states of Virginia and Maryland with schools closed and transport advisories in place. A heavy snow storm hits Turkey causing disruption to travel for several days.

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A bus carrying at least 60 passengers plunges into a gorge in India's Madhya Pradesh resulting in at least ten deaths and 33 people injured. A CSX train crashes in Mount Carbon, West Virginia resulting in large fires.

EBioMedicine publishes research by University of Leuven scientists describing their findings of a so-called Cuban variant of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (the virus that causes AIDS) which is an aggressive strain that can rapidly progress to AIDS.

A Federal District Court judge in Brownsville, Texas, temporarily halts President Barack Obama's November 2014 executive orders on immigration, allowing Texas and 25 other states to file a lawsuit opposing the orders. The Department of Justice indicated it will appeal.

Voters in Saint Kitts and Nevis go to the polls for a national election with the governing Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Denzil Douglas. seeking a fifth term.

The opposition Team Unity, an alliance of three opposition parties led by former foreign minister Timothy Harris, wins the election, with Douglas conceding defeat on February 17th. Business and Economy Hyundai and affiliate Kia announce plans to recall more than 60,000 vehicles in South Korea.

Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jebel Ali Free Zone has posted a 13 per cent increase in the number of food and beverage companies in the Free Zone in 2014. It expects more than 15 per cent growth in the number of new companies in the sector in the current fiscal year.

February 17, 2015, Tuesday The office of the President of Ukraine calls on the European Union and NATO to condemn the Russian-backed rebels for military action in Debaltseve. The self-proclaimed rebel government officials claim the town was not part of the recently established ceasefire.

Police Service of Northern Ireland received a phone call in the early hours allegedly from a dis-

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sident republican group claiming to have planted an explosive in a Curryneirin neighbourhood outside Derry, Northern Ireland. Police evacuated 12 homes before finding a device, describing it as "'It's a bomb and designed to kill".

Around 20 Okba Ibn Nafaa militants attack a checkpoint in Tunisia's central Kasserine region, killing four police officers and stealing their weapons and accessories.

Carnival festivities are cancelled after at least twenty people are killed in a float accident in Portau-Prince, Haiti.

North Korea says that it will respond "very strongly" to a conference held in Washington, D.C. about human rights abuses. Chinese prosecutors say that they are investigating former top Communist Party official Su Rong for alleged corruption.

Chinese authorities also announce the indictment of former Guangdong official Zhu Mingguo, former Jinan CPC party chief Wang Min, and former Taiyuan party chief Chen Chuanping, all on charges of corruption, as the country intensifies its crackdown on corruption. Business and Economy South Korean company Samsung Electronics says that they have $56 billion in cash and plan to use some of it for mergers and acquisitions.

An estimated 230 million migrants will send $500 billion in remittances to developing countries in 2015, a flow of capital expected to do more to reduce poverty than all development aid combined, a senior UN official said.

February 18, 2015, Wednesday The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that at least 70 Syrian Army soldiers and more than 80 insurgents have died in recent fighting around the city of Aleppo.

A bomb in a mosque in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi kills two people and injures six.

The Nigerian Army claims to have killed 300 militants in northeastern Nigeria.

February 18, 2015: A bomb in a mosque in the Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rawalpindi kills two people. This is one of many such heineous crimes committed across the year

A warplane bombs a funeral ceremony in Niger killing 30 civilians.

The United Nations Security Council meets to discuss the recent beheadings of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya.

Australian David Hicks wins an appeal in the U.S. Court of Military Commission Review against his conviction for providing material support to terrorism in 2007 in a U.S. Navy court in Guantanamo Bay.

Swede Alex Yucel pleads guilty in the United States to distributing Blackshades software that was used to hack into 500,000 computers worldwide.

The Government of India approves the construction of seven stealth frigates and six nuclear submarines for the Indian Navy.

The Hellenic Parliament elects Prokopis Pavlopoulos as the new President of Greece.

The Moldovan Parliament appoints a new government with Chiril Gaburici as Prime Minister and a legislative support formed by other parties. Business and Economy Japan Post acquires Australian transport company Toll Holdings at a cost of A$6.5 billion.

February 19, 2015, Thursday US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that the United States and the West are not at war with Islam, but with those who insult Islam.

Members of the P5+1 powers meet with representatives of Iran in Geneva to discuss Iran's nuclear programme.

Qatar withdraws its ambassador from Egypt following disagreement over Egyptian Air Force strikes against Islamic State targets in Libya after the execution of 21 Coptic Christian hostages by Islamic State.

As many as 179 other people may have been exposed to a super-resistant bacterial infection of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) that killed 2 people. Former Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra will be indicted over a controversial rice subsidy scheme. Research published in the journal Nature claims that a large portion of the lithium in the universe was produced by novae.

Business and Economy Greece requests its partners for a six month loan programme extension in an apparent compromise attempt; Germany has rejected the request.

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in demand for recognising Bangla as one of the state languages of Pakistan where Banglaspeaking population were a majority. Six protestors were killed to suppress the famous Language Movement on February 21, 1952. The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh and now observed in different parts of the world.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has introduced smart devices to measure the public’s satisfaction with its services. It has recently recorded over 98 per cent customer satisfaction in a pilot launch of its Happiness Meter. The Nigerian Army recaptures the town of Baga where Boko Haram killed scores of people last month. February 18, 2015: At least 150 soldiers and militia killed in a battle between Syrian Army and the Islamic State. More than 210,000 people have been killed in Syria

February 20, 2015, Friday Multiple car bombs kill at least 45 and wound 30 in the eastern Libyan town of Al Qubbah.

At least 20 people are killed, including senior officials, in an attack on the Central Hotel in Mogadishu.

Cyclone Marcia makes landfall near Shoalwater Bay in central Queensland as a Category 5 tropical cyclone with wind gusts of up to 285 kilometres per hour.

Cyclone Lam makes landfall in Arnhem Land between Millingimbi and Elcho Island. The communities of Ramingining and Galiwinku have also been badly damaged.

Two trains collide in the Swiss town of Rafz resulting in as many as 49 people injured and Swiss Federal Railways cancelling some services.

High tides cause the River Thames to flood in parts of southwest London.

A fire rips through the Marina Torch apartment complex in Dubai, one of the tallest residential apartment buildings in the world.

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At least 23 people die this week in the United States due to cold weather, with 18 dead in the state of Tennessee.

Thailand passes a law banning foreigners from hiring Thai women as commercial surrogate mothers. Zambia's top prosecutor Mutembo Nchito refuses to prosecute himself for alleged abuse of office.

The Houthis come to a preliminary agreement to form a new government in Yemen. Business and economy Greece and Eurozone countries reach an agreement about the extension of the bailout terms.

Sports In motor sport, NASCAR indefinitely suspends former Cup Series champion Kurt Busch following a conviction for domestic violence against his girlfriend.

February 21, 2015, Saturday International Language Day: The United Nations designated the day February 21 to promote language and literacy and in mark of respect to those martyrs who laid down their lives in 1952

The Turkish media reports that the Turkish Army has sent troops into Syria to evacuate troops and artefacts from the Tomb of Suleyman Shah in the Aleppo Governorate which has been under threat from Islamic State for several months. One soldier has reportedly been killed.

Three Italian cross-country skiers are killed and two are injured in an avalanche near the Great St Bernard Pass in the Swiss Alps.

Indonesia recalls its envoy to Brazil due to ongoing tension caused by Indonesia's recent execution of a Brazilian drug smuggler.

The Ukrainian Army and rebel separatists complete a prisoner exchange.

The President of Peru Ollanta Humala recalls the ambassador to Chile over spying allegations.

The Willacy Detention Center in Willacy County, Texas is emptied of thousands of inmates the day after a riot makes it uninhabitable. NASA astronauts perform one of three ISS spacewalks to reroute cables needed in preparation for the 2017 arrival of the first commercial spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts. Business and Economy Yemen lost nearly one billion dollars of its oil revenues over the past year,2014, compared to 2013, according to an official report.

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More than 5,000 workers at a General Motors plant in Brazil joins in a strike against the dismissal plan of 800 factory employees.

February 22, 2015, Sunday Pro-Russian rebels start a two-week process of removing heavy weapons from the front lines in eastern Ukraine in accordance with the ceasefire agreement. Supplies of groundwater in the UAE, the country's main conventional water resource, could run out by 2030 because of demand from agriculture, scientists have warned.

An explosion at a pro-Ukraine march kills three and injures more than 10 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Islamic State militants claim responsibility for bombing the Iranian ambassador's residence in Tripoli and a rocket attack on Al Abraq International Airport.

The Islamic State burns more than 8,000 rare books and manuscripts in Mosul, Iraq.

Alejandro González Iñárritu becomes the second Mexican director to win Academy Award for Best Director for Birdman at the 87th Academy Awards. Birdman then wins the Academy Award for Best Picture.

British actor Eddie Redmayne wins the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. American actress Julianne Moore wins the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Still Alice.

Ida by Paweł Pawlikowski wins the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and becomes the first Polish film to win the award.

A rescue operation is underway in Bangladesh as a ferry carrying 100 passengers capsizes in the Padma River after colliding with a trawler. The death toll has reached 41.

All 486 trapped by an underground fire at the Harmony Gold Kusasalethu mine near Carletonville, South Africa have been rescued.

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tenced to five years in jail for violating a rule against organising political protests without permission.

The High Court of Kenya throws out key aspects of an anti-terrorism law following a legal challenge from the Opposition.

Two young Thai playwrights, Patiwat Saraiyaem and Porntip Mankong, are sentenced to two years in prison for alleged lese majeste for a play set in a fictional kingdom. Fujairah has been selected as a destination along the route of the World Sky Race Cup 2016.

February 24, 2015: Boko Haram guerrillas on the defensive as government forces in Nigeria and Chad push hard to disarm the militia which killed more than 2,000 people in a village in January

Six current and former Gold Coast Titans players are charged with supplying cocaine including Greg Bird, Dave Taylor, Beau Falloon, Jamie Dowling and Kalifa Faifai Loa with all players stood down for the coming Australian National Rugby League season.

Former President of the Maldives and current Opposition Leader Mohamed Nasheed is arrested.

Two former British foreign secretaries, Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind become embroiled in a "cash for access" scandal. The two deny any wrongdoing and refer themselves to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Hudson. Hungary's ruling Fidesz Party loses its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly after a left-wing independent candidate wins a by-election in a district based on the city of Veszprem.

Sports In golf, American James Hahn wins the 2015 Northern Trust Open.

Top seed Simona Halep fought off a strong chal-

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lenge from Karolina Pliskova to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title yesterday, winning 6-4 7-6(4).

February 23, 2015, Monday The Ukrainian Army says it cannot withdraw its heavy weapons from the front, as it is still under attack from rebel forces despite the ceasefire.

The President of Russia Vladimir Putin says a war with Ukraine is unlikely but refuses to hold more meetings with France, Germany and Ukraine over the ceasefire. Brunei celebrates National Day.

The internationally recognised Tobruk-based Parliament of Libya suspends participation in United Nations brokered talks.

The death toll from the weekend ferry disaster in Bangladesh rises to 70 with scores missing.

Entertainer Rolf Harris is stripped of his Order of Australia honours following recent convictions in the United Kingdom for indecent assault. Egyptian political activist Alaa Abdel Fatah is sen-

The number of followers of Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on social media platforms has exceeded 3.7 million

February 24, 2015, Tuesday US President Barack Obama holds bilateral meeting with Emir Tamim bin Hamad al Thani of Qatar and discusses Middle East situation. John Key, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, announces plans to deploy up to 143 New Zealand Defence Force personnel to Iraq on a training mission to last no more than two years.

A wave of bombings in Iraqi capital Baghdad kills at least 37 people.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that the Islamic State kidnapped at least 150 people from Assyrian Christian villages in Syria in a series of February 23 raids. Chadian soldiers kill over 200 Boko Haram fighters in a clash near the town of Garambu, close to Nigeria's border with Cameroon. One Chad Army soldier is killed and nine wounded.

Suicide bombers target two crowded bus stations in Potiskum and Kano in northern Nigeria, killing at least 27 people in nearly daily violence in the embattled region. There is no claim of responsibility for either blast, but both bore the hallmarks of militant group Boko Haram. A Metrolink train derails in Oxnard, California, fol-

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lowing a collision with a truck, leaves more than 30 injured with four in critical condition.

Dr Rajendra Pachauri resigns as head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change due to involvement in a sexting scandal.

The President of Indonesia Joko Widodo says the execution of 11 convicts from overseas, most on drug charges, will not be delayed. A court has rejected the appeals of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, two Australians on death row.

Former Prime Minister of Egypt Ahmed Nazif and former Interior Minister Habib El Adly are cleared of graft charges in a retrial.

Eddie Ray Routh is found guilty of the 2013 murder of United States Navy SEALs' sniper Chris Kyle and Kyle's friend Chad Littlefield in Texas. Routh is automatically sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

Voters in the American city of Chicago, Illinois, go to the polls to elect a Mayor and 50 aldermen. In the mayoral election, there will be a runoff between incumbent Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.

Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi withdraws his resignation as President of Yemen after escaping from the custody of the Houthis.

Former U.K. Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind steps down as chair of a parliamentary intelligence committee and said he wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t run for reelection as a Conservative member of parliament after becoming embroiled in an embarrassing cash-for-access sting. U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald admits that he lied when he claimed that he served in the U.S. Army Special Forces.

Business and Economy Greece submits a list of eleven reforms it will proceed with to secure a loan extension.

Barack Obama, the President of the United States, vetoes a bill approving the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline between Canadian oil sands and refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.

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February 25, 2015: Destruction of Syria continues, forcing large-scale migration of people

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Beginning of the mass exodus

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Hundreds of thousands of displaced Syrians begin to leave their country and the Levant region for food and shelter amid escalating violence in Iraq, Syria and Turkey â&#x20AC;&#x201C; resulting in a mass exodus that turns into the biggest refugee and humanitarian crisis in Europe after the World War II. Many of them died or drowned on their way to Europe...

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on the forth day of IDEX valued at Dh2.53 billion with local and foreign companies for the maintenance and repair of unmanned and other aircrafts. February 26, 2015, Thursday A Taliban suicide bomb attack on a Turkish government vehicle in Kabul kills at least one person.

Jihadi John, an Islamic State terrorist featured in many beheading videos, is identified as Mohammed Emwazi, a Kuwaiti-born man who lived in the United Kingdom and was on a terrorism watch list for some time.

February 26, 2015: Islamic State continues destruction of artefacts and museums in Iraq and Syria

Cruise terminals in Dubai’s Mina Rashid welcomed over 30 ship calls in January 2015, disembarking over 150,000 cruise tourists in the emirate in just one month, including 26 hub ship calls from four cruise lines, making it the busiest month of Dubai’s cruise season so far.

Serco consortium wins $185 million Saudi rail contract to provide management and technical support for its operations on the North South Railway (NSR). February 25, 2015, Wednesday Kuwait celebrates National Day, marking the country’s full independence from Britain in 1961.

American entertainer Madonna falls off stage while performing "Living for Love" at the 2015 Brit Awards.

At least 187 people are killed in avalanches in northeastern Afghanistan.

An arrest warrant is issued for Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, after she fails to show up to face graft charges. Film director Roman Polanski testifies at a closed to the media court hearing in Kraków, Poland, regarding a US request for his extradition over a 1977 child sex crime conviction. The hearing is later postponed until April.

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Morgan Stanley agrees to pay $2.6 billion to settle with the US Department of Justice over its sale of residential mortgage backed securities.

The Austrian Parliament passes a bill, partly aimed at tackling Islamist radicalism, that gives Muslims more legal security but bans foreign funding for mosques and imams. A United States district court judge orders documents turned over to hedge fund NML Capital with regard to the flow of funds in a February 9 issuance of Argentina dollar denominated sovereign bonds.

The Argentine National Congress approves installation of a Chinese satellite tracking station in Patagonia.

Faure Gnassingbé, the President of Togo, announces his candidacy for the forthcoming election in April.

Aloysius Vincent (14 June 1928 – 25 February 2015), an Indian cinematographer and director of Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films, breathes his last.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority inaugurates Dubai’s first electric vehicle charging station. The UAE Armed Forces signed four new deals

The Islamic State posts a video showing the destruction of Mosul Museum, the second largest in Iraq and rich in artifacts from thousands of years of Iraqi history.

French actresses Marion Cotillard and Mélanie Laurent, and French President François Hollande begin their two-day state visit to the Philippines, where they are to discuss climate change. Norwegian police raid the offices of the Catholic Church’s diocese in Oslo, charging the church administration with serious fraud under the suspicion of wrongfully claiming as much as NOK 50 million in state support by presenting fraudulent membership statistics.

The Guardian publishes articles alleging that the Chicago Police Department have been running a black site at Homan Square for detained Americans; former justice officials call for investigation. The CPD denies the allegations. A United Nations report claims that a North Korean shipping company has been renaming and reflagging its vessels to avoid an arms embargo.

Effective midnight, Washington, D.C. joins Alaska, Colorado, and Washington state as the only places in the United States that locally purport to override federal law and allow the use of marijuana for recreational purposes.

The US Federal Communications Commission votes to classify internet service providers as public utilities, creating net neutrality rules. The FCC also votes to preempt state laws in North

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Carolina and Tennessee that effectively prevent municipal broadband providers from expanding outside their existing service areas.

Natural disasters in Asia and Pacific impact some 80 million people, new UN study shows.

Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-American engineer and blogger, is hacked to death by militants,

Sports A total of 16 world records were broken at the 7th Fazza International Athletics Championships in Dubai, the opening round of the 2015 IPC Athletics Grand Prix.

February 27, 2015, Friday Somali pirates release four Thai hostages after nearly five years of captivity.

American actor Leonard Nimoy, best known for his role as Spock from the Star Trek franchise, dies at the age of 83 from complications of COPD.

Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-American blogger, is hacked to death by unknown attackers in Dhaka. A gunman kills seven people then himself in a series of shootings in Tyrone, Missouri, USA.

In Moscow, an unidentified attacker assassinates Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, the former Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation and current member of regional parliament of Yaroslavl Oblast. An elderly man shoots and kills three people and then himself in the South Korean city of Hwaseong.

Mexican security forces arrest drug lord Servando Gómez Martínez in Morelia, Michoacán.

February 28, 2015, Saturday A series of car bombs kill 19 people in Balad Ruz, east-central Iraq.

Lithuania signs a trade agreement to buy liquefied natural gas from the United States in a move aimed at reducing the EU Baltic state's heavy dependence on Russian gas deliveries. g

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Yemen plunges into a civil war

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Yemen plunges into a civil war as rebels loyal to the Houthi tribe takes control of the capital city Sanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a, forcing President Mansour Hadi to flee the country as Saudi Arabia leads an Arab coalition to counter the insurgency...

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For the first time in its 114-year-old history, the Norwegian Nobel Committee replaces against his will its head, Thorbjørn Jagland.

An archaeological expedition claims to have found the legendary White City in northeastern Honduras, with artifacts that range in dates from the 11th to 14th century.

Around 5.5 billion people still have limited or no access to medicines containing narcotic drugs such as codeine or morphine, leaving 75 per cent of the world population without access to proper pain relief treatment.

March 2015: Yemen plunges into a civil war as tribal forces belonging to Houthi tribe takes over capital Sana’a, overthrowing President Mansour Hadi’s regime

March 1, 2015, Sunday The ruling Reform Party wins the Estonian parliamentary elections, but loses the majority that it has had with its current coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party.

Despite losing five seats, the Democrats in Andorra narrowly retained their absolute majority in the General Council, winning 15 of the 28 seats. NASA astronauts perform the third of three ISS spacewalks completing the cabling reroutings needed in preparation for the 2017 arrival of the first commercial spacecraft capable of transporting astronauts.

Business and Economy As much as $48 trillion needed to meet global power demand over the next two decades, a report says.

March 2, 2015, Monday A coalition of Iraqi Armed Forces and militia numbering around 30,000 launches an offensive against the Islamic State positions in Tikrit, northern Iraq. Troops seize control of the district of Al Tin and Al Abeid.

North Korea fires two short-range missiles off its coast, in response to joint exercises held by South Korea and the United States,

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A man shoots to death a woman and a boy then himself in Queensland, Australia.

Libya's Council of Deputies agrees to resume peace talks.

Business and Economy Hewlett-Packard announces that it will buy Aruba Networks, a California-based manufacturer of wifi equipment, for $2.7 billion in cash and equity to consolidate its position in the IT industry.

Sports Durham Police arrest English and Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson over suspected sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.

March 3, 2015, Tuesday A Turkish court orders President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to pay 10,000 lira ($4,000) in compensation for the mental anguish caused to artist Mehmet Aksoy for having called his sculpture Monument to Humanity — meant to promote reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia — a ‘monstrosity’ in 2011.

Slovenia becomes the 11th EU member state and the first post-communist state to legalise same-sex marriage and adoption of children by same-sex couples, after a parliamentary vote of 51–28.

The Villarrica volcano explodes in southern Chile leading to the evacuation of 3,000 people.

Russia's authorities deny Poland's Senate speaker Bogdan Borusewicz’s entry into Russia for the funeral of slain Kremlin critic Nemtsov.

North Korea lifts restrictions on entry into the country imposed earlier ostensibly to stop the spread of the Ebola virus.

Business and Economy Norwegian Air Shuttle ground all passengers in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden as the result of an industrial dispute. The action leaves 35,000 people stranded. The Royal Bank of Scotland said, it will fire 14,000 staff as it shrunks operations. Target Corporation, a major U.S. retail chain, announces cuts that will mean the loss of thousands of jobs.

March 4, 2015, Wednesday In South of Sicily, Italy's Coast Guard saves 941 trafficked migrants aboard five motorised dinghies and two larger vessels near southern Italian ports. At least 33 miners die in a suspected gas explosion at the Zasyadko coal mine in rebel-held Donetsk region of Ukraine.

Turkish Airlines Flight TK726, landing in dense fog in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, skids off a slippery runway, however, with no injuries.

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A toxic chemical fire forces the closure of the Port of Vancouver in Canada’s West Coast.

Scientists report the finding of a 2.8-million-yearold jawbone (the Ledi jaw) forming a potential link between the 3.2-million-year-old hominin (human-like primate) Lucy (Australopithecus) found in the same area, and the 2.35-millionyear-old remains of Homo habilis found at nearby Hadar. If assigned to the genus Homo, the new remains represent the oldest known human, some 400,000 years older than previously found.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and his team of researchers find the Musashi, one of Japan's biggest and most famous battleships which was sunk by American forces in 1944, on the floor of the Sibuyan Sea.

March 5, 2015, Thursday A knife-wielding assailant injures the American ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert, in the South Korean capital city of Seoul. Authorities report that the injuries on his face and wrist are not life-threatening. Separate attacks in Baghdad kill at least eight people.

Hong Kong-based luxury hotel chain Mandarin Oriental confirms that credit card data has been stolen in a hack attack on the company's network.

The Indian government censors the documentary India's Daughter depicting a December 2012 gang rape and murder due to perceived incitement to violence that the outrage about the film might cause. Nevertheless, the BBC telecasts the film.

Tanzanian flooding kills 42 people near Lake Victoria in the Kahama District.

A Delta Air Lines MD-88 aircraft attempting to complete a snowing landing, veers to the left side off of a runway, thereby missing the end of runway emergency arresting device, and skids onto the edge of water embankment at LaGuardia Airport, New York. American actor Harrison Ford is in stable condi-

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A road accident along the highway between Ismaïlia and Cairo in Egypt, east of Cairo, involving a bus that collided with a microbus kills fifteen people.

Business and Economy S&P Dow Jones Indices announces it will add the company Apple Inc. to its Dow Jones Industrial Average index of stocks on March 19, replacing AT&T. Writing in the FIFA Weekly magazine, FIFA president Sepp Blatter calls Iran to end its "intolerable" ban on women attending soccer matches, describing the situation as one that "cannot continue."

March 5, 2015: NASA/s Dawn spacecraft enters orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres

tion after he crash-lands his 1942 Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR single-engine World War II-era training plane at the Penmar Golf Course, in Venice, Los Angeles, California. Liberia's last known ebola patient is discharged from a treatment center in Monrovia.

A Phoenix, Arizona, jury deadlocks in a second trial allowing convicted murderer American Jodi Arias to be spared the death penalty. She will be sent to prison for life for killing her lover in 2008.

A mob storms the central jail in Dimapur, India, and kills Farid Khan, an undocumented migrant from Bangladesh in custody as a rape suspect.

Sharjah’s hotels attract more than 2 million guests in 2014.

Business and Economy American pharmaceutical company AbbVie Inc buys leukemia drugmaker Pharmacyclics Inc for $21 billion.

A New York state appellate court in Manhattan rules to approve in its entirety the 2011 settlement by Bank of America with 22 institutional investors including BlackRock Inc, MetLife Inc, and Allianz SE's Pacific Investment Management Co to resolve claims over $174 billion of mortgage securities issued by the former Countrywide Fi-

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nancial Corp. in a $8.5 billion settlement.

Dublin-based generic drugmaker Mallinckrodt Plc increases its presence in U.S. hospitals by buying privately held Ikaria Inc, a maker of a respiratory drug and its delivery system, for $2.3 billion.

Energy-rich Kazakhstan suspends Russian fuel and gas imports to protect its domestic market from a surplus due to a weakened ruble which has sent ripples of economic uncertainty through Central Asia.

March 6, 2015, Friday At least two knife-wielding attackers injure nine people at a train station in southern China; the police fatally shoot one of the suspects.

The United Kingdom's National Crime Agency arrests a man as a suspected hacker in western England in connection with a June 15, 2014 cyber attack on the messaging service used by employees at the U.S. Department of Defense.

The U.S. Justice Department charges two Vietnamese citizens (Quoc Nguyen and Giang Hoang Vu) and a Canadian (David-Manuel Santos Da Silva) with running a massive cyberfraud ring that stole one billion email addresses, then sent spam offering knockoff software products of Adobe Systems Inc with the hacking having occurred between February 2009 and June 2012.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves the country's first biosimilar drug, Zarxio (Europe: 2009, as Zarzio), made by Novartis. Biosimilars are a relatively new class of drugs designed to pave the way for less expensive versions of the complex biologics drug class.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John O. Brennan announces plans for a major restructuring and reorganisation, including a focus on digital espionage.

Customs officers at the Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, catch Son Young Nam, a North Korean diplomat trying to smuggle an estimated $1.4 million worth of gold into Bangladesh. Bangladesh authorities release him but will still seek to press charges. Madison Police Department officers fatally shoot an unarmed 19-year-old black teenager who was suspected of a recent battery. A struggle ensued between the suspect and an officer, and the teen was fatally shot.

NASA's Dawn spacecraft enters orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres. India's Universal Primer Technology disputes the credit for inventing DNA barcoding with the University of Guelph in Canada.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority said, it will slap a fine of Dh100 on men travelling on Dubai Metro's women and children carriages, effective

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March 7, 2015, Saturday Maiduguri city in northeast Nigeria sees five suicide bomb blasts with 54 dead and 143 wounded.

A suspected terrorist attack in Bamako, Mali, kills five people.

In Iraq, ISIL destroys the ancient city of Hatra following the destruction of Nimrud.

The US Secret Service locks down the White House after a loud noise (later revealed to be a burned-out souvenir truck) is heard on the South Lawn, moments before U.S. President Barack Obama and his family were due to take off by helicopter. He and his family were not yet on the South Lawn when the noise was heard.

March 8, 2015, Sunday International Women's Day celebrated across the world, marking the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.

Forces from Niger and Chad launch a ground and air offensive against Boko Haram militants in northeastern Nigeria.

A rocket and shelling attack in Kidal, northern Mali kills three people, including a UN peacekeeper.

American writer and producer Sam Simon, cocreator of the longest running animated sitcom, The Simpsons, dies at the age of 59 after a 3year battle with terminal colourectal cancer.

A unknown gunman in a vehicle kills Dreekius Oricko Johnson, 28, and wounds former Tennessee Titans and New York Jets running back Chris Johnson in Orlando, Florida.

A court in Moscow charges two men of Chechen origin, Zaur Dadayev and Ansor Gubashev, who were among five arrested March 7, with the murder of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. The others also arrested, Gubashev's younger brother Shahid Gubashev and two others named only as Bakhayev and Eskerkhanov, are still only suspects.

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March 8, 2015: A Bangladeshi garments worker stitching clothes at a garments factory. More than 4 million women support an industry that represents 80% of the country’s export earnings. Women empowerment is the focus of the International Women’s Day

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Women’s wage gap hits $17 trillion!

March 8, 2015: International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8 every year. Women continue to participate in labour markets on an unequal basis with men. In 2013, the male employment-to-population ratio stood at 72.2 per cent, while the ratio for females was 47.1 per cent. Globally, women are paid less than men. Women in most countries earn on average only 60 to 75 per cent of men’s wages. It is calculated that women could increase their income globally by up to 76 per cent if the employment participation gap and the wage gap between women and men were closed. This is calculated to have a global value of $17 trillion. g

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A sixth suspect in Nemtsov's murder, Beslan Shavanov, 30, who had been holed up in a building in Chechnya's capital, Grozny, blows himself up.

Abu Dhabi Police says, road death fatalities declined by 35 per cent, and serious injuries by 50 per cent in five years.

Dubai Customs officials have foiled an attempt to smuggle three million Tramadol pills, with an approximate value of Dh60 million, at Dubai Cargo Village Customs Centre.

March 9, 2015, Monday A Carolinian Amtrak passenger train hits a tractor-trailer in Halifax, North Carolina resulting in two cars of the train derailing with several people receiving minor injuries.

Two helicopters collide in mid-air in a remote area of northwestern Argentina leaving at least ten dead. Among the dead are a group of French sports stars participating in a reality-television show called Dropped.

Celebrity British lawyer Amal Clooney files a case in the United Nations on behalf of former Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

U.S. President Barack Obama signs an executive order declaring Venezuela a national security threat to the U.S.

A man kills five people in the Japanese city of Sumoto in a prolonged stabbing attack.

American film director Randall Miller pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing and will spend two years in county jail and another eight on probation in regards to the February 20, 2014, death of camera assistant Sarah Jones by a freight train on a bridge over the Altamaha River in Wayne County, Georgia (six other crew members were also injured), during filming of a biopic about singer Gregg Allman called Midnight Rider. In a five-day national dragnet last week, Operation Cross Check, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rounds up 2,059 people who had been convicted of crimes and had been

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living in the country illegally.

March 12, 2015: Construction of Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Dh10.8 billion Midfield Terminal Building goes in full swing, as it’s scheduled to open in July 2017. Inset: Artist’s impression of the terminal complex project

Solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse 2 begins its journey to circumnavigate the earth.

Explorers of a stalactite cave in Israel's Galilee region uncover a small collection of 2,300-yearold silver coins and jewellery believed to have been hidden from the time of Alexander the Great of Macedonia. The discovery could be the first of its kind to be found from that period in this area. Sports The UAE has won its bid to host the 17th edition of the Asian Football Cup 2019.

Bangladesh defeat England to book a slot in the World Cup cricket quarterfinals, throwing England out of the tournament.

March 10, 2015, Tuesday A suicide bomber kills one person and injures 24 in an attack on a police station in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

The family of soul music singer Marvin Gaye wins a $7.3 million lawsuit for copyright infringement against Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I. holding that Thicke's hit "Blurred Lines" resembled Gaye's Got to Give It Up. Police in New Zealand announce they are investigating threats to contaminate infant formula, after letters were sent to dairy cooperative Fonterra and farming lobby group Federated Farmers containing packages of infant formula laced with 1080 poison. The Wikimedia Foundation and eight other organisations file a lawsuit in the state of Maryland, US against the National Security Agency and the United States Department of Justice regarding the NSA's mass surveillance programme. The Wikimedia Foundation is the owner and parent company of Wikipedia.

The University of Oklahoma expels two students identified as ringleaders in the singing of a racist chant by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Pakistan lifts a moratorium on the death penalty for terrorism, months after reinstating it.

The UAE’s Emirates Identity Authority issued a total of 179,543 identity cards via its Urgent Service in 2014.

Business and Economy Volumes on the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange, DGCX, grew 3 per cent from the same period last year, trading 929,152 contracts in February valued at $35 billion.

March 11, 2015, Wednesday Tropical Cyclone Nathan intensifies to a Category 2 system as it nears Cape York Peninsula in the north of the Australian state of Queensland.

A fire and partial collapse of the Admiral shopping complex in the Russian city of Kazan kills at least 17 people with 55 more injured.

The Government of Germany advises that Chancellor Angela Merkel will not attend a May 9 World War II Victory Day Parade in Moscow but will visit shortly thereafter.

The Kremlin's Rights Council states that they believe that Zaur Dadayev, a former Chechen police officer, who confessed to being part of the murder plot of Boris Nemtsov did so after being tortured. At least 15 armed assailants ambush two vans on a highway in Burgundy, France carrying millions of euros worth of jewels. It was the latest in

a string of big jewel heists in France.

A US immigration appeals panel approves the deportation of former El Salvador Defence Minister Carlos Eugenio Casanova to potentially face human rights abuses charges in his homeland.

Dubai has ranked first in the Middle East and Africa region for quality of living, according to Mercer's Quality of Living Rankings in 2015. Dubai to host attempt to set a new world record by flying Eagle from top of Burj Khalifa.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has hired more than 1,600 medical staff in 2014 bringing the total workforce strength to 11,135, said a top health official.

Business and Economy Abu Dhabi’s mega airport expansion project, the Dh10.8 billion Midfield Terminal Building (MTB), will be 60 to 65 per cent complete by the end of the year and is slated to open in July, 2017.

March 12, 2015, Thursday A U.S. drone strike in Somalia near the town of Bardhere kills the suspected mastermind Al Shabab terrorist Aden Garaar responsible for the September 2013 three-day siege Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya, in which 67 people were killed by four gunmen.

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March 15, 2015: Suicide attacks on churches in Pakistan

ens the city of Valparaiso.

The Aung Takon passenger ferry sinks off the coast of Myanmar with 21 dead and 26 people missing.

A Russian-made MI-17 transport helicopter operated by Serbian military, crashes near Belgrade's international airport in foggy weather while evacuating a sick 5-day-old baby with life-threatening respiratory problems from the south of the country, killing all seven people on board.

Tropical Cyclone Olwyn intensifies with the potential to reach Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale before making landfall in Western Australia's Pilbara region on March 13.

The roof of a cement factory under construction collapses killing at least eight people and trapping dozens more in southern district of Mongla in Bangladesh. An unknown gunman shoots two policemen in front of the Ferguson city police headquarters in the U.S. state of Missouri.

Sports FIFA expels Zimbabwe Football Association from qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup for failing to pay former head coach José Claudinei arrears.

March 13, 2015, Friday A Myanmar air raid aimed at rebels on its border with China drops bombs on the Chinese city of Lincang killing four people.

Cyclone Pam causes severe damage in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu with unconfirmed reports of over 40 deaths.

One South Korean Ministry of Public Safety and Security official dies and three are missing after a helicopter crash off the island of Gageodo.

Chile declares a state of emergency and preliminary evacuation of 16,000 as a forest fire threat-

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In regard to an operation that took place on December 11, 2014, a Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital surgical team from Cape Town, South Africa, reports the world's first successful penis transplant, an operation requiring reconnection of tiny blood vessels and nerves.

Swedish prosecutor Marianne Ny lodges a request to interrogate Julian Assange in his London refuge at the Ecuadorian consulate, saying that the reason for her change of mind is that the statute of limitations on several of the crimes of which Assange is suspected runs out in August 2015. TeslaCrypt, a malicious computer virus, targets older games (including World of Warcraft) stopping their users from playing their favourite titles unless they pay a ransom.

US space agency NASA reports that its scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope have found a salty ocean lurking beneath the surface of Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede.

The OPEC Fund for International Development approves fresh funding of $307 million to boost socio-economic development in 30 countries.

March 14, 2015, Saturday The United Nations decided to send emergency aid to Vanuatu with at least four people officially dead and reports of dozens more dead after Cyclone Pam hit on March 13.

A bus crash in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina kills at least 51 people.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visits Sri

Lanka's Jaffna District to hand over 27,000 homes to Tamil survivors of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

After an armed band removed his personal security guards, the Vice President of Sierra Leone, Samuel Sam-Sumana, goes into hiding after applying for asylum at the United States embassy in Freetown.

Guyana rejects the latest objections raised by neighbouring Venezuela over the granting to ExxonMobil Corp. of an oil and gas concession in Caribbean waters claimed by both nations.

The Los Angeles Police Department issues a warrant for the arrest of American Robert Durst regarding the murder of writer and confidant Susan Berman following the airing of a six-part documentary by HBO called The Jinx. He is later taken into custody in the city of New Orleans.

March 15, 2015, Sunday World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD), an annual occasion for celebration and solidarity within the international consumer movement. On 15 March 1962, President John F Kennedy gave an address to the US congress in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. He was the first world leader to do so, and the consumer movement now marks 15 March every year as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights. Fighting rages near the western Libyan city of Sirte between Islamic State affiliated militants and a local militia alliance.

The U.S. city of Boston sets an all time snow record, with 108.6 inches of snow for the season.

Woman dressed as a ‘ghost’ attempts to rob an Abu Dhabi money exchange centre.

US teacher Nancie Atwell wins world's first US$1 million Global Teacher Prize. The United States embassy and consulates in Saudi Arabia close for Sunday and Monday due to heightened security concerns. Two suicide bombers belonging to the Tehreek-i-

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Taliban Pakistan splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar blow themselves up in twin bomb attacks on two churches in the Pakistani city of Lahore, killing at least fourteen people with 70 more injured.

The government of Vanuatu declares a state of emergency for Shefa Province containing the capital Port Vila as authorities struggle to assess the full impact of the category 5 storm.

Enele Sopoaga, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, estimates that 45 per cent of the population has been displaced by the cyclone. A car crash kills South African Minister of Public Service and Administration Collins Chabane.

Rainstorms hit northern India, resulting in fourteen deaths and widespread damage to crops due to massive flood.

A fire breaks out in the bell tower of Moscow's Novodevichy Convent, established in 1524 and added to UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Myanmar denies claims by China that one of its aircraft crossed the Chinese border and dropped a bomb killing four people.

The National Assembly of Venezuela grants President Nicolás Maduro the power to legislate by decree for nine months.

March 16, 2015, Monday Sharjah, the third largest city in the UAE, has been ranked among the top ten small and medium-sized cities in the world in the Global Cities of the Future index for 2014/15 produced by FDI Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times Ltd.

Islamic State kidnaps about 20 medical workers from the Ibn Sina Hospital in the Libyan city of Sirte. The remnants of Cyclone Pam move down the east coast of New Zealand causing evacuations, heavy flooding, and power outages.

The United Nations estimates that every school in Vanuatu has been destroyed or damaged by Cyclone Pam. Th death toll has risen to 44.

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A bus runs off the road in northwestern Nepal killing at least 17 people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, orders troops placed on full readiness in snap drills citing increased NATO exercises as the reason.

Italian police arrest four people while 51 others are under investigation for corruption associated with public works including a stretch of the highspeed rail line near Florence.

An Egyptian court hands down a death sentence to Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie and thirteen others.

Although he is currently still being held in New Orleans, Louisiana, Los Angeles prosecutors formally charge Robert Durst with the murder of his former friend Susan Berman covered in the HBO documentary miniseries The Jinx.

Malaysian police arrest parliamentarian Nurul Izzah Anwar for alleged sedition. Izzah is the daughter of former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

March 17, 2015, Tuesday In Peshawar, an unknown assailant shoots and kills Pakistani lawyer Samiullah Afridi, who had defended Dr. Shakil Afridi (in regards to assisting CIA agents hunt al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden), with two Pakistan militant groups, Jundullah and Jamaatul Ahrar, both claiming responsibility.

St Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. He was born in the fourth century and is famous for bringing Christianity into Ireland. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated not only in Ireland but all around the world.

Syrian Air Defense Force downs an American MQ-1 Predator surveillance drone operating in ISIL-free province of Latakia.

A Dutch military helicopter serving as part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali crashes near Gao, killing two people.

The Philippines submits to The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration a 3,000-page doc-

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ument containing additional volumes of arguments, evidence, and maps seeking to nullify China’s sweeping claim over the resource-rich South China Sea.

In Australia, the New South Wales Police charge the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson, with allegedly covering up a child sexual abuse crime committed by another priest, James Fletcher, in the 1970s.

According to the U.S. Secret Service, a white substance mailed in an envelope to the White House and received March 16, 2015, at the White House Mail Screening Facility, tests a ‘presumptive positive’ for cyanide. United States Federal authorities arrest Cameron James Stout, 24, of Stover, Missouri, for threatening to shoot US President Barack Obama.

A drive-by shooting in Stockton, California kills three people and injures four more.

American health insurer Premera Blue Cross announces that it was the victim of a cyber attack that exposed bank account numbers and other personal data of 11 million customers on May 5, 2014.

The Likud Party, led by incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wins the most seats in the Knesset, winning 30 out of 120 seats. Netanyahu becomes the first Prime Minister to serve a fourth term.

Following a congressional and possible criminal investigation surrounding the redecoration of his office and the use of donors' private aircraft at taxpayers' expense, U.S. Representative Aaron Schock (R-IL) resigns effective March 31, 2015.

Scottish exports have grown to 1.5 billion GBP in the Middle East, according to the Scottish Development International, the Scottish Government’s investment and business development agency. The UAE remains the largest market in the region, accounting for 605 million Pounds of Scottish exports, up 22 per cent from the prior year in 2012. Abu Dhabi City implements 17,000 new street

March 20, 2015: An Islamic state attack on a Kurdish Nowruz festival (New Year's Day) kills 45 people

name signs including road numbers.

March 18, 2015, Wednesday Gunmen attack Tunisia's Bardo National Museum, adjacent to the parliament building, killing 23 people, including 18 foreign tourists.

The United States Department of Defense authorises the U.S. Army to destroy a large U.S. stockpile of chemical weapons.

A study in the medical journal The Lancet states that babies who are breastfed were more likely to have higher IQs, spend more time in school, and end up in higher-paying jobs. A suspected gang-related shooting in a restaurant at Hisingen, an island near the Swedish city of Gothenburg, kills at least two people with several more injured.

Business and Economy Kraft Foods Group Inc. recalls more than 6.5 million 7.25-ounce (0.2-kilogramme) boxes of its macaroni and cheese after customers reported finding small pieces of metal inside. The recalled products were shipped nationwide in the United States as well as to some countries in South America and the Caribbean. March 19, 2015, Thursday Authorities in Vanuatu report that it faces immi-

nent shortages of food and water in the wake of Cyclone Pam.

A huge boulder falls upon tourists awaiting to board a ship at the scenic Diecai Hill of China's Guilin region killing seven of them.

The Euro zone tells Greece that it must stay with its reform package or risk being forced out of the euro zone due to cash-flow problems.

Moldovan authorities ban two Russian journalists, Dmitry Kiselev and Andrei Kondrashov, from the country for five years because they had planned to travel to Moldova to present a documentary sympathetic to Russia annexing the Crimea. A stabbing attack from March 17, leaves three dead and three wounded in New Bern, North Carolina, both the 18-year-old attacker and victims were refugees from Myanmar.

A March 17 DOS attack occurs on Chinese website GreatFire, reaching 2.5 billion spoof requests per hour. March 20, 2015, Friday Islamic State releases a video showing the execution of three Kurdish fighters in Iraq. An Islamic state attack on a Kurdish Nowruz fes-

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LEE KUAN YEW

March 21, 2015, Saturday International Day of Forests. March 21 is the United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Forests, which promotes the importance of forests and trees in our lives. Forests cover one third of the Earth's land mass, performing vital functions around the world. Around 1.6 billion people - including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures - depend on forests for their livelihood.

1923-2015

The United States military evacuates the remaining 100 Special Operations forces members in Yemen due to the deteriorating security situation.

March 23, 2015: Singapore’s founding father, the legendary Lee Kuan Yew, dies at the age of 91 due to prolongued illness

tival (New Year's Day) kills 45 people.

Islamic State claims responsibility for suicide bombings in Shiite mosques in Sanaa that kill 142 people.

An ambush on Mexican police in Ocotlan, Jalisco state kills ten with none of the gunmen apprehended.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Nathan makes landfall on Cape York Peninsula in far North Queensland as a category 4 (Australian system).

The Dehradun-Varanasi Janta Express derails near Bachhrawan Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh northern India resulting in at least 30 deaths and 150 people being injured. A Uruguayan Air Force Beechcraft King Air crashes shortly after take-off from Laguna del Sauce airport, killing ten people.

Biogen Idec Inc. reports that a drug in a phase II clinical research trial has achieved the first experimental demonstration of a statistically significant reduction in amyloid plaque as well as a slowing of clinical impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The antibody drug, aducanumab, blocked beta amyloid formation, a protein that forms toxic brain-destroying plaques, and significantly slowed cognitive decline.

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To resolve claims they were misled about the company's subprime mortgage exposure, a US District Court Judge, Laura Swain approves a settlement between shareholders and American insurer AIG, for a payout of $970.5 million.

Maurizio Lupi resigns as Italy's Minister for Infrastructure following the arrest of a key aide in a corruption probe.

A solar eclipse, a vernal (for those living in the northern hemisphere) and autumnal (for those in the southern hemisphere) equinox, and a Supermoon all occur.

The US Food and Drug Administration approves genetically modified potatoes and apples.

World's most expensive burger sold at $7,000 in Dubai, UAE. The Pink Bite, organised by the Pink Caravan at Galleries Lafayette at the Dubai Mall, broke the record of the highest price paid for a burger at Dh25,960 ($7,000) during an auction held to raise funds for the Pink Caravan – the breast cancer awareness movement.

Access to drinking water has been one of the biggest successes of the Millennium Development Goals, UNICEF said ahead of World Water Day, but for 748 million people around the world, just obtaining this essential service remains a challenge.

A fire in Brooklyn, New York kills seven children and leaves two others critically injured.

An Egyptian accident in which a bus falls off of a bridge and plunges into a canal near Giza city kills at least 35 people.

March 22, 2015, Sunday World Water Day: This day was first formally proposed in Agenda 21 of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. In 1993, the first World Water Day was designated by the UN General Assembly and since, each year focuses on a different issue. The United Nations Security Council meets to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Yemen as the United States removes all remaining personnel.

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A campsite tent fire on Ganghwa Island in the South Korean city of Incheon kills five people and seriously injures two others. Cyclone Nathan makes landfall near Nhulunbuy in Australia’s Northern Territory as a high end Category 2 cyclone.

Japan allocates 820 billion yen ($6.8 billion) for creating a nearly 400-Kilometre (250-mile) chain of cement seawalls, at places nearly five stories high, against future tsunami disasters such as the one that struck the country's northeastern coast four years ago.

A Venezuelan bus plunges into a lake in Aragua state, southwest of the capital Caracas, killing at least eleven people with 36 others injured.

Voters in France go to the polls for the first round of voting in local government elections. Exit polls show the conservative UMP in first place, Marine Le Pen's National Front in second, with President François Hollande's French Socialist Party in third.

The President of Israel Reuven Rivlin opens discussions over the formation of a new government, with Benjamin Netanyahu expected to return as Prime Minister. Business and Economy Dubai Holding reports 42 per cent growth in net profit to Dh4.7 billion in 2014.

Shia Houthis rebels capture the strategically important city of Ta'izz in Yemen.

Sharjah receives more than 400,000 Russian hotel guests in 2014.

A Syrian Armed Forces helicopter crashes in Jabal al-Zawiya in the Idlib Governorate resulting in the death of one crew member and the capture of four.

Today is Honorary Timothy Hardis Day in Westchester County, NY, USA

The Pakistan Army claims to have killed 80 Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan fighters in fighting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent days while the Taliban claims to have killed at least six soldiers.

The remains of King Richard III of England, that were discovered in a car park in Leicester in 2012, arrive at Leicester Cathedral ahead of a burial on March 26.

Sports In association football, Liverpool lose to Manchester United at Anfield in the famous Liverpool F.C.–Manchester United F.C. rivalry.

March 23, 2015, Monday World Meteorological Day: The United Nations' World Meteorological Day is observed on March 23 to remember the World Meteorological Organisation's establishment on the day in 1950 and to remind everyone on climate-related issues.

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March 23, 2015: Dubai’s non-oil foreign trade scored a steady growth in 2014, rising to Dh1.33 trillion in 2014 from Dh1.32 trillion in 2013, according to Dubai Customs

Lee Kuan Yew, a founding father of Singapore as well as its first prime minister, dies at the age of 91 after a prolonged illness. Multiple bombings in Baghdad, Iraq, kill at least nineteen people and wound another thirty-six.

The people of Pakistan celebrates Pakistan Day, a national holiday to commemorate the Lahore Resolution of 1940 and the adoption of the first constitution of Pakistan during the transition of the Dominion of Pakistan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 23 March 1940. Pakistan adopted its first constitution in 1956.

A bus crashes into traffic near Huarmey in northern Peru, leaving at least thirty-seven people dead and dozens injured.

The National Assembly of Armenia approves a declaration recognising the Greek and Assyrian genocides by Ottoman Turkey between 1915 and 1923.

The U.S. Supreme Court affirms Wisconsin's law requiring voters to present photo identification to cast a ballot.

The U.S. state of Utah reinstates the use of execution by firing squad for situations where lethal injection is not possible.

Senator Ted Cruz (Republican, Texas) announces his intention to run for president. UAE’s aid for Syrian refugees surpasses Dh1.34 billion, officials say.

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Business and Economy Dubai’s non-oil foreign trade scored a steady growth in 2014, rising to Dh1.33 trillion from Dh1.32 trillion in 2013. Out of the overall trade, imports had the biggest share with a value of Dh845 billion while exports and re-exports to the emirate reached Dh114 billion and Dh372 billion respectively.

China's biggest state-owned chemical company ChemChina acquires a 26 per cent stake in Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli with an additional offer to buy the remaining outstanding shares.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, has recorded 6,950 new connections, a 30 per cent increase in water connections to 30,300, compared with 23,350 in 2013 in Dubai. Some 21,000 women in the UAE run investments worth Dh40 billion, according to Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD).

Sports The South Gauteng High Court sitting in Palm Ridge, Katlehong, finds former doubles tennis champion Bob Hewitt guilty of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault of three former students that he coached in South Africa.

Former NFL player Darren Sharper pleads guilty in a Maricopa County, Arizona courtroom to raping two women after spiking their drinks at a Tempe apartment in November 2013, and the court sentences him to nine years in prison.

March 24, 2015, Tuesday Gunmen kill at least thirteen people in an attack on three passing vehicles including a bus in Wardak province's Sayad Abad district.

A Germanwings flight crashes en route from Barcelona, Spain, to Düsseldorf, Germany, in a mountainous region of the Alps near Digne-lesBains in Southern France leaving 150 passengers and crew dead. Rescue workers later recover the damaged, but still usable, cockpit voice recorder.

The Opportunity rover completes a Martian marathon, the first time any vehicle has travelled

more than 26.2 miles on the surface of another planet.

Sports New Zealand defeats South Africa in the World Cup cricket semi finals to move to the finals.

March 25, 2015, Wednesday The Afghan National Army kills 29 insurgents and injures 21 others in a series of operations in Daikundi, Ghazni, and Parwan provinces during the past 24 hours.

Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi flees Yemen in a boat after Houthi rebels besiege the government's temporary capital of Aden in the southern part of the country, in a show of its brutal strength.

The GCC announces its intervention in Yemen and Saudi Arabia begins launching airstrikes against Houthi forces and installations. A search and recovery operation resumes for the remains of the Germanwings flight that crashed into the French Alps on March 24. An audio recording indicates that a pilot was locked out of the cockpit at the time of the crash and was unable to re-enter.

Tornadoes hit the American city of Tulsa and the surrounding region of eastern Oklahoma leaving one person dead and several others injured. The US Army charges soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who was held captive by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network in Afghanistan from June 2009 until his release in May 2014, with desertion and misbehaviour before the enemy.

Business and Economy American companies Kraft Foods and H.J. Heinz announce merger plans to create a combined company, The Kraft Heinz Company.

March 26, 2015, Thursday The Saudi Arabian Air Force launches airstrikes on Sana'a International Airport and Yemen's Al Dulaimi military airport resulting in at least 17 deaths.

Bangladesh celebrates Independence and Na-

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tional Day. On this day in 1971, Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the country's independence from Pakistan in the late hours of 25 March 1971, before he was arrested by Pakistani forces. This marks a bloody war that lasted nine months, leaving three million people dead and ten million seeking refuge in India, thus creating a humanitarian crisis. Leicester Cathedral reburies the remains of King Richard III of England.

A scaffolding collapses in Hà Tĩnh Province in Vietnam, killing at least 14 people and leaving around thirty others injured.

A building explosion and pancake floor collapse in New York City's East Village causes at least two deaths and multiple injuries.

Two passenger trains collide in Ayutthaya, Thailand, injuring 22 people. A Vietnam People's Air Force military helicopter crashes on Phú Quý island due to strong winds during the landing, with all eight crew members saved.

Massive floods affect the Chilean regions of Antofagasta, Atacama and Coquimbo, killing 15 people and causing the total destruction of cities as Chañaral and several damages in Copiapo.

After the recent March 17 DOS attack on Chinese website GreatFire, a massive distributed denial-of-service attack from China occurs against GitHub, a leading online coding platform, with the Github-hosted GreatFire contents being the main target.

Sports Australia defeats defending champion India by 95 runs in the second World Cup cricket semi final.

March 27, 2015, Friday A Middle Eastern coalition led by the Saudi Arabian army and Egyptian navy attacks positions in Yemen for the second successive day, resulting in at least ten deaths in Saada Governorate. Militants believed to be from Al Shabab attack

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Singapore holds a funeral and procession for Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore. Nigeria extends voting in its general election for a second day due to malfunctioning equipment. So far, Boko Haram attacks killed 43 people.

Voters in Uzbekistan go to the polls for a presidential election with incumbent President Islam Karimov set to win against token opposition.

March 2015: Conflict in Yemen continues as death toll rises while the Houthi rebels gain ground

and temporarily occupy a Mogadishu hotel leaving at least nine people dead. A stampede at a Hindu festival in Langalbandh, Bangladesh, kills at least ten people.

Lufthansa, together with other German airlines announce plans to mandate that two people must be inside the cockpit at all times.

Italy's highest court acquits American Amanda Knox and Italian Raffaele Sollecito of the murder of Briton Meredith Kercher.

Soyuz TMA-16M launches carrying three crew members to the International Space Station. Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Korniyenko and American astronaut Scott Kelly begin a special year-long mission to test the effects of long-term habitation on the human body under conditions of micro gravity and radiation.

March 28, 2015, Saturday Saudi airstrikes continue in Yemen for the third successive day while ground fighting occurs in Aden. Saudi Arabia claims to be in full control of Yemen's airspace. Saudi planes evacuate a United Nations mission from the Yemeni capital Sana'a.

The death toll from the March 27 hotel siege in

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Mogadishu rises to 20.

According to an interview with Germany's Bild newspaper, the former girlfriend of co-pilot Andreas Lubitz was told by him that "One day I'm going to do something that will change the whole system, and everyone will know my name and remember."

Voters in Nigeria go to the polls for a general election. Gunmen kill at least 15 voters including an opposition house of assembly candidate for Dukku in Gombe.

Business and Economy Dubai witnesses Dh28.6 billion in foreign direct investment in 2014.

March 29, 2015, Sunday Pakistan sends a Boeing 747 to evacuate Pakistani nationals concerned about their security in Yemen. The plane will be allowed into the country despite the no-fly zone declared by Saudi Arabia.

Air Canada Flight 624 skids off the runway at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, after arriving from Toronto shortly past midnight. All 133 passengers and 5 crews on board survive.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said, Arab League have agreed in principle to form a joint military force to respond to security threats.

Business and Economy The UAE is en route to achieve $263 billion of Sharia-compliant assets by 2019, according to the World Islamic Banking Competitiveness report. The industry was estimated to be worth US$127 billion in 2014. Sports Australia defeats New Zealand by seven wickets in the final to lift the World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. March 30, 2015, Monday China evacuates its citizens from Yemen due to concerns over declining security.

Saudi-led airstrikes hit a refugee camp near a military installation in the northern Harad District killing 21 people. A 7.7 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Papua New Guinea prompts a tsunami warning for Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

A van crash on U.S. Route 27 in Florida near Moore Haven results in 8 deaths and 10 injuries.

An Israeli court finds former prime minister Ehud Olmert guilty of accepting cash from an American businessman for personal use. Queen Elizabeth II dissolves the Parliament and calls a general election for May 7, 2015.

As part of its strategy to make Dubai a green city, starting from 1st April, all new buildings' construction should use 'green' concrete. Business and Economy Creditors offer Puerto Rico's highly leveraged power authority $2 billion in new financing, includ-

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ing $1.2 billion for a new natural gas operation, in exchange for assurances that it will repay its debt. American company United Health Group said, it will buy Catamaran Corporation for $12.8 billion. UAE GDP jumps more than 236-fold from Dh6.5 billion in 1971 to Dh1.54 trillion in 2014.

March 31, 2015, Tuesday Landslides in India's Jammu and Kashmir state kill six people and leave 16 others missing.

Large parts of Turkey experience a power outage affecting public services and infrastructure including air traffic control and trams in Istanbul. Some 65 per cent of the country is without power.

Germanwings' owner Lufthansa officially acknowledges that it knew there were mental health issues with Andreas Lubitz before the crash.

German newspaper Bild and French news magazine Paris Match say they have a passenger's cell phone video showing the plane's last moments before the crash. The journal Nature Neuroscience publishes research from Columbia University Medical School that finds that wage income of parents correlates with brain complexity in their children.

A prisoner accused of multiple bank robberies escapes from a hospital in Falls Church, Virginia after stealing a guard's gun. Washington, D.C. police later capture him.

In a courthouse in Istanbul, the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party of Turkey takes hostage the prosecutor handling the case of a 15-year-old who died in a police gas attack. The situation ends with police killing the gunmen. The prosecutor later dies at a hospital.

Nigerian voters elect former head of a military junta Muhammadu Buhari as their next President. Business and Economy Dubai Mercantile Exchange has reached the 8 billion barrel mark, with 8 million contracts traded on the exchange.g

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Earthquakes claim 9,000 lives in Nepal

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Multiple earthquakes shake the Himalayan region claiming more than 9,000 lives and destroying religious shrines and famous tourism and World Heritage sites that causes one of the biggest humanitarian crises in modern history. Hundreds of thousands of people from different parts of the world came forward to stand by the Nepalese people in support...

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agreement on the general framework for an agreement on Iran's nuclear programme, but sign no verbal agreement or official document. The deadline for a full deal is June 30, 2015.

A Christian-owned Indiana pizza shop closes its doors after receiving death and arson threats in response to the restaurant saying they would not cater a same sex wedding; the owners are afraid they may close permanently or leave town.

A GoFundMe page gets over $50,000 from supporters.

Death toll in Nepal’s multiple earthquakes crosses 9,000 as rescuers try to recover human bodies from the debris. The efforts were further complicated by lack of infrastructure that made the efforts a logistics nightmare for domestic and international aid workers

April 1, 2015, Wednesday Flames engulf a Mexican state-run Pemex oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico, killing four workers.

The Russian trawler Dalniy Vostok with 132 crew sinks off of the Kamchatka peninsula leaving at least 54 dead and 15 missing.

California governor Jerry Brown announces mandatory water restrictions in response to the worst drought in California history.

Turkish police shoot two attackers outside Istanbul’s central police headquarters, killing one of them. The exchange of fire wounds two officers. An apparent murder and suicide leaves four dead in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

A court convicts eleven Atlanta, Georgia teachers as part of a mass cheating scandal.

The Obama Administration targets overseas cyber attackers with a sanctions programme.

Thailand's military junta repeals martial law in favour of an imposed constitutional provision that allows the leader of the government to make extra-constitutional orders. Dubai Airports said, its $1.2 billion (Dh4.4 billion)

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investment in new and upgraded facilities formore than 110 international airlines that operate from Dubai International’s Terminals 1 and 2, will deliver an enhanced customer experience when construction and testing is completed.

The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) General Index decreased by 9.1 per cent to 3514.4 points at the end of March compared to 3864.7 points at the end of February as DFM market capitalisation down 9.1 per cent to Dh317.6 billion.

April 2, 2015, Thursday Gunmen attack Garissa University College in Kenya, killing at least 140 people and wounding 65 others.

Al Qaeda fighters attack a prison in Al Mukalla in Yemen freeing at least 270 prisoners.

Germanwings Flight 9525 data recorder is recovered from the crash site. German prosecutors state that the co-pilot researched suicide methods and the security of cockpit doors.

Chinese Foreign Ministry files a protest after two American jet fighters landed on April 1 at an air base in Taiwan.

Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Germany, and the European Union (the P5+1) reach a breakthrough

Bad weather has caused 135 moderate to minor traffic accidents in Dubai. Dubai Police said, its emergency services received 1,639 calls between 6:00 am and 12:00 noon.

April 3, 2015, Friday Five people die in a helicopter crash in a São Paulo residential area, including the son of Governor Geraldo Alckmin.

Guinea celebrates independence from France in 1958.

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Burkina Faso culls 115,000 chickens over a bird flu scare.

Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Piet de Jong celebrates his 100th birthday.

Former Vice President of Zimbabwe Joice Mujuru is expelled from the ruling party for allegedly planning a coup against President Robert Mugabe.

April 4, 2015, Saturday About six people die when a Malaysian helicopter crash.

Egypt launches strikes around Sheikh Zuweid in retaliation for the 15 Egyptian soldiers that were killed by ISIL-affiliated groups in the past week, killing about 100 terrorists according to Egyptian military sources.

The United States Army is probing alleged sexual assaults committed by its soldiers in Colombia between 2003-2007.

Germanwings Flight 9525 data recorder reveals that the plane was deliberately accelerated before crashing into the French Alps.

April 5, 2015, Sunday Five people died and 94 sustained mild to severe injuries in 86 run-over accidents in Dubai in the first quarter of this year, according to official traffic figures.

Saudi Arabia donates a plethora of weapons and medical supplies to the Yemen conflict by dropping them over Tawahi.

Devastating floods in northern Chile leave at least 25 dead and more than 100 missing.

About 15 Egyptian soldiers and two civilians are killed by guns and car bombs in Sinai.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disagrees with the Iranian nuclear programme agreement that the P5+1 Nations offered to Iran, saying it threatens Israel.

Plaintiffs withdraw a lawsuit against Google that had asserted that it was illegally tying its licensing of the Android operating system to the favourable treatment of Google apps. An American sailor who was lost for 66 days in the Atlantic Ocean is found by a German tanker. He survived on a diet of solely raw fish and rainwater.

Kenyan Air Force planes bomb two Al Shabaab bases in response to last week's attack on Garissa University College.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven says that neither he nor any other of his cabinet-level ministers will be attending the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Moscow due to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Sweden joins a large group of European countries unofficially boycotting the May 9th Victory Day parade.

Dozens of Chinese taxi drivers attempt a mass suicide in Beijing to protest the way taxi companies renewed their vehicle leases.

Giant pandas Xi Mei and Lu Lu break the record for the longest mating session ever recorded at

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April 7, 2015,Tuesday The World Health Organisation estimates that 560 people have died, more than 1,700 people have been injured and more than 100,000 people have fled their homes following the intensification of fighting in Yemen three weeks ago.

The UAE ecological footprint dropped to 7.75 hectares per person last year, down from 11.68 hectares in 2006, the Ministry of Environment and Water has reported citing improved environmental sustainability through the country’s adoption of the Ecological Footprint Initiative (EFI) in 2007

April 6, 2015: In Fujian, Southeast China an explosion and fire at a paraxylene producing petrochemical plant by Dragon Aromatics occupied 430 firemen

the Sichuan Giant Panda Research Center, lasting 18 minutes and three seconds.

Arab Trade Financing Programme (ATFP) said, continued growth in the trade financing volume last year with $802 million disbursed through lines of credit while the outstanding draw-down balance on lines of credit amounted to $797 million. April 6, 2015, Monday In Fujian, Southeast China an explosion and fire at a paraxylene producing petrochemical plant by Dragon Aromatics occupied 430 firemen.

Tropical storms kill at least 36 people and injure scores in Bangladesh over the past couple of days, with Bogra District hardest hit (20 deaths).

An Indonesian court rejects Andrew Chan's and Myuran Sukumaran's appeal against the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo's refusal to grant them clemency against the death penalty as organisers of the Bali Nine plot to smuggle heroin to Australia in 2005.

Gul Ahmad Saeed is suspected in the killing of

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his fiancee and nine of her relatives in Pakistan, apparently because of opposition to his marriage. He also is a suspect in the murders, earlier this year, of his mother, father, brother, and sister-inlaw.

University of Virginia fraternity Phi Kappa Psi announces that it will "pursue all available options" against Rolling Stone magazine a day after the magazine withdraws "A Rape on Campus", a story alleging a student was gang-raped at a party in 2012.

Sports In basketball, Dick Bavetta, John Calipari, Spencer Haywood, Lisa Leslie, Dikembe Mutombo and Jo Jo White are announced as 2015 inductees to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. They will be formally inducted alongside five figures announced in February, Louie Dampier, Lindsay Gaze, Tom Heinsohn (already inducted as a player but now entering as a coach), John Isaacs, and George Raveling, on September 11. In basketball, Duke defeats Wisconsin 68–63 to win the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.

Following the deployment of 350 police, over 600 firefighters and over 400 soldiers, the fire at the Dragon Aromatics chemical plant in Zhangzhou (southeast China) restarts, forcing the evacuation of residents within a radius of 18 kilometres from the plant.

The parliament of Malaysia passes the Prevention of Terrorism Act which allows the government to detain terrorism suspects without charge.

At least 20 people die in a shootout between Indian police and timber smugglers in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

American judge Kenneth Marra strikes out claims that Virginia Roberts was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew, Duke of York in her claim against Jeffrey Epstein.

Raiders using specialist cutting equipment break into an underground vault in the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit company in the London diamond district and empty 300 safety deposit boxes.

A North Charleston, South Carolina policeman is charged with murder after video footage emerges of him shooting an unarmed suspect attempting to flee on foot following a daytime traffic stop.

Kentucky U.S. Senator Rand Paul announces that he will seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. presidency in 2016.

Rahm Emanuel is re-elected to a second term as Mayor of Chicago, defeating opponent Jesús García in the city's first mayoral runoff election

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since switching to nonpartisan elections 20 years ago.

Sports The Connecticut Huskies defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 63-53 to win their third successive NCAA Division I women's basketball championship. The title is the 10th for both the Huskies and their head coach Geno Auriemma, tying him with late UCLA men's coach John Wooden for the most championships by a Division I basketball coach. April 8, 2015, Wednesday A gunfight erupts between Afghan soldiers and U.S. soldiers working for NATO's Resolute Support Mission leaving 1 Afghan and 1 U.S. soldier dead, and 3 Afghan and 2 U.S. soldiers wounded. Eleven civilians and two Egyptian Army soldiers have been killed in three attacks in the northern Sinai Peninsula.

A shipwreck off the Haiti coast claims the life of 21 people.

Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev receives a guilty verdict on all legal charges against him. Business and Economy Royal Dutch Shell purchases rival BG Group for around $70 billion.

A French air traffic controllers strike causes the cancellation of hundreds of flights throughout Europe. At the Dragon Aromatics chemical plant in Fujian in southeast China, a fourth tank of about 1,500 tonnes of liquid hydrocarbon catches fire and explodes. More than 14,000 residents have been evacuated.

April 9, 2015,Thursday Sohaib al Rawi, Governor of Al Anbar Governorate in Iraq, claims that ISIL has killed 52 people, mostly police officers on the border with Syria in the past week. The regional branch of the Communist Party of

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guard at US Census Bureau headquarters and police chase into H Street night life district on April 9.

In a response to a cyber attack on TV5Monde, the French Minister of Culture and Communications Fleur Pellerin has called for an emergency meeting of the heads of various major media outlets and groups based in France, to take place sometime today at an undisclosed location. Business and Economy The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reaches an agreement with two petroleum industry groups about bio fuel blending targets.

April 11, 2015: US President Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro meet at the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas in Panama, marking the first meeting of the leaders of the two countries since the Cuban Revolution

China in Tibet demands that Buddhist monasteries display the Chinese flag in an effort to shore up Chinese rule. At least 24 people are killed and 22 injured in a bus accident in southwestern Bangladesh.

A gunman attacks the Palace of Justice in Milan, killing three people, including a judge. A fourth person found dead at the scene apparently died from a heart attack.

Former Chinese Communist Party official Liao Shaohua is sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of bribery and abuse of power.

A fire on April 1 that disrupted power and internet access throughout London is now suspected to have been part of a robbery at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Company.

April 10, 2015, Friday April 10, 2015, officially marks the 2,020 day countdown to the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai – another major milestone for the iconic event which will be held for the first time in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region. The Pakistani parliament votes not to join the

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Saudi led coalition in Yemen.

‘Serial bride’ pleads not guilty to felony fraud for marrying 10 husbands, up to 8 at once in New York City. She married men from ‘red flagged’ nations such as Egypt, Turkey, Georgia, Pakistan, Mali, and Bangladesh who sought resident status. Head-on collision of fuel tanker truck and bus with young athletes kills 33 on Morocco highway where accidents are a ‘significant hazard’.

The United Nations warns that the situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate as humanitarian aid starts to arrive.

A car bomb blast in Baghdad kills at least three people and injures 12.

April 11, 2015, Saturday US President Barack Obama and the President of Cuba Raul Castro meet at the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas in Panama. This marks the first meeting of the leaders of the two countries since the Cuban Revolution. Heavy Saudi Arabian air strikes hit southern Yemen resulting in at least 20 deaths of Houthis soldiers and two members of rival militias. Saudi Arabia claims to have killed 500 rebels since the start of military operations in March.

India evacuates 5,600 people including 960 foreign nationals from Yemen under Operation Raahat. Several flights were allowed to take off and land in Yemen despite the no-fly zone declared on the country.

A man carrying a protest sign, backpack and rolling luggage fatally shot himself in the head in front of the US Capitol Building. Capitol Police announced there was no apparent connection to terrorism. It follows unconnected shootings at the US Census HQ and the NSA.

Gunmen kill 20 labourers at a dam construction in Pakistan's Balochistan province.

An Egyptian court sentences the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Badie and fourteen other people to death for inciting violence.

Ronald Anderson is arrested in connection with a kidnapping his girlfriend, the fatal shooting of a

Voters in Nigeria go to the polls for gubernatorial and state Assembly elections. At least nine peo-

Malaysia toughens its sedition laws to cover all online media and provide for mandatory jail sentences.

Bangladeshi Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman is executed for war crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

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ple are killed in election day violence, most of them in Rivers State.

Business and Economy Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the beneficiary of a controversial bail-out from the Bank of Italy in 2013 admits that its exposure to Nomura Holdings is greater than the regulatory limit. Sports The 168th annual running of the Grand National steeplechase race occurs at Aintree Racecourse near the English city of Liverpool. Many Clouds ridden by Leighton Aspell is the winner.

Rowing teams from University of Oxford and University of Cambridge meet on the River Thames with Oxford successful in both the men's and women's races.

April 12, 2015, Sunday Mlitants attack the South Korean embassy in Tripoli killing two guards and leaving another injured.

U.S. drone strikes in North Waziristan kill at least four suspected Taliban militants.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, former United States Secretary of State, announces that she is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for President in the 2016 election.

The Liberal Democratic Party wins most of the major local and prefectural contests, including all ten governorships at stake. Large protests in Brazil call for the impeachment of President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff due to a scandal involving members of her Workers Party receiving kickbacks from the state run oil company Petrobras.

Sports 2015 Masters Tournament: In golf, the final round of the Masters Tournament is held at the Augusta National Golf Club with American Jordan Spieth winning his first championship at the age of 21. Spieth is the second youngest player to win the Masters after Tiger Woods, he ties Woods's record for the lowest winning total, and becomes the fifth man to lead from start to finish.

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Ministry building in Mogadishu after a large explosion is reported.

April 12, 2015 : Former First Lady and Secretary of State Senator Hillary Clinton joins the race for Democratic Presidential nominations for the 2016 race for the White House

An Asiana Airlines Airbus A320 en route from South Korea to Japan skids off the runway at Hiroshima Airport in Japsn, injuring 20 of the 74 passengers. Up to 400 people may have died as a boat capsizes in the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Italy with up to 550 passengers on board.

More than 100 passengers out of 1,100 on the cruise ship Crown Princess may be suffering from symptoms of Norovirus.

US President Barack Obama endorses a proposal to remove Cuba from a list of countries that sponsor terrorism.

April 13, 2015, Monday More than 500 people converted to Islam in Dubai during the first quarter of 2015, according to statistics released by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, IACAD.

An American man working at Managua's U.S. embassy provokes a security scare in Nicaragua; the country's health ministry quarantines the Ebola suspect and asks that he be removed from the country immediately.

Nine people die as a boat carrying people to Italy capsizes off the coast of Libya. The Italian coast guard rescues 144 people.

Two Massachusetts high schools close due to bomb threats; it is the third bomb threat Brockton High School has received this school year.

German Nobel laureate and author Günter Grass (b. 1927), passes away.

A cargo plane carrying two pilots goes missing after departing from Vancouver International Airport en-route to Prince George Airport in British Columbia, Canada.

Wildfires in Southern Siberia, Russia kill at least 26 people and damage 1,300 homes.

Russian president Vladimir Putin lifts the ban on delivery of S-300 missile air defence systems to Iran in connection to the nuclear dialogue. Israel and the United States oppose the deal on the grounds that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism.

In Tripoli, the Moroccan Embassy is damaged by a bomb explosion just hours after gunmen assault the South Korean mission. ISIL loyalists take credit for both attacks.

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An Arizona judge sentences convicted murderer Jodi Arias to life without parole for the 2008 murder of her ex-boyfriend.

The first of four Blackwater security guards is given a life sentence in the US for his role in killing 14 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad in 2007.

A volunteer police officer is charged with manslaughter in the shooting death of Eric Harris, an unarmed man who was shot while lying on his back in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.

April 14, 2015, Tuesday At least seven people are dead after a car bomb blast south of Baghdad.

Al Shabab gunmen enter the Higher Education

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Jamal Benomar resigns as the United Nations peace envoy to Yemen after losing support from the Gulf nations.

Former American football player Aaron Hernandez is convicted of murder in the first degree in the town of Fall River, Massachusetts. Hernandez shot a former friend Odin Lloyd in 2013. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In Arizona, dashcam video showed a police officer intentionally running over an armed suspect. The suspect had stolen a rifle from a nearby Walmart, and had discharged the weapon in a neighbourhood.

The United Nations Security Council votes to impose sanctions on Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Two former Colombian ministers Sabas Pretelt and Diego Palacio are sentenced to six years in prison for corruption in bribing lawmakers to support the 2006 re-election bid of former President Alvaro Uribe.

SpaceX's latest attempt at recycling its Falcon 9 rocket by landing it on an ocean platform fails again.

The European Union formally charges Google with antitrust breaches.

A court in Japan's Fukui Prefecture issues a landmark injunction against restarting reactors 3 and 4 of the Takahama Nuclear Power Plant.

Stone tools found at Lomekwi 3 are dated to 3.3 million years ago, which, if confirmed, would represented the oldest known stone tools. Production of desalinated water reached 1.7 billion cubic metres in the UAE in 2014.

April 15, 2015, Wednesday Fierce clashes in Iraq's Anbar province erupts as Islamic State captures three villages near the provincial capital Ramadi.

Benjamin Netanyahu demands that any final agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme include a ‘clear and unambiguous Iranian recognition of Israel's right to exist’.

The European Parliament approves a resolution to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Nepalese leader Surya Bahadur Thapa, 24th Prime Minister of Nepal (b. 1928), passes away.

Business and Economy Nokia announces plans to buy telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent for €15.6 billion (US$16.6 billion).

April 16, 2015, Thursday Al Qaeda captures Riyan Airport, seaport and oil terminal in the city of Al Mukalla in southern Yemen.

In the past two weeks, Oman has received 2,695 people of forty-eight nationalities escaping from Yemen.

WikiLeaks publishes 30,287 documents and 173,132 emails resulting from the Sony Pictures Entertainment hack believed to be undertaken by North Korea.

More than 40 people have drowned as a migrant boat sinks travelling between Libya and Italy. In a separate incident, 15 Muslim migrants from another Italy-bound boat have been arrested, after allegedly throwing 12 Christian migrants overboard. The United States Congress negotiates a deal to

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tinct, is rediscovered in the Republic of Congo.

Sports In cricket, James Anderson becomes the highest wicket taking bowler for England in test cricket in a drawn test match against the West Indies in Antigua.

April 18, 2015, Saturday UAE inventor Ahmed Majan won four medals for his latest inventions at the 43rd International Exhibition of Inventions, which concluded in Geneva.

A suicide bomber allegedly affiliated with ISIL strikes a bank in the city of Jalalabad in Afghanistan, killing at least 33 and wounding 100.

April 17, 2015: Up to 150,000 civilians flee the Iraqi city of Ramadi following intense fighting

fast track the Trans-Pacific Partnership between the US and Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Five people are found dead after a business dispute in Phoenix, Arizona.

Five are shot in Toronto, Ontario, in a neighbourhood with children around playing, two critically and one in life-threatening condition, having been shot by the police. Four suspects detained.

One year after the Sinking of the MV Sewol, police blockade a memorial in response to public anger at inactivity by the government to rescue or salvage the bodies of victims from the ship's wreck.

Dubai-based English language daily Khaleej Times celebrated the 37th year of its publication, saying ‘Thank you UAE. We are 37 years better!’

Business and Economy UAE Energy Minister, Suhail Bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, said that the UAE has 4 per cent of the world's oil reserves and nearly 3.5 per cent of the global gas reserves. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has repaid the US$1 billion bond due in April

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An Iranian Naval convoy is headed towards Yemen to potentially resupply Shia Houthi rebels.

At least 27 people are dead in fighting in the city of Taez.

April 17, 2015, Friday Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad says that the ‘most dangerous’ leaders of ISIS are Scandinavians.

Iran proposes a four point peace plan which is rejected by the Hadi government of Yemen.

Iraqi officials claim that militia leader Izzat Ibrahim Al Douri has been killed in fighting in Salahuddin province. Al Douri was the highest ranking member of Saddam Hussein's government not to be captured.

The Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi warns that thousands of Libyans will continue to risk their lives travelling to Europe unless the civil war ends. More than 2,000 people have been rescued in the past week.

Up to 150,000 civilians flee the Iraqi city of Ramadi which is under siege from Islamic State.

A suicide car bombing outside the U.S. consulate in Erbil in Iraq's Kurdish region kills three and injures 14. ISIS claims responsibility.

Gunfire and roadblocks are reported in the city of Reynosa on the border with the US after local leader "El Gafe" of the Gulf Cartel is arrested.

Univisión announce that Sábado Gigante, the longest-running television variety series in history, will end after 53 years on September 19, 2015.

Bouvier's red colobus, a species of monkey last seen in the 1970s and thought to possibly be ex-

Indian Army soldiers fire on separatist protesters following unruly behaviour resulting in the death of a teenage protester.

At least 19 people are killed as a gold mine collapses in Tanzania's Msalala district.

Hundreds of people are feared dead after a boat carrying people from Libya to Italy capsizes in the Mediterranean Sea. Twenty-eight people have been rescued. A mystery disease that kills patients within 24 hours has killed at least 18 people within the past week in the Nigerian town of Ode-Irele in Ondo State.

Australian Federal Police foil an Islamic State inspired plot to carry out an attack at a World War

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One centenary event in Melbourne.

Business and Economy UAE ranks16th globally in exports, says World Trade Organisation.

Sports In figure skating, the United States team wins the World Team Trophy held in Japan while Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia wins the women's individual free skate title.

April 19, 2015, Sunday Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) plans to build a 15,500 square metre (166,800 square feet) extension to its current indoor complex space, taking the available multipurpose indoor event and exhibition capacity to over 122,000 square metres (over 1.31 million square feet).

Kuwait has discovered four new oilfields in the north and west of the country, a top oil official said. Myanmar says it has lost 126 soldiers in clashes with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army in Kokang since early February.

The Maltese Navy and Italian Coast Guard are mounting a rescue operation for a boat that capsized between Libya and Italy with up to 700 people aboard.

Voters in Northern Cyprus go to the polls for an election for a new President to represent them in peace talks with the southern Republic of Cyprus.

Voters in Finland go to the polls for a parliamentary election with a new coalition government led by Juha Sipilä of the Centre Party favoured to form government after negotiation.

More than 90,000 people have been displaced by fighting between Iraqi government forces and Da'esh militants in the western province of Anbar, the United Nations' agency said.

April 20, 2015, Monday Nine people have been killed in a bomb attack on a convoy carrying food supplies to a United Nations compound in Garowe in the Somali region of Puntland.

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involvement in the killing of protesters when he was in power.

April 21: An Egyptian court sentences former President Mohammed Morsi to 20 years imprisonment for involvement in the killing of protesters when he was in power

A roadside bomb hits an armoured vehicle near the border town of Rafah in the northern Sinai Peninsula killing three people.

The United States sends aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and cruiser USS Normandy to block an Iranian convoy heading towards Yemen.

2015 Pulitzer Prize awards are presented, with the The Post and Courier of Charleston, South Carolina winning the prestigious gold medal for public service for a series on domestic violence in the US state of South Carolina. Anthony Doerr's World War II novel All the Light We Cannot See wins the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction A strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake occurs off the east coast of Taiwan.

At least three people are dead after a boat carrying dozens of migrants runs aground on the Greek island of Rhodes.

A 13-year-old boy uses a home-made crossbow to kill a teacher and wound four other people at his school in the city of Barcelona. Police officers in the city of Baltimore, Maryland

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The U.S. Justice Department has charged Navinder Singh Sara with commodities fraud and related offences, alleging that he played a part in the flash crash of May 2010.

The United States Department of Justice announces a federal investigation into the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in the city of Baltimore, Maryland.

are placed on leave while an investigation is held into the death of Freddie Gray.

Blue Bell Creameries recalls all of its products in the United States due to a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak.

April 21, 2015, Tuesday A deadly explosion in a Mogadishu restaurant kills at least four people and injures ten others.

Saudi Arabia announces that it is ending its bombing campaign in Yemen.

Two terrorist groups, ISIS and Taliban, announce Jihad against each other.

Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd pleads guilty to threatening to kill and drug possession charges in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Italian police arrest the captain and crew member of a vessel that sank in the Mediterranean Sea two days ago drowning as many as 900 people.

An American man Tommy Schaefer is sentenced to 18 years imprisonment in Bali, Indonesia for the murder of his mother-in-law Sheila von Wiese Mack last year.

An Egyptian court sentences former President Mohammed Morsi to 20 years imprisonment for

Michele Leonhart announces her retirement as the Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration with concerns raised about her leadership following a prostitution scandal involving Agency officers having sex with prostitutes provided by drug cartels. Business and Economy Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical offers $4 billion to acquire US rival Mylan.

April 22, 2015, Wednesday The world celebrates Earth Day – an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which day events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 192 countries each year.

A tribal fight in Papua New Guinea's Hela Province between the Wapiago and Tapamu clans claims the lives of ten people, mostly children.

The Taliban announces the start of its annual spring offensive warning it would attack foreign embassies as well as military targets.

Syrian government air strikes on areas controlled by Islamic State kills 32 people. The air strikes hit a hospital in Dayr Hafir killing at least 21 people. The storm in Australia's New South Wales is declared a ‘catastrophe’ with four deaths, heavy flooding and disruption of transport to the state's largest cities Sydney and Newcastle. South Korea approves plans to recover the MV

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Sewol which sank last year with the loss of 300 people.

The Calbuco volcano erupts in southern Chile forcing the evacuation of 4000 residents.

The United States Senate unanimously passes a bill to combat human trafficking after a long delay caused by a dispute over abortion funding.

Voters in Anguilla go to the polls for a general election with the Anguilla United Front led by Victor Banks elected to government. Business and Economy The European Union opens an antitrust case against Russian gas giant Gazprom which supplies most of Central and eastern Europe with supplies of natural gas.

Google announces a new wireless network in the United States called Project Fi with a pay as you go data rate.

April 23, 2015, Thursday The Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls claims that five terrorist attacks have been "foiled" in France in recent months.

A counterterrorism operation on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan has killed American and Italian Al Qaeda hostages Warren Weinstein and Giovanni Lo Porto. Two other American citizens working with Al Qaeda, Adam Yahiye Gadahn and Ahmed Farouq, are also killed in special operations in the same area.

Macedonian state television reports that 14 migrants died after being hit by a train near the city of Veles while travelling through the Balkans towards Western Europe.

Djoomart Otorbaev resigns as the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan.

The US Senate confirms Loretta Lynch as the Attorney General of the United States. Lynch will be the first African-American woman to hold the position. Former US Army general and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency David Petraeus

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Pokhara. The Government of Nepal declares a state of emergency with 1,500 dead. A number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites are destroyed, including the historic Dharahara tower. Deaths are also recorded in India, Bangladesh and the Chinese province of Tibet.

Rebels including the Al Qaeda-affiliated Al Nusra Front claim to have captured most of the town of Jisr Al Shughur in the Idlib Governorate of Syria.

April 25, 2015: The Italian Navy rescues 274 migrants from a ship off the Libyan coast while 300 migrants rescued on April 24 arrive

pleads guilty of sharing classified information with his biographer and lover. He is given two years probation and a $100,000 fine.

Business and Economy Comcast to walk away from its $45 billion takeover for Time Warner Cable.

The NASDAQ Stock Market sets a new record high for the first time since the dot com bubble collapsed in 2000.

Deutsche Bank pays $2.5 billion to settle an investigation by the United States and the United Kingdom related to manipulation of the Libor or London Interbank Offered Rate. It will also plead guilty in a US court case. April 24, 2015, Friday Italian police mount an operation against an Al Qaeda inspired cell in Sardinia claimed to be in operation since 2005.

Three members of a United Nations peacekeeping mission to Congo have been abducted.

UNICEF reports that hundreds of children have been killed and injured in the Civil War while combatants have recruited hundreds more.

Iraqi Army Brigadier-General Hassan Abbas Toufan and three other officers are killed in a tar-

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geted car bombing in Anbar province.

Boko Haram recapture the border town of Marte from the Nigerian Army.

Angelina Jolie, American actress and Special Envoy of UN High Commissioner for Refugees, slammed the UN Security Council for inaction over Syria, saying, "We cannot look at Syria, and the evil that has arisen from the ashes of indecision, and think this is not the lowest point in the world’s inability to protect and defend the innocent."

The Italian Navy rescues 274 migrants from a ship off the Libyan coast while 300 migrants rescued on April 24 arrive.

Pakistani human rights campaigner Sabeen Mahmud is killed by gunmen after attending a seminar on Balochistan’s "disappeared people" in Karachi.

The New York Times reports that Russian hackers read President of the United States unclassified emails indicating that the breach of the White House's computer system was more extensive than previously revealed.

Former American Olympic Games champion Caitlyn Jenner comes out as a trans woman.

Voters in Togo go to polls amid political unrest.

Armenia commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire.

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake occurs near the town of Kaikoura on the South Island of New Zealand. The Statue of Liberty in New York is evacuated after a bomb threat.

Business and Economy In the United States, the NASDAQ and S&P 500 end at record highs spurred by strong results by tech giants Google, Amazon and Microsoft. April 25, 2015, Saturday A strong 7.9 earthquake strikes between the Nepalese capital Kathmandu and the city of

Twelve people are arrested in the American city of Baltimore as protests against the death of Freddie Gray in police custody turn violent.

Business and Economy Ferdinand Piëch, grandson of the inventor of the Volkswagen Beetle and chairman of Volkswagen for more than 20 years, steps down from that post under trade union pressure.

April 26, 2015, Sunday Rescue and recovery attempts continue in Nepal after Saturday's earthquake with the death toll more than 2,200 and expected to rise further. A strong earthquake aftershock measured at 6.7 hits Nepal and northern India and causes further avalanches in the Himalayas. Rescue helicopters airlift badly injured climbers

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off Mount Everest a day after avalanches triggered by the earthquake kill seventeen people.

A bomb on a motorcycle kills at least 3 people and injured 20 in the town of Sibi in Pakistan's Balochistan region.

Syrian government planes bomb the city of Jisr Al Shughur the day after it was captured by Al Qaeda and its allies.

Boko Haram captures Karamga island in Lake Chad from Niger, killing many soldiers.

Voters in Kazakhstan elect incumbent President Nursultan Nazarbayev with 97.7 per cent of the vote. He has been ruling the country since 1984 in one form or another. Voters in Northern Cyprus go to the polls in the run-off election to elect leftist Mustafa Akıncı as president.

Business and Economy The value of the textiles and fabrics trade in Dubai in 2014 reached Dh16.4 billion, with Dh10.14 billion in imports, Dh1.3 billion in exports, and Dh4.22 billion in re-exports. Sports In football, FC Bayern Munich wins the 2014–15 Bundesliga for a 25th time.

April 27, 2015, Monday Hundreds of people have been found dead in the northern Nigerian town of Damasak, most likely killed by Boko Haram. Business and Economy Fitch Ratings downgrades Japan's credit rating to A over mounting debts.

The death toll from the earthquakes in Nepal rises to more than 3,700 with reports that tens of thousands of people are homeless.

Philippines President Benigno Aquino III asks Indonesian President Joko Widodo to spare the life of Mary Jane Veloso, a migrant domestic worker sentenced to death for drug trafficking. Opposition activists protest for a second day over

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April 25, 2015: A dead body is stuck under concrete rubbles after the earthquake in Nepal Dead bodies are still being recovered from piles of debris days after the devastating earthquake that destroyed settlements in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal

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Heatwave claims 2,500 in India

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A major heatwave swept across India and Pakistan, claiming 2,100 lives by the end of May 2015. The toll eventually crossed 3,200 in June. South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and the neighbouring Telangana, where more than 1,735 and 585 people died respectively, were the areas most affected by the heat wave...

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apparent attempt to prevent religious extremist attacks.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, returns home after giving birth to her and the Duke's second child, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

The death toll from the storms has risen to six with five people dead in Australia’s Queensland and a six-year-old boy dying after being pulled from rough seas in Ballina, New South Wales.

The death toll from earthquake in Nepal rises to 7,040 people and a total of 14,025 injured with thousands missing.

May 2015: A countrywide heatwave starts in India that increased death toll till the end of the month

May 1, 2015, Friday International Labour Day celebrated across the world to mark the achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours each for work, recreation and rest. Expo 2015 opens in Milan, Italy, with the theme Feeding the planet, energy for life and with 145 countries participating.

The United Nations warns that humanitarian efforts in Yemen could end within days unless the Houthis allow distribution of fuel.

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake occurs in Papua New Guinea's East New Britain province with the potential to generate a local tsunami.

French President François Hollande promises to investigate claims that French Army soldiers were involved in sexual child abuse in the Central African Republic.

Marilyn Mosby, the State Attorney for Baltimore, Maryland, rules that the death of Freddie Gray was a homicide and six officers of the Baltimore Police Department had been negligent in his

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death. The six officers are taken into custody and charged with second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and misconduct.

One in three Europeans potentially exposed to asbestos, new UN study shows.

Education programmes in 15 industrialised countries fail to include child rights education in their schools, according to a new United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report. May 2, 2015, Saturday Abu Dhabi Police issued more than 11,000 traffic fines in the first quarter of this year for vehicles technically unfit for use on the road.

Nigerian army said, they rescued another 234 women and girls from Boko Haram control in the Sambisa Forest on April 30.

Two policemen and a civilian are killed and three others injured after a grenade attack in Burundi's capital Bujumbura.

Two explosions in Baghdad kill at least 13 people and injure dozens. The Republic of Congo bans full face-veils in an

More than 2400 migrants have been rescued after boats they were travelling on were rescued off the Libyan coast. Thai police dig up a campsite in Thailand used by human traffickers with 30 grave sites.

Authorities in the Maldives arrest three opposition leaders and nearly 200 citizens following violent protests calling for the resignation of President Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

In Queens, a 25-year-old New York Police Department (NYPD) officer Brian Moore is shot in the head through the cheek while on patrol. He later died after being taken off of life support. Demetrius Blackwell, 35, is charged with first-degree murder in the case.

Sports Floyd Mayweather, Jr. of the United States defeats Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines for the united welterweight championship at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Mayweather wins a unanimous points decision. In football, Celtic wins the 2014–15 Scottish Premiership with three games to go.

May 3, 2015, Sunday World Press Freedom Day celebrated globally to raise awareness on the freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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Yemen officials say that at least 20 members of the Arab coalition have landed in Aden on a 'reconnaissance' mission.

Kathmandu International Airport closes to large aircraft flying in relief because its runway can no longer stand the strain. The death toll from the earthquake passes 7,000 and is expected to rise much higher. At least eighteen people are killed in a traffic accident in Afghanistan's Badghis Province.

Italy reports nearly 4,100 migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast with more rescues expected as people smugglers take advantage of the safe conditions.

Two gunmen attacked the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas, which was holding an exhibition of drawings of the Prophet Muhammad. Both gunman were shot dead by police.

Madison, Wisconsin, becomes one of the first cities in the United States to make discrimination against atheists illegal.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson says, he would run for the Republican Party nomination.

Business and Economy Jebel Ali Free Zone, the flagship free zone of Dubai and trade and logistics hub for the wider Middle East region, has seen an increase of 17 per cent in the number of new companies in 2014 compared with the preceding year. Sports In English football, Chelsea wins the 2014–15 Premier League.

May 4, 2015, Monday International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) is observed on May 4. It was instituted following the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a wildfire in Australia in January 1999. May 4 used to be a traditional Firefighters' Day in many European countries, because it is the day of Saint Florian, patron saint of firefighters. One million books have been delivered to families in Sharjah, the pioneering cultural project,

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near the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. There is a small tsunami and some property damage.

Catriona Finlayson Wilkins, 41, of England, becomes the first diabetic (she has Type I diabetes) to give birth naturally after using an artificial pancreas throughout her pregnancy.

Voters in the Canadian province of Alberta elect the New Democratic Party, led by Rachel Notley, to power for the first time ever to rule the state. The Progressive Conservative Party, which had ruled for more than 40 years, not only loses its majority, but also finishes behind the Wildrose Party. Scientists announce the discovery of EGS-zs81, the oldest and most distant galaxy ever observed. May 4, 2015: UAE’s $32 billion travel market poised for double-digit growth

Knowledge Without Borders (KWB) has announced.

The daughter of the Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has been named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, named after her grandfather, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Italy reports that ten people have died and 5,800 people have been rescued in the Mediterranean Sea as people smugglers attempt to take advantage of calmer waters to ferry refugees to European cities.

Former Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Officer Carly Fiorina joins the fray to seek Republican Party nomination for the 2016 presidential election.

Business and Economy Travelport reveals UAE’s $32 billion travel market poised for double-digit growth.

Sports Stuart Bingham wins 2015 World Snooker Championship defeating Shaun Murphy in the final.

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May 5, 2015, Tuesday US President Barack Obama nominates Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee joins the fray to seek the Republican Party nomination.

Indonesia permanently bans domestic workers from employment in the Middle East citing ‘many problems’ regarding ‘labour norms and human rights violations’. According to University of Toronto researchers Donald Branch and Stephen McCarthy, a combination of three HIV drugs—lamivudine, AZT, and tenofovir—shows some promise fighting at least a lab-modified version of Ebola.

ISIS claims responsibility for the attack on an exhibition of drawings of the Prophet Muhammad in the American city of Garland, Texas.

A local tsunami warning is issued after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurs in the Pacific Ocean

Archaeornithura meemannae, a new species of prehistoric bird that represents the oldest known member of the modern bird lineage, is discovered. Business and Economy UAE non-oil trade grew 1 per cent reaching Dh1.07 trillion during 2014, according to the Federal Customs Authority.

Dubai World Central (DWC) will be 'a futuristic city' by 2020 and will have significantly progressed towards becoming a base for companies' global and regional headquarters.

Total oil revenues of Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) member countries reached $2.78 trillion, lower than net taxes on imported oil and derivatives levied by major industrial nations. South Korea and Vietnam sign a bilateral Free Trade Agreement.

May 6, 2015, Wednesday UAE, EU sign historic Schengen visa waiver agreement. The UAE and the European Union (EU) signed a reciprocal bilateral short-stay visa waiver agreement exempting the UAE citizens from Schengen visa and making the UAE the first Arab country to receive such a visa waiver for its

nationals.

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Japanese authorities raise alert level for the Mount Hakone volcano in the Lake Ashi tourist area.

A French investigation finds that Andreas Lubitz, perpetrator co-pilot of the murder-suicide disaster of Germanwings Flight 9525 had practised rapid descent on a previous flight.

Tornadoes are reported across several states in the Great Plains region of the United States including Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.

Bollywood star Salman Khan is convicted of culpable homicide for running over five men in Bombay in 2002, causing the death of one, and is sentenced to five years imprisonment.

The Governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, rescinds a state of emergency imposed following the riots prompted by the death of Freddie Gray. Sports In American football, the National Football League finds that two New England Patriots employees intentionally deflated footballs used in the American Football Conference game against the Indianapolis Colts and that quarterback Tom Brady was generally aware of the deflation.

Business and Economy Alexion Pharmaceuticals agrees to purchase Synageva BioPharma, a maker of rare disease treatments, for $8.6 billion.

May 7, 2015, Thursday At least five people are killed in a Boko Haram attack on a village in southwest Niger.

The Pentagon raises security at its US military bases due to a growing jihadist threat in the United States and a recent shooting in Garland, Texas.

Archaeologists in Madagascar announce the partial discovery of Captain Kidd's treasure. A silver ingot was found in a wreck off the coast of Île Sainte-Marie. Scores of flights are cancelled after a fire devas-

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tates part of terminal three at Rome's Fiumicino Airport. The fire was triggered by an electrical fault.

resigns over a corruption scandal.

The President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza officially registers to run for a third time sparking violent protests in the Nyakabiga district of Bujumbura

The wreck of the migrant boat which sank in April 2015 with 700 people on board is located by the Italian Navy 136 kilometre off the Libyan coast at a depth of 375 metres.

The Royal Navy's HMS Bulwark rescues 110 migrants from a dinghy off the coast of Libya, the first for a British ship during 2015. The United States Senate passes a bill giving the Congress a voice in any nuclear deal negotiated between Iran and world powers.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals rules that the National Security Agency's mass surveillance of telephones metadata is illegal under the Patriot Act.

Voters in the United Kingdom go to the polls for a general election with the Conservative Party winning a narrow majority in the House of Commons after the election. The Scottish National Party wins the bulk of the seats in Scotland with the Scottish Labour Party losing a large number of seats.

Business and Economy Emirates Group reports Dh5.5 billion net profits, on Dh96.5 billion revenues carrying 49.3 million passengers. It is the airline’s 27th consecutive year of profit in 29 years.

May 8, 2015, Friday World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is an annual celebration of the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Celebrated on 8 May each year, this is the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant (born 8 May 1828), the founder of International Committee of the Red Cross and the recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize.

Saudi Arabia announces a five day ceasefire in Yemen starting Tuesday next week. Bill Simmons will leave American broadcaster ESPN in fall 2015 when his contract expires.

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The death toll from the devastating earthquake in Nepal has risen to 8,413, the Nepal Red Cross Society said. May 8, 2015: Roxana Baldetti, Vice-President of Guatemala, resigns over a corruption scandal

At least six people including diplomats are killed when a Mil Mi-17 helicopter crashes into a school in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. A Piper PA-32 plane crashes onto the motorway near DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Atlanta, Georgia killing all four passengers.

Burkina Faso and Niger exchange 18 towns in order to resolve a long-running border dispute with Burkina Faso receiving 14 and Niger 4.

The United States Department of Justice announces an inquiry into the Baltimore Police Department following the death of Freddie Gray. The officers accused in the case file a motion for Marilyn Mosby, the State’s Attorney for the city of Baltimore, to recuse herself from the case.

A mistrial is declared in a murder case of a man in relation to the 1979 disappearance of Etan Patz in New York City.

The British Conservative Party has won a majority in the 2015 general election, enabling them to lead without requiring a coalition government. The Scottish National Party claims all but three seats in Scotland.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets with Queen Elizabeth II while Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage, respectively the leaders of Labour, the Liberal Democrats and UKIP, resign their positions. Roxana Baldetti, Vice-President of Guatemala,

Business and Economy Syngenta AG, the world's largest maker of agrochemicals, rejected a 41.7 billion Swiss franc takeover offer from Monsanto Co. The economy of the United States adds 223,000 jobs in April with unemployment falling to 5.4 per cent.

Russia and China agree to a $2 billion fund for agricultural investments in both countries.

May 9, 2015, Saturday North Korea claims to have successfully test fired a ballistic missile from a submarine.

At least 6 guards and 30 prisoners are killed in an Iraq prison break while 40 prisoners escape.

Naxalite Maoists held 250 villagers hostage to protest the building of a bridge in India's Chhattisgarh state.

Thousands of people are evacuated from the Philippines island of Luzon ahead of Typhoon Noul (Dodong).

Tropical storm Ana forms near the states of North and South Carolina weeks before the official start of the hurricane season. An Airbus A400M Atlas military transport aircraft crashes near the Spanish city of Seville with three people onboard killed.

At least one person is killed and another injured in a tornado in the town of Cisco, Texas with tornadoes also reported in eastern Colorado.

Ten people are killed after a wall collapses on a construction project in China's Shandong

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The World Health Organisation declares that the outbreak of the Ebola virus has ceased in Liberia after weeks of no cases there.

Former President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak and his two sons are sentenced to three years imprisonment and a fine for corruption.

A man is arrested in Paraguay for allegedly raping and impregnating his ten-year-old stepdaughter. Two police officers are shot dead in the American town of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

May 10, 2015, Sunday Mother’s Day celebrated in the United States. It celebrates motherhood and it is a time to appreciate mothers and mother figures with gifts, cards, flowers, candy, a meal in a restaurant or other treats to their mother and mother figures. It is also celebrated in other countries. Saudi-led airstrikes target the Sana'a home of former President of Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh. ,The Yemeni Army accepts a five day truce offer from the Saudis.

Typhoon Noul (Dodong) makes landfall in the northern Philippines as a Category 5 typhoon with thousands of passengers stranded and Tropical Storm Ana makes landfall near the city of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The death toll from earthquake reaches 8,000 as three earth tremors hit Nepal. Avalanches disrupt rescue efforts higher in the mountains.

At least 36 people are hospitalised and 30 per cent of the town of Van, Texas is damaged by a tornado. At least two people are killed in the American town of Nashville, Arkansas.

Mexico suspends vaccination of infants and authorises an inquiry after two babies die and 29 injured in the municipality of Simojovel in Chiapas state.

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Cuban President Raul Castro gets a private audience with Pope Francis, who is set become the third Pope to visit the still officially Communist island before visiting the U.S. in October. Two boats carrying 500 members of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim people arrive in Indonesia.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia declines to meet with President Barack Obama at Camp David or at a summit meeting sending senior Ministers instead reportedly due to disagreement over a nuclear deal with Iran.

Voters in Poland go to the polls for a presidential election with a second round of voting scheduled with Andrzej Duda of the Law and Justice Party challenging incumbent President Bronisław Komorowski. Business and Economy The People's Bank of China lowers its benchmark interest rate for the third time in half a year.

Sports In auto racing, the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix is held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló with Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton. May 11, 2015, Monday Han Min-goo, the South Korean Minister for National Defence states that South Korea will ‘mercilessly counterattack’ any North Korean ‘provocations’ following the North's successful trial of a ballistic missile system.

A Turkish-owned ship is attacked with tank fire off the coast of Tobruk in Libya, resulting in the loss of a crew member and several others being injured.

Pablo Picasso's Women of Algiers (Version O) becomes the most expensive artwork ever to sell at an auction at Christie's auction house selling for $179.36 million.

Alberto Giacometti's lifesized statue Pointing Man sells for a record $141.3 million making it the most expensive sculpture ever sold at auction. At least 15 people are dead and 20 others injured

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after a bus falls into a gorge in the Udhampur district in India's Jammu and Kashmir state. Two people are dead after Typhoon Noul hits the Philippines. The storm is now headed for Japan.

The death toll from a tornado outbreak in the United States rises to five with dozens injured and eight people missing.

A new strain of bird flu caused by the H5N8 virus is identified in a backyard poultry flock in Whitley County, Indiana, in the United States.

Malaysia detains over a thousand Myanmar’s Rohingya people asylum seekers who arrived by boat. The Indonesian Navy confirms that it had turned the boats away.

The Swedish Supreme Court rejects a bid from Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to revoke the warrant for his detention in 2010.

Investigators find the remains of at least seven people buried beneath a shopping centre in New Britain, Connecticut, with the suspected killer serving time for unrelated charges. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet approves a new cabinet following a fall in popularity caused by a corruption scandal that rocked the government.

British Prime Minister David Cameron announces a new Cabinet consisting of members of the Conservative Party following his party’s win in the parliamentary elections.

Business and Economy Cargo volumes at Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central, DWC, continued to rise sharply in the first three months of 2015, propelling the airport into the world’s 20 busiest international cargo hubs for the first time.

UAE delivers 50,000 social housing units to Egyptian government as part of the UAE's development projects in Egypt. The Obama administration gives provisional approval for Royal Dutch Shell to drill in the Arctic Ocean during the summer.

May 11, 2015: Al Maktoum International Airport, part of Dubai South development, becomes the 20th busiest cargo hub in the world

Sports In American football, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is suspended without pay for four games. The team is also fined $1 million dollars and forced to forfeit their first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft and their fourth-round selection in the 2017 draft for their role in Deflategate.

May 12, 2015, Tuesday Online users grew from 780 million as of January 2004 to 3 billion by January 2014, of which 1.4 billion are on Facebook, revealed Jumana Antara, Manager of Corporate Communications of Facebook for Middle East, Europe, Russia and Africa.

75 per cent of youth read news via Internet, according to Kuwaiti Minister of Information, Sheikh Salman Sabah Al Salem Al Humoud Al Sabah. Christianity in the United States falls to its lowest percentage levels while irreligion rises.

Typhoon Noul arrives at the southern Japanese islands at Amami Oshima before moving through Kyushu and then Honshu.

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake strikes the town of Namche Bazaar, Nepal, near the Tibetan border and the base camp for Mount Everest. The reported death toll from this earthquake is at least 66 people, including 17 in neighbouring India and

one in Tibet. Many more have been injured.

A United States Marine Corps Bell UH-1Y Venom helicopter on a relief mission goes missing over Bhimeshwar (formerly Charikot), Nepal, with eight people on board.

An Amtrak train derails in the Port Richmond neighbourhood of the American city of Philadelphia causing cars to roll over. At least 5 people have been killed, 50 people are injured in the derailment. US Secretary of State John Kerry to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his first visit to Russia since the Ukraine crisis began.

Democrats in the United States Senate block passage of a fast-track for the Trans-Pacific Partnership sought by President Barack Obama.

Bangladeshi secular blogger Ananta Bijoy Das is cut to pieces by a masked gang wielding machetes in the city of Sylhet. He is the third secular blogger to be killed in Bangladesh this year.

Russia delays the return of three astronauts from the International Space Station due to a recent failure of a supply mission.

Business and Economy The Philippines establishes regulations for ride-

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May 14, 2015: U.S. President Barack Obama meets with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at the White House with a proposed nuclear deal with Iran as well as the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen at top of the agenda

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sharing apps, like Uber, making it the first country to do so.

Verizon Communications Inc. announces that it will buy AOL Inc. for $4.4 billion. Bus drivers in the Indian city of Delhi call off a strike to protest the murder of a driver after the state government invokes the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).

May 13, 2015, Wednesday Hezbollah and Syrian Army gain strategic territories in Qalamoun Mountains north of Damascus, which was held by opposition factions, particularly Al Nusra Front.

Greece’s parliament approved the construction of first official mosque in Athens, to satisfy a longstanding demand by thousands of Muslim residents. Gunmen open fire on a bus containing members of the Ismaili Shia Muslim community in the Pakistani city of Karachi, killing at least 44 people and injuring a dozen.

The Government of Iraq claims that Islamic State second-in-command Abdul Rahman Mustafa Mohammed has been killed in an airstrike in northern Iraq. Gunmen attack a Kabul guesthouse killing eight people with 16 rescued.

A military reservist opens fire at a South Korean military base killing 2 and injuring 3.

Rescue efforts resume in Nepal after yesterday's earthquake which killed at least 63 in Nepal and 17 in northern India. The death toll from the derailment rises to seven with over 200 people injured. Search teams recover the black box.

Reports indicate that train is believed to have been travelling in excess of 100 mph (161 km/h), about twice the speed limit for the curve.

At least 72 people die after a fire engulfs a rubber

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sandal factory in Valenzuela City, a northern suburb of Manila, Philippines.

Rescue workers attempt to rescue at least 15 gold miners trapped by floods in a mine in Colombia's Caldas Department. The Vatican concludes a treaty to recognize the Palestinian state.

Major General Godefroid Niyombare declares a coup in Burundi and the establishment of a ‘national salvation committee’ while President Pierre Nkurunziza is attempting to return home from Tanzania.

Radio Publique Africaine, one of the most popular radio stations, has been burnt down.

The small nation of Nauru temporarily bans Facebook, purportedly to protect young people.

South Korea claims that North Korea has executed its defence chief Hyon Yong-chol with an anti-aircraft gun.

The US House of Representatives votes overwhelmingly to end the mass collection of Americans' phone data with the USA Freedom Act passing 338-88 (79%). The bill's passage through the Senate is less certain. Business and Economy Japanese carmakers Toyota and Nissan recall 6.5 million vehicles due to fears over exploding airbags.

Annual turnover of Malabar Gold and Diamonds reach US$4 billion (Dh14.6 billion), making it one of the world’s top three gold and diamond jewellery retailers in the world

International conglomerate Danaher announces plans to acquire water filtration company Pall for $13.8 billion and to split off its industrial businesses into a new company.

Sports The U.S. men's 4x100 metres relay that won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London is stripped of the medal due to a positive test result by Tyson Gay.

May 13, 2015: MP Ahammed, Chairman of Malabar Gold and Diamonds (Left), flanked by brand ambassador Kareena Kapoor, Shamlal Ahamed, Managing Director (3rd left) and Abdul Salam KP, Group Executive Director (Right) at the inauguration of a showroom. Annual turnover of Malabar Gold and Diamonds reach US$4 billion (Dh14.6 billion), making it one of the world’s top 3 gold and diamond jewellery retailers in the world

May 14, 2015, Thursday U.S. President Barack Obama meets with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council at the White House with a proposed nuclear deal with Iran top of the agenda. Blues legend B.B. King dies at the age of 89.

In New Zealand's North Island heavy rains cause flooding on the Kapiti Coast in the Wellington Region prompting evacuations and closing roads. The death toll from the derailment rises to eight, with 43 of the 200 injured remaining hospitalised.

Malaysia turns away two boats with more than 800 Rohingya and Bangladesh migrants abandoned at sea by human traffickers.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai's twitter account has reached over four million followers, making him one of the most followed leaders globally on the social networking site, while the total number of his followers on all other forms of social media is about 8.5 million.

May 15, 2015, Friday Nakba Day, annual day of commemoration of the displacement of the Palestinian people that preceded and followed the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.

Paraguay celebrates Independence Day as the day marks its freedom from Spain in 1811.

Burundi officials say that they have arrested several coup members but the leader of the failed coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza, Major General Godefroid Niyombare remains at large.

Irish journalist and TV3 political editor Ursula Halligan comes out as lesbian ahead of the country's Marriage Equality referendum next week. Wreckage from the American helicopter missing since Tuesday has been located, with bodies of some of the occupants.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is sentenced to death for his role in the Boston Marathon bombings.

May 16, 2015, Saturday The United States claims that senior ISIL commander Abu Sayyaf is killed in a US special operations forces raid within what is officially Syrian territory.

An Egyptian court sentences deposed President Mohamed Morsi to death for his part in the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. In response to Morsi's sentence, gunmen fatally shoot three Egyptian judges in the Sinai Peninsula.

An Egyptian court bans hardcore football clubs

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Houthi rebels resume after a five-day ceasefire.

The Governor of Iraq's Anbar Governorate estimates that 500 people were killed and 8,000 fled as ISIS captured the strategically important city of Ramadi.

May 2015

At least 52 people die in a landslide caused by heavy rains in the Colombian town of Salgar, Antioquia.

The Philippines says that it is willing to accept 3,000 Rohingya refugees after an accusation by a newspaper was made. Last week Indonesia turned away boats carrying over 1,000 Rohingya refugees. May 20, 2015: Myanmar’s Rohingya refugee crisis intensifies as thousands of migrants stranded in sea when Indonesia and Malaysia refuses to allow them

over terrorism accusations. In 2012 over 70 football fans were killed and 500 injured in the Port Said Stadium riot.

A passenger train collides with a tractor and trailer on a level crossing at Ibbenbüren, Germany. Two people are killed and twenty are injured.

May 17, 2015, Sunday World Information Society Day, proclaimed by a United Nations General Assembly resolution following the 2005 World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis, is celebrated. The day had previously been known as World Telecommunication Day to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on 17 May 1865.

The Arab Water Council said that arid or semiarid areas cover about 87 per cent of the Arab region, 83 million people do not have access to clean drinking water, and 96 million people do not have access to proper sanitation, while agriculture uses 85 per cent of water resources and 18 Arab countries suffer from water scarcity.

The Islamic State reportedly seizes control of the Iraqi city of Ramadi after the retreat of govern-

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ment forces.

American pop music star Taylor Swift wins 8 awards at the Billboard Music Awards, including top artist.

At least 9 people are killed and 18 injured, some by law enforcement and others in gunfire exchanges, in a shootout between rival biker gangs in Waco, Texas, at the Twin Peaks Restaurant.

Sports In ice hockey, Canada wins gold over Russia at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, while the United States wins bronze over the Czech Republic.

In football, Melbourne Victory FC defeats Sydney FC 3–0 in the Grand Final of the Australian ALeague with Victory captain Mark Milligan winning man-of-the-match.

May 18, 2015, Monday International Museum Day, is celebrated. The event highlights a specific theme that changes every year and that is at the heart of the international museum community’s preoccupations. The Saudi Arabia-led airstrikes against the

US President Barack Obama bans the provision of some military-type equipment to local police departments and restricts access to other types of equipment following recent tensions between police and minority communities.

Former Australian tennis player Bob Hewitt is jailed for six years in South Africa for raping underage girls.

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Angeles, California, to $15 an hour by 2020.

More than 20 garment workers are killed after a bus that they were travelling to work in collides with a tourist bus in Cambodia's Svay Rieng Province. The death toll from landslides in the Colombian town of Salgar rises to 56 with scores missing.

French prosecutors say the passengers onboard the Germanwings flight that crashed in southern France have all been identified, and their bodies can be returned home to their families.

At least 16 people are killed and scores are injured in a residential building fire in Baku, Azerbaijan

Former nurse Victorino Chua has been found guilty of murder and poisoning patients at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, Greater Manchester, U.K., and sentenced to 35 years in jail. Police arrest more than 50 people following a probe into match fixing in Italian football.

Victorino Chua, a nurse at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, is found guilty for the murder of two patients following the 2011 Stepping Hill Hospital poisoning incident.

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza says his government will proceed with a presidential election despite protests and a recent failed coup.

Business and Economy The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 end at record levels.

Mohawk Industries and five other companies agree to pay $275.5 million to settle lawsuits related to alleged price fixing of polyurethane foam,

After a failed coup d’état the President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, fires three Ministers, including the Minister of Defence.

May 19, 2015, Tuesday The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, DFWAC, has announced that during the first quarter of 2015, it received 329 new cases of victims of domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking and other humanitarian cases from different nationalities. The Russian embassy in Damascus is shelled.

The Los Angeles City Council votes to increase the minimum wage in the American city of Los

Business and economy The inflation rate in the United Kingdom goes to -0.1 in April, marking the first time since 1960 it has been negative.

Takata Corporation doubles the size of its recall of faulty airbags in the United States with 34 million vehicles to be recalled.

May 20, 2015, Wednesday Islamic State captures the Syrian city of Tadmur from the Syrian Army with grave concerns held about the Palmyra site. Tools found near Lake Turkana in Kenya by Sonia Harmand and Jason Lewis of Stony Brook University are dated at 3.3 million years making

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ing a cholera outbreak at the Shimo la Tewa facility in Mombasa, Kenya.

Health authorities in the United States say that 53 people in nine states have been sickened in a salmonella outbreak. California is the worst affected state with 31 cases.

Brazilian anti-corruption blogger Evany José Metzker is found dead after investigating a drug dealing and prostitution case.

May 23, 2015: Flash floods and heavy storms destroy properties and lives in Texas and Oklahoma

them the oldest yet discovered.

A rupture of an underground oil pipeline in California's Santa Barbara County near Refugio State Beach may have released 105,000 gallons of crude oil with tens of thousands gallons released into the Pacific Ocean. Jerry Brown, the Governor of California later declares a state of emergency.

The death toll from Monday's landslide in the Colombian town of Salgar rises to 80.

Antigua and Barbuda recognises the independence of Kosovo.

The foreign ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand meet in Kuala Lumpur to discuss people smuggling and the migrant crisis. Malaysia and Indonesia agree to accept asylum seekers providing that they can be resettled or repatriated within a year. Over 430 migrants are rescued off the coast of Indonesia's eastern Aceh province.

North Korea abruptly cancels an invitation for Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to visit.

North Korea has the ability to miniaturise nuclear weapons and place them on ballistic missiles. An arrest warrant is issued for Daron Dylon Wint

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in Washington, D.C. in connection to the alleged murder of four people on May 14.

The legislature in the American state of Nebraska votes to abolish the death penalty.

Business and Economy Five big banks Barclays, RBS, Citi, JP Morgan and UBS are fined $5.7 billion after a US Department of Justice investigation into collusion by forex traders in several countries. The investigations estimated the banks profited over $100 billion from these crimes.

Sports British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton signs a three year contract with the German constructors Mercedes AMG. May 21, 2015, Thursday Islamic State fighters enter the ancient ruins of Palmyra after capturing the Syrian city of Tadmur yesterday. A hundred pro-government fighters are believed to have died in fighting.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims that Islamic State now controls more than half of Syria dominating 95,000 square kilometres and controls settlements in nine provinces. South Korea confirms its third case of MERS. . Two prisoners die and 30 are hospitalised follow-

A grand jury in the American city of Baltimore indicts six police officers relating to the death of Freddie Gray in police custody. All six officers will face charges of reckless endangerment.

Daron Dylon Wint is arrested in the American capital of Washington D.C. in relation to the murder of four people on May 14.

Sports Amnesty International accuses Qatar of failing to meet commitments on labour market reforms for migrant workers to be introduced before the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Among other charges, Qatar uses North Korean labourers who are not paid personally but instead the money goes to their government.

May 22, 2015, Friday Islamic State captures the border crossing at Al Waleed, the last remaining crossing between Syria and Iraq controlled by the Government of Syria. ISIL reportedly advances to within 40 kilometres of Baghdad after their victory in Ramadi.

A suicide bomber targeting Shiites at a mosque in Qatif, Saudi Arabia, has killed 19 and injured 28, per Red Crescent authorities.

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rundians fleeing the recent political unrest in their country.

Voters in Ireland go to the polls to vote on constitutional referendums, including one that would allow same-sex marriage. The US Senate passes legislation to allow President Barack Obama to fast track trade negotiations with other countries.

Business and Economy Li Hejun, formerly China's richest man, loses an estimated $14 billion when his energy shares plunge nearly 50 per cent.

Sports Zimbabwe and Pakistan play a Twenty20 match at Lahore. This is the first time a test playing nation toured Pakistan for a cricket match since the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team. May 23, 2015, Saturday. Extremists kill at least 18 people in an attack on two rural towns Awdhegie and Mubarak. The death toll from China's latest round of flooding rises to at least 48.

Record breaking rain causes flooding in Oklahoma and Texas with Oklahoma City recording record rainfall levels for the month of May.

Indonesia has advised that most of the people who have travelled to South East Asia by boat are from Bangladesh, not Rohingya from Myanmar.

Myanmar plans to deport recently rescued migrants to Bangladesh.

At least 42 members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and two Federal Police officers are killed in a shootout in the state of Michoacán. The death toll is preliminary and is expected to rise.

Peru declares a 60 day state of emergency in the Tambo Valley following violent protests against a mine project which has seen four deaths.

Over 3,000 cases of cholera resulting in at least 31 deaths breaks out in a refugee camp for Bu-

The Cabinet of the Netherlands approves a proposal for bill on a partial ban on the burqa and niqab – the veils worn by Muslim women – as

The Myanmar Navy rescues two boats carrying 208 migrants as it faces growing international pressure to tackle the Rohingya migration crisis.

The Republic of Ireland becomes the first country to adopt same sex marriage by referendum.

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part of the Islamic culture of covering parts of the face.

May 24, 2015, Sunday At least ten Afghan police officers are killed in a Taliban attack on checkpoints in Helmand Province.

The Burundi opposition suspends talks with the Government of President Pierre Nkurunziza following the assassination of opposition leader Zedi Feruzi of the Union for Peace and Development party. Eritrea celebrates Independence Day. The country achieved freedom from Ethiopia in 1993.

A Syrian military helicopter crashes near the town of Kweiras killing all on board.

Dheepan, a French film directed by Jacques Audiard, wins the Palme d'Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

Flash floods and heavy storms in the American states of Texas and Oklahoma claim at least two lives with at least eight people missing and hundreds of homes destroyed.

Authorities in Malaysia find mass graves in more than a dozen camps near the border with Thailand where Rohingya migrants are held.

Voters in Poland go to the polls for the second round of a Presidential election between President Bronisław Komorowski and challenger Andrzej Duda with exit polls showing Duda ahead. Nobel Prize winner John Forbes Nash, Jr. and his wife Alicia died in a taxi accident.

Sports Mumbai Indians beats Chennai Super Kings to win the Indian Premier League title for the year 2015. May 25, 2015, Monday Turkey says that it has reached an in-principle deal with the United States to give support to some elements of Syrian opposition. Over a million Syrian refugees live in Turkish territory, including many Syrian opposition figures.

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A Tunisian Army soldier is killed after a shooting rampage in which 7 fellow soldiers are killed and 10 others injured in their barracks in Tunis.

Close to 55,000 people have fled the Iraqi city of Ramadi since it was captured by Islamic State.

Australia announces that it will repatriate the bodies of up to 25 soldiers killed in the early stages of the Vietnam War.

A tornado kills at least thirteen people in the Mexican city of Ciudad Acuña and injures 88.

At least 38 people are killed and 6 injured in a nursing home fire in Lushan County of China's Henan Province. Malaysia summons a Philippines diplomat over a dispute regarding the ownership of Sabah.

Malaysia announces the discovery of 139 mass graves near the border with Thailand with some graves containing more than one body.

Former Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Olmert is sentenced to eight months in jail following a conviction on corruption charges for unlawfully accepting multiple envelopes with cash from an American supporter. China has announced that security authorities in the country dismantled 181 terror cells as part of an anti-terrorism campaign in northwest China.

May 26, 2015, Tuesday Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority said, its expenditure on infrastructure projects since established in November 2005 has reached about Dh80 billion, and its assets amounted to more than Dh85 billion. A suicide bomber and gunmen attack a court building in the provincial capital of Maidan Shahr in Maidan Wardak resulting in the deaths of two police officers and four of the attackers. Thirteen Kenyan police officers are missing after an Al-Shabaab ambush in Garissa County.

Shellfire from Yemen kills two people over the border in Saudi Arabia.

Boko Haram kills at least 43 people in the town of Gubio in Nigeria's Borno State.

Thirteen die in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico in the city's first-ever tornado.

Thirty people are reported missing in the Houston area as the flood water levels continue to rise as the death toll in Texas rises to 13.

A man dies of the rare Lassa fever in the American state of New Jersey after returning from West Africa.

A petition to legalise same-sex marriage in the Philippines is filed in the Supreme Court.

Thieves use an online tax service provided by the American Internal Revenue Service to steal information from more than 100,000 taxpayers. A US Appeals Court rules that President Barack Obama will not be able to implement his executive action on immigration while it is being challenged by Texas and 25 other states.

A lone gunman enters a Walmart store in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and opens fire, killing one employee before turning the gun on himself.

The Wildlife Conservation Society estimates that poachers have killed half of Mozambique's elephants in the past five years.

Business and Economy Charter Communications announces plans to merge with Time Warner Cable in a $55.1 billion deal.

Sports In basketball, the Cleveland Cavaliers led by LeBron James win the Eastern Conference and will play in the 2015 NBA finals.

May 27, 2015, Wednesday Minister of International Cooperation and Development of UAE, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, has been ranked 42 among the 100 most powerful women in the world, according to the Forbes. Islamic State militants have carried out multiple suicide bombings targeting the Iraqi Army in

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Anbar Province killing at least 17 people.

The death toll in the two worst affected states Andhra Pradesh and Telangana passes 800.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair resigns as the peace envoy for the Middle East.

Six FIFA officials are detained in Switzerland for extradition to the United States in relation to allegations of corruption between the 1990s and now. Those arrested include Jeffrey Webb, Jack Warner, Eduardo Li, Eugenio Figueredo and José Maria Marin. Swiss federal prosecutors open criminal procedures in relation to the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.

FIFA suspends eleven people from involvement in football over the scandal.

The Prime Minister of Denmark Helle ThorningSchmidt calls an election for June 18.

Rick Santorum announces he will be seeking the nomination of the Republican Party in the US presidential election, 2016.

Elon Musk's SpaceX wins U.S. Air Force approval to launch military satellites.

China has finished the production of 90 specially designed metro trains for Rio de Janeiro, the host city of the 2016 Olympics.

Sports In association football, Sevilla FC of Spain becomes the first club to win the UEFA Europa League four times defeating FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk of Ukraine 3-2 with Colombian striker Carlos Bacca scoring twice in the final.

In basketball, the Golden State Warriors defeat the Houston Rockets 104-90 to win the Western Conference 4-1 and go to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1975.

May 28, 2015, Thursday The death toll from the Indian heat wave rises to over 1,400 with over 1000 dead in Andhra Pradesh state alone.

Independence of Azerbaijan from the Russian

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The Killing Fields of Iraq & Syria

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Islamic State gains new grounds within Iraq and Syria as it pushes the boundaries of its territory and turns it into a collection of killing fields....

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dom Act, which will transfer the responsibility of Americans' bulk telephone metadata collection from the National Security Agency to telephone companies.

Sports Sepp Blatter announces that he will resign as President of FIFA as a result of the corruption scandals with an emergency congress to be called as soon as possible. In Cricket, New Zealand beats England by 199 runs to draw the test series.

June, 2015: Islamic State continues its offensive in Iraq and Syria

June 1, 2015, Monday An Islamic State suicide bombing kills 37 at an Iraqi police base.

Nine Afghan employees of a Czech charity People In Need have been killed in an attack by unknown gunmen in Zari District in the north of Afghanistan.

A ship carrying 458 people capsizes on Yangtze River in China's Hubei province.

A European Union mission rescues more than 5,000 migrants over three days.

Nigeria's anti-graft authority arrests six senior officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria and 16 people from commercial banks for fraud.

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina enters the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

north of Nigeria kills 20 people.

The official death toll from the Indian heat wave rises to 2,330 with meteorologists warning that relief from the monsoon season could still be days away.

Rescue efforts continue for people on board the ship that sank on the Yangtze River in China's Hubei province with over 450 people on board. So far, fewer than 12 have been rescued and five bodies recovered.

Two brothers whose father was on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 370 last year when it disappeared receive compensation from the government of Malaysia and Malaysian Airlines.

Two people die of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in South Korea. MERS is a viral respiratory illness that is new to humans. It was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

June 3, 2015, Wednesday The Saudi Arabia led coalition launches airstrikes on military bases near the Yemeni capital Sanaa.

The Grozny Chechnya office of the Committee Against Torture NGO is attacked by masked men who came out of a crowd of protesters. They broke down the door and trashed the office. National Leader Ramzan Kadyrov speculated the attack could have been carried out by relatives of Dzhambulat Dadayev upset that the NGO which investigates torture did not lead protests of the shooting of Dadayev by law enforcement officers from another region.

Pro-Russian separatists launch an offensive to take Marinka, Ukraine, 5 kilometers from the separatist capital of Donetsk. At least 19 people have died in fighting. Ukrainian sources claimed at least 10 tanks took part in the battle.

The search continues for survivors of the Dong Fang Zhi Xing which sank on China's Yangtze River with 450 passengers on board. So far, 18 people have been confirmed dead with 14 people rescued. At least 11 people are killed in a fire at a filling station in the Ghanaian capital Accra.

Former German chancellor and one of the authors of the European single currency Helmut Kohl is reported to be in a "critical condition" after surgery at a Heidelberg hospital.

Beijing bans smoking in indoor public places, including offices, shopping malls, restaurants, bars and airports, and in outdoor public places, including hospitals and schools.

South Korea has successfully test fired two ballistic missiles that can hit all of North Korea.

A suicide bombing in the city of Maiduguri in the

The United States Senate passes the USA Free-

Former FIFA official Chuck Blazer admits to tak-

June 2, 2015, Tuesday Armed tribesmen kill 18 Houthi fighters in an ambush in Yemen's Ibb Governorate.

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Thai Army Lieutenant General Manus Kongpan is suspended after police order his arrest on involvement in people trafficking.

Interpol issues red notices linked to arrest warrants for two former FIFA officials Jack Warner and Nicolas Leoz and four executives.

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ing bribes in relation to bids for the 2010 and 1998 FIFA World Cups.

Former Governor of Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee announces he is seeking the Democratic Party nomination.

Child abuse and violence is costing countries in East Asia and the Pacific around US$209 billion a year, the United Nations International Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fund (Unicef) announced Tuesday.

The UAE Ministry of Health, MoH, has warned against the use of DNP slimming pills after it was cautioned by the world police agency, Interpol, over the threat posed by the illicit and potentially lethal drug used as a dieting and body-building aid. June 4, 2015, Thursday Several rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel and exploded near the cities of Ashdod, Netivot and Ashkelon causing no casualties. The IDF retaliated with airstrikes against empty Hamas training camps in Gaza.

Naxalite Insurgents kill at least 20 Indian Army soldiers and injure 12 in an attack on a convoy in the state of Manipur.

St Benet's Hall at Oxford University decides to admit women, making it the last of the University's institutions to do so.

The death toll from the Monday night sinking of the cruise ship in the Yangtze River rises to 75 with most of the 450 passengers on board still missing. An explosion at a gasoline station in Accra, Ghana, kills at least 78 people.

Surgeons, led by Dr. Jesse Selber, working with the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, in a 15-hour, 12-doctor operation, perform the world's first partial-skull and scalp transplant, at Houston Methodist Hospital, on 55-year-old Jim Boysten, a software developer from Austin, Texas suffering from a large head wound from cancer treatment; immediately afterward, he was finally able to receive a new kidney and pancreas, which replaced the previous transplants that were failing.

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The number of people with Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in South Korea rises to 35 with over 700 schools suspending classes due to fears of the syndrome.

Panel of advisors to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends approval of flibanserin by 18â&#x20AC;&#x201C;6 to improve a woman's libido.

Associated Press reports that there has been a massive hack from the American Office of Personnel Management and US Department of the Interior with the Washington Post claiming that Chinese hackers were responsible. The records of at least four million US Government workers are believed to have been compromised.

Former Governor of Texas Rick Perry announces that he will be a candidate for the Republican Party.

US President Barack Obama signs the bill, reinstating expired provisions of the Patriot Act while reforming Section 215 of the Act.

Dubai ranks among top 10 popular destinations for 2015 Dubai is forecast to be the world's fourth most popular travel destination of 2015, by projected visitor arrivals, revealed a new study.

Business and Economy Officials of the ruling Syriza party in Greece say that they cannot accept a last-minute deal proposed by the country's creditors: default deadline looms.

Foreign investors purchased Dh1.94 billion worth of shares on Dubai Financial Market from 31st May to 4th June, 2015, while value of stocks they sold stood at Dh1.95 billion, with net foreign investment on the market reaching Dh8.4 million during the period. June 5, 2015, Friday World Environment Day

A bomb explodes in a marketplace in Yola, Nigeria, killing 31 and injuring dozens of others.

Two people are killed and more than a hundred injured as bombs explode at rallies held by the

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pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party two days ahead of the general election in Diyarbakir.

The death toll from the sinking of the ship on the Yangtze River rises to 82 with officials giving up hope of finding more survivors. Only 15 out of over 450 people on the boat were rescued.

Two bodies have been removed from Borneo's Mount Kinabalu following the 6.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Malaysia's Sabah province Friday morning. Previously-stranded climbers, reported at 137, have descended to the Laban Rata resthouse. The death toll from an explosion at a gasoline station on Wednesday in the Ghanaian capital Accra rises to over 200.

Four people have now died of MERS in South Korea with five new cases reported.

Benigno Aquino, the President of the Philippines, says that his government will start discussions with Japan about allowing Japan Self-Defence Forces to refuel at Filipino bases allowing the extension of operations into the South China Sea.

Eight out of the ten allegedly involved in shooting Pakistani schoolgirl and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai have been secretly set free.

Prosecutors in the state of Minnesota file criminal charges against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for allegedly mishandling sexual abuse allegations by a priest. Romania's National Anticorruption Directorate announces that it is investigating the Prime Minister Victor Ponta for alleged money laundering, forgery and corruption. Ponta denies the allegations and is refusing to stand down.

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake centred in Ranau, Sabah, has set the record of being the strongest earthquake to have hit Malaysia in 39 years since 1976, according to Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama.

Business and Economy NestlĂŠ temporarily removes its Maggi noodles product from the shelves in India following a

June 6, 2015: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witness a series of agreements signed between the two countries

health scare.

June 6, 2015, Saturday Saudi Arabia shoots down a Scud missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen according to Saudi State media. At least four Saudi Arabian Army soldiers and "dozens of" Yemeni Republican Guard are killed in fighting near the border, according to Saudi government.

The Taliban launches a major offensive in the Yamgan District of Badakhshan Province with hundreds of militants involved.

The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko claims that his forces have repelled an attack on the town of Marinka and captured 12 rebels including one Russian. For the second time this week, a rocket fired from Gaza lands in Israel. There were no immediate reports of injuries, or claims of responsibility.

The death toll from the sinking of the Dong Fang Zhi Xing rises to 396 with 46 unaccounted for.

Eleven bodies have been recovered from Mount Kinabalu and 8 people remain missing following yesterday's Sabah earthquake.

Lightning strikes at the Rock am Ring rock festival held at the Mendig Air Base in Germany, injuring 33 people.

Ships from the British and German navies are dispatched to rescue thousands of migrants stranded in the Mediterranean Sea.

The number of confirmed MERS cases in South Korea rises by 9 to 50.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi travels to Bangladesh for the signing of an agreement that dissolves all 162 enclaves in the border region between the two nations and allows thousands of people living in the territories to choose their nationality.

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the Greek government-debt crisis and Ukrainian crisis dominating the agenda.

The number of migrants arriving in Italy from Africa in 2015 passes 50,000 with over 5000 arriving in the past few days.

Voters in Mexico go to the polls for a legislative election with reports of violence in southern states and widespread voter disillusionment. Exit polls show the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party of President Enrique Peña Nieto in a position to retain power. June 7, 2015: The G7 summit gets underway in Germany with the Greek government-debt crisis and Ukrainian crisis dominating the agenda

Reuters reports that an Egyptian court has overturned a ruling that Hamas is a terrorist organisation.

Five police are injured following violent protests at a gay pride march in Kiev.

The President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir swears in a new Cabinet after having been sworn in for a five-year term earlier in the week.

Sports Italian side Juventus FC and Spanish side FC Barcelona play in the final of the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin with Barcelona winning their fifth European championship 3-1.

The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup gets underway in Canada with the Canadians beating China 1-0 in the first match.

The 236th running of the Epsom Derby is held at Epsom Downs Racecourse in England with Golden Horn ridden by Frankie Dettori winning and stablemate Jack Hobbs coming second.

The 2015 Belmont Stakes is held at Belmont Park with American Pharoah becoming the first horse in 37 years to win the Triple Crown. In tennis, number one seed Serena Williams of

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the US meets number 13 seed Lucie Šafářová of Czech Republic in the women's singles final of the 2015 French Open. Williams wins her 20th Grand Slam title winning 6-3, 6-7, 6-2.

June 7, 2015, Sunday The Saudi-led coalition launches airstrikes on Houthi gatherings in Taez.

The 2015 Tony Awards, which celebrate the best theatrical performances on Broadway, are held at Radio City Music Hall with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time winning best play and Fun Home winning best musical. More bodies are found on Malaysia's highest peak Mount Kinabalu with the total death from the earthquake at 13 with most casualties from Malaysia and Singapore.

The death toll from the sinking of the Chinese cruise ship is now over 400 as the search area for bodies extends 1,000 kilometres down the Yangtze River. Thirteen people have died in a heatwave in Pakistan.

South Korea records its fifth death from MERS with 14 new cases reported. The G7 summit gets underway in Germany with

Voters in Turkey go to the polls for a general election with the ruling AKP seeking enough votes to enable them to change the constitution. However, early projections show that they will lose their majority in the new parliament.

Sports In tennis, Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland defeats Novak Djokovic of Serbia 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–4 in the men's singles final for his first win at Roland Garros and his second Grand Slam singles title. Wawrinka's victory also denies Djokovic a career Grand Slam.

In motor sport, the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix is held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal with Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-Benz winning the race ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg.

Abu Dhabi taxis to have CCTV cameras Based on the commitment to improve services provided to the community and to provide the highest security and safety standards, the Centre for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars has announced the launch of its project to install CCTV security cameras inside all taxis in Abu Dhabi.

Business and Economy The National Drilling Company, NDC, has signed contracts to own 14 new rigs with a total value of about US$543 million (Dh2 billion)

June 8, 2015, Monday Seven Pakistani army soldiers and 19 Taliban fighters are killed in overnight fighting in North Waziristan near the Afghanistan border. The number of people found dead on Mount Kin-

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abalu rises to 16 with two Singaporean climbers still missing.

The Singaporean government declares June 8 be a national remembrance day with the Singaporean flag being flown at half-mast and a minute of silence being observed at the beginning of all 2015 SEA Games venues. This is as a mark of respect for the eight people who were killed in the earthquake.

The death toll from last week's sinking on China's Yangtze River rises to 434 with eight people missing and 14 survivors.

The number of deaths from MERS in South Korea rises to six with 23 new cases reported.

The Supreme Court of the United States decides 6–3 to strike down a law passed by the United States Congress allowing people born in Jerusalem to list Israel as their birthplace in their passports, on the grounds that it is the President's prerogative to extend recognition of sovereignty in matters of foreign affairs. Business and Economy Apple Inc. announces a new music streaming service called Apple Music.

June 9, 2015, Tuesday Indian police kill at least 12 Naxalite Maoist rebels in a clash in the state of Jharkhand.

The Southern Front of the Free Syrian Army claims to have captured a major Syrian Army base known as Brigade 52 in Daraa Governorate.

Several firefighters are killed after an explosion at a military oil depot near Kiev, Ukraine, with several people missing and hundreds evacuated.

At least four people are killed (including the gunman) and five people injured in a shooting incident in China's northern Hebei province.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upholds a Texan law providing that abortion clinics meet the same standards as hospital style surgical clinics meaning that many abortion clinics must upgrade or close.

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Swiss police seize computer records from FIFA in an investigation into alleged corruption by the world governing body of association football. The Turkish cabinet led by current Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu submits its resignation, but is asked to stay on until a new government forms after the election.

Business and Economy HSBC announces plans to cut 8,000 jobs in the United Kingdom, one-sixth of its U.K. workforce, via "natural attrition" as it restructures its banking business. A total of 25,000 jobs could be axed globally. Sports Two Brazilians reach historic milestones in the team's 2–0 win over South Korea in Montreal. Marta sets a new record with her 15th goal in Women's World Cup play, and the 37-year-old Formiga becomes the oldest player to score in a Women's World Cup. In Major League Baseball, Chris Heston of the San Francisco Giants becomes the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the 2015 season in the Giants' 5–0 win over the New York Mets.

June 10, 2015, Wednesday Dubai Police have arrested couple in connection with the murder and Dh1.2 million robbery of a company messenger. The victim, 21, from China, was stabbed to death in the lift of his apartment building in Naif, Deira, a few days ago.

The International Organisation for Migration, IOM, has launched an appeal for US$80 million to continue to provide emergency support for vulnerable displaced families throughout Iraq. The appeal covers activities from July to December 2015.

A suicide bomber targets the Karnak temple site in the ancient Egyptian city of Luxor. Two militants were shot nearby, four Egyptians were wounded with no tourists hurt in the attack.

President Barack Obama authorizes up to 450 additional troops in Iraq to train Sunni forces.

At least 43 people have been killed in fighting in

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different parts of Yemen.

Indonesia's Mount Sinabung eruption resumes spewing gas leading to the evacuation of 3,000 nearby residents.

The death toll from the MERS outbreak in South Korea rises to nine, with 13 new cases reported. More than 2,200 schools have closed or cancelled classes as a result of the outbreak.

Pope Francis approves the outline of a new system giving power to the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to judge bishops "with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the abuse of minors."

Business and Economy First Gulf Bank received an expected senior unsecured rating of F1 (EXP) from Fitch Ratings and a provisional (P) Prime-1 (P1) short-term local and foreign currency rating from Moody’s Investors Services for its new $3 billion EuroCommercial Paper (ECP) programme.

Sports Bidding for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is postponed due to the 2015 FIFA corruption case and the subsequent resignation of Sepp Blatter.

June 11, 2015, Thursday A US citizen fighting alongside Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) against ISIL is killed in action near Kobani.

Al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, the Al-Nusra Front, shoots dead at least 20 Druze villagers in Idlib in what is being described as a "massacre".

Residents of northeast Nigeria claim that Boko Haram has killed at least 43 people and burnt down three villages in recent attacks.

A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip towards the Ashkelon region fell short and did not land in Israel with Palestinian sources indicating it may have hit a house. There were no immediate reports of injuries, or claims of responsibility. Journalists speculate that ISIL-affiliated groups are responsible. Spain gives the late writer Miguel de Cervantes,

June 10, 2015: Indonesia's Mount Sinabung eruption resumes spewing gas leading to the evacuation of 3,000 nearby residents

author of Don Quixote, a formal burial at a Madrid convent nearly 400 years after his death in 1616.

At least 41 people have been killed, 8 injured, and scores are missing in landslides in Nepal's Taplejung District caused by heavy rain. Health officials in the United States are advising doctors to be on the lookout for MERS following an outbreak in South Korea.

murder charges in relation to the shooting of Tamar Rice.

A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall buried six villages in Nepal's mountainous northeast, and at least 15 people sleeping in the homes are believed to have been killed. King Felipe VI of Spain strips his sister Cristina of her titles after she is charged with tax evasion.

Federal Interior Ministry of Pakistan has sealed the offices of the NGO Save the Children in Pakistan and issued order for its foreign staff to leave the country within 15 days on account of the NGO’s anti-Pakistan activities.

Business and Economy After a poor 1st quarter earnings report, Twitter CEO Dick Costolo steps down with co-founder Jack Dorsey taking over as interim CEO effective July 1.

China's former security chief Zhou Yongkang is given a life sentence for bribery, leaking state secrets and abuse of power.

June 12, 2015, Friday Independence Day of the Philippines

A new version of the Israeli-linked malware Duqu is found at hotels hosting Iran nuclear talks by Kaspersky; Israel denies involvement.

A court in the American city of Cleveland, Ohio, finds probable cause that Cleveland Police Department officer Timothy Loehmann should face

Rupert Murdoch will step aside as CEO of 21st Century Fox to be replaced by his son James Murdoch.

Boko Haram militants raid different villages around Maiduguri, Nigeria killing 37 people.

The Saudi-led coalition bombs the World Her-

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causing cancellation of flights to and from the islands.

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) formalised funding of US$200 million to build an electricity transmission line from the Chimuara sub-station, on the north bank of the Zambezi River to the northern Mozambican port of Nacala.

People aged 65 or older accounted for 26.0 per cent of Japan's population as of Oct. 1 last year, rising 0.9 percentage point from a year before to a new record high, a government annual report showed.

June 12 2015: Saudi forces continue to bomb Houthi military presence in Yemen as war intensifies

itage Listed old quarter of Sana'a destroying three houses and killing five people. An armed group storms the Tunisian embassy in Libya taking ten hostages.

Japan approves a thirty-to-forty year plan to clean up the site of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

Heavy rain hampers the search for dozens of missing people from the landslides in Nepal's Taplejung district which have resulted in at least 24 deaths in six villages. California orders the biggest cuts to water allocations in the state's history because of the worst drought in the state's history.

The death toll from the South Korean MERS outbreak rises to 11 with 126 people now diagnosed with the disease but the number of people in quarantine falls slightly to 3,680.

The Pacific Ocean nation of Palau burns four Vietnamese fishing boats caught poaching sea cucumbers and other marine life in its waters.

Pakistan orders the Save the Children NGO to leave the country claiming it supports ‘anti-Pakistan’ activity.

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Germany doubles its funding to states and cities for asylum seekers as 450,000 are expected to enter the country during 2015.

Two Russian citizens are arrested for entering a Latvian military base as the Baltic nation was participating in US-led military exercises.

The Associated Press reports that hackers linked to China appear to have gained access to sensitive background material about people seeking security clearances from the United States government.

Former International Monetary Fund head Dominique Strauss-Kahn is acquitted of pimping charges in France.

Chiril Gaburici resigns as the Prime Minister of Moldova after questions arise over his education qualifications.

The US House of Representatives votes down key supporting legislation that would support the Trans-Pacific Partnership with 11 Pacific Rim nations. Business and Economy Residents of the Galápagos Islands conduct a strike and protest over decisions by the Ecuador National Assembly to axe cost of living subsidies

Sports Hachim Mastour, aged 16 years and 363 days, becomes the youngest ever footballer to represent the Morocco national football team.

June 13, 2015, Saturday Dubai’s Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation manages assets worth Dh2.5 billion.

The Taliban kill 20 policemen in an attack in Helmand, Afghanistan.

Some 13,000 refugees have crossed into Turkey as Syrian Kurd People's Protection Units encircle the ISIL-held town of Suluk.

An American air strike targeting jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar in Libya reportedly kills him.

At least 22 Hindu pilgrims died after a van they are travelling in falls into a reservoir in the southern Indian town of Dhavaleswaram in Andhra Pradesh.

Austria stops processing asylum requests in an effort to pressure other European Union member states to do more to help absorb waves of refugees pouring into the continent.

Scheduled talks of 14th June, 2015 between Yemen's Houthi rebels and the exiled government which are brokered by the UN have been postponed with a new schedule set for Monday 15 June, 2015. Iran asks Austria to secure the talks over its nuclear programme following reports of cyber secu-

rity breaches.

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Egypt opens its border with the Gaza Strip temporarily for the first time in months. Egypt blames Hamas for the Sinai insurgency.

Dozens of migrants who were refused entry to France go on hunger strike at the border crossing in the Italian town of Ventimiglia.

A man opens fire at policemen outside the police headquarters in the Texan city of Dallas, while a bag containing a pipe bomb is also found. He was later shot dead by police snipers following a car chase and standoff.

Thousands of people protest in Skopje demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski.

June 14, 2015, Sunday Fifteen Taliban militants, including the shadow governor for Kunar Province, are killed in a NATO airstrike.

Thousands of Syrians flee into Turkey as Kurdish fighters come closer to capturing the border town of Tell Abyad from Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. Flooding in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, destroys animal enclosures at a zoo resulting in the release of potentially dangerous animals and the death of three zookeepers and six other people.

A wildfire near Willow, Alaska in the MatanuskaSusitna Borough burns over 6,500 acres, numerous structures and closes the George Parks Highway, severing the road link between Anchorage and Fairbanks. A South Korean man is hospitalised in the Slovak capital Bratislava with symptoms of MERS as the death toll in South Korea rises to 15.

Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan has suspended its order against the NGO Save the Children for closure of its working and allowed the international aid agency to resume its operation in Pakistan. A South Korean official claims that North Korea

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is placing land mines in the Korean Demilitarised Zone to stop soldiers from defecting. The Korean Demilitarised Zone already contains an estimated 1 million mines.

The International Criminal Court asks South Africa to arrest the President of Sudan Omar Hassan Al Bashir for alleged war crimes when he arrives at the African Union summit.

The High Court in Pretoria grants an interim order preventing Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir from leaving South Africa, and postpones the application for his arrest to the next day to allow the government more time to prepare for his arrest. Thousands of people march in Hong Kong to demand the Legislative Council reject a China backed proposal for the naming of candidates for Chief Executive be done by a nominating committee.

The European Space Agency's Philae spacecraft wakes up after six months in hibernation as comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko gets closer to the sun. June 15, 2015, Monday At least 23 people are killed and more than 100 injured in suicide attacks on police headquarters and training centers by suspected Boko Haram members in N'Djamena, Chad. Over 100 Baloch rebels pledge allegiance to the government after abandoning armed struggle.

Kurdish YPG forces and Free Syrian Army rebels seize control of the ISIL stronghold of Tell Abyad in northern Al-Raqqah Governorate. The 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta by King John of England is commemorated around the world.

Nepal announces plans to reopen heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley two months after the April 2015 Nepal earthquake.

Hurricane Carlos hits southwestern Mexico with heavy rain ahead of making landfall as a tropical storm later in the week.

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The Alaska wildfire grows to 8,500 acres.

The number of deaths resulting from the MERS outbreak in South Korea rises to sixteen with the number of total cases rising to 150.

The High Court in Pretoria rules that the President of Sudan Omar Al-Bashir should be arrested in South Africa and detained pending a formal request from the International Criminal Court. However, immediately after the ruling, the South African Government announces that Al-Bashir has already departed. He is wanted in connection with the war in Darfur.

The Vatican announces that the first hearing in the trial of Józef Wesołowski, a former papal ambassador to the Dominican Republic and a Polish former prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, is scheduled for July 11.

Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida, announces his candidacy for the Republican Party nomination.

Business and Economy Drugstore operator CVS Health agrees to buy Target Corporation's pharmacy and clinic businesses for $1.9 billion.

Greece and its creditors harden their stances after the collapse of talks aimed at preventing a default.

The Central Bank of Russia lowers the interest rate to 11.5 per cent.

Gap Inc. announces closing 175 stores, including 140 this year, and terminating 250 jobs at its headquarters.

Beijing Gehua CATV Network (zh) announces its plan to partnership Alibaba Group, China Film Group Corporation, and the new firm China TV Theaters Operating Co. Ltd. to expand the video streaming service throughout China, which may resemble Netflix and is called Tmall Box Office (TBO). Sports In ice hockey, the Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2–0 in the sixth game of the

June 16, 2015: Texas faces a massive storm followed by heavy rainfall and heavy flooding

Stanley Cup Final and win the series 4 games to 2. It is the Blackhawks' third win in six years. June 16, 2015, Tuesday All Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula announces that its leader Nasser al-Wuhayshi was killed in a US drone strike on June 12.

Kurdish People's Protection Units have captured the border town of Tell Abyad from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces. Three of the ten Tunisian consular staff kidnapped last week have been released and negotiation is ongoing about the others.

The British Broadcasting Corporation announces that Chris Evans will be the new presenter of the popular Top Gear television series. Texas braces for the impact of Tropical Storm Bill bringing heavy rainfall and renewed flooding.

A train crashes with a truck in central Tunisia killing at least 12 people and injuring 70.

Six people are killed and eight are injured, some with life-threatening injuries, after a balcony collapses in Berkeley, California, near the campus of the University of California, Berkeley; five of the casualties are students.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues a mandate that all artifical trans fatty acids (trans fats) must be eliminated within three years (2018) from all foods grown, imported to, or sold within the United States. The substances occur in processed meats and other foods, and have been repeatedly implicated in atherosclerotic coronary heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers.

Bangladesh's Supreme Court upholds the death sentence against senior Islamist leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed in an appeal hearing.

An Egyptian court sentences former President Mohamed Morsi to life in prison for conspiring with foreign groups and upholds an earlier preliminary death sentence issued for a prison break. Muslim Brotherhood leader Khairat elShater and two others are given death sentences. US tycoon Donald Trump announces his candidature for the Republican Party nomination.

Business and Economy Airbus announces plans to build 900 satellites on behalf of the OneWeb satellite constellation with the project starting in 2018.

Rupert Murdoch confirms stepping down as the CEO of 21st Century Fox to be succeeded by his

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The Chadian Air Force carries out airstrikes against bases of Boko Haram in neighbouring Nigeria to avenge twin bombings in Chad's capital N'Djamena three days ago.

June 2015

The accidental detonation of an explosive device kills 13 vigilantes and injures 53 others near the town of Monguno in northeast Nigeria. The vigilantes were assisting the military in the fight against Boko Haram. At least 38 people were killed in a suspected Boko Haram attack on two villages in Niger.

Business and Economy Universal Orlando decides to close Wet 'n Wild Orlando at the end of 2016. It will be replaced by Volcano Bay, which is expected to open in 2017. June 18, 2015: Muslims all over the world marks the begining of the holy month of Ramadan

son James on July 1, 2015. Rupert will continue as its executive chairman with his eldest son, Lachlan, as a future executive co-chairman.

Sports In basketball, the Golden State Warriors defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-97 in Game 6 to secure their first title since 1975. Andre Iguodala is named the series MVP.

June 17, 2015, Wednesday The American NBC network announces that Lester Holt will continue as the host of the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams returning in an undisclosed role.

North Korea runs a campaign to fight water drought, which according to United Nations is the worst within the past 100 years.

Vietnam accuses China of attacking Vietnamese fishermen in three separate incidents in the South China Sea.

Nine people are dead following a mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

A California model, Lauren Wasser, files a lawsuit

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against Kimberly-Clark Corporation for toxic shock syndrome, which resulted in losing her right leg, allegedly caused by the product, Kotex Natural Balance.

Protesters gather outside the Hong Kong Legislative Council ahead of a contentious vote on election of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong.

The National Diet (the parliament) of Japan votes to lower the voting age from 20 to 18 - to allow more people to exercise democracy.

Business and Economy Total air traffic movements in UAE airspace grew 16.8 per cent to 75,884 in May, according to Sheikh Zayed Air Navigation Centre. China and Australia sign a free trade agreement in Canberra.

June 18, 2015, Thursday The Sharjah Media Corporation has collected Dh27 million from listeners and viewers of the TV/Radio programme 'Direct Link', to build new mosques in Sharjah. Muslims begin fasting at the start of the lunar calendar month of Ramadan, 2015.

June 19, 2015, Friday A Palestinian cell affiliated with Hamas and named after the perpetrators of the 2014 kidnapping and murder of Israeli teenagers claims responsibility for an ambush style attack in which one Israeli was killed and another seriously injured.

The centre-right opposition bloc led by Venstre wins the 2015 Danish general election, even though the Social Democrat party remains Denmark's largest. The anti-immigration Danish People's Party will be the second-largest in parliament.

Hawaii becomes the first U.S. state to raise the smoking age from 18 to 21, effective January 1, 2016, and will also outlaw sales, purchases, or uses of electronic cigarettes for those under 21.

Business and Economy The European Central Bank increased the cap on cash available to Greek banks through emergency liquidity assistance, as those banks continue to experience steady withdrawals. Greek citizens have withdrawn over 3 billion Euros in the last month.

June 20, 2015, Saturday Dozens of ISIL militants are killed following a militia attack on the eastern city of Derna. ISIL has had a significant presence in Derna since the end of 2014.

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In Slovakia, thousands of demonstrators rally against European Union plans to host asylumseekers, and dozens are detained after they attacked spectators of a cycle race in the capital, Bratislava. June 21, 2015, Sunday The UAEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf) has entered the Guinness World Records for creating the largest collection box in the world. Ninety-four people die, and 45 are hospitalised, after drinking moonshine in Mumbai, India.

A Palestinian teenager is in police custody after he stabbed a policeman who was administrating Jerusalem's Damascus Gate border in the neck, critically injuring the policeman. The policeman then shot and injured the teenager and collapsed.

Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras makes a new offer for reforms which could signal a late deal in the country's debt talks.

Sports In golf, American Jordan Spieth wins his second major championship of the year winning the U.S. Open by a stroke and becomes the first golfer since Gene Sarazen to win two majors before the age of 22. June 22, 2015, Monday The Afghan National Assembly building is attacked by gunmen after a suicide bombing. All 6 of the gunmen are killed, with 18 people injured.

Four people are killed and thirty injured in grenade attacks in Burundi.

Hundreds of Syrian refugees return from Turkey to the border town of Tell Abyad after the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant are expelled by Kurdish People's Protection Units.

At least 20 people are killed after a female suicide bomber attacks a fish market in Nigeria's north-eastern city of Maiduguri. The militant Islamist group Boko Haram is suspected to be behind the attack.

A light plane belonging to American composer

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Sports The suspension appeal hearings for Tom Brady's 4-game suspension over Deflategate begins.

June 24, 2015, Wednesday Over 42 people are shot dead by suspected Boko Haram gunmen in two attacks on villages in Nigeria's Borno state.

A police checkpoint on the outskirts of Kashgar in Xinjiang is attacked by ethnic Uighurs, with at least 18 killed according to US-based Radio Free Asia.

June 23, 2015: Islamic State militants starts the destruction of Palmyra, a major tourist attraction of historic significance in Syria

James Horner crashes in Ventura County, California resulting in his death.

The number of deaths from MERS in South Korea rises to 27 with three new cases reported. The government is taking unprecedented precautions in terms of public sanitation and quarantine.

Two new cases of ebola virus disease are reported from Sierra Leone’s capital city of Freetown about three weeks after the most recent new cases were found.

Japan announces plans to resume whaling in the Antarctic during the southern hemisphere summer. Commercial whaling has been banned for over 30 years by the International Whaling Commission. A United Nations report finds evidence that both Hamas and Israel committed war crimes during the 2014 conflict.

The size of the Office of Personnel Management data breach could be as large as 18 million past, present and prospective employees of the United States Government. June 23, 2015, Tuesday The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) capture the military base Brigade 93 and enter

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the town of Ayn Issa, the first defense line of ISIL north of its de facto capital al-Raqqah. ISIL claims it has started the destruction of the ancient complex of Palmyra.

South Korean author Shin Kyung-sook admits to plagiarising a short story from Japanese author Yukio Mishima. Australian author Sofie Laguna wins the Miles Franklin Award for her novel The Eye of the Sheep. The death toll from the 2015 Pakistan heatwave rises to 450.

South Sudan declares a cholera outbreak after 18 people die and 171 are infected.

Hungary unilaterally suspends European Union asylum seeker rules that require it to take back people who first enter Hungary, then travel to other nations. Business and Economy The deputy speaker of the Greek parliament, Alexis Mitropoulos, warns that the body may reject concessions the government had made to the country's creditors, creating further tensions in the bailout negotiations.

The death toll from the heat wave reaches nears 800 in Sindh province with 744 people dead in the city of Karachi alone.

China claims that the Golden Triangle regions of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand are the source of most of its imports of heroin and methamphetamine. The region has been known for drug cultivation for centuries.

The President of France François Hollande warns that France "will not tolerate" acts that threaten its security following claims by Wikileaks that the United States spied on him and his two predecessors Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac between 2006 and 2012.

Israel revokes permits for 500 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to enter Jerusalem for Friday prayers following a rocket attack on southern Israel.

The United States Senate passes the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) bills by, respectively, 60–38 and 76–22.

A Dutch court orders the Netherlands to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 25 per cent by 2020. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is formally sentenced to death in a federal court. He confirms his guilt and apologizes to the victims.

Tsarnev is sent to the US Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, where 61 other inmates are awaiting their lethal injections.

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China's customs officers seize more than 100,000 tonnes of meat, many of which expired, some more than 40 years ago.

Bobby Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana, announces that he will be a candidate for the Republican Party nomination in the 2016 Presidential election, making it one of the most crowded contest in the Republican Party.

The United States House of Representatives votes 247-180 to allow states to opt out of Barack Obama's carbon emissions reduction if the state governor believes compliance would increase electricity bills too much or have an adverse effect on reliability of supply.

Business and Economy Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has received 18 bids for a long-term project to supply, install, test, and launch 25 substations. The 132kV substations will meet the growing demand in all areas of the emirate. It has awarded 15 contracts worth Dh1.2 billion in 2015. Dubai Police foiled 901 e-crimes worth Dh9 million between January and 23rd June, 2015.

Sports The National Hockey League opens the process of expanding the league and will begin evaluating bids from interested parties. The most widely speculated expansion markets include Las Vegas, Seattle, Quebec City, and a second team in the Toronto area.

June 25, 2015, Thursday Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces reenter the Kurdish town of Kobanî after a successful large-scale counterattack against the Kurds.

The death toll from the heat wave passes 1,000 in Sindh province alone.

The wreckage of a small plane carrying eight passengers on a shore excursion from Holland America Line's MS Westerdam cruise ship is discovered near the Alaskan town of Ketchikan. All nine people on board including the pilot died.

The number of MERS casualties in South Korea rises to 29 with the number of cases rising to 180.

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as a man carrying an Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant flag attacks a factory near the French city of Lyon.

At least 27 people are killed and 227 injured after a suicide bombing at the Shia Imam Sadiq mosque in Kuwait City, Kuwait. ISIL claims responsibility for the attack. Two hotels in Sousse, Tunisia came under attack from an unknown number of gunmen; at least 37 people have been killed and 36 injured.

Islamic State kills 146 civilians in KobanĂŽ, the second largest massacre since the start of conflict when the extremist group executed 700 members of the Al Sheitaat tribe in Syria. June 27, 2015: Islamic State forces have become one of the most brutal militant forces in modern history

India offers Nepal an additional billion dollars to help it recover from the April 2015 earthquake.

The Prime Minister of Haiti Evans Paul accuses the Dominican Republic of causing a humanitarian crisis by mass deportation of people.

The Committee to Protect Journalists claims that the Government of Egypt has incarcerated 18 journalists, mostly from Al-Jazeera.

More than 400 Albanian police supported by Army helicopters surround the village of Lazarat in southern Albania known as the "cannabis Kingdom" where an armed criminal gang has entrenched itself.

A journalist from CNN is shot and killed in the Philippines, the 27th journalist murdered during the administration of Benigno Aquino III.

The Supreme Court of the United States upholds key elements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) including subsidies for healthcare policies and employer mandates, with a 6-3 vote.

The US House of Representatives votes to grant President Barack Obama fast track authority for

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the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Business and Economy The Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting said, the small and medium industries have attracted $15.3 billion investments in 2014. The number of small and medium- sized factories in the GCC countries was around 13,480 in 2014, including 10,809 small factories and 2,671 medium factories.

Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, opens a new passenger terminal at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport.

Sports In basketball, the 2015 NBA draft is held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, with the Minnesota Timberwolves selecting Karl-Anthony Towns as the first pick.

June 26, 2015, Friday Al Shabaab militants attack an African Union base in the Leego district of Somalia and kills more than 70 African Union soldiers and seizes control of their military base.

A man is decapitated and at least two others are injured during an attack in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier

An Islamic State suicide bomber kills at least 20 people in the city of Hasakeh.

An early monsoon arrives in India resulting in floods in Gujarat state that have killed 60 people so far this week.

The European Union has reached agreement to share at least 40,000 migrants over two years.

A South Korean court rules that South Korea is not obliged to pay compensation to its nationals who were victims of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki who have not been compensated by Japan.

In a 5-4 decision, the US Supreme Court declares state bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional and effectively legalises it across the United States. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolves the Parliament to pave the way for the upcoming parliamentary election.

Business and Economy The Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras says that Greece will hold a referendum on a bailout deal with creditors on July 5. June 27, 2015, Saturday Suspected Islamist militants attack an army base in Nara, Mali leaving three soldiers and eight attackers dead.

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Kuwait declares a day of mourning for the victims of the bombing of a Shia mosque.

Tunisia announces plans to close down 80 "propagandist" mosques following yesterday's attacks in which 39 people died. Nineteen victims have so far been identified with fifteen from the United Kingdom and one each from Belgium, Germany, Ireland and Portugal. A midair explosion from flammable powder at a recreational water park in Taiwan injures at least 510 people with about 183 in serious condition in intensive care.

Business and Economy The People's Bank of China cuts interest rates for a fourth successive time to help stabilize growth. Eurozone finance ministers reject a request by Greece to extend debt negotiations past Tuesday's deadline.

The Hellenic Parliament approves the holding of a referendum on a proposed bailout on Sunday 5 July 2015.

Malaysia announces that they will host a memorial for the victims of MH17 on July 11 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

June 28, 2015, Sunday Tunisia deploys an additional 1,000 police in resorts and beaches following the attack on tourists on June 26.

With the number of British dead expected to exceed 30, the U.K. warns its citizens about travelling to certain parts of Tunisia, including the south and near the Libyan border. Kuwait claims that the suicide bomber responsible for the attack that killed 27 people was Fahd Suleiman Abdulmohsen Al Qaba'a, a citizen of Saudi Arabia.

At least 24 militants are killed in Pakistan Air Force air strikes on positions in the Khyber Agency and North Waziristan.

In Istanbul, Turkish police forces interrupt the LGBT pride parade, which was refused this year

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Grexit looms as Greece faces default

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Greece faces exit from the Eurozone as it nears bankruptcy, becoming the first Western democracy to be the biggest casualty of modern capitalism...

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country to default further without further support from official creditors.

The Russian gas company Gazprom suspends shipments of gas to Ukraine following a payment dispute. The World Bank urges China to undertake financial reforms to keep economic growth on track.

The European Union has extended a freeze on sanctions imposed against Iran over its nuclear programme by one week as intensive negotiations continue between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries for a final deal.

July 1, 2015: Greece on the brink of bankruptcy

July 1, 2015, Wednesday Canadians celebrates Canada Day, marking its nominal independence from the United Kingdom in 1867. It is part of the Commonwealth. Shells fired by Houthi forces have killed at least 18 people near the southern port city of Aden.

Militants launch attacks on Egyptian Armed Forces checkpoints in North Sinai, leaving dozens of security personnel and insurgents killed. The Islamic State claims responsibility.

Egypt's security forces kill nine 'terrorists' during a raid in a Western Cairo suburb.

The Episcopal Church in the United States adopts its liturgy for same sex marriages.

The death toll from June 30, 2015, plane crash in the Indonesian city of Medan rises to 141.

The United States and Cuba officially announce that embassies will be reopened in each other's countries for the first time since 1961.

The US Department of Justice begins an investigation into whether US airlines entered into collusion to illegally keep ticket prices high.

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A woman, Kathryn Steinle, is shot dead in a random attack at the busy Embarcadero district in San Francisco, California. A Mexican national is arrested in connection with her death.

The President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza claims victory for his National Council for the Defence of Democracy – Forces for the Defence of Democracy coalition despite the fact that opposition parties did not contest the election.

The black hole in the Milky Way galaxy's V404 Cygni system wakes up (becomes energised, with a flow of gamma rays and very brief intense flashes of light) after 26 years.

Business and Economy Greece becomes the first advanced economy to miss a payment to the International Monetary Fund in the 71-year history of the IMF, unwinding decades of precedent and affecting consequences for the fund's future rescues.

The Prime Minister of Greece Alex Tsipras has written to creditors claiming he will accept a bailout but with conditions.

Moody’s Investors Service downgrades Greek bonds further to Caa3 saying that it expects the

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Former Senator Jim Webb announces that he will seek the Democratic Party nomination.

A 21-year-old woman from Bishop, California had died on June 20, 2015, at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada from cardiac arrest caused by the rare brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri.

Business and Economy Dubai-based developer Emaar Properties launches region’s first not-for-profit real estate educational Institute.

July 2, 2015, Thursday Egypt vows to continue an offensive on the Sinai Peninsula until ISIL militants have been removed. A hundred people have been killed in fighting in the past two days.

British Petroleum (BP) agrees to pay $18.7 billion to compensate the United States government and the five Gulf Coast states – Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas – for damages stemming from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The settlement includes a civil penalty of $5.5 billion under the Clean Water Act.

Boko Haram gunmen kill scores of people in attacks on the Nigerian towns of Kukawa and Musarram in recent days.

Toll of Boko Haram massacre in northeastern Nigeria rises to nearly 170.

Egyptian Air Force air strikes in the Sinai Peninsula kill at least 23 ISIS-linked militants a day after the deadliest clashes in the region in years.

Saudi airstrikes on Sanaa kill eight, according to Houthi officials.

An attack on a convoy in northern Mali kills six UN Peacekeepers.

Yadernoye Toplivo, a private U.S. nuclear energy company, ConverDyn, could begin helping Ukraine in the production of enriched uranium, a day after Russia shut off natural gas supplies to the country after the two failed to reach agreement over Ukraine's unpaid gas debts to Russia. The Kim Nirvana ferry capsizes off the Philippines en route from the city of Ormoc to Camotes island with 173 people onboard; at least 33 people are confirmed dead while at least 50 people have been rescued.

A bridge collapses under a Pakistan Army train at Gujranwala, Punjab, killing nineteen and injuring over 100.

July 3, 2015, Friday Belarus celebrates Independence Day, marking the liberation of Minsk after several years of German occupation in 1944.

A United States drone strike kills at least four militants in Yemen.

Six people are dead following an explosion at a chemical plant in Ulsan in South Korea.

At least four people are dead and 48 injured following a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Pishan County in China's Xinjiang region.

The death toll from yesterday's capsizing of the M/B Nivana off the coast of the Philippines rises to 56 as murder charges are filed against the owner and crew.

At least 29 people have died in a cholera outbreak in South Sudan.

Phil Walsh, the coach of the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League, is stabbed to death in his home with his son charged with murder.

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final appearance.

UNESCO adds new sites to the World Heritage List: Tusi Sites (China), Susa, Cultural Landscape of Maymand (both in Iran), Singapore Botanic Gardens (Singapore), Baekje Historic Areas (Republic of Korea), Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its surrounding sacred landscape (Mongolia), and the French regions of Champagne and Burgundy.

In football, the Chile national football team win the Copa América for the first time, defeating Argentina 4–1 in a penalty shoot-out following a 0– 0 draw.

At least nine people have been killed and 30 injured following a factory collapse in the city of Wenling in Zhejiang province.

Dutch police detain 200 young people in The Hague for not following curfew as violence continues in the Schilderswijk district for a fourth night.

Jeffrey Webb, a former Vice President of FIFA and President of CONCACAF, is reportedly charged with healthcare fraud in his native Cayman Islands.

Pia Kjærsgaard becomes the first woman to be elected speaker of the Danish parliament, the Folketing.

The U.S. Air Force's outgoing chief scientist, Mica Endsley, announces plans for an unmanned hypersonic flying weapon by 2023, which could travel at least up to Mach 5. The solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse 2 landed in Hawaii from Japan, completing the longest leg of its circumnavigation trip starting in Abu Dhabi.

Business and Economy American health insurer Aetna agrees to buy competitor Humana in a $37 billion deal.

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July 4, 2015, Saturday Independence Day celebrated across the United States.

Yemen's Houthi rebels shell the Saudi Arabian cities of Jizan and Najran with claims of several Saudi soldiers being killed.

At least ten civilians are killed when three separate car bombs explode simultaneously in the eastern coastal city of Derna.

A shell kills a woman and her two children as fighting continues on the Sinai Peninsula between the Egyptian Army and Islamic State militants. A mosque bombing in northern Syria kills 15 members of Al Qaida's affiliate Nusra Front.

The Syrian Army and Hezbollah launch an offensive to capture the rebel-held Syrian city of Zabadani.

Kurdish People's Protection Units advance on the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant de-facto capital city of Raqqa.

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The Islamic State members execute 25 Syrian Army soldiers in the ancient city of Palmyra.

The Azerbaijani military shoots down two Armenian drones over Azeri positions according to Azerbaijan's defence ministry.

July 4, 2015: Americans celebrate Independence Day

2015

A wildfire in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan forces 8,000 people from their homes.

A South Korean navy officer is charged with leaking confidential information to China.

Abdul Gani Patail, the Attorney General of Malaysia, says that a probe of troubled state owned investment bank 1Malaysia Development Berhad has uncovered documents that show the transfer of money into private accounts of the Prime Minister Najib Razak. Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi declares a state of emergency.

Tupou VI is officially crowned as the new King of Tonga.

Fidel Castro makes his first public appearance at a Cuban cheese factory since February 2015.

Sports In cycling, the 2015 Tour de France gets underway in the Dutch city of Utrecht with an individual time trial.

The Highlanders from the New Zealand region of Otago defeat the Hurricanes from the New Zealand capital Wellington in the Super Rugby final, 21–14. It is the Highlanders' first Super 15

In association football, England defeat Germany 1–0 through an extra time penalty goal by Fara Williams to win third place in the FIFA Women's World Cup.

July 5, 2015, Sunday A United States bombing campaign against ISIL has killed at least 30 people in the Syrian city of Al-Raqqah. Iraqi government air strikes kill at least 73 people in the ISIL held cities of Ramadi and Fallujah.

A roadside bomb in North Waziristan kills at least three Pakistan Army soldiers and injures six others.

A suicide bomber attacks a church in the Potiskum area of Nigeria's Yobe State, killing five and raising the toll of Boko Haram attacks for the past week to 200.

UNESCO adds more sites to the World Heritage List including the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in the US city of San Antonio, Texas and Scotland's Forth Bridge.

Over 1,000 people in the Philippines are stranded temporarily by Severe Tropical Storm Linfa (Egay) as landslides occur in Palawan province.

More than 60 wildfires start in the Canadian province of British Columbia over the weekend leading to several communities declaring a state of emergency. Nearly 1,000 military personnel are sent to fight wildfires in Saskatchewan.

Greek voters solidly reject (61.3 per cent) the latest austerity proposal of the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank. The Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and

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Greek people in the call.

July 5, 2015: More than 60 wildfires start in the Canadian province of British Columbia

Sports In cycling, the 2015 Tour de France race is neutralised 100 kilometres into the third stage due to a major crash involving about 30 riders. World Boxing Organisation strips Floyd Mayweather Jr. of the welterweight title he won in his fight with Manny Pacquiao for failing to pay a $200,000 fee in time and failing to vacate a Light middleweight title he also held. July 7, 2015, Tuesday A bomb attack has killed at least 25 people and wounded 32 others in northern Nigeria's Zaria.

Air strikes and combat kill 200 in Yemen, highest daily toll so far.

the President of France François Hollande call for an international summit of Eurozone leaders to discuss the next moves.

A Russian space capsule reaches the International Space Station allowing resupply of provisions after the crash of the SpaceX space capsule last week.

Sports The United States defeats defending champion Japan, 5-2, to win the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

In motorsport, Lewis Hamilton wins the race for the second consecutive year with team mate Nico Rosberg finishing second.

July 6, 2015, Monday The UAE Ministry of Labour has announced that around 27,962 establishments have resettled fines relating to 58,365 workers registered under their sponsorships during the grace period which was approved by the Ministers’ Cabinet on December 31, 2014.

An Iraqi Air Force Sukhoi Su-25 jet, returning from a bombing raid against ISIL militants in the north, accidentally drops a bomb on Baghdad de-

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stroying several homes and killing at least 7 civilians.

An air-strike by the Saudi-led coalition on the southern port city of Aden kills at least 30 people. It is unclear how many of the dead are civilians or Houthi rebels.

Two bomb attacks on the central Nigerian city of Jos have left at least 44 people dead.

A Russian Su-24 military aircraft crashes while taking off from an airfield in the Khabarovsk region in Russian Far East on a nighttime training flight and both pilots are killed.

Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, calls for a new investigation into the death of former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld in a plane crash after a panel he appointed uncovers new evidence. Yanis Varoufakis resigns as the Greek Minister of Finance despite the success of the "no" vote which supported his views.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras calls Russian President Vladimir Putin in the wake of the referendum; Putin expresses his support for the

Al-Shabaab militants kill 14 in northern Kenya.

A NATO convoy is hit by a suicide car bomb in Kabul. Three or four civilians are injured; no fatalities have been reported.

A United States Air Force F-16 collides with a privately-owned Cessna to the north of Charleston, South Carolina. The pilot of the jet ejects safely, but the Cessna breaks up mid-air, killing the two unidentified occupants.

Business and Economy Eurozone leaders hold a crisis meeting to discuss options on Greek debt following the referendum as Greek banks are near to running out of cash. For the last week Greek banks allowed to withdraw only 60 euros a day.

The European Union gives Greece a deadline of Thursday to develop new proposals for discussion at an emergency summit on Sunday.

Malaysian authorities order a freeze on six accounts associated with alleged payments by development bank 1Malaysia Development Berhad to the Prime Minister Najib Razak.

July 8, 2015, Wednesday Suspected militants from the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram killed 26 people in attacks on two villages on Lake Chad, Chad.

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The Yemeni government in exile announces that it has reached a truce with the Houthi rebels.

At least 22 people are killed in clashes between Arab and Berber communities in Ghardaia, Algeria.

Business and Economy The British bank Barclays fires Chief Executive Antony Jenkins for his failure to reduce head count and the pace of cost cutting with Chairman John McFarlane to act as interim CEO until a replacement is appointed. The bank was recently convicted of earning billions through fraud as part of the LIBOR scandal.

The Shanghai stock market falls 30 per cent over the past three weeks as 1,400 companies, or more than half listed, file for a trading halt in an attempt to prevent further losses, triggering a Chinese stock market collapse. The New York Stock Exchange stops trading for nearly four hours due to a technical error.

Staff workers for the London Underground begin a 27-hour strike after management and labor unions were unable to reach a deal regarding overnight train services. Typhoon Chan-hom (Falcon) hits the Philippines with two people killed and two people injured.

Tens of thousands of people are being evacuated from western Canada as firefighters continue to battle wildfires in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

Gunmen kill three, wound one, Tuesday evening near the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus in what police report was an apparently targeted shooting unrelated to the college.

Business and Economy Malaysian police raid the offices of government owned by 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Microsoft announces 7,800 job cuts primarily in its struggling phone division acquired from Nokia. Sports Gerald Bruce Lee, a US District Court judge for

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the Eastern District of Virginia, cancels the trademark of the Washington Redskins in the National Football League on the grounds that the team name may be offensive to native Americans.

Cuban international footballer Keiler García defects to the United States while in Chicago – the day before Cuba's match against Mexico at Soldier Field.

July 9, 2015, Thursday Saud Al Faisal, former Saudi Foreign Minister and the Arab World’s most prominent diplomat, dies in California, USA. He is the second son of King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and has served as Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister from March 1975 till April 2015 – more than 40 years. He holds the record for having been the world's longest-serving foreign minister.

Hong Kong starts closing schools as Typhoon Linfa approaches

The Philippines asks the International Court of Arbitration at The Hague to invalidate China's claims to virtually all of the South China Sea. The hearing was attended by observers from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, warns that violence can explode into armed conflict in Burundi following events of the current presidential election.

Ugandan police arrest two presidential hopefuls, former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and opposition leader Kizza Besigye.

The US Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit rules the ban in the region 2–1 unconstitutional, paving way for same-sex marriages.

The health department announces issuing licenses early next month. The European Parliament rejects a plan to abolish Freedom of Panorama.

Business and Economy The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) imposes a six-month ban on stockhold-

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ers owning more than 5 per cent of a company's stock from selling those stocks, resulting in a 6 per cent rise in stock markets.

The US Congress refuses to offer a bailout to Puerto Rico.

Sports FIFA suspends former Executive Committee member Chuck Blazer for life for assorted ethical breaches including accepting bribes.

July 10, 2015, Friday Egyptian actor Omar Sharif dies at the age of 83 after suffering a heart attack.

Al Shabaab militants have stormed two hotels in Somalia's capital Mogadishu killing at least 10 civilians.

At least 23 people have been killed and 50 injured following a stampede at a free clothing drive in the northern Bangladeshi city of Mymensingh.

Wildfires continue to rage throughout the western Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

China is dealing with two typhoons in a week. Typhoon Linfa lost power after making landfall in southern China's Guangdong province Thursday. Typhoon Chan-hom (Falcon) is headed for landfall in eastern China near Shanghai this weekend.

Indonesia closes four airports including Bali International Airport due to an ongoing eruption by the Raung volcano on Java.

US President Barack Obama signs an executive order picking Berryessa Snow Mountain (California), Waco Mammoth Site (Texas), and Basin and Range (Nevada) as three national monuments.

The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launches five commercial satellites for the United Kingdom.

Some $3.2 billion needed for Ebola recovery efforts in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, United Nations said.

SAUD AL FAISAL 1940-2015

July 9, 2015: Prince Saud Al Faisal, world’s longest serving foreign minister and former Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, breathes his last

Businesses and Economy A bailout plan is submitted two hours before the midnight deadline. The plan would raise a retirement age to 67 and cut pensions by 15 per cent for those retiring at 62.

Sports The Games officially commence following Friday's opening ceremony in Toronto.

July 11, 2015, Saturday Dubai Customs said, it has foiled this year's largest drug smuggling attempt from a single trafficker involving around 1 kilogramme of heroin in his stomach at Dubai International Airport – Terminal 2. A suicide bomber in a burqa kills 14 people in Chad's capital of N'Djamena.

At least seven people have been killed and dozens injured in a series of attacks in southern Thailand.

A car bomb explodes outside the Italian consulate in the Egyptian capital Cairo, resulting in at least one death and four people injured; ISIS claims responsibility.

At least six civilians and four militants are killed in attacks on two hotels in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

Eastern China braces for the impact of Typhoon Chan-hom with the province of Zhejiang evacuating 865,000 people in coastal areas.

Hundred of villagers are evacuated from near the Colima volcano following recent eruptions. Authorities fear that it could be on the same scale as a 1913 eruption.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić is pelted with stones and other objects as he attempts to pay respects to the victims of the Bosnian Genocide, Vučić is a former member of the Serbian Radical Party, a far right anti-Islam party. Dozens of Russian soldiers face trial for fleeing a training ground in Maikop, fearing deployment to Ukraine.

Mexican drug kingpin Joaquín Guzmán Loera escapes from a maximum security prison the Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1.

Aung San Suu Kyi announces that the National League for Democracy will participate in Myanmar's general election later this year.

Business and Economy China is well positioned as Dubai’s top trading partner, with bilateral trade volume valued at Dh47 billion in the first quarter of 2015, Dubai Customs said.

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the South Ossetia region, leaving part of an international oil pipeline in territory under Russian control. The area was the site of the Russo-Georgian war in 2008.

The Prime Minister of Romania Victor Ponta is charged in an on-going corruption scandal.

OMAR SHARIF 1932-2015

July 10, 2015: Egyptian actor Omar Sharif dies at the age of 83 after suffering a heart attack

Greek Parliament passes a package of economic reforms to end the debt crisis. Sports Serena Williams defeats Garbiñe Muguruza to win the 2015 Wimbledon Women's Singles title.

The First Test of the 2015 Ashes Series between England and Australia ends with a 169-run victory for England after four days at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff. July 12, 2015, Sunday Saudi-led coalition forces bomb Houthi targets in several provinces of Yemen, killing at least 15 people, despite a UN-brokered truce.

Tunisia arrests 127 people suspected of being members of terrorist groups following last month's attack.

A suicide car bomb kills 25 people and wounds 10 in southeastern Afghanistan close to a U.S. base. The Government of Colombia and FARC announce plans to negotiate a ceasefire to end the fifty year old dispute.

Typhoon Chan-hom weakens as it heads to northeastern China.

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An independent report reveals that the American Psychological Association was complicit in the participation of its members with the use of torture during the Iraq and Afghan wars, such as in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay. Many experts suspected that the bizarre torture and humiliation were not "a few bad apples" but meticulously planned techniques.

Sports In tennis, Novak Djokovic defeats Roger Federer in the mens singles in four sets to claim his third title. July 13, 2015, Monday Burundi's army kills 31 suspected rebels and captures 170 others in fighting in the country's north.

An airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition kills 25 civilians and wounds 50 in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. Last week a ceasefire agreement was reached.

All the missing 42 people have been found following the collapse of a Russian Army barracks in the Omsk Oblast of southwestern Siberia with 23 deaths.

Georgia accuses Russia of violating its sovereignty by placing border markers on the edge of

Former UK Independence Party Member of the European Parliament Ashley Mote is jailed for 5 years for fraudulently claiming almost £500k in European Parliament expenses.

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region following the latter’s adherence to all the requirements pertaining to the WHO’s Healthy Cities programme.

A helicopter belonging to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) with four people on board (two crew members, a patient, and a person accompanying the patient) crashes in the Arabian Gulf. France celebrates Bastille Day, the country’s national day marking the French Revolution in 1789.

Rapper Curtis James Jackson III, better known by his stage name 50 Cent, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

At least 27 people are killed in a stampede at the Godavari Maha Pushkaram Hindu festival in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Son of Boston police captain is charged with a foiled plot to bomb a university, inspired by Boston Marathon bombing, on alleged behalf of ISIS. He is scheduled Tuesday for a bail hearing at a federal court in Springfield.

A nuclear deal is reached in Vienna between Iran and P5+1. This Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action if signed by the entities involved, will cut off Iran's ability to produce a nuclear weapon whilst allowing for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, inspections, and the lifting of sanctions.

US President Barack Obama commutes the sentences of 46 American prison inmates serving long sentences for drug related offences.

The male defendant is found not guilty of death threats on US Majority Speaker of the House, John Boehner, by reason of insanity. He is still in jail and due for another trial on August 21 to determine his ability to adjust to society.

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem was re-elected president of the Eurogroup for a second term.

Scott Walker, the Governor of Wisconsin, announces that he will be seeking the Republican Party nomination.

Business and Economy Eurozone leaders agree on a bailout deal for Greece providing the Hellenic Parliament passes reforms into law by July 15.

Abu Dhabi farmers to harvest 31,050 tonnes of produce

July 14, 2015, Tuesday The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised Sharjah as the first healthy city in the

Two people are dead and six are missing due to flash flooding in Kentucky.

North Korea announces a criminal amnesty in honour of the 70th anniversary of independence from Japanese rule.

Recent climate change would still cause a 6meter (20-feet) sea-level rise even if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced today per a scientific paper in Science.

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft completes a historic flyby of the dwarf planet Pluto and its five moons. Measurements, along with many highquality photos and reams of data, were taken, including conclusive information regarding the diameter of Pluto and its moons.

Sports A panel appointed by the Supreme Court of India recommends that two Indian Premier League cricket teams, the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals be suspended for two years due to a corruption scandal. July 15, 2015, Wednesday At least 33 people are killed in Boko Haram at-

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tacks in recent days in northeastern Nigeria.

civilians and injuring more than a dozen.

A report from the Dutch Safety Board of the investigation of the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) disaster points to pro-Russian rebels as being responsible for the shooting down of the passenger flight on 17 July 2014.

The Islamic State has claimed that it sank an Egyptian patrol boat in the Mediterranean, just off the coast of Rafah. The Egyptian military claimed the ship sank from a fire not caused by attacks.

Loyalists of exiled President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi capture Aden International Airport after four months of being under Houthi control.

Oskar Gröning, known as the "Auschwitz bookkeeper", is sentenced to four years imprisonment for being an accessory to the murder of 300,000 Jews.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin signs a law that sets the date for an early parliamentary election on 18 September 2016.

The circumnavigation attempt of Earth by the solar-powered Solar Impulse plane, currently in Hawaii, has been suspended for the rest of 2015 in order to perform necessary repairs.

NASA publishes the first close up photos of Pluto from the New Horizons spacecraft. They show geologically young mountains made of water ice. Business and Economy The Hellenic Parliament votes to approve the Greek bailout package despite many senior lawmakers from the ruling Syriza Party refusing to vote for the deal.

Standard & Poor's cut the credit rating of Puerto Rico's Government Development Bank to 'CC', saying a near-term default is a virtual certainty.

Spanish manufacturer Talgo announces Saudi Arabia's cancellation of a $201-million contract for six high-speed trains.

Two South Korean airlines, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, will resume flights to Japan after suspending flights during the recent MERS outbreak.

July 16, 2015, Thursday India and Pakistan exchanged gunfire and mortar bombs along their disputed frontier, killing five

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Members of exiled President of Yemen Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi's Cabinet tour the southern city of Aden for the first time in several months.

Twin blasts at a market in Gombe, Nigeria kill at least 49 people.

Boko Haram militants kill a dozen villagers in Niger.

At least 11 people are killed and many others injured in a tribal fight in a remote area of Papua New Guinea.

About 65,000 people in the Indian state of Assam are affected by floods and heavy rainfall.

Ash from the Raung volcano closes five airports in Indonesia, while ash from the Gamalama volcano closes the Babullah Airport in Ternate.

Typhoon Nangka makes landfall on the Japanese island of Shikoku.

The Nexen pipeline at the Long Lake facility near Fort McMurray, Alberta, spills 5,000,000 litres (1,100,000 imp gal; 1,300,000 US gal) of oil emulsion.

A shooting occurs at a US Navy recruiting office and a Navy operational support center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, killing four U.S. Marines and the gunman and wounding others.

Japan's lower house of parliament passes a pair of bills changing the country's security laws, allowing Japanese soldiers to fight overseas for the first time since the end of World War II under certain conditions, over strong protests from opposition lawmakers, who walked out of the vote. The United Nations has announced that 75 million adolescents around the world are out of school, and called for investing in developing the skills of young people so that they can help build

July 14, 2015: Iran reaches a landmark nuclear deal that is expectected to ease sanctions and normalise its relationship with the West

a more just and sustainable future for all.

July 17, 2015, Friday Suicide bombers killed at least 64 people in multiple blasts in the northeastern towns of Gombe and Damaturu, Nigeria.

Niger’s army killed at least 30 suspected Boko Haram fighters as it searched for militants in villages just over the border with Nigeria. At least six people are killed in clashes between supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood and Egyptian police. A car bomb in Khan Bani Saad City massacres more than 100 people, mostly Shias, celebrating the Eid after end of Ramadan. ISIL claims responsibility.

University marine scientists observe that a shipwreck discovered off the North Carolina Coast on July 12 may date back to the American Revolution. Typhoon Nangka passes through the western part of the main Japanese island of Honshu, causing at least two deaths, widespread flooding and the evacuation of 100,000 people.

Thousands of Indonesians are stranded on the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end of Ramadan as five

airports remain closed as a result of the eruption of the Raung and Gamalama volcanoes.

At least five people are dead and three are missing after a coal mine in the Philippines province of Antique collapses.

China releases 10 South African tourists held for allegedly distributing terrorist material.

Ukraine expels Valery Shibeko, Russia's top envoy to Odessa, after declaring the consulate general "persona non grata" for conducting unnamed activities "incompatible" with his diplomatic work.

A man goes on a shooting spree in Maine, U.S., killing two people and wounding three others in the towns of Lee and Benedicta, in Maine. A manhunt is executed, and the suspect is arrested in Houlton.

Business and Economy Bundestag, the German lower house of parliament, approves Greece's bailout plan by 439– 119 with 40 abstained.

Sports Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia breaks the world record for women's 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) at the Herculis IAAF Diamond League event in Monaco running 3 minutes, 50.08 seconds.

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weeks with strict capital controls.

Lockheed Martin agrees to buy United Technologies Corp's Sikorsky Aircraft for $9 billion.

Venezuela orders producers to divert supplies to state stores amid a chronic shortage of goods.

Sports FIFA announces it will hold an extraordinary session on February 26, 2016, in order to elect a new president to replace Sepp Blatter.

July 20, 2015: Greece’s banks run out of money, ration currency disbursement

July 18, 2015, Saturday The Kurdish's People's Protection Units and independent monitors accuse ISIL of using poison gas while fighting in northern Syria late in June.

Saudi Arabia arrests 431 people accused of links to Islamic State.

Three civilians have been killed by shelling in the Donbass town of Avdiivka, within governmentheld territory.

Militants kill at least five soldiers in attacks on two Egyptian Army checkpoints.

Four people are dead, seven injured and a girl trapped as a four story building collapses in West Delhi in India's National Capital Territory of Delhi.

The wildfire burning in San Bernardino County, California has burned over 3,500 acres, and destroyed 16 homes and other buildings. The fire has also burned over 60 passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers. The sailor wounded in Thursday's shooting at two military installations in Chattanooga, Tennessee, dies a little after 2 a.m. Saturday, bringing the death toll of the shooting to five.

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July 19, 2015, Sunday Pakistan lodges an official report with India over a series of ceasefire violations in Kashmir.

July 20, 2015, Monday In a friendly fire incident, a NATO air strike hits an Afghan National Army outpost in Logar Province, about 30 miles east of Kabul, with at least seven soldiers killed and five wounded.

The South Korean government has announced that MERS or coronavirus outbreak in the nation is effectively over and it's safe for travel.

A huge explosion in the mostly Kurdish border town of Suruç, Turkey, targeting The Socialist Youth Associations Federation, kills at least 31 people and injures over 100. Preliminary evidence suggests an ISIS suicide attack.

The UN Security Council unanimously approves the Nuclear Pact between Iran and a group of six world powers in return for sanctions relief.

The United States and Cuba resume full diplomatic relations after five decades. Business and Economy Greek banks reopen for the first time in three

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July 22, 2015, Wednesday Abu Dhabi wins bid to host 2020 World Swimming Championships

A suicide bomb attack kills at least 15 people in northern Afghanistan.

Two explosions in the Nigerian city of Gombe killed at least 29 people.

Three people die in a collision between a Pendolino train and a lorry that occurred near Studénka, north Moravia, in the Czech Republic.

July 21, 2015, Tuesday National Day of Belgium as it celebrates its independence from the United Netherlands (Belgian revolution) on October 4, 1830. Leopold of SaxeCoburg-Saalfeld took the oath as first King of the Belgians on July 21, 1831.

Dylann Roof, the suspect in the murder of nine people in the American city of Charleston, South Carolina, is indicted on dozens of federal offences including hate crimes.

The Philippines announces plans to increase its defence budget by 25 per cent amid ongoing tension in the South China Sea.

Scientists at the U.S. NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases report a major breakthrough toward finding a new universal flu vaccine by using non-infectious H-proteins instead of whole viruses.

The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and human rights organisations say that YPG fighters have captured one juvenile prison and a power station south of Al Hasakah.

Authorities in Waller County, Texas announce that the death of an activist Sandra Bland in police custody will be treated as a murder investigation.

Voters in Burundi go to the polls for a presidential election amidst gunfire and violence with President Pierre Nkurunziza seeking a third term and opposition parties boycotting the election. At least two people have been killed in election violence.

The Governor of Ohio John Kasich becomes the 16th person to seek the nomination of the Republican Party.

Business and Economy The government of Greece submits more legislation to the Hellenic Parliament required by its creditors to start a bailout package.

Hisao Tanaka stands down as the CEO of Japanese company Toshiba following a $1.2 billion accounting scandal.

The former prime minister of Egypt, Ahmed Nazif, is sentenced to five years in prison after losing appeal against 3-year prison sentence for corruption.

Business and Economy The European Central Bank provides an extra 900 million euros to the Greek banks.

July 23, 2015, Thursday The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water has announced that an estimated 219,300 cubic meters of water, or 48 million gallons, flowed into lakes and dams located in the country’s central region following rainfall on July 14th, 2015.

Turkey scrambles fighter jets and Turkish tanks open fire on ISIS positions along the Syrian border following an exchange of fire which left one Turkish soldier dead and two injured.

Turkey agrees to allow the United States access to İncirlik Air Base, near the city of Adana (in close proximity to the Syrian border) for the USled coalition forces' air strikes against ISIS.

At least 35 people are killed in a boat crash on

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World’s Oldest Quran!

JULY 20, 2015: The United States and Cuba resume full diplomatic relations after five decades

Egypt's Nile.

Five people are killed and a girl is wounded in a stabbing at a home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, U.S. that occurred the previous day. Two teenage suspects are arrested. Seven people are wounded, and three are dead after a 58-year-old gunman opens fire at the Grand 16 Movie Theater in Lafayette, Louisiana during a showing of Trainwreck.

NASA scientists announce the discovery of Kepler-452b, the first near-Earth sized exoplanet discovered orbiting the habitable zone of a Sunlike star.

Business and Economy A majority in the Greek parliament votes to approve a second bailout reform package. Pearson PLC agrees to sell Financial Times Group to Nikkei Inc. for £844 million.

July 24, 2015, Friday Turkish warplanes strike ISIS positions in northern Syria following an exchange of gunfire on the Turkish-Syrian border which left one Turkish soldier dead. The airstrikes are said to have killed as many as 35 ISIS militants. A large explosion, which triggers other explosions

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and a fire at a fireworks factory in southeastern Italy (Modugno, Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia Region) kills 7 people and injures several more, some seriously.

The US Department of Transportation opens an investigation into whether airlines engaged in price gouging by raising ticket prices in the Northeastern United States following the 2015 Philadelphia train derailment in May. The President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, is elected for a third consecutive term.

The world's first malaria vaccine got a green light on Friday from European drugs regulators who recommended it as safe and effective to use in babies in Africa at risk of the mosquito-borne and lifer-threatening disease.

Business and economy Health insurance company Anthem Inc. agrees to buy Cigna in a deal worth $48 billion. Greece has formally requested a new bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund.

July 25, 2015, Saturday The Saudi-led military coalition announces that a 5-day humanitarian ceasefire has been agreed to, set to begin just before midnight Sunday.

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Robot Football World Cup!

July 22, 2015: The University of Oxford has radiocarbon dated fragments, of what apparently is the world's oldest Quran, to between 568 A.D. and 645 A.D. The animal skin parchment was found hidden inside the pages of another book in England's University of Birmingham library. g

July 22, 2015: The finals of the robot football World Cup are held. A Chinese team defeats the Netherlands in the finals of the Robot football World Cup – middle-weight non-humanoid league, while another lost in the final of the small humanoid class to a team of robots from Japan. g

Two suicide bombings at a swimming pool in northern Iraq kill at least 12 people.

John Sewel, Baron Sewel steps down from his position as Chairman of Committees in the House of Lords following a drug scandal.

A large fire 12 miles (19 kilometres) west of the French city of Bordeaux ravages more than 350 hectares (860 acres) of forest.

The Tunisian parliament approves a new anti-terror law that allows the death penalty for terrorists. Business and Economy Dubai, Indonesia trade stood at Dh2.1 billion in Q1 in 2015.

Sports Dutch cyclist Niek Kimmann wins his first UCI BMX Supercross series world title, while Venezuelan Stefany Hernandez finished first at the elite women's race. July 26, 2015, Sunday A 13-year-old female suicide bomber attacks in the Cameroonian town of Maroua, killing 20 people and injuring another 70.

A suicide bomber detonates a vehicle loaded with explosives at a hotel in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, killing 15 people.

A bomb detonates on a bus carrying Egyptian military conscripts in Arish, injuring 18.

A light plane crashes in the Tokyo residential area of Chōfu, killing three people.

Palestinian youth and Israeli riot police clash at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. At least 20 people are killed as gunmen open fire at a wedding in Afghanistan's Baghlan province.

Business and Economics German marketplace organiser Deutsche Börse agrees to purchase trading platform 360T for €725 million.

Nike agrees to pay a combined $2.4 million to consumers of Nike+ FuelBand over false advertising.

July 27, 2015, Monday At least seven people are killed and many more injured after gunmen attack an Indian police station in Punjab. YPG led forces capture the strategic town Sarrin from ISIL after a month-long offensive.

French farmers protesting low prices within the country turn back hundreds of trucks suspected of carrying foreign agricultural products at the country's border with Germany. Business and Economy Aquaventure at Atlantis, Palm, voted best waterpark in Middle East

The Shanghai Composite Index drops 8.5 per cent, the largest one-day decline in the index since 2007.

July 28, 2015 Tuesday Boko Haram attacks in multiple northern Nigerian villages leaves at least 29 dead.

Rescuers find 13 dead migrants in a boat off the Libyan coast.

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GREEK DEBT CRISIS REACHES A CRITICAL STAGE AS BANKS RUN OUT OF CASH...

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July 2015

July: Greeks protest against a bailout package struck by the government to rescue the debt-ridden economy out of the crisis

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At least 25 people have been killed and 22 injured at a fire in a furniture factory in Obour City near the Egyptian capital Cairo.

Six people have been killed and several are missing following a building collapse in the Indian city of Thane. Heavy rain in last three days resulted in widespread flood in north Gujarat resulting in more than 70 deaths.

A Libyan court sentences Saif al-Islam Gaddafi to death in absentia for alleged atrocities in 2011. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak fires Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Barack Obama is the first US president to speak in front of the African Union (AU). He encourages the world to strengthen economic ties with the continent, but also criticises the lack of democracy. Business and Economy Dutch aerospace company Fokker Technologies is acquired by the British multinational GKN.

July 29, 2015, Wednesday The Afghan government claims that Taliban leader Mohammad Omar died in April 2013 in Pakistan of natural causes.

Malik Ishaq, leader of the terrorist group Lashkare-Jhangvi, is killed during a shootout in which supporters of the group ambushed a prisoner convoy. The shootout killed 13 of the attackers, injured six police officers, and also killed two of Ishaq's sons.

The Wragg Fire in Northern California continues to burn at 80 per cent containment with over 6,991 acres being destroyed and mandatory evacuations.

Debris found near the Indian Ocean island of Réunion is consistent with material from a Boeing 777 and is being examined to confirm whether it is from Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 370.

At least 27 people are killed and 149 injured after a out of control truck runs into a religious proces-

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sion in the Mexican state of Zacatecas.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari visits neighbouring Cameroon to bolster support for a multinational army to fight Boko Haram.

July 30, 2015, Thursday An ambush on a Turkish military convoy in the south-eastern Şırnak Province by PKK militants kills 3 Turkish soldiers.

INDO-BANGLA LAND SWAP

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July 2015

A heat wave hits the Middle East with Baghdad recording a top temperature of 50°C (122 °F) and the Iranian city of Bandar Mahshahr recording a near world record heat index temperature of 74.0 °C (165.2 °F).

At least 30 people are killed in a landslide that struck villages near Pokhara, Nepal.

The Israeli Knesset passes a controversial law that legalises forced-feeding of Palestinian prisoners.

India executes Yakub Memon for his role in the 1993 Bombay bombings.

Taliban announce Mullah Akhtar Mansoor as the successor to Mullah Omar over his son, Yaqoob Omar.

Former Central Military Commission Vice-Chairman, General Guo Boxiong, is accused of taking bribes in exchange for the promotion of officers and expelled from the Communist Party of China. UN projects world population to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, driven by growth in developing countries

More than 88 million people use Dubai Metro, 2 million use Dubai Tram in first half of 2015

July 31, 2015, Friday Jalaluddin Haqqani, the founder of the Haqqani Network, is reported as having died in 2014.

Houthi shelling kills four Saudi Arabian soldiers and wounds eight others in the Saudi town of Aseer near the volatile Yemeni border. Jazeera) Four people including members of the Bin Laden family are killed in a business jet crash close to

July 31, 2015: India and Bangladesh swapped 160 enclaves on each other’s territory – a legacy of the partition of India in 1947 that continued for 68 years

Blackbushe Airport in the United Kingdom.

More than 21 people are killed in flooding in Myanmar and up to 150,000 are displaced.

Suspected Jewish settlers set fire to a West Bank home and burned a sleeping Palestinian toddler to death in an attack that drew Palestinian rage and widespread Israeli condemnation.

India and Bangladesh have swapped control of some 160 enclaves on each other's territory. Residents were asked to choose where they wanted to live and which nationality they would prefer. Most of them decided to change nationality and stay where they live. The move comes 41 years after both the countries signed agreement to swap the control over these lands inherited by them following the partition of India in 1947. The Philippine’s Interior and Local Government

Secretary Mar Roxas announces his presidential candidacy in 2016.

Business and Economy Swiss National Bank reports a first half loss of 50 billion CHF as a result of the franc to euro peg removal earlier this year.

France agrees to pay Russia €1.16 billion in refund and compensation after the cancellation of the sale of two warships following the military intervention in Ukraine.

The Russian Central Bank lowers interest rate to 11 per cent, while the ruble falls 1.5 per cent on the day to close at 60.60 against the dollar.

Sports Beijing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. Lausanne in Switzerland is chosen as the host city for the 2020 Youth Olympic Winter Games. g

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Stinking feeling in Lebanon

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In a rare show of unity, Lebanese people came out strongly to protest against lack of waste mismanagement by the civic bodies, under a prolongued ‘You Stink’ campaign that dominated the country’s public life from July to October 2015...

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jran by a projectile fired from Yemen.

A suicide attack by the PKK kills two Turkish Army soldiers and injures 24 in the Turkish town of Doğubeyazıt in Ağrı Province near the Iran border. General Adolphe Nshimirimana, former chief of staff of the Burundi Army, is assassinated in Bujumbura.

Nigerian Army soldiers rescue 178 people from Boko Haram camps including 101 children.

August, 2015: Lebanese citizens come out strongly to protest their voice against rubbish

August 1, 2015, Saturday Turkey has killed around 260 members of the Kurdistan Workers Party in recent bombing campaigns in Turkey and northern Iraq. Officially the operation was started to attack ISIL but over 90% of attacks were against the PKK.

Two 17-year-old Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in separate incidents in violent riots protesting an arson attack that burned an infant to death.

The Peruvian Army rescues 15 people from Shining Path guerillas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin places the ancient historic site of Chersonesus under the control of the Russian federal government after a local government made a controversial appointment as site manager.

The President of Myanmar Thein Sein declares a state of emergency in four regions, Chin State, Magwe Region, Sagaing Region and Rakhine State, after floods kill at least 27 people.

A landslide in India's Manipur state near the border with Myanmar buries a village and kills at least twenty people.

Saudi Arabia has strongly denounced the terrorist act carried out by Israeli settlers on July 31, re-

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sulting in the death of a Palestinian infant and severe burning of a number his family members in Doma Village, near Nablus.

Business and Economy Abu Dhabi International Airport passes 2 million passenger mark for the first time in a single month.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has endorsed the construction of 10 pedestrian bridges in 2016 and 2017 situated in a number of vital locations in Dubai.

Total foreign aid to Jordan since the beginning of 2015 amounted to $1 billion, according to the country’s planning ministry. The Saudi Fund for Development and Abu Dhabi Fund for Development were the largest donors, as their aid totalled $256.1 million, Jordan News Agency, Petra, said

Puerto Rico fails to make a $58 million bond repayment due. Gubernatorial Chief of Staff Víctor Suárez said the government still hopes to reach an agreement with creditors on its debts.

Debris suspected to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 370 that disappeared last year arrives in France for investigation in Toulouse. August 2, 2015, Sunday A Saudi Arabian citizen is killed in the city of Na-

A court in Egypt postpones a verdict in the prominent trial of two journalists with Al Jazeera, who have been charged with aiding the Muslim Brotherhood. Two nearby Catholic and Baptist churches in Las Cruces, New Mexico are rocked by explosions at a mailbox and a trash can.

In Reedley, California, a pregnant 18 year old was shot in the left eye after passing a slow-driving SUV which suddenly pulls up alongside and opened fire in an apparent road rage incident.

On University Hill in Boulder, Colorado, police arrested James Hammack on suspicion of attempted murder. In an apparent attack on a group of four college-age men, witnesses say he yelled “You trying to die tonight?" before rushing into the group and stabbed one man.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper asks Governor General David Johnston to dissolve the Canadian Parliament and set a general election for October 19th. August 3, 2015, Monday At least 31 people are dead and dozens injured after a Syrian fighter jet crashes into a marketplace in the town of Ariha.

Flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains has caused over 100 deaths in India over the past week with tens of thousands of people taking shelter in refugee camps.

Twenty people are injured when two cranes overturn on several houses whilst installing a part of

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the Julianabrug at Alphen aan den Rijn in the Netherlands.

At least twelve people are killed with many feared trapped in the rubble as a fifty year old building collapses in the Indian city of Thane after days of heavy rain. In an unanimous decision, the jury ruled that James Eagan Holmes, convicted for the shooting, is still eligible for the death penalty.

Business and Economy British bank HSBC agrees to sell its Brazilian banking business to Banco Bradesco for $5.2 billion. Nokia sells its mapping application Here to German car makers BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz for 2.8 billion euros. The Athens Stock Exchange reopens after more than a month with share values falling by 22 percent in early trading.

Puerto Rico fails to make a scheduled payment of US$58 million to service its debts of $72 billion. Moody's considers the commonwealth in default.

Sports Katie Ledecky of the United States breaks her own world record for the 1,500 metres (4,900 feet) freestyle clocking 15:27.71 in the final in Kazan, Russia.

August 4, 2015, Tuesday Roughly 1,500 members of the UAE Army troops deployed with tanks and heavy equipment to protect southern Yemeni city of Aden which has been the scene of heavy fighting between Houthi militants and fighters loyal to the previous regime of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. UAE delivers 100 schools, 78 health clinics, 4 bridges and 600 public city buses to Egypt.

Dubai Foundation for Women and Children said it has received 124 cases of domestic violence toward women who are over the age of 18 years, during the second quarter of this year.

At least 31 people are killed and about 100 in-

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August 6, 2015, Thursday A suicide bomber kills at least eight people and injures twelve in the city of Pul-i-Alam in Logar Province.

A suicide bomb attack kills at least 15 people at a mosque in the south-western Saudi city of Abha. IS claims responsibility.

Islamic State conquers the key transport hub Al Qaryatain, allowing its forces in the Qalamun region to be supplied through this city.

Russian hackers are suspected of infiltrating the U.S. Pentagon e-mail system last week.

American news satire program The Daily Show airs its last broadcast with comedian Jon Stewart as host.

August 5, 2015: Parts of the Malaysian missing plane, Flight MH370, surfaces more than a year after its mysterous disappearance from mid air in 2014

jured as two express passenger trains derail, partially swept off a bridge while crossing flooded tracks in India's Madhya Pradesh state. Several people are dead after two boats collide between Kiwa and Remba Islands on Lake Victoria.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has reached a collective settlement of $21 million for its sex abuse claims, meaning it could come out of a January 4, 2011 Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Business and Economy The US Navy's newest submarine, the 12th in the Virginia-class submarine line, the USS John Warner, joins the fleet in a commissioning ceremony at Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia.

British Government sells 5.4 per cent of the Royal Bank of Scotland raising £2.1 billion.

August 5, 2015, Wednesday Typhoon Soudelor (Hanna) strengthens to the strongest storm of 2015; it is expected to be equivalent to a Category 3 or Category 4 hurri-

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cane when it hits Taiwan.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak confirms that the plane debris recovered from Reunion Island on July 29 is from Flight MH370. This is the first direct evidence that the missing March 2014 flight crashed. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the search for MH370 will continue.

The Italian Corps of the Port Captaincies – Coast Guard and Irish Navy rescue 367 people as a boat carrying migrants founders off the coast of Libya with 25 people dying. The Gold King Mine waste water spill releases 3 million gallons of heavy metal toxin tailings and waste water into the Animas River in Colorado.

The death toll from an outbreak of legionnaires disease in New York City rises to eight with 97 people sick.

Cambodia claims that the Thai Army has killed five Cambodians since January.

Police claim a triple murder in Pensacola, Florida is linked to witchcraft and the blue moon.

Many people commemorate the 70th anniversary of the dropping of an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

At least 17 people, including 12 Afghan army soldiers were killed following a helicopter crash in the southern province of Zabul. A Pakistani military helicopter crashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province resulting in 11 deaths.

Business and Economy Utico Middle East, the GCC’s largest private full service utility and solutions provider, and Spanish energy giant Grupo Cobra, announced their joint venture partnership to construct a Dh719 million water desalination plant in Ras Al Khaimah.

August 7, 2015, Friday At least fifteen people are dead and 400 injured when a truck bomb explodes in Kabul.

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for refusing to have sex with the group’s fighters.

North Korea will change its time zone to UTC+08:30 on August 15, returning to the time used by the Korean Empire until Japanese occupation in 1910.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopts a resolution aimed at identifying those responsible for deploying chlorine and other chemical weapons in attacks in Syria.

A Bangladeshi blogger has been hacked to death by a gang armed with machetes, the fourth such incident this year, in the capital Dhaka. Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate fails to meet lowered 45 per cent target

Sports FIBA announces that China will host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. China was chosen over the Philippines, the only other candidate nation, for the hosting rights of the tournament. August 8, 2015, Saturday One NATO service member is killed, along with eight support staff and two Taliban insurgents, in an overnight attack on Camp Integrity in Kabul.

A hostage rescue operation in central Mali was successfully performed by British SAS forces after gunmen attack a hotel with at least seven people dead.

A Rwandan soldier attached to MINUSCA goes on a shooting spree in Bangui, killing four fellow UN peacekeepers and injuring another eight before turning the gun on himself.

Typhoon Soudelor makes landfall in Taiwan killing at least four people with 64 injured.

A bombing outside the Kabul police academy kills at least 20 people with the Taliban claiming responsibility.

Property owners at Al Nakheel development in Ajman, UAE, to get Dh52 million compensation.

ISIL militants execute 19 women in Mosul, Iraq,

Sports In cricket, England regains The Ashes after tak-

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims that ISIL has kidnapped at least 230 people, including at least 60 Christians, from Al Qaryatayn in the Homs Governorate.

A man is in custody in Harris County, Texas, after six children and two adults are found dead in the American city of Houston.

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Taliban have claimed responsibility.

Two people are killed, and a third person seriously injured, during a stabbing at an Ikea store in Västerås, Sweden.

ISIL claims responsibility for a bombing in central Iraqi city of Baquba that has killed at least 30 people and injured 40 more.

The death toll from floods in Myanmar tops 100 with more than a million people affected.

A night parrot has been captured for the first time in over a hundred years in Australia's outback.

August 8, 2015: Typhoon Soudelor disrupts life in parts of Taiwan and China

ing an unbeatable lead of 3–1 in the 2015 Ashes series. Australian captain Michael Clarke announces his retirement.

In rugby union, Australia wins the 2015 Rugby Championship with a 27–19 win over the New Zealand All Blacks.

August 9, 2015, Sunday Japan commemorates the 70th anniversary of the atomic bomb dropped over the Japanese city of Nagasaki during World War II.

Singapore National Day, marking its secession from Malaysian Federation in 1965.

At least 22 people are dead or missing in China and millions are without power after Typhoon Soudelor hit the nation yesterday.

An arrest warrant has been issued for the cousin of Syrian President Bashar A Assad, Suleiman Hilal Al-Assad, who is accused of shooting and killing Colonel Hassan Al-Sheikh of the Syrian Armed Forces at what can be described as a traffic dispute.

Tyrone Harris, Jr is shot in Ferguson, Missouri one year after the death of Michael Brown after

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allegedly firing shots at police. He is in a critical condition.

The Prime Minister of Iraq Haider Al Abadi calls for abolishing the positions of Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister and says he is opening graft investigations. The previous vice president Tariq al-Hashimi was sentenced to death in absentia over political murders.

Voters in Haiti go to the polls for the first election in four years with some polling places in the capital Port-au-Prince forced to close due to violence. Business and Economy 30 companies violate midday break law across the UAE

August 10, 2015, Monday Two women attack the US consulate in Istanbul with automatic rifles. No fatalities are reported, and one of the attackers, wounded during the exchange of fire, is captured. The Revolutionary People’s Liberation Army-Front (DHKP-C) claim responsibility. A suicide bomb blast kills at least 5 people at the entrance to the Kabul International Airport. The

A scientific study, part of the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey, examined huge blocks of space as distant as several billion light years away and concluded that the universe is "slowly dying" as more stars gradually go out faster than they are being replaced by light-emitting active ones. In cosmological terms, the demise of the universe – age calculated at approximately 13.8 billion years – is billions, perhaps trillions of years away. Twenty-one elderly people have died and 66 others suffered heat exhaustion after a heat-wave swept across Egypt.

Business and Economy Google creates a new holding company called Alphabet Inc. containing Google Inc. and Calico containing Google Ventures, Google Capital, Google X and other subsidiaries. August 11, 2015, Tuesday A bomb attack consistent with Boko Haram kills 50 people in Nigeria's Borno State.

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Russia and Saudi Arabia fail to reach agreement over cooperation in the fight against ISIL, with the Saudi representative refusing any common struggle with Assad's regime.

Georgia accuses Russia of cutting off its citizens from their farmland by installing border signposts demarcating the breakaway South Ossetia region, calling on Moscow to refrain from "escalation".

The Parliament of Iraq approves a package of measures proposed by Prime Minister Haider alAbadi to tackle corruption and to abolish senior posts. Business and Economy The People's Bank of China devalues the Chinese yuan by two per cent in an attempt to boost its economy, a move which could spark a currency war.

World oil demand growth in 2015 now stands at 1.38 mb/d, after an upward revision of 90 tb/d due to a higher-than-expected performance by OECD, Americas and Europe in the 1Q and 2Q, OPEC said in its Monthly Oil Market Report August 12, 2015, Wednesday At least 40 people are killed and more than 180 wounded in artillery strikes in Damascus during a visit by the Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif. A government appointed panel chooses 40 finalist flag designs out of more than 10,000 submitted.

A massive explosion in the Chinese city of Tianjin results in at least 17 deaths, 11 people seriously injured and hundreds of people being hospitalised.

In Puyallup, Washington, a gunman on a mass shooting spree shot and killed a man, then fired at homes and people before driving a stolen SUV through the garage door, crashing into several cars and shooting at police until stopped when his SUV was rammed by a police car.

A U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashes while landing on a U.S. Navy cargo vessel near the Japanese island of Okinawa, with seven people injured.

Flooding in Argentina kills at least three people and 11,000 are made homeless.

In a two years period, 280 to 300 children have

A heatwave in Egypt has killed at least 42 people.

The death toll from a heat wave in Egypt this week rises to 60.

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been sexually abused and filmed doing forced sex acts in Pakistan by a gang consisting of 20 to 25 culprits.

Former US President Jimmy Carter, aged 90, announces that recent liver surgery revealed that he is suffering from an as-yet unspecified form of cancer which has spread to other parts of his body.

North Korea’s vice premier Choe Yong-gon is believed to have been executed by firing squad this year for voicing frustration at the policies of leader Kim Jong-Un. A South Korean man is seriously injured after setting himself on fire during a protest against Japan's use of South Korean women as sex slaves during World War II.

Dési Bouterse is sworn in for a second term as President of Suriname.

Business and Economy Pearson PLC agrees to sell its share in the Economist Group to Exor controlled by the Agnelli family for £469 million.

China devalues the yuan (Renminbi) by 1.62 per cent after devaluing by 1.92 per cent yesterday. This comes in the wake of a 30 per cent drop of Chinese stocks last month.

August 13, 2015, Thursday At least 76 people are killed and 212 others are wounded in a truck bombing in Baghdad, Iraq. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The United States believes that ISIL has likely used a sulfur mustard agent against Kurdish forces in Iraq earlier this week.

The death toll from the 2015 Tianjin explosions rises to 50.

An unspecified-type Egyptian military aircraft crashes due to a 'technical failure' near the Libyan border killing four crew members and injuring two others. Swedish prosecutors drop some charges against

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Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as the statute of limitations expire but will continue to investigate rape claims. Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri pledges Allegiance to the new Taliban chief Akhter Mansour in an audio message posted online.

A massive truck bomb ripped through a popular Baghdad food market in a predominantly Shiite neighbourhood in the early hours of this morning, killing at least 58 people. Business and Economy The government-owned New Zealand coal-mining company Solid Energy goes into temporary voluntary administration, asking creditors to freeze most of its debt. China further devalues the yuan (Renminbi) by 1 per cent after two previous devaluings.

GCC mega-projects will spur the Middle East to post a record audiovisual market value of nearly $3 billion by 2016.

August 14, 2015, Friday The people of Pakistan celebrates Independence Day, marking the country’s freedom from the British rule in 1947.

Greek Parliament approves Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras' bailout package, despite opposition by almost one-third of his Syriza party. This third bailout plan is almost identical to the one rejected by the Greek people earlier. Tsipras will seek a vote of confidence following the country's payment to the European Central Bank.

Ministers at Eurogroup's lengthy meeting today approved Greece's 85 billion euro bailout.

US Secretary of State John Kerry officially reopens the American embassy in Havana. The US flag is raised at this embassy for the first time in 54 years.

Thirteen pilgrims are killed and 11 injured in a road accident near the Indian city of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand state. Masked gunmen kill 19 people and wound seven

August 11, 2015: A massive explosion in the Chinese city of Tianjin results in at least 17 deaths, 11 people seriously injured and hundreds of people being hospitalised

others at multiple locations of São Paulo's suburbs on August 13 night. Mathematicians at the University of Washington Bothell discover a new type of pentagon tiling, the first new type of ‘tiling the plane’ with a single polygon since 1985.

August 15, 2015, Saturday India celebrates Independence Day – marking the country’s freedom from British rule that ended on August 15, 1947.

ISIL bombings kill 21 and wound more than 100 persons in Shia neighbourhoods of Baghdad. Saudi-backed forces loyal to the former Government retake the Shabwah Governorate from the Iran-backed rebels.

Fighting resumes in Syria near the Lebanese border and Idlib Governorate as a temporary ceasefire between the Syrian government, its ally Hezbollah and an alliance of insurgent groups ends. A suicide bomber kills at least three people in an attack on a marketplace in Borno state.

Jean Bikomagu, a leader of the military during the Civil War is assassinated, heightening fears of another civil war developing.

Countries around the world commemorate the end of World War II.

North Korea moves its clock back half an hour to introduce Pyongyang Time 8.5 hours ahead of UTC in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Korean peninsula. The death toll from the explosions in Tianjin rises to at least 104.

Police order further evacuations near the blast site following reports of more explosions. At least 40 migrants die of suffocation in the hold of a boat in the Mediterranean Sea near the Libyan coast.

Ecuador evacuates several villages following the Cotopaxi volcano showing signs of life.

August 16, 2015, Sunday More than 110 people have been killed and hundreds injured following a series of air-raids by the Syrian Arab Air Force on the rebel-held market town of Douma.

Eight people have been killed in the past week as India and Pakistan trade gunfire over the border in the disputed area of Kashmir. A Turkish Army soldier and three PKK militants

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growth of Indian economy. The agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to the UAE. This is the biggest foreign investment commitment secured by any Indian leader in its 68-year history.

The UAE approves plans for the construction of the first Hindu temple in the country, during a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The U.S. offers to assist Pakistan with its investigation into the suicide bombing attack on August 16, 2015, that killed at least 19 people, including Shuja Khanzada, the interior minister of the Punjab Province.

August 17, 2015: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi secures $75 billion funding from Abu Dhabi that will help India build its infrastructure

are killed in a clash in Turkey's Kars Province.

ISIL militants reportedly execute 15 women in Mosul.

Former Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri Al Maliki is among dozens of officials named in a parliamentary report on why Mosul fell to ISIL with so little resistance.

The death toll from the explosions rises to 112 with 95 people missing including 85 fire fighters.

An Indonesian plane (Trigana Air Service Flight 257) with 54 people on board goes missing in Papua. There are later reports that the remains of the aircraft have been found in the Oksibil district. Ecuador declares a state of emergency over increased activity at the Cotopaxi volcano near the capital of Quito. Its last major eruption was in 1877.

South Korea establishes a surveillance center on its northernmost island of Baengnyeongdo to better deter North Korean threats.

Crowds gather throughout Brazil to demand the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff due to a bribery and corruption scandal involving senior

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members of the governing Workers' Party. Recent polls show her approval ratings below 10 per cent. Sports In netball, Australia defeats New Zealand 58–55 in the final of the Netball World Cup in Sydney.

In golf, Jason Day of Australia wins the PGA Championship on the Straits Course of the Whistling Straits complex in the American village of Kohler, Wisconsin.

Day's 20-under-par is the lowest score in relation to par at a major championship, beating Tiger Woods' previous record of 19-under at the 2000 Open Championship.

Jordan Spieth of the United States finishes second and by doing so becomes the number one ranked golfer in the world ahead of Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland. Business and Economy Al Gharbia Pipe Company invests Dh1.1 billion in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi

August 17, 2015, Monday The UAE and India sings agreement to create a $75 billion (Dh275.75 billion) fund to invest in India’s infrastructure that could accelerate the

A bomb explodes near the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, killing at least 19 people and injuring 123 others. No one has claimed responsibility. Thai Society president Songvut Manoonpong said parties opposing the Thai military government were likely responsible. Protesters in Tianjin demand answers and compensation from the government.

A heat wave affecting the Middle East causes almost 100 deaths in Egypt.

Indonesian authorities reveal that the crashed plane was transporting $470,000 in cash for the poor. South Korea and the United States commence a joint military exercise despite threats from North.

The UN Security Council unanimously approves a statement backing intensive talks on key issues aimed at restoring peace in Syria.

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which announced an extensive computer data breach in May 2015, has revealed that the breach is much deeper and more serious than previously thought, exposing an additional 220,000 individuals. The thieves had infiltrated a now-deactivated online system called ‘Get Transcript’.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi approves a controversial anti-terrorism law. Proponents say it will help fight terrorism, and opponents say the legislation will jeopardise civil rights including

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freedom of the press.

A former US police officer is charged with second degree murder, in connection with the on-duty shooting death of John Geer in Fairfax, Virginia, in August 2013.

American actor Emile Hirsch is jailed for 15 days for an assault on a Paramount Pictures executive at the Sundance Resort in Utah.

Voters in Sri Lanka go to the polls for a general election with the ruling United National Party holding on to power.

August 18, 2015, Tuesday Fighting has intensified near the ceasefire line in eastern Ukraine with both the Government of Ukraine and the rebels blaming each other. The separatist-held cities of Donetsk and Horlivka were bombed with hundreds of shells and rockets in the last 72 hours.

Indonesian crews locate bodies of all 54 people aboard the wreckage of Trigana Air Service Flight 257 in a remote area of Papua.

The US Food and Drug Administration approves the use of Flibanserin to help women with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder.

The Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu returns his mandate to form a government to the President after failing to form a coalition government. This means that a new election is likely.

Business and Economy The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, announced contracts with UAE companies totalling more than $2.5 billion (Dh9.15 billion) for the construction of the country’s first nuclear energy plants. More than 1,100 UAE companies have been contracted for the delivery of products and services at Barakah, in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi.

The Obama administration, announces new regulations on emissions of the greenhouse gas methane. August 19, 2015, Wednesday UAE Government declares 30th of November as

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Martyr's Day and public holiday in memory of and in tribute to the sacrifices offered by the nation's martyrs and its loyal people, who offered their lives so as to keep the UAE flag flying aloft while they were performing their national duties within and outside the country, in civilian, military and humanitarian fields. Afghan Independence Day, marking the country’s freedom from United Kingdom in 1919.

RTA completes revamp of 16 bus stations in Dubai, fits them with 3D maps.

At least 151 were killed in a Boko Haram attack last week on a northeastern Nigerian village, Yadin Kukuwa. News of the attack was slow to emerge because the militants destroyed telecom masts around the village. Islamic State militants behead 82-year-old antiquities scholar Khaled Asaad, who worked for over 50 years as head of antiquities in Palmyra. A suicide bomber kills at least 20 Iraqi Army troops in the city of Baiji.

Fighting resumes in South Sudan after the failure to reach a deal between tribes loyal to the president and tribes loyal to the former vice-president. At least eight soldiers are killed in a bomb detonated by Kurdish militants.

A brush fire burning near the American town of Twisp, Washington, kills three firefighters, injures as many as four others and forces the evacuation of the towns of Twisp and Winthrop. A court in Russia has sentenced Estonian security official Eston Kohver to 15 years in prison for espionage.

United States announces that it is proposing sanctions against those connected to the South Sudan conflict, unless a ceasefire is reached promptly.

Following a July 15 hacking, user data of the infidelity-promoting dating website Ashley Madison is leaked with over 30 million users having their information compromised.

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Three people are killed, 4 injured in a drive by shooting outside of a Boys and Girls Club in Rochester, New York.

The United States Navy SEALs announce a plan to allow women to register, the first time in history.

Business and Economy The UAE was ranked first of Arab states and 23rd globally among 143 countries involved in the 'network readiness indicators' issued by the World Economic Forum in the Global Information Technology Report, 2015. The Bundestag votes to approve a third bailout for Greece.

Samsung Bioepis Co., a drug development arm of global giant Samsung, picks four banks to manage an IPO it plans for the United States in 2016.

Sports The International Association of Athletics Federations elects former British Olympic champion runner Lord Sebastian Coe as its new President, replacing Lamine Diack of Senegal. Ukrainian pole vault champion Sergey Bubka was the other contender for the position.

August 20, 2015, Thursday Macedonia declares a state of emergency and deploys police units on its borders as immigrants from the Middle East, mainly from Syria and Iraq, block the railway line between Thessaloniki and Skopje.

Large blasts occur in Cairo and Giza, Egypt, targeting the State Security agency with six police officers injured.

North and South Korea exchange artillery fire over the border at Yeoncheon, prompting South Korea to order evacuations of its citizens in the area. The Israeli Army has fired Spike missiles on Syrian Army positions in the Golan Heights' Quneitra area.

Archaeologists find the skull rack used by the Aztecs to display victims in the ruins of the Tem-

August 19, 2015: The UAE Government declares November 30 to be observed countrywide as Martyr’s Day, as a mark of respect to the heroes who sacrificed their lives at war

plo Mayor in Mexico City.

At least 7 people are killed in a mid-air collision between two aircraft near Bratislava, Slovakia.

The President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro orders the border with Colombia at the town of San Antonio del Táchira closed for three days after three soldiers are attacked while looking for smugglers. A newspaper publisher is shot dead in Mindanao, Philippines.

In Brazil, prosecutors lodge corruption charges against Speaker of the Lower House Eduardo Cunha and former President Fernando Collor de Mello, alleging illegal activities involving stateowned oil company, Petrobras.

Former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle reaches a plea deal with U.S. federal prosecutors in Indianapolis. Fogle will plead guilty to distributing child pornography and travelling to have sex with at least two teenage girls. Under the deal, he will serve from 5 to 12½ years in prison, and will also pay $1.4 million in restitution to 14 victims. Pierre Nkurunziza is sworn in for a third term as President of Burundi. The Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, an-

nounces his resignation and calls a new election for September 20.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced that his liver cancer (melanoma) had spread to his brain. In addition to radiation, Carter will be treated with a new drug, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), that boosts the immune system without the debilitating side effects of older treatments.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that July was the hottest month globally since record keeping began in 1880. Global temperatures were 1.46°F (0.81°C) warmer than the 20th century average. NOAA scientists expect 2015 will go down as the warmest year on record. The two Koreas engaged in a brief exchange of shells over the western part of their heavily-fortified border, escalating inter-Korean tensions following the North's recent land mine attack on the South side.

Business and Economy Kazakh currency tenge loses 26 per cent of its value against the US dollar within hours of a government announcement that Kazakhstan will abandon its currency-band exchange-rate system to implement a free-floating exchange rate in the coming days.

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Sports The Public Prosecution in Abu Dhabi has ordered the arrest of a sportsman following the appearance of a video on social networking sites in which the accused sportsman had spoken abusive words against another sports figure. It added that, "This is considered a crime and breach of public morality, which is punishable up to imprisonment and fine." August 21, 2015, Friday More than 100 governments around the world including the UAE have set up a Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) to plan, coordinate, integrate, synchronize and conduct activities to defend the information security environment, a US strategist has said.

The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant destroys the historic Mar Elian monastery near the town of A Qaryatayn in the Homs Governorate in Syria. At least 65 civilians are killed following Saudi-led coalition air-strikes on the Yemeni city of Taiz.

Doctors Without Borders makes a dramatic appeal to Yemen's warring factions to halt civilian attacks, especially on hospitals, ambulances and densely populated neighbourhoods.

Four people are wounded on an AmsterdamParis train after a gunman opens fire.

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A bottle with a letter inside by British marine biologist George Parker Bidder III is discovered by a woman vacationing in Germany. The bottle dating from 1906, if confirmed, would be the world's oldest message in a bottle found to date.

Typhoon Goni kills two people in the Philippines with thousands of people evacuated in the Phillipines and Taiwan.

The season's first hurricane, Hurricane Danny, is upgraded to Category 3, as its winds strengthened to 115 mph. On its current track, the hurricane will move across the Leeward Islands by Monday but may weaken when it reaches Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. President Barack Obama declares a state of emergency across northeastern and central Washington as the amount of burned land in the state reaches nearly a half-million acres.

Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un orders the Korean People's Army to be on a war footing following the exchange of artillery fire with South Korea yesterday.

The United States halts, then resumes its annual military exercise with South Korea, Foal Eagle, amid rising tensions. Ranil Wickremesinghe is sworn in as the new

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Prime Minister of Sri Lanka following a strong performance by his United National Front for Good Governance in last Monday's election.

The State Council of China orders an investigation of the explosions Tiangin as the death toll rises to 121.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ&#x;an calls a snap election for 1 November after the previous election resulted in a hung parliament unable to form a coalition government.

An explosion occurs at a chemical warehouse in China's Shandong province, with nine injured according to Chinese media.

25 parliamentarians from the governing Syriza party announce plans to form a new party, Popular Unity, led by former energy minister Panagiotis Lafazanis.

August 21, 2015: Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

2015

Business and economy The Dow Jones Industrial Average drops and closes down more than 500 points with the NASDAQ and S&P 500 also down more than 3 per cent. Sports South Korean teenagers participated in an under15 international football tournament in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. In its first game, the South Korean team defeated a Chinese team at the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium.

August 22, 2015, Saturday South Korea evacuates residents near the North Korean border as tension escalates. High level talks are held in Panmunjom to defuse tensions.

An A Shabaab suicide bomber attacks a Somali military training base in Kismayu with at least 16 people dead. Another five people are killed in a suicide bombing in Mogadishu.

Iran launches a new surface-to-surface missile called the Fateh 313.

An Afghan suicide bomber attacks a NATO convoy in Kabul killing at least twelve people and injuring 66.

Over 50 people are killed in the Syrian rebel-held town of Douma near the capital Damascus following missile strikes by pro-Assad forces.

Mei Xiang, a female giant panda at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., delivers two cubs. The identity of the father is not known.

A Hawker Hunter aircraft crashes during an airshow after failing to pull out of dive at Shoreham Airport, West Sussex, United Kingdom. Seven people are killed with 15 injured.

Three people are dead and eight missing after a landslide in China's Yunnan Province.

Indian police arrest Jammu and Kashmir separatist Shabir Shah ahead of a meeting with Pakistani National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz. A second journalist is killed in the Philippines in a week.

Fourteen members of the Barrio 18 street gang are killed in the Quetzaltepeque penitentiary in El Salvador; the killings are believed to be a result of a power struggle within the gang.

Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas resigns from the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation along with 11 ministers to force an election. The last time there were elections in the Palestinian authority was in 2005.

August 23, 2015, Sunday British hostage Douglas Robert Semple rescued by UAE forces.

The taxicabs of the Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, in Dubai have carried more than 107 million passengers on 52 million trips over the first six months of this year.

By the end of the academic year 2015-2016, parents will benefit from more than 63,000 seats in 27 new private schools and by 2017 there will be more than 196 private schools in Dubai with a capacity to reach more than 341,000 students.

A Qaeda militants take over parts of the strategic southern Yemeni port city of Aden. The militants reportedly raised their black flag above the city's

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on the Korean peninsula after marathon talks.

South Africa convicts Czech fugitive Radovan Krejčíř of kidnapping, attempted murder and drug dealing charges.

Former Vice President of Guatemala Roxana Baldetti appears in court to face corruption charges as finance minister Dorval Carias resigns.

Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau Baciro Djá sacks the chiefs of Guinea-Bissau National Radio and Television, Muniro Conte and Paula Mielo, over political "bias". August 2015: UAE soldiers help rescue British citizens and help free up Yemeni territories from Houthi rebels. UAE Army is participating in Yemen conflict as part of a wider Arab coalition resistance

port and government buildings. The city was recaptured by pro-government forces last week.

A Saudi general is killed in cross-border fire from Yemen making him the highest-ranking officer to be killed in border attacks by Houthi militants since March.

Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant is reported to have blown up the ancient Baalshamin temple in Palmyra, Syria. The death toll from floods in Assam, India, rises to seven, with 650,000 people displaced.

Typhoon Goni leaves the Philippines with 15 dead and 12 people missing.

The number of fatalities in the 2015 Shoreham Airshow crash is ‘highly likely’ to have risen to 11. Britain and Iran reopen embassies in each others' capitals that had been closed after Iranian protesters stormed the British embassy on November 29, 2011. North and South Korea resume talks in the border village of Panmunjon in efforts to defuse recent tensions. Malaysia finds the bodies of more than 20 people

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believed to be victims of human trafficking in mass graves buried near the border with Thailand.

August 24, 2015, Monday Two Turkish Army soldiers are killed and three are injured as their car hits an IED near the town of Şemdinli in Hakkari Province.

PKK insurgents blow up a natural gas pipeline in Turkey's south-eastern Kars Province near the Armenian border. A bomb explodes on a bus carrying Egyptian police killing one and injuring 29 in the Nile delta.

Clashes at a government protest in Kailali kill 8 in Nepal, including seven police officers. Rockets fired by Houthi militiamen reportedly kill 14 people as fighting intensifies in the city of Taiz.

The Okanogan Complex fire grows to 256,500 acres (103,800 ha), surpassing the previous year's Carlton Complex fire as the largest in Washington state history.

A sightseeing seaplane crash on Quebec's North Shore kills all six people aboard. North and South Korea agree to reduce tensions

The President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan calls new elections after a deadline to form a new government after an inconclusive election in June. Jakobshavn Glacier sheds a massive 12.4 sq. km. section of ice.

Business and Economy Stock markets around the world fall as a result of fears about China's economy with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling by 1000 points at the opening of trading on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Index closes down 588 points.

The South African rand hits an all-time low against the US dollar as a result of worries regarding China's economy. American utility Southern Company buys natural gas company AGL Resources for $12 billion.

Sports Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce narrowly defeats Dafne Schippers in the Women's 100 metres finals in Beijing.

Kenya moves into first place on the leaderboard with gold medals earned by Vivian Cheruiyot (in 10,000 metres) and Ezekiel Kemboi (in 3000 metres steeplechase). In motorsport, IndyCar driver Justin Wilson dies at the age of 37 one day after being struck in the head by debris from another vehicle's crash during Sunday's race at Pocono Raceway.

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The Sheikh Khalifa Speciality Hospital in Ras alKhaimah, SKSH-RAK, has recorded a new medical accomplishment by removing a 1.25 kg tumour from the liver of a 41-year-old UAE female patient. August 25, 2015, Tuesday A teenage girl suicide bomber kills five people and injures fourteen in the Damaturu area in northeast Nigeria.

Fourteen people are arrested in Spain and Morocco for allegedly trying to recruit people to ISIL. North Korea and South Korea agree to stop airing propaganda at the border and stand down preparations for war.

Typhoon Goni makes landfall in southwestern Japan with at least 26 people injured but no people killed. The death toll in the Philippines rises to 21 while South Korea is on alert.

A gas explosion in the Afghanistan city of Herat kills eleven people and injures 18.

A record number of migrants crossing the Balkans results in a record number of people in Hungary despite the government building a wall on the border with Serbia.

Four people are killed and 3 others are severely injured in a shooting at a Romani camp in Roye, Somme, France, by a suspect from the same community.

Protests by the Patidar community in Ahmedabad turn violent, sparking violence across the state of Gujarat, India. The Parliament of Singapore is dissolved with a general election to be held on September 11. US to take in 8,000 Syrian refugees in 2016.

UN atomic energy watchdog, IAEA said, it will need more than $10 million a year to assess Iran’s nuclear capacity. Business and Economics UAE’s Federal Electricity and Water Authority inaugurates Dh130 million power station in Umm

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separatists in the past day.

Two boats carrying migrants capsize off of the coast of Libya, with hundreds feared dead.

Austrian police discover as many as 50 dead refugees in a truck. A sinkhole in China swallows five people.

August 2015: A woman walks past a pile of garbage in a Beirut neighbourhood, as the ‘You Stink’ movement gains momentum

Al Qaiwain, that will help meet the growing demand in Northern Emirates of the UAE.

The People's Bank of China cuts interest rates and lowers minimum requirements for bank reserves for the second time in two months. August 26, 2015, Wednesday Two NATO soldiers are shot dead by two men in Afghan military uniforms.

ISIL has destroyed two historic Muslim shrines in Palmyra.

A U.S. drone strike in Syria kills Junaid Hussain – a British hacker for the Islamic State.

The smallest of mother Mei Xiang's two giant panda cubs born on Saturday at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. dies.

A Swedish rescue crew finds 51 dead migrants in the hold of a boat off the coast of Libya during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean Sea that has saved 439 other people. In addition, three women are found dead in another migrant boat and another corpse is found during ten rescue operations that have saved around 3,000 people, according to the Italian coast guard.

China sacks its workplace safety chief Yang Dongliang for alleged corruption following an investigation triggered by the Tianjin explosions.

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A U.S. television reporter and her cameraman, Alison Parker and Adam Ward, are shot dead during a live broadcast in Moneta, Virginia; the woman they were interviewing, Vicki Gardner, is wounded. The alleged shooter, Vester Lee Flanagan II, later uploads a video of the murder and commits suicide.

James Eagan Holmes is formally sentenced to 12 consecutive life sentences plus 3,318 years for the murder of 12 people and injury of 70 others at a Century movie theatre in the U.S. city of Aurora, Colorado.

Business and Economy The U.S. Army awards the $6.7 billion contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, the replacement for the Humvee, to the Wisconsin-based company Oshkosh Corporation.

August 27, 2015, Thursday Two generals of the Iraqi Army and 3 soldiers are killed and 10 wounded when an Islamic State suicide bomber detonates in Ramadi.

Israel Defence Forces destroy a Hamas weapons manufacturing facility located within the Gaza Strip.

India deploys army in Gujarat after two days of caste-related violence results in seven deaths. Seven Ukraine servicemen have died and 13 were wounded in skirmishes with pro-Russian

Four people are killed on the Caribbean island of Dominica as a result of floods and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Erika.

Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou, the head of the Court of Cassation, is appointed as interim Prime Minister of Greece for the duration of the election. She is the first woman to hold the post.

Thousands of protesters joined a Guatemalan national strike Thursday demanding the resignation of President Otto Pérez Molina for corruption. Five of 13 cabinet ministers have resigned while the Supreme Court unanimously approved a motion to impeach the president.

Business and Economy Walmart will stop selling the AR-15 and other semi-automatic rifles allegedly because of sluggish customer demand. Panasonic will stop making lithium-ion batteries for phones and cameras in Beijing, China, with a cut of 1,300 jobs.

Oilfield services provider Schlumberger agrees to acquire construction company Cameron International in a $12.71 billion deal.

David H. Murdock, the CEO and chairman of Dole Food Company, along with a fellow confidant, are ordered to pay $148 million for misleading directors and shareholders.

August 28, 2015, Friday A car bomb detonates in the parking lot of a Baghdad police station while police attempt to defuse it, killing 6 officers and injuring 10.

Indian and Pakistani border guards exchange gunfire over the disputed Kashmir border with 9 civilians killed and 63 injured.

2015

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The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination recommends that Costa Rica remove Cocorí from schools because of its perceived racial connotation.

The body count from a van found on an Austrian highway carrying migrants yesterday rises to at least 71. Three people are arrested in Hungary in relation to their deaths.

Tropical Storm Erika has left at least 12 dead and more than 20 missing.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott declares a state of emergency as Erika is forecast to hit the Gulf Coast of Florida on Monday.

Hawaii Governor David Ige signed an emergency proclamation in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Ignacio on Monday.

Seven people are killed and two injured after being exposed to toxic chemicals at a paper mill in central China.

Thirty-eight girls and young women die in a crash and twenty others on board the truck are injured travelling to the traditional Umhlanga ceremony in Swaziland. Turkish police detain two British journalists from covering unrest in southeastern Turkey.

Two French journalists are arrested for allegedly attempting to blackmail King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran is charged with 64 counts including fraud, embezzlement and money laundering.

Interim Prime Minister of Greece Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou, the country's first female prime minister, was sworn on August 27. The PM named her caretaker government cabinet that will oversee implementation of austerity measures required by the latest debt bailout with Eurogroup.

August 29, 2015, Saturday A ceasefire starts between the forces of President Salva Kiir and rebel forces with claims of breaches already being made.

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At least 10 people are killed in bombings in Iraq.

Thirty-five people are killed when a bus travelling between Butterworth and Willovale in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, drives off a cliff. Five deaths occurred in Haiti as Tropical Storm Erika dumped heavy rains there, on the Dominican Republic, and on Puerto Rico.

U.S. police in Harris County, Texas, arrest Shannon Miles for the alleged murder of Sheriff Deputy Darren Goforth.

Tens of thousands of Malaysians rally in Kuala Lumpur calling for Prime Minister Najib Razak to step down over a financial scandal where a MYR 2.67 billion ($700 million) payment was made to his bank account from unnamed foreign donors.

A legislative commission urges the Congress of Guatemala to remove President Otto Pérez Molina's immunity from prosecution over a corruption scandal that has caused former Vice President Roxana Baldetti to be jailed and much of the Cabinet to resign.

Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) said it has completed 35 per cent of the 328-kilometre Al Mafraq Al Ghweifat road project, at a cost Dh5.3 billion. Sports American athlete Ashton Eaton sets a new world record in the decathlon on the penultimate night of competition at Beijing.

August 30, 2015, Sunday An air strike from a Saudi-led coalition kills 36 civilians working in a bottling plant in the northern Hajjah Governorate. The Syrian Human Rights claims that ISIL has blown up the ancient Temple of Bel in Palmyra.

A fire at an Aramco housing complex in the Saudi Arabian city of Khobar kills at least two people and injures 105.

Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit declares disaster status for nine local areas where access by road is impossible after flooding and

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mudslides from tropical storm Erika which killed at least 20 people and left more than 50 missing.

Hungary makes a fifth arrest in relation to the death of 71 migrants in a truck in Austria.

Around 65 girls and young women travelling to an annual dance festival are killed after a truck smashes into a van near Mbabane, Swaziland.

WHAT YOU STINK MATTERS...

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Residents of Beirut have come out strongly to protest against the municipality’s negligence in waste management, prompting the longest protest in the country – chanting slogans, You Stink!

Protestors in Beirut continue their protests against the government due to a lack of effective garbage collection in the city during one of the hottest summers on record.

August 31, 2015, Monday Thirty-nine per cent of UAE residents go online for purchases each week, a survey by Network International, says.

Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America, officially regains its original Alaska native name through an executive order issued by US President Barack Obama. Previously, since 1917, it had been known as Mount McKinley. Riot police clash with protesters armed with firecrackers and petrol bombs outside the parliament building, in Kiev, Ukraine, leaving one national guardsman dead and around 100 people injured.

A park in Damascus is named after the North Korean founding leader Kim Il-Sung.

Kevin Dahlgren, who is suspected of killing four Czech family members, has been extradited from the United States to face trial.

White supremacist Frazier Glenn Miller, Jr. is convicted of three counts of murder outside two Jewish centres in the American state of Kansas.

Three people are dead and three people injured in the Churachandpur district of India's Manipur State following riots after the passage of three bills in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

According to a new study, the Sumatran Rhino is now considered extinct in the wild in Malaysia. No new wild animals have been spotted since 2007, elsewhere fewer than 100 Rhinos remain in the wild. g

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The Mass Exodus

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In a mass exodus involving three continents, millions of displaced Syrian, Iraqi, Libyans and Afghans pursue a long and fatal journey to Europe in a desperate attempt to live. In a rare show of compassion, European citizens welcomed them with open arms...

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storage comes into force in Russia.

The center-left opposition, led by Aksel V. Johannesen, wins the elections on the Faroe Islands; the new government is expected to pass legislation allowing same-sex unions.

University of California, San Francisco, scientists announce the discovery of an altered protein (prion) that is the direct cause of a rare, incurable, Parkinson’s-like brain disorder, multiple system atrophy.

Business and Economy Canada is in recession. According to Statistics Canada, GDP fell 0.8 per cent in the 0.5 per cent in the second quarter. September 1, 2015: Thousands of refugees arrive in Germany’s Munich seeking asylum

September 1, 2015, Tuesday The UAE has stepped forward with a US$15 million contribution in support of the critical UNRWA education programme, as a $101 million funding shortfall had put at risk the start of the school year for the 685 UNRWA schools that serve 500,000 students in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Dubai Police resolves accommodation problem for 120 evicted workers.

The Islamic State has completely destroyed the Temple of Bel in Palmyra, Syria, after earlier reports that the structure was mostly intact.

Binyuan Chemical Company explodes in the Chinese city of Dongying in the coastal Shandong province, killing at least one person with the extent of other injuries unknown. .

Authorities in Hungary close the Budapest Keleti railway station to prevent hundreds of migrants from boarding trains to other European capitals.

Thousands of refugees arrive in Germany's München Hauptbahnhof from Budapest. Police and firefighters on the scene provide them with food, water and medical aid even as more continue to arrive.

The number of trade licenses issued in Sharjah during the first half of 2015 increased by 4 percent to 33,192 licenses issued and renewed, up from 31,889 in the same period of 2014.

GCC healthcare IT spending set to top $550 million in 2015.

September 2, 2015 Wednesday Vietnam celebrates Independence Day, marking its freedom from Japan and France in 1945.

A car bomb kills at least seven people in the Latakia Governorate of Syria.

French police arrest an arsonist for a fire in an apartment in the 18th arrondissement of Paris which killed eight people.

Six suspected militants are killed in a US drone attack in the tribal area of North Waziristan.

More than 11,000 Icelanders offer to open their homes to Syrian refugees to help with the European crisis.

Eight people have been killed and over 30 injured in riots in the Indian state of Manipur since the passage of three controversial land bills on August 31, 2015.

Wikipedia concludes a large-scale operation blocking hundreds of users centred on networks of for-pay edits violating the encyclopedia's guidelines.

More than 3,000 indigenous Lumad evacuate over the murders of a Lumad family and the rape of a Manobo girl allegedly by soldiers and militiamen of the Philippine Army.

A French probe into the death of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 2004 closes without bringing any new information.

Pope Francis releases a letter granting priests the ability to grant absolution to women who have received an abortion.

A chemical plant owned by the Shandong

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Eurostar services between Paris and London are delayed by hundreds of migrants trying to board the trains at Calais.

A law affecting online personal computer data

There have been 907 deaths last month in El Salvador as a result of gang violence, a death rate not seen since the Salvadoran Civil War of the 1980s.

A judge orders that President of Guatemala Otto

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Pérez Molina be detained for his alleged role in a corruption scandal.

A new study estimates that there are three trillion trees on Earth, with 15 billion lost each year to mainly human causes.

Russian rocket Soyuz TMA-18M launches a crew of three to the ISS. Business and Economy More than 150 million workers go on strike in India to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s labour market reforms.

Sports South Africa will become the first African nation to host the Commonwealth Games as Durban is granted the rights to host the games in 2022.

September 3, 2015, Thursday Bodies of Syrian refugees are found on a beach in Turkey, including a 3-year-old boy Aylan Kurdi, pictures of whose body spread virally and prompt grave international concern.

An overloaded wooden boat with Sumatra-bound migrants sinks off the coast of Malaysia killing at least 15 people, 13 of which are women. Nearby fisherman rescue 19 people with more than 40 missing.

French prosecutors state that they believe "with certainty" that a piece of debris that had washed ashore on Reunion Island came from the missing plane – Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.

The President of Guatemala, Otto Pérez Molina, resigns after being charged in a corruption scandal; Vice President Alejandro Maldonado is sworn in as interim head of state. Harriman, Tennessee police arrest 41-year-old actress Jennifer Ann Lien, accused of exposing herself to children and is charged with two misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure involving children under age 13.

September 4, 2015, Friday An explosion at an arms depot in Yemen kills 45 Emirati soldiers who were part of the Saudi led coalition.

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Afghanistan – arrive in Vienna. They travelled from Hungary by bus, train or on foot. The migrants were given the opportunity to register in Austria or move on to Germany.

The first group, 450 of an expected 10,000 migrants, arrive in Munich, Germany, after travelling through Hungary and Austria.

Former vice president Annette Lu of Taiwan files charges of treason against former vice president Lien Chan, accusing him of breaching national security when he attended the 2015 China Victory Day Parade.

Dubai Customs foils smuggling attempt of 35 million tramadol pills and 2.5 tonnes of powder tramadol

September 4, 2015: 45 UAE soldiers martyred in Yemen

Five Bahraini soldiers are killed on the SaudiYemeni border while taking part in a military operation against Yemen-based Houthi militants.

Iraqi security forces raid the offices of Kata’ib Hezbollah in Baghdad, accusing them of being involved in the abduction of 18 Turkish workers.

Clashes in and around Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe kill at least 17 people.

Russia confirms providing military aid in Syrian Civil War in support of the Bashar Al Assad regime.

The world's shortest man ever recorded, Chandra Bahadur Dangi, dies from pneumonia in an American Samoan hospital at age 75. Dangi lived with his family in Dang District, Nepal. His height, listed in the Guinness World Records, is 54.6 centimeters / 21.5 inches.

A Latvian man charged by U.S. over the Gozi computer virus (a proxy Trojan horse) pleads guilty. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said, Ebola-ravaged Liberia was once again free of the deadly virus.

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Business and Economy General Mills sells subsidiary Green Giant to B&G Foods Inc. for $765 million.

BlackBerry Limited announces it will purchase Good Technology, a provider of mobile software, as part of its broader shift to a services role within the internet of things.

Fiat Chrysler U.S. recalls 7,810 SUVs to prevent hacking.

September 5, 2015, Saturday At least 20 Syrian rebels and 27 ISIS fighters are killed in a battle in Mare', Syria, in northern Aleppo Governorate near the Turkish border. The death toll in Tajikistan clashes rises to 22 dead.

Al Shabaab militants seize two towns in southern Somalia.

Thai police seek a 10th suspect in deadly Bangkok bombing.

Following Austria's and Germany's decision to waive their asylum system rules, approximately 6,500 migrants – mostly from Syria, Iraq, and

Abu Dhabi customs foils 6,435 smuggling attempts of illegal substances into the UAE in the first half of 2015

September 6, 2015, Sunday At least 10 people die and 8 are missing from a South Korean fishing charter that capsized off the country's southern coast. Coast Guard officers said three people survived by clinging to the wreckage for 10 hours. The death toll from the September 1 chemical factory blast in China rises to 13.

A Spain car rally race crash leaves six dead after a car veers off a straight section into spectators. Pope Francis asks Catholic faithful in Europe to host refugee families fleeing death from war and hunger, and announces the Vatican's two churches will welcome two families of refugees.

In Tampa, Florida, former University of South Florida football player Elkino Watson is killed and Desmon Watson, another former player, is injured after an early morning stabbing following an argument outside a nightclub in Ybor City.

In North Carolina, an unprecedented 11 people have been shot, 5 fatally, over the Labour Day weekend, including a boy shot at a birthday party. In the second police officer shooting in the city in three days, a man ambushed a marked police

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SUV stopped at a traffic light in Las Vegas by walking up and firing multiple rounds, striking one officer in the hand. The shooter was arrested.

Crystal Cortes of Dallas, Texas is charged with capital murder of dentist Kendra Hatcher on September 2. Her borrowed Jeep Cherokee was seen entering a parking garage on video. She told police she conspired with an unidentified man who paid her to drive him to the garage with the intention of robbery. Voters in Guatemala go to the polls for a general election. The presidential election appears headed for a runoff.

Thailand's National Reform Council (NRC) rejects a controversial new constitution, 135 to 105, with 7 abstentions. This result dissolves the NRC, continues military rule for at least 7 months, and delays the scheduled January 2016 referendum to early 2017 or later.

Ajman Map Portal wins GIS Outstanding Achievement Award for 2015 at a ceremony held in California.

September 7, 2015, Monday Turkish jets strike PKK militant positions across south-east Turkey and northern Iraq and deploy special forces to the Iraqi border following a deadly PKK attack which left at least 16 Turkish soldiers dead. Five people are killed as a small plane crashes in western Colorado.

French President François Hollande agrees to take 24,000 refugees out of the estimated 100,000 per month expected to arrive.

The UK House of Commons passes a planned referendum on the Kingdom's continued membership in the European Union.

A lawyer, Carey Gabay, is shot in the head and critically wounded, caught in crossfire between feuding gangs in Brooklyn, New York City. Two others are wounded in shootings and one man is stabbed to death.

In Cass County, Missouri, a family of four is fired

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A massive sandstorm hits Lebanon and Syria as well as Jordan, Israel and Egypt, caused the deaths of two women, and sent hundreds to hospitals with breathing difficulties. Particularly hard hit were the 1.1 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, many in flimsy tents in campsites.

North and South Korea are to hold reunions for families divided by the Korean War from October 20 to October 26. Sigmar Gabriel, the Vice Chancellor of Germany, says that Germany “can take 500,000 asylum seekers a year” while calling on other nations to take their fair share.

September, 2015: Thousands of displaced people take refuge in Europe in a desperate attempt to save their lives while getting killed in the process...

upon after they passed a slower vehicle, which then pulls up alongside and opens fire, hitting the father and a 2-year-old girl. Police believe the motive may have been road rage after flashing headlights.

Voters in Trinidad and Tobago go to the polls for a House of Representatives election with the People's National Movement led by Keith Rowley returning to power.

US President Barack Obama announces a new executive order requiring federal government contractors to offer workers seven days of paid sick leave per year, during Labour Day holiday activities in Boston, .

Hungary’s Defence Minister Csaba Hende resigns amid the refugee crisis. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán immediately replaced Hende with a member of his Fidesz party, István Simicskó.

A boiled or meteor fireball explodes over the Thai city of Bangkok. Global marine terminal operators DP World, Hutchison Port Holdings Limited, HPH, APM Terminals, PSA International and Shanghai International Port Group, SIPG, five of the world’s

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largest port operators, and the Port of Rotterdam Authority, have launched the first ever joint industry initiative, ‘Go Green’, to promote environmental awareness and make a sustainable difference in the communities in which they operate.

September 8, 2015, Tuesday Turkey bombs PKK sites in northern Iraq after a bombing yesterday in Hakkâri Province that killed at least 16 soldiers.

A PKK bombing attack on a minibus in the eastern Iğdır Province near the Armenian border kills 14 Turkish police officers.

Two ISIS militants, UK citizens, Reyaad Khan and Ruhul Amin, were killed in Syria when a British drone attack hit their car on August 21, 2015. Both Khan and Amin had appeared in an ISIS recruitment video last year. They are alleged to have been plotting a terrorist attack on the UK.

The UN announces that it has grave concerns for around 96,000 children in Al Hudaydah, Yemen, who are starving due to the nearby fighting.

A Saudi-led air raid on Yemen's Al Hudaydah port reportedly kills 20 Indian nationals involved in oil smuggling.

The U.S. city of Baltimore, Maryland, agrees to a $6.4 million settlement with relatives over the death of Freddie Gray.

Pope Francis announces canon law reforms making it easier for people to obtain declarations of nullity (marriage annulments).

Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, is reelected President of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Business and Economy German airline Lufthansa cancels 84 long-haul flights as pilots go on strike over a proposed restructure plan.

British Airways Flight 2276, a Boeing 777 aircraft, suffers an uncontained engine failure and fire on take-off from McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Fourteen of the 172 on board are injured and taken to a nearby hospital. Jeff Smisek resigns as CEO of United Airlines due to allegations that he tried to improperly influence officials at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Sport In football, Wayne Rooney becomes the highest goalscorer for the England national football team with a goal against Switzerland in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match. September 9, 2015, Wednesday Islamic Front rebels seize Abu Al Duhur military

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airport while taking control of Syria's northwestern Idlib province.

Russian forces reportedly begin combat operations in Syria in support of the Bashar Al Assad government.

Egypt deploys around 800 troops to Yemen to join the Saudi-led war effort against the Houthis.

Queen Elizabeth II becomes Britain’s longestreigning monarch (63 years and seven months), surpassing the record set by Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother. Australia announces that it will accept an additional 12,000 Syrian migrants, mostly from persecuted minorities. Israel reopens its embassy in Cairo, Egypt, after closing it in 2011 after violent protests.

Business and Economy A German court issues an injunction ordering a halt to a Lufthansa airline pilots' strike. Earlier, Germany’s biggest airline announced it had cancelled 1,000 flights while 500 would still operate. September 10, 2015, Thursday ISIL attacks a government held air base near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor with dozens of government loyalists and ISIL militants killed.

At least 30 people have been killed in the southeastern Turkish city of Cizre following clashes between Turkish security forces and pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) supporters.

Air strikes target Houthi political leaders and military bases in Sana’a, Yemen.

In Japan, tens of thousands are forced to evacuate due to flooding and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Etau. So far, one person is reported as missing.

Denmark reopens rail services to Germany after closing rail lines and a motorway in order to stem the massive flow of Arab and African migrants on their way to Sweden. US President Barack Obama directs his admin-

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istration to accept at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the next fiscal year from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The US Senate fails to pass a resolution blocking approval of the nuclear agreement with Iran, meaning it will be adopted on October 19.

Azerbaijan jails journalist Khadija Ismayilova after a trial that many believe is politically-motivated.

Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López is convicted and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for allegedly inciting violence at anti-government rallies.

A US federal jury awards nearly $17.5 million to five former migrant workers at a South Florida farm in their case of sexual harassment and abuse in their work.

Scientists at the University of the Witwatersrand discover a new species of hominid (Homo naledi) in the Rising Star Cave in South Africa. They could be three million years old. September 11, 2015, Friday The jet fighters of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence have launched air strikes against the Houthi rebel militia strongholds in Yemen.

An improvised explosive device in a Yola, Nigeria displacement camp kills 7 people. The Turkish Air Force strikes 64 PKK targets in northern Iraq reportedly killing up to 60 PKK members.

Burundi's army chief General Prime Niyongabo survives an assassination attempt after armed men attacked his motorcade on a busy road in the capital, Bujumbura. Six people are killed in the attack. Britney Spears announces a two-year extension in performing Britney: Piece of Me on the Las Vegas Strip.

At least three people die, 27 are injured, and 26 people are missing, the majority of them in and around Jōsō city in Ibaraki Prefecture, as a result of floods and landslides in Japan after heavy

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rainfall caused by Tropical Storm Etau.

Strong winds cause a construction crane collapse at the Masjid Al Haram mosque killing 107 people and injuring 283 others. Most of the people killed were on the annual Islamic Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah.

The UN General Assembly votes in favour of flying the flags of non-member observer states outside the headquarters in New York City. Palestine will raise their flag on September 30, while Vatican City has made no plans yet. Foreign ministers from Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia meet with officials from the European Union and Germany to discuss differences over migrant quotas.

Defence lawyers say the United States continues to block the release of 116 pages of the lawyers' notes detailing the torture that Guantanamo Bay prisoner Abu Zubaydah says he experienced in CIA custody. Zubaydah has yet to be charged with any crime despite being held since 2002. A Mumbai, India court convicts twelve men with one man acquitted for their roles in the bombing which killed 209 people and injured 714.

The Phoenix, Arizona area has had 11 confirmed shootings on and around Interstate 10 in less than two weeks. No life-threatening injuries have been reported, though a 13-year-old girl was cut by flying glass from a shattered window. The California State Legislature approves legislation allowing for assisted suicide.

Singapore's elections conclude with more than 2.46 million voters casting ballots. The governing People's Action Party (PAP), wins 83 out of 89 seats. September 12, 2015, Saturday A drone strike kills four suspected Al-Qaeda militants in northern Yemen. Medics claim that at least 16 other people have been killed in Saudi led airstrikes.

Houthi militants backed by allied Yemeni troops seize control of four Saudi military bases in Saudi

September 11, 2015: A construction crane at Masjid Al Haram collapses, killing 107 pilgrims ahead of the Hajj – the largest annual pilgrimage in Makkah

Arabia's southern 'Asir Region.

Chinese and Indian troops face-off in the Burtse region of northern Ladakh after Indian troops crossed the mutually-agreed patrolling line to dismantle a disputed watchtower the Chinese were building close to line. An offensive against ISIS militants in northern Sinai over the past week has killed at least 164 insurgents with the loss of eight troops.

Violent clashes erupt between new Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the Silwan area of East Jerusalem with 13 Palestinians and four Israeli police injured. An Indian Railways train derailment near Gulbarga in Karnataka state kills at least two people with several others injured.

Japan resumes a search for 16 missing persons after torrential rain and floods with thousands still hoping to return home.

A series of explosions in the Indian town of Petlawad in the state of Madhya Pradesh kills at least 104 people with over 150 missing.

The Butte Fire has destroyed 60 homes in the rural counties of Amador and Calaveras and threatens 6000 residents in California.

Sports In tennis, Italian Flavia Pennetta defeats fellow countrywoman Roberta Vinci in two sets to win the 2015 US Open women's singles title. During the awards ceremony, Pennetta announces her retirement from tennis.

September 13, 2015, Sunday A PKK car bombing on a checkpoint kills two Turkish police officers and injures five others in south-eastern Turkey.

Egyptian security forces open fire on a Mexican tourist convoy in the Western Desert while pursuing militants with at least twelve people killed and 10 injured.

The death toll from flooding in Japan caused by Tropical Storm Etau rises to seven.

Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency advises 2.8 million people to evacuate due to flooding in the eastern region of the country. An explosion in the Pakistan city of Multan kills at least eleven people and injures 79.

An Islamic school in the Nigerian town of Bukuru collapses with at least four students killed and 40 injured. Thirty-four refugees, including four babies and 11

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3D Printing of Body Parts!

September 13, 2015: Doctors at Salamanca University Hospital in Spain implant a 3-D printing-produced artificial titanium sternum (breastbone), and a portion of the ribs in a patient who had numerous cancerous tumors in that area, the first use of 3D printing technology to take the place of these specific body parts. g children, drown in the Aegean Sea when their wooden boat sinks off the Greek island of Farmakonissi, close to Turkey's coast.

The Valley wildfire claims at least one life in Lake County, California with thousands of people forced to evacuate.

Four inmates are killed and four more injured during violence that lasted a couple of minutes at a privately-operated prison in Cushing, Oklahoma.

The government in exile says that it will no longer attend United Nations brokered talks with the rebel Houthis. Israeli police engage Palestinian protesters with tear gas and stun grenades near Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque. Jordan condemns Israel for assaults on Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Germany reintroduces emergency controls on its border with Austria.

Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka’s return from the International Space Station sets a new record for time in space, breaking the one fellow countryman Sergei Krikalev set in 2005. Padalka totalled 879 days in space (2.41 years) over five flights.

Sports In tennis, Novak Djokovic of Serbia defeats Roger Federer of Switzerland 3 sets to 1 in the final of the men's singles.

In golf, Lydia Ko wins the final LPGA major of the year, The Evian Championship, by six shots after

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a final-round 63. The New Zealander becomes the youngest person of either sex to win a professional major championship, at age 18 years, 142 days. September 14, 2015, Monday UAE troops advance on the Houthi controlled Yemeni capital, Sana'a after securing control of Marib, the capital of Marib province.

Five Saudi troops are killed following clashes with Houthi militants in the southern Najran region near the border with Yemen, while ten people are killed, seven from the same family, in a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on a government building in a southern suburb of Sana'a, the Yemen capital. Taliban insurgents storm a prison in the central Afghan province of Ghazni killing four prison officers and freeing 350 prisoners.

Kyushu island's Mount Aso, Japan's largest active volcano, erupts. Numerous flights serving Kumamoto Airport are cancelled.

Tropical Storm Vamco makes landfall south of Da Nang, Viet Nam, causing flooding in the region. At least seven people are dead and six missing after a flash flood in the US town of Hildale, Utah.

Germany reopens train services from Austria after reintroducing border controls.

Slovakia announces renewed border controls with Hungary.

Colombia accuses Venezuela of violating its airspace for the second time in two days.

Malcolm Turnbull launches a challenge for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia against incumbent Prime Minister Tony Abbott and wins 54–44. Business and Economy Brazil announces a $17 billion austerity package after Standard and Poors further downgrades its credit rating.

A University of Notre Dame study finds significant correlation between substantial executive stock

September 13, 2015: Israeli police engage Palestinian protesters with tear gas near Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque

options and future product recalls. CEOs with abundant stock options get a huge payoff when the company performs well but endure minute consequences when it doesn’t.

September 15, 2015, Tuesday The Nigerian Army rescues dozens of women and children in Borno State.

Houthi militants backed by Yemeni troops seize control of Al Rabu’ah, a town in Saudi Arabia's southwestern Asir region near the Yemeni border, forcing Saudi forces to pull out of the area.

The Indonesian province of Riau declares a state of emergency due to high levels of smoke haze from forest fires in Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra that have led thousands of people to flee the capital Pekanbaru. The 24 hour Pollutant Standards Index in Singapore remains in the unhealthy range due to smoke haze.

Two students die and three others are injured after a school bus is struck by another vehicle and swerves off an Interstate 610 overpass in Houston, Texas. (Houston Chronicle), (Reuters) The death toll from flash floods on September 14 in the American towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona, rises to 12 with one person

still missing.

A floatplane crashes during takeoff near Iliamna in southwest Alaska, killing three people and injuring the other seven on board. Seven mountain climbers die in an avalanche in the French Alps near the town of Pelvoux.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration orders R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company to stop further U.S. sale and distribution of four cigarette products because they may be more dangerous than similar older cigarettes.

Hungary declares a state of emergency in two of its southeastern counties as tougher laws come into effect aimed at preventing asylum-seekers and other flow of migrants from entering the country. Malcolm Turnbull is sworn in as the Prime Minister of Australia following his election to the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia.

The Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia appoints a special prosecutor into a wiretapping scandal. September 16, 2015, Wednesday UAE said, it supported Syrian people with over

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Dh4 billion since 2011, extends residency permits for over 101,000 Syrian citizens.

Mexico celebrates Independence Day, marking the country’s freedom from Spain in 1810.

Houthi militants parade captured Saudi soldiers on pro-Houthi Al Masirah TV.

Arab Coalition warplanes bomb Yemen's capital Sana’a targeting a high-profile Houthi leader's house. At least nine civilians are killed in the attack.

One person is dead and fourteen missing after floods hit Huaping County in China's Yunnan province.

Nearly 180 people are killed in South Sudan after an oil tanker truck veers off the road and explodes.

The death toll rises to 16 from this week's flash flood along the Utah – Arizona border in the US.

An earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale occurs in the Pacific Ocean near Chile sparking a tsunami warning. Five people die.

A cholera outbreak kills at least 16 people in three camps for displaced people fleeing Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Dozens of migrants reach the border of Serbia and Croatia which has become the new route for migrants denied entry to Hungary. Hungarian riot police and migrants clash at the now-closed border crossing near Horgos.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit denies Kim Davis' request to have same-sex marriage licenses delayed, but does not toss out her appeal entirely.

New York City Police and US federal agents arrest members of an international crime syndicate that have been selling cheap synthetic marijuana. In New York alone, 2,300 people have ended up in emergency rooms in the last two months. Business and Economy Hewlett-Packard says, it will cut up to 33,300 jobs over the next three years.

September 17, 2015, Thursday At least 21 people are killed in multiple attacks in

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Baghdad with more than 70 others injured.

PKK attacks kill five Turkish police officers in the southeastern Mardin and Hakkâri provinces. The Turkish Army claims to have killed nine militants.

Soldiers detain the interim president and prime minister of Burkina Faso, as well as a number of cabinet ministers, sparking fear of a coup d'etat.

2015

Thousands of people in the Chilean town of Illapel sleep outside following a 8.3 magnitude earthquake as the death toll rises to 11.

The death toll rises to five in the Butte and Valley Fires in California.

American Airlines halts flights for 90 minutes at its major hubs in Chicago, Dallas, and Miami because of a computer glitch.

Fourteen people have died of dengue fever in the Indian city of Delhi.

Seven thousand migrants arrive in Croatia with the President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović placing the army on standby.

The European Parliament approves a European Commission plan to relocate 120,000 asylum seekers around the EU.

September 18, 2015: United States asks Volkswagen to fix 500,000 vehicles

U.S. car maker General Motors pays $900 million fine to settle a criminal lawsuit over problems with the ignition system in its small cars.

September 18, 2015, Friday Israel deploys an extra 800 Israeli police officers as Palestinians call for protests in Jerusalem over entry restrictions to Al Aqsa mosque.

Two security personnel, 17 worshippers in a mosque, and 13 militants are killed following a Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan attack on a Pakistan Air Force base on the outskirts of Peshawar.

ders Volkswagen to fix nearly 500,000 VW and Audi diesel cars from model years 2009-2015 that include software that circumvents EPA emissions standards. The company faces possible U.S. fines of up to $37,500 per vehicle for the violations which could total more than $18 billion.

In India, about 2.3 million people respond to the state of Uttar Pradesh's announcement of 368 low-level government jobs that pay $240 a month. At least 255 of the applicants had a doctorate and over 200,000 had master's degrees.

Russia moves its first tactical fighter jets to Syria, according to American sources.

US authorities announce mandatory Ebola screening will end for travellers from Liberia to five U.S. airports, effective September 21, 2015.

Brazil's Supreme Court issues a decision that bans corporate money in elections.

At least 26 people are killed following Syrian Arab Air Force air-raids on the Islamic State-held central Syrian city of Palmyra according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The US departments of Commerce and Treasury announce removal of a series of restrictions on Americans travelling to and doing business with Cuba effective September 21, 2015.

Business and Economy The United States Federal Reserve decides to leave interest rates at a record low.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or-

In rugby union, the opening ceremony of the

The provisional government of Burkina Faso is overthrown in a military coup.

Coup leaders announce that General Gilbert Diendéré is now the head of state of a new transitional body, the National Council for Democracy.

UAE and Hungary sign bilateral cooperation agreement to boost economic ties.

The United States Secretary of State John Kerry agrees to begin military to military talks with Russia concerning Russia's military activities in Syria.

Business and Economy European communications company Altice announces plans to buy US cable television company Cablevision for $17.7 billion.

Croatia closes seven out of eight border crossings with Serbia. Zoran Milanović, the Prime Minister, says his country ‘will move migrants on’.

Sports In football, Jérôme Valcke steps aside as Secretary General of FIFA while his alleged involvement in a ticketing scandal is investigated.

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tro, and meets for a talk and exchange of gifts with former Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Some 26 migrants are feared missing after a dinghy carrying them sinks off the coast of the Greek island of Lesbos.

At least 13 migrants died when a ferry and their inflatable dinghy collided off the northwestern Turkish port of Canakkale. Twenty people were rescued while another 13 are still missing.

September 19, 2015: Italy rescues thousands of refugees in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast

2015 Rugby World Cup is held at Twickenham.

September 19, 2015, Saturday Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, son of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Makroum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, dies of heart attack.

Rebels execute 56 Syrian Army personnel following the capture of the Abu Al-Duhur airbase in the Idlib Governorate according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

At least 55 are killed when Turkish warplanes hit Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) camps in northern Iraq, according Turkey's security sources.

A Saudi-led military coalition bombards government buildings in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, killing about 30 people. Italy rescues thousands of refugees in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya.

A five-year-old Syrian girl dies and several other refugees are missing after their boat sinks in the Aegean Sea near the Greek island of Lesbos.

Authorities in the Dominican Republic issue an alert as the number of deaths (57 this year) and cases of dengue fever continue to rise.

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Hungarian security forces confiscate a Croatian train carrying 1000 migrants and disarm 40 Croatian police officers accompanying the migrants. Hungarian authorities repatriate the officers. Croatia allows some asylum seekers to move on past its borders into Hungary and Slovenia.

Egypt’s new Cabinet is sworn in before President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, a week after the previous administration resigned following a corruption scandal, and a month before general elections.

The FBI launches an investigation of money laundering associated with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad sovereign wealth fund. September 20, 2015, Sunday At least 14 people are killed as rebels shell a neighbourhood in western Aleppo.

Houthi rebels release six foreign hostages; three Americans, two Saudis, and a Briton.

Triple explosions kill at least 80 people and injure 150 in the Nigerian city of Maiduguri.

The Emmy Awards are held in Los Angeles, California with Game of Thrones winning the Emmy for best drama series.

Pope Francis meets Cuban President Raul Cas-

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says that the United States will accept 85,000 refugees from the world in 2016, up from this year's 70,000 refugees, and will increase to 100,000 refugees in 2017.

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A car bomb in Somalia kills at least six people at the gates of the presidential palace in Mogadishu.

An Islamic State car bomb kills at least 12 people in Baghdad.

A Saudi-led military coalition bombardment in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, kills at least 50 people.

Gunmen abduct a Norwegian resort manager, two Canadians, and a Filipino from a resort in the southern Philippines.

Business and Economy Apple Inc announces that it will speed up work on an electric car to be ready by 2019.

Austrian officials report 11,000 migrants crossed into the country from Hungary on September 19, 2015, and another 7,000 are expected.

Many Skype users are unable to access the service. The Microsoft-owned company acknowledges the problem.

A new constitution comes into effect in Nepal establishing it as a modern secular state, replacing it from being a ‘Hindu State’.

The US says, it will give $419 million more in humanitarian aid to assist Syrian refugees and the countries that are hosting them.

Voters in Greece go to the polls for the third time this year with Syriza again winning a plurality in the Hellenic Parliament.

Business and Economy Apple's iOS App Store suffers its first major cyber attack. Apple’s products used to be free from hacking and cyber attacks.

Volkswagen halts sales of its 4-cylinder diesel vehicles in the United States following a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency citation that their cars violated U.S. emissions standards. Google has announced the arrival of Street View in Sharjah and Ajman, a feature by Google Maps that will allow users to view and navigate 360 degree street-level imagery of major streets across the two emirates

September 21, 2015, Monday Syrian government forces target Al Shaar neighbourhood in eastern Aleppo city with surface-tosurface missiles, hitting a crowded public market, killing more than 30 civilians and dozens wounded.

The toll of homes destroyed by Northern California wildfires reaches 1,600 as it goes out of control despite firefighters doing their best.

At least eight people are killed and 45 wounded in shootings over the weekend across Chicago.

A Denver, Colorado federal jury convicts Harold Henthorn of murder in the death of his wife Toni Henthorn, who fell off a cliff as they hiked in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park to celebrate their wedding anniversary. His previous wife had also died in suspicious circumstances.

Peanut Corporation of America owner Stewart Parnell is sentenced to 28 years for Salmonella typhimurium-tainted peanut butter, the most severe punishment ever handed out to a producer in a foodborne illness case. In late 2008 and early 2009, nine people died and at least 714 people in 46 states, half of them children, fell ill.

The coup leader General Gilbert Diendéré says that he is ready to hand over power to transitional authorities as the army marches on the capital Ouagadougou.

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through 2018.

Business and Economy Martin Winterkorn resigns as the CEO of Volkswagen as a result of an emissions cheating scandal.

New Syrian Forces trade American supplied equipment to the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front in return for safe passage.

September 24, 2015, Thursday At least 29 people are killed in a bombing of a mosque in the Yemeni capital Sana'a during prayers for Eid Al Adha.

Public Prosecution refers two footballers, website owner to court under cyber crime law

Sharjah Ruler orders release of 132 prisoners to mark Eid Al Adha

Hind Abdulaziz Alowais became the first Emirati woman to be posted at the United Nations Headquarters in New York as a senior advisor since the UAE became a member of the United Nations in 1971. September 22, 2015, Tuesday The army of Burkina Faso arrives in Ouagadougou to seek the surrender of the Presidential Guard that staged the coup. Filipino troops stage raids to attempt to free six overseas-born hostages held by Abu Sayyaf militants.

Russian forces developing two additional military facilities near Syria's Mediterranean coast. Pope Francis arrives in the U.S. from Cuba.

U.S. District Judge of California George H. King rules that Warner/Chappell Music does not hold the copyright to the song Happy Birthday to You.

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Business and Economy Volkswagen says that 11 million vehicles could have suspect emission control software and it has set aside 6.5 billion euros ($7.2 billion US dollars) for possible fines, repairs, and litigation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping begins his first visit to the United States, meeting with technology company leaders and representatives in Seattle, Washington. The haze from Indonesian forest fires worsens leaving Singapore and parts of Indonesia and Malaysia covered in smog. European Union ministers meet in Brussels and reach agreement on a plan to distribute asylum seekers.

The US Justice Department launches an investigation of money laundering associated with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad sovereign wealth fund, as well as the purchase of luxury properties in New York involving shell companies linked to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's step-son Riza Aziz and businessman Jho Low. September 23, 2015, Wednesday The President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos

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and the leader of FARC Timoleón Jiménez will announce a deal on justice for crimes committed in the fifty-year-long conflict.

Pope Francis makes his first ever visit to the U.S. and becomes the third Pope to visit the White House.

September 24, 2015: At least 719 people are dead and 863 people injured in a stampede near Makkah during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia

2015

The government of Armenia claims that Azerbaijani forces shelled Tavush Province resulting in three deaths.

Israel's cabinet issues a three-year temporary order that sets a four-year minimum sentence for adult stone- and fire bomb-throwers. The coup is reversed. Interim President Michel Kafando and interim Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida are reinstalled, and government soldiers are returned to their stations.

Pope Francis becomes the first Pope ever to address a Joint Session of the United States Congress.

At least 719 people are dead and 863 people injured in a stampede near Mecca during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

At least four people are killed and 12 critically injured after a charter bus, a Ride the Ducks tour vehicle, and two smaller vehicles crash on the Aurora Bridge in the U.S. city of Seattle, Washington.

Ten thousand migrants enter Hungary, mostly from Croatia, despite efforts by the Hungarian government and military to stop them. Croatia and Serbia restrict cross-border traffic. Business and Economy Caterpillar may cut 10,000 additional jobs

September 25, 2015, Friday Burkina Faso's cabinet dissolves the elite presidential guard behind last week's coup d'état, creates a commission to investigate these events, and dismisses the minister in charge of security.

Business and Economy China will launch a cap and trade policy creating a carbon market in 2017.

Ukraine selectively bans certain Russian airlines such as Aeroflot and Transaero from flying to and through Ukraine.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia orders an investigation into the stampede near Mecca which has claimed over 700 lives and caused 800 injuries.

A tornado, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, strikes Johns Island, South Carolina with no deaths or injuries, but 75 homes are damaged, 10 heavily. Switzerland opens criminal proceedings against the President of FIFA Sepp Blatter. Croatia reopens its border with Serbia.

John Boehner schedules his resignation from the position of Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and from Congress for the end of October.

September 26, 2015, Saturday Two Saudi border guards, including a district commander, are killed following clashes with Yemeni forces near the border with Yemen.

At least four Armenian soldiers are killed following an Azeri attack near the disputed NagornoKarabakh region. Yesterday, Azerbaijan shelled several ethnic Armenian villages, leaving three civilians dead. Armenia's Defence Ministry declares that it will ‘use artillery and missiles’ to repel attacks by

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WASHED UP HUMANITY

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Dateline: Sept. 1, 2015 The lifeless body of the three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, of Kobani, Syria, that was washed up on a beach in Turkey, is perhaps the most powerful image that shook the conscious of everyone who saw this. The image in a way, reflects the situation on ground and delivers a strong message â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The world has now become a more dangerous place to live in while the mankind is not in a good shape ...

AYLAN KURDI 2013-2015

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Emirates turns 30

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Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group

Emirates, one of the world’s biggest airlines, has consolidated its position as the single biggest contributor to Dubai’s economy with group revenues totalling $26.3 billion – equivalent to nearly a third of Dubai’s GDP – and the largest employer in the emirate with 84,000 people on payroll. It carried 49.3 million passengers in 201415 with 231 aircraft connecting 140 cities across six continents, becoming the biggest engine of Dubai’s economic growth...

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targets across the territory.

At least 17 PKK militants are reportedly killed following a Turkish military operation in the Kurdishmajority city of Silvan.

October 1, 2015, Thursday Israeli Air Force carries out airstrikes on suspected Hamas positions in Gaza.

The government of Afghanistan claims to have recaptured the city of Kunduz.

Taliban forces take over the Warduj District of the Badakhshan Province as government forces retreat.

A C-130J transport aircraft crashes in eastern Afghanistan as it approaches the airport in Jalalabad killing at least 11 people on board.

Hezbollah fighters and newly arrived Iranian troops are reportedly preparing for a 'major ground offensive' in northern Syria, backed by Russian air strikes.

Iraq’s prime minister Haider Al Abadi endorses Russian air strikes against ISIL forces in Iraq while expressing ‘disappointment’ with the U.S.led coalition.

Four Turkish soldiers are killed in PKK attacks across southeastern Turkey.

A mass shooting at Umpqua Community College

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in Roseburg, Oregon kills nine people and leaves seven wounded. The shooter commits suicide when confronted by the police. The man's motives are unknown.

Government forces and the Southern Resistance backed by coalition forces wrest control of the strategic strait of Bab Al Mandab and a small Mayoun Island in the Red Sea from Houthi militants. Five girl bombers attack the Nigerian city of Maiduguri with at least 14 people, including the girls, killed and 39 injured.

Hurricane Joaquin becomes a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.

Bahrain recalls its ambassador to Iran and expels the Iranian acting chargé d’affaires, a day after Bahraini security forces discovered a large bomb-making factory in Nuwaidrat and arrested a number of suspects linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

October 2, 2015, Friday The Russian Government says Russian jets bombed Syria for the third consecutive day, hitting 12 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)

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October 3, 2015, Saturday The UAE has been ranked first globally in the Quality of Roads Indicator, according to the Global Competitiveness Report issued by the World Economic Forum, for the year 2015-2016.

Indonesia's Aviastar airline loses contact with an aircraft between Masamba-Makassar carrying 10 people.

Dubai Customs has bagged five trophies from the 6th Ideas America summit, held in Hanover, Maryland, recently.

Hurricane Joaquin attacked The Bahamas as a Category 4 hurricane and destroyed houses, cut communications and electric power, uprooted trees, and unleashed heavy flooding.

The Pentagon is reportedly weighing the option of using military force to protect the U.S.-backed rebels fighting the Assad regime.

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a 735-foot (224-meter) cargo ship named 'El Faro,' with 33 people on board, that went missing near Crooked Island in the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin.

October 3, 2015: The UAE has been ranked first globally in the Quality of Roads Indicator, according to the Global Competitiveness Report issued by the World Economic Forum, for the year 2015-2016

2015

A Guatemalan hillside, loosened by heavy rains, collapses and sends tons of dirt and trees onto Santa Catarina Pinula on the edge of Guatemala City, killing at least 56 with as many as 600 people missing.

A 15-year old boy shoots and kills a civilian NSW Police employee outside the NSW Police headquarters in Parramatta, Sydney. The incident is labelled as a terrorist attack.

Hackers steal the personal information of about 15 million T-Mobile US customers and applicants. The breach is at a unit of the credit agency Experian. Business and Economy Air France KLM will cut 2,900 jobs after talks with pilots unions are unsuccessful.

Google completes its reorganisation into Alphabet Inc., becoming its leading subsidiary. Sundar Pichai becomes CEO of Google.

Sports Longtime FIFA corporate sponsors – Coca-Cola Co., McDonald’s, Visa Inc., and Budweiser owner Anheuser-Busch InBev – demand FIFA President Sepp Blatter step down immediately following last week's announcement of his criminal investigation by the Swiss attorney general. A defiant Blatter refused.

79,157 voters participated in Federal National Council Elections 2015, says Anwar Gargash Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Chairman of the National Election Committee.

A prolonged series of American military airstrikes hit a Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) hospital in Kunduz, killing twelve staff members and at least seven patients, including three children, with 37 seriously injured and many more people still missing.

ISIL claims responsibility for the killing of a 65year old Japanese citizen in Bangladesh. This comes after the recent murder of an Italian, Cesare Tavella, in Bangladesh.

Two people are killed, including an eight-year-old boy, after a double-decker bus crashed into a Sainsbury's supermarket in Coventry city centre; six others were also seriously hurt.

Sport England become the first host nation and first former finalist to be knocked out of the Rugby World Cup during the group stages following their defeat to Australia.

October 4, 2015, Sunday The UAE Ministry of Interior has announced that it is now receiving visa applications for citizens, residents and other stakeholders for a short-term visit visa either via the ministry website or its smartphone app. The International Advisory Committee for the Memory of the World programme, which is affili-

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Turkish Air Force to scramble two F-16 fighter jets to intercept it.

At least 57 people are killed following car-bombings across Iraq, including a rare bombing in the southern Basra province leaving 10 people dead. Fighting rages between Houthi militants and Hadi loyalists backed-by Saudi-led coalition forces along Yemen's Red Sea coast for control over the strategic Bab Al Mandeb strait. The UAE announced another of its soldiers had died during fighting in Ma'rib.

October 4, 2015: U.S. President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in South Carolina, after over two feet of rain submerged some neighbourhoods. More than 250 roads across the state closed

ated with the Organisation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, 4UNESCO, chose the UAE as Chair of the programme until 2018. The UAE is to invest $35 billion to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on imports of natural gas to generate electricity.

Two Israeli civilians are killed and three injured by stabbing attacks carried out by Palestinians in Jerusalem's Old City. As a result Palestinians are banned from entering the Old City for two days unless they live there.

Turkey’s air force launches a new wave of airraids bombing PKK positions in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey. Syrian President Bashar Al Assad says reforms in Syria are unlikely until terrorist forces are vanquished.

The Islamic State destroys a 2,000-year-old Roman era Triumphal arch in Palmyra according to Syria's antiquities chief.

At least 10 patients and 12 hospital staff died in Saturday’s airstrikes on the Doctors Without Bor-

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ders’ hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

At least 17 people have been killed with four more missing following heavy flooding along the French Riviera in the southeast of France. Rail, road and air traffic were all suspended and 27,000 homes were without electricity.

U.S. President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency for South Carolina, after over two feet of rain in some areas. More than 250 roads across the state closed.

In Minsk, about 1,000 opposition activists protest Russia's plans to establish a military air base in Belarus, saying it would turn the former Soviet republic into a Kremlin "vassal" and add to regional tensions.

Voters in Kyrgyzstan go to the polls with the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan winning the most votes which will lead to a pro-Russian coalition. October 5, 2015, Monday Dubai to be a disability-friendly city by 2020.

Turkey says a Russian warplane violated its airspace near the Syrian border, prompting the

In South Carolina, nine people are now reported dead in weather-related incidents and millions remain homebound. Rain is forecast to continue with parts of the state dealing with flooding for some time.

The El Faro, missing since October 1 is announced to have sunk on Thursday with 33 people on board during Hurricane Joaquin after a debris field is found.

At least nine people are dead as Typhoon Mujigae hits southern China. Mujigae also generated several strong tornadoes and left dozens of fishermen missing. Nearly 200,000 people had been evacuated before the storm made landfall.

Tropical Storm Kabayan left at least two dead in the Philippines with two injured and 63 persons missing. The system intensified as it left the Philippine Area of Responsibility heading toward China.

North Korea repatriates a South Korean student held in detention since April.

Former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Donald Tsang is charged with corruption by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership between the United States and 11 Pacific Rim countries is finalized in the American city of Atlanta.

Governor Jerry Brown signs legislation legalising euthanasia in California from 2016 William C. Campbell, Satoshi Omura and Tu

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Youyou win the 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their work on parasitic diseases.

Business and Economy Clothing manufacturer and retailer American Apparel files for bankruptcy. The company said its 200+ retail stores will continue to operate without any interruptions.

The World Bank estimates that 9.6 per cent of the world’s population is living in extreme poverty this year, down from 12.8 per cent in 2012. The bank also updated its global poverty line from $1.25 per day to $1.90 per day to reflect inflation and changes in purchasing power around the world – seven years after it was last adjusted in 2008.

October 6, 2015, Tuesday A hotel where Vice President of Yemen and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah was staying in Aden which was also being used as a de-facto military base by Arab coalition forces is hit by multiple explosions killing at least 15 coalition soldiers.

Seven people are killed following a suicide-bomb attack on the Al Nour mosque in Sanaa, Yemen.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says Russia’s pair of violations of Turkish airspace do not look like accidents.

Turkey says its jets patrolling the Turkish-Syrian border were directly threatened by a Russian MiG-29 and later by an anti-aircraft missile system which locked-radar on the Turkish jets. Russia says it would consider extending its airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria to Iraq if it receives such a request from the Iraqi government. Iraqi President, Fuad Masum has recently said he would welcome this assistance.

A Boko Haram attack near Lake Chad kills at least 11 Chadian troops while 17 Boko Haram militants are also reportedly killed in the fighting.

Sixteen campers are missing in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region following a flash flood in a camping reserve. Thirteen people are reported to have died during

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missiles at Islamic State of Iraq and Levant positions in Syria from the Caspian Sea.

Russian airstrikes destroy the main weapons depots of a U.S.-trained rebel group, Liwa Suqour Al Jabal, in Syria's Aleppo province.

Boko Haram suicide bombers kill at least 15 people at a mosque in the northeastern Nigerian city of Damaturu.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) calls for investigating the deadly U.S. bombing of MSF's hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan. MSF says it does not trust internal military inquiries into the bombing that killed at least 22 people, which it considers a war crime. October 8, 2015: The President of Indonesia Joko Widodo announces that he will seek help from other nations in putting out forest fires that have caused the haze

a storm, 11 in South Carolina and two in North Carolina. At least 18 dams have breached or failed since October 3.

The death toll from a landslide in the Guatemalan village of El Cambray Dos increased to 152 with more than 300 people missing.

Israel destroys the homes of three Palestinians – Rassen and Udai Abu Jamal and Moatez Hijazi who committed a rampage in Jerusalem during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict.

Former President of the UN General Assembly John William Ashe is charged with taking $1.3 million in bribes from Chinese businessmen.

Takaaki Kajita and Arthur B. McDonald win the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery of neutrino oscillations.

Business and Economy Emirates Transport to purchase 722 new buses worth Dh180 million to meet growing demand for school transport services

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has offered the Government of Cuba Dh55 million in concessionary loan to support the energy sector

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and promote the overall economic development in Cuba.

The European Court of Justice decides an international agreement used by thousands of companies for moving people’s digital data between the European Union and the United States is invalid, effective immediately. The decision throws into doubt how global technology giants like Facebook, Amazon and Google can collect, manage, and analyse online information from their millions of users in the 28-member bloc. Decisions by this court, the highest legal authority in the EU, cannot be appealed. Sports South Korean FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mong-joon admits that he is facing charges before FIFA’s ethics committee but denies wrongdoing.

October 7, 2015, Wednesday An FBI investigation has found that criminal networks specialising in nuclear smuggling in Eastern Europe, have shipped radioactive material to 'Middle Eastern extremists', including the Islamic State.

Four Russian warships launch at least 26 cruise

US President Barack Obama telephoned MSF International President Joanne Liu to apologise for the U.S. bombing of the hospital in Afghanistan, express his condolences for the 22 people killed, commit to provide an objective accounting of the facts of the incident, and reduce such tragedies in the future.

Saudi-led airstrikes kill at least 30 people and wound 25 others in the southwestern Yemeni town of Sanabani at a wedding hosted by a tribal leader known to support the Houthis.

The World Health Organisation said, since the Ebola outbreak began in March 2014, last week marked the first week of no new cases of Ebola worldwide.

The High Court of Australia rules that the breast cancer gene BRCA-1 cannot be patented and the patent claimed by Myriad Genetics is invalid.

Brazil's Federal Accounts Court (TCU), in a unanimous 8-0 decision, rules that President Dilma Rousseff's government manipulated its accounts in 2014 to disguise a widening fiscal deficit. The ruling, while not legally binding, is expected to be used by opposition lawmakers who are calling for impeachment proceedings against the Government.

Tomas Lindahl, Paul L. Modrich and Aziz Sancar win the 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work in DNA repair.

2015

JANUARY 2015 OCTOBER

Sports Fédération Internationale de Football Association ethics committee recommends FIFA President Sepp Blatter be suspended. The final decision will be made by Chairman of the Ethics Committee's adjudication chamber, Hans-Joachim Eckert.

October 8, 2015, Thursday Government forces and their allies, including troops from a Saudi Arabian-led coalition, capture the town of Sirwah, the last outpost of Houthi militants in the key Marib province.

At least 19 civilians were martyred in the Yemeni city of Taiz as Houthi militias and their supporters fired rockets on the city, according to the official Yemeni news agency.

Yemeni military forces backed by Houthi militants reportedly destroy a Saudi warship off the coast of Yemen in the strategic Bab El Mandeb strait.

At least four Russian cruise missiles fired at Syria from the Caspian Sea landed in Iran, according to US officials. Damage or casualties are not yet known. Russia and Iran rejected these reports.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says NATO will double its high-readiness force to 40,000, and may send ground troops to Turkey as a result of the escalation of Russian military activities in Syria, including violations of Turkish airspace.

Belarusian author and journalist Svetlana Alexievich wins the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Thousands of people are evacuated on the Japanese island of Hokkaido as Typhoon Choiwan approaches from the east.

The President of Indonesia Joko Widodo announces that he will seek help from other nations in putting out illegally lit forest fires that have caused the haze. Ecuador's restive Cotopaxi volcano erupts.

Israel prohibits all members of the Knesset (MKs) from visiting the Jerusalem site revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, and by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary, in an attempt to calm several

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Tunisian Quartet wins Nobel Peace Prize

October 9, 2015: The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet – the Tunisian General Labour Union, the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, the Tunisian Human Rights League, and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers – wins the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for its ‘decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011’. g days of violence in the Old City. The prohibition applies to both Jewish and Muslim parliamentarians.

The German state of Bavaria plans to deport migrants back to Austria and closing the border. An estimated 225,000 migrants have arrived in the southern German state in less than five weeks.

Sports FIFA suspends Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini and Jérôme Valcke from all football-related activities for 90 days amid allegations of corruption.

October 9, 2015, Friday Iranian state television says Revolutionary Guard brigadier general, Hossein Hamadani, has been killed on the outskirts of Syria's Aleppo by Islamic State militants.

Hamas’ leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, declares an ‘Intifada’ against Israel in the West Bank. Over 20 stabbing attacks have happened in the last 24 hours in Israel.

An Israeli stabs and injures two Bedouin arabs and two Palestinians in the southern city of Dimona. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘strongly condemned the harming of innocent Arabs’. Israel Defence Forces kill six Palestinian protesters and wound 60 at the Gaza Strip border, according to Gaza medics.

Riyad Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to the UN, urges Security Council President Román Oyarzun to hold an emergency meeting on the latest tensions with Israel.

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Iraqi police officials say at least 35 people have been killed following a mortar bombardment of villages near the eastern city of Baqubah, capital of the Diyala Governorate.

A new tally by the Associated Press places the death count from the Mina stampede at 1,453 killed making it the deadliest disaster ever to occur during the Hajj. The death toll from the landslides in Guatemala rises to 253 with 374 people still missing.

The United Nations envoy for Libya, Bernardino León, proposes a government of national unity for Libya led by Fayez Sarraj as Prime Minister.

One student is killed and three others wounded during an early morning shooting in a Northern Arizona University dorm in Flagstaff, Arizona. The suspected shooter was taken into custody.

One person is killed and another wounded, with a person in custody, in a shooting at an apartment complex in southeast Houston, Texas. WikiLeaks releases the intellectual property section of the finalised Trans-Pacific Partnership intended to be withheld until after October 19.

Over 200,000 migrants are estimated to have entered Germany since the beginning of September, the vast majority over the Austrian border into Bavaria.

October 10, 2015, Saturday Palestinian militants fire 3 rockets into Israel during the night after several violent riots throughout Israel and the West Bank. Israeli security forces shoot dead two Palestinians aged 12 and 15 in protests along Gaza's border fence. The death toll from October 9 violence at the Gaza Strip border is now seven Palestinians.

Twin bomb blasts in the Turkish capital Ankara near the main train station leave at least 97 people dead and over 400 wounded.

Five suicide bombers target a village in Chad that

October 10, 2015: Migration crisis continues to affect Europe

is home to thousands of Nigerian refugees who have fled Boko Haram, killing at least 36 people.

At least eight people have died in a major fire at a halting site for Irish travellers in the south of Dublin.

An Indonesian chopper carrying five people lost contact with air traffic control during a flight on North Sumatra, Indonesia.

China completes the construction of two lighthouses on the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The U.S. and the Philippines have opposed the construction efforts.

North Korea holds a massive military parade in its capital, Pyongyang, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Workers' Party of Korea rule in the country.

Over 150,000 people protest in Berlin against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership accord between the European Union and the United States.

Sports Mexico defeats the United States 3-2 in the 2015 in CONCACAF Cup. October 11, 2015, Sunday Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas weapons facil-

ities in the Gaza Strip result in an explosion that collapsed a nearby house, killing a 30-year old pregnant Palestinian woman and her two-year old daughter.

Five members of the NATO-led coalition die and five others are injured in a non-combat helicopter crash in Kabul.

At least eight people are killed following a suicide bomb attack in northern Cameroon's Sangueleri region near the Nigerian border.

An Arab coalition airstrike on a prison in Yemen’s central Al Bayda Governorate, reportedly kills 20 prisoners.

A shooting at a house in Omeath, County Louth in the Republic of Ireland leaves two men dead, including an on-duty police officer.

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko won a fifth term by a landslide in today's election.

October 12, 2015, Monday Militants kill two Tunisian soldiers and injure four others who were seeking to free a man kidnapped in a mountainous area near the border with Algeria.

European Union foreign ministers, gathered in Luxembourg to discuss the situation in Syria, re-

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lease a statement urging Russia to stop its attacks in Syria and direct efforts towards a political solution. The government of Ukraine bans all Russian airlines from flying into Ukraine from October 25 in response to Moscow's decision in September to impose a similar ban on Ukrainian airlines.

Cairo's criminal court orders the release of the sons of former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, who are waiting for the Court of Appeal's decision in a financial corruption case. Each was sentenced to three years.

Jioji Konrote is elected President of Fiji by the country’s Parliament.

The Vanuatuan Speaker of the Parliament, Marcellino Pipite, serving as acting President, pardons himself and 13 other MPs who had been found guilty of bribery on 9 October 2015.

Angus Deaton wins the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his analysis of consumption, poverty, and welfare, helping redefine the way poverty is measured around the world, notably in India. Business and Economy U.S. computer maker Dell takes over EMC Corporation for $67 billion.

October 13, 2015, Tuesday Two shells hit the Russian embassy in Syria's capital Damascus, as hundreds of pro-government supporters rallied outside in support of Russian airstrikes. Jamaican author Marlon James wins the 2015 Man Booker Prize for his novel A Brief History of Seven Killings inspired by the attempted assassination of Bob Marley in the 1970s.

The Dutch Safety Board releases their final report into the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) disaster that concludes that the flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot-down by a Russianmade Buk missile system on 17 July 2014 killing 298 people. At least 13 people are killed as a rockslide hits

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shanties in the Gulistan-i-Jauhar in the Pakistani city of Karachi.

Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly approves the deal on its nuclear programme agreed with six world powers.

The United States and Australia warn China they remain committed to freedom of navigation in the waters of the South China Sea and express strong concerns at China’s construction of artificial islands in the disputed waters. Burkina Faso’s presidential and parliamentary elections are deferred to November 29 due to a recent coup.

Business and Economics Etihad Airways and IBM announced a ten-year technology services agreement valued at approximately $700 million. This will allow the airline to enhance guest experience, develop infrastructure and security, and improve efficiency. ACWA Power and Harbin Electric consortium named preferred bidder for the first phase of the 1,200 MW Hassyan Clean Coal Power Project initiated by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

October 14, 2015, Wednesday The President of Indonesia Joko Widodo calls for calm in the province of Aceh after a person was killed and a church burned down on October 13. Two officers from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards are reportedly killed in Syria.

Thousands of Iranian troops arrive in Syria to reportedly start a new offensive in the battle of Aleppo.

The Government of Thailand has announced that a new multiple entry tourist visa will be available through all the Kingdom's embassies and consulates from 13 November 2015.

ISIL confirms that U.S. forces killed its number two leader, Abu Mutaz Al Qurashi, in an airstrike near Mosul back in August. A suicide bomb kills at least seven people and in-

2015

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HOMELESS IN HAWAII

October 16, 2015: The US state of Hawaii has the highest per capita rate of homelessness among the 50 states at about 465 people per 100,000 citizens

jures 13 others in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

A triple suicide-bomb attack in the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri kills at least 7 people.

Taliban insurgents overrun two security checkpoints near Kandahar in the southern Helmand Province, killing at least 29 border police officers.

Pope Francis asks for forgiveness for the scandals which have recently hit Rome and the Vatican.

A Swiss Boeing F/A-18 military jet crashes in France while on a training mission, injuring the pilot.

An updated count by the Associated Press raises the death toll from the Mina stampede during the Hajj to at least 1,621, with hundreds still missing.

Sports In North American basketball, the Minnesota Lynx win their third Women's National Basketball Association title in five years defeating the Indiana Fever 3 games to 2 in the finals. October 15, 2015, Thursday The UAE has pledged a sum of $500,000 to the United Nations Women, to be utilised in countering extremism within the context of Women, Peace and Security.

US President Barack Obama announces that he will keep 5,500 troops in Afghanistan.

The government of Myanmar signs a peace treaty with eight ethnic armed groups, although some powerful groups stay away.

Thousands gather in Aden’s Al Ouroudh Square to thank coalition forces and to celebrate victory three months after pushing Houthi militants out of southern Yemen.

A twin bombing near a mosque kills at least 26 people in the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri.

An Israeli is stabbed by a fellow Israeli Jew, because he is mistaken for an Arab.

Artist Lennart Anderson died at age 87 in Brooklyn, New York.

Five individuals – four men and a teenage boy – are arrested in connection with the gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl at a Sydney, Australia, house party.

Scottish and U.S. prosecutors identify two Libyans as suspects in the Lockerbie bombing. Egypt, Senegal, Uruguay, Japan, and Ukraine are elected to two-year, non-permanent seats on

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The United Nations Foundation has announced the selection of Ohood Al Roumi, Director-General of the UAE Prime Minister Office, for membership of the Global Entrepreneurship Council, making her the first Arab member of the body.

THE LAST FLIGHT

October 17, 2015: US Airway’s final flight lands as the company merges with American Airlines

the United Nations Security Council for 2016-17, replacing Chad, Chile, Jordan, Lithuania, and Nigeria.

Business and Economy The German automotive watchdog KBA orders Volkswagen to recall 2.4 million cars in that country after the emissions scandal becomes public knowledge. Four Papa John’s Pizza franchise owners agree to a settlement of about $500,000 after admitting to paying employees unfair wages.

October 16, 2015, Friday Syrian Army forces supported by Russian planes attack insurgents south of the city of Aleppo.

A US appeals court rules the Google Books Library Project, the scanning of millions of books with snippets searchable online, is legal under copyright law, affirming a 2013 district court decision.

The European Union and Turkey reach an agreement for Turkey to stem the flow of migrants into Europe in return for a £3 billion aid package, easier visa conditions and re-energised talks to join the bloc.

Hungary announces it will close its southern border with Croatia at midnight. Russia and other ex-Soviet states meeting in

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Kazakhstan agree to set up a joint task force to tackle instability on their borders, most notably from Afghanistan.

The United States confirms Iran tested a medium-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon.

A U.S. federal judge declines plaintiffs request for an emergency order requiring Texas issue birth certificates to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrant families. The U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment guarantees the right of citizenship to children born in the United States.

Hawaii Governor David Ige declares a state of emergency to address homelessness as the state has seen an alarming increase in unsheltered individuals and families over the past two years. Hawaii has the highest per capita rate of homelessness among the 50 states at about 465 people per 100,000 citizens.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a rigorous investigation after nine civilians including an IOM staff member were shot to death in Burundi, reportedly at close range.

October 17, 2015, Saturday Dubai Government issued Dubai Open Data Law, which allows sharing of non-confidential data between government entities and other stakeholders to complete the legislative framework for turning Dubai into a Smart City.

The Syrian army, backed by Iranian fighters, captures several villages south of Aleppo. A gunman from the Islamic State opens fire on a Shiite meeting hall in Saudi Arabia, killing five people.

Three Turkish troops are killed following clashes with PKK insurgents around Dağlıca village, in the southeastern Hakkâri Province. At least 17 PKK insurgents were also reportedly killed in the fighting.

A Saudi-led coalition airstrike targeting Houthis in the southern Taiz Governorate mistakenly hits a Hadi-loyalist position, killing at least 20 fighters.

Israeli security forces kill four Palestinians and critically wound another who attempted to stab either police officers. This is the latest in a month of similar attacks where 17 Palestinian attackers and eight Israelis have been killed. Nayantara Sahgal, is one of the latest authors in India who will return that nation’s highest award from the National Academy of Letters in protest against what Salman Rushdie has characterised as ‘thuggish violence’ creeping into Indian life under the Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At least 15 people are killed in a wedding bus crash in Andhra Pradesh state in southern India.

At least 16 people are killed near Odessa in the Ukraine after a passenger boat sinks in bad weather.

Ardit Ferizi, a 20-year-old hacker from Kosovo, is arrested for hacking into a Phoenix, Arizona computer system and stealing the names and personal information of thousands of United States military personnel. Ferizi is accused of giving these sensitive information to the Islamic State. The United States is seeking Ferizi’s extradition for trial.

2015

JANUARY 2015 OCTOBER

The first migrants reach Slovenia after the border between Hungary and Croatia is closed. Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reports that 12 migrants have drowned in the Aegean Sea while trying to get to Europe. The Guinea electoral commission reports that the President of Guinea Alpha Conde has won the election with 58 per cent of the vote.

Business and Economy US Airways final flight, Flight 1939 – named for the airline's founding year, landed at Philadelphia International Airport at 5:54 a.m. Saturday. Future flights will fly under the American Airlines banner, completing the merger announced in 2013.

October 18, 2015, Sunday The Israeli military evacuated dozens of Jewish worshippers who were surrounded by Palestinians after entering Joseph’s Tomb compound in Nablus, which was recently torched by Palestinians. The area is under full Palestinian control but Jewish prayer is permitted there when coordinated with authorities. The military said Sunday’s visit was not, and the worshippers had no permit.

Two Turkish soldiers are killed after a roadside bomb hit their vehicle in the eastern Tunceli Province. A suspected Russian airstrike is said to have killed dozens of members of one family in Homs, Syria.

At least four people are killed and a dozen injured after a small plane crashes in a residential area of the Colombian capital Bogota.

Voters in Egypt go to the polls for the first round of voting in long delayed parliamentary elections.

Swiss people vote the anti-immigration Swiss People's Party with 29.5 per cent of the vote, a record election result for the nationalist party.

October 19, 2015, Monday A 19-year-old soldier Omri Levy was killed and nearly a dozen injured in a shooting and stabbing attack in Beersheba carried out by an Israeli Bedouin Arab, 21-year old Mohind al-Okbi, who

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Canada’s prime-minister elect Justin Trudeau informs U.S. President Barack Obama that Canada will be withdrawing fighter jets from both Iraq and Syria, effectively ending Canada's military participation in the war on the Islamic State.

The Taliban kill 22 policemen and kidnap 19 others, including the district’s security chief, during clashes with Afghan troops who kill 12 of the insurgents in the battle in Faryab Province.

Former BBC journalist Jacky Sutton is found hanged in a restroom at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport. Of late, she was the acting director of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting. October 19 2015: The Canadian Liberal party led by Justin Trudeau wins the federal election

was killed after a gun battle.

An Eritrean migrant, Haptom Zerhom, is mistakenly shot by an Israeli security guard who thought he was involved in the Beersheva attack, has died of his wounds.

Seven hikers are killed by a forest fire while climbing Indonesia's Mount Lawu

Pope Francis encourages bishops from around the world to sign an appeal to world leaders, meeting in Paris next month, for crucial climate change talks.

Croatia reopens its border with Serbia allowing thousands of refugees to cross.

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is released from prison to serve the rest of his sentence for culpable homicide of Reeva Steenkamp under house arrest.

The Canadian Liberal party led by Justin Trudeau won the federal election with 184 seats.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx announced that all unmanned aircraft, i.e. drones, will be required to be registered with the government just as manned aircraft are. Eric Chu, KMT party chairman, has replaced

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Hung Hsiu-chu as Taiwan’s ruling party candidate just months ahead of elections.

Business and Economy The price of Oman Crude Oil Financial Contract, DME Oman, for December delivery, closed at $46.22 a barrel at Dubai Mercantile Exchange at 12:30 pm, Dubai time.

China’s economy expanded 6.9 per cent in third quarter over last year’s growth, just slightly better than forecast.

Oslo's city council announces plans to ban cars from the Norwegian capital's city centre by 2019.

At least 70 homes have been destroyed by a raging wildfire in Bastrop County, central Texas, in the United States.

The American Cancer Society recommends women at average risk of breast cancer should begin annual mammograms at age 45, and women 55 and older scale back screening to every other year. Saudi Arabia receives US State Department approval for the purchase of four Multi-Mission Combat Ships for $11.25 billion.

Apple bans 256 iOS mobile applications from its App Store which, the company discovered, includes software that was secretly sending users’ personal information to an advertising firm in China.

The United States and Russia sign an agreement to avoid conflict between both countries’ warplanes in Syria. The Pentagon said the agreement will remain secret; a hotline will enable both countries to directly communicate.

October 20, 2015, Tuesday Russian airstrikes in Syria’s coastal Latakia province have killed a top FSA commander, Basil Zamo, and several other rebel fighters.

Research from University of California, Los Angeles indicates that life on earth may have started 4.1 billion years ago – 300 million years earlier than previously thought.

Shareholders from both companies overwhelmingly approve Aetna's acquisition of Humana for $37 billion.

At least three Russian troops fighting along side the Syrian Army are reportedly killed after a shell hit their position in the coastal province of Latakia.

The Israel Defence Forces arrest senior Hamas leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef for alleged incitement to commit violence.

October 21, 2015, Wednesday The Taliban announced it overran Ghoryan in the western Herat province, the second district to fall in three days.

2015

JANUARY 2015 OCTOBER

The Islamic State orders males aged 14 and older in Raqqa, its de facto Syrian capital, to register with the police, an action seen as the first step toward forced conscriptions in this region.

Rockets fired by Houthi forces reportedly kill 14 people in city of Taiz, southwestern Yemen.

At least 20 people are killed after Boko Haram militants open fire on cars outside a village in Nigeria's restive northeast Borno state.

The death toll from Tropical Storm Koppu that battered the Philippines' climbed to at least 39. Koppu forced more than 100,000 villagers into emergency shelters.

A US F-18 fighter jet crashes into farmland near RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk county, England, killing the pilot.

The American Academy of Pediatrics calls for pregnant women to abstain completely from alcohol during the entire three trimesters of the pregnancy, saying no amount of any type of alcohol should be considered safe. Syrian President Bashar Al Assad visits Moscow for talks with the President of Russia Vladimir Putin in an unannounced visit.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approves the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, and orders it to be implemented subject to certain conditions.

Two Chinese consulate staff are killed and a consul general injured after a gunman opened fire on a restaurant in the city of Cebu, the ‘second city’ of the Philippines. Various reports named the gunman as Chinese national Li Qingliang. Auction of children’s paintings raises Dh250,000 in the UAE for children with cancer

October 22, 2015, Thursday Kurds in Syria established a new administration in the town of Tal Abyad, which the Kurds wrestled from ISIS last June.

A dozen people, including healthcare workers, were killed when Russian aircraft attacked a field

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THREE DECADES OF SUCCESS

hospital in Sarmin, Idlib.

Taliban insurgents assassinate Mohammad Daud Sultanzoy, a district administrator in Afghanistan's eastern Ghazni province.

At least 10 people are killed and 12 injured when a suicide-bomber attacks a Pakistani Shia Mosque and Imambargah during prayers in the District Bagh of Kachhi.

The death toll for Typhoon Koppu in the Philippines rises to 54 with 1.2 million affected.

In a pair of incidents two migrants were killed, 16 are missing, and 48 were rescued from boats heading to Greece from Turkey that capsized in the Aegean Sea.

Authorities in Slovenia say around 2,000 migrants from a refugee camp at the Croatian border are travelling in four trains toward Austria, three to the overloaded crossing at Šentilj and the other to Jesenice.

U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein accuses the Czech Republic of committing human rights violations by detaining refugees for up to 90 days and strip-searching them for money to pay for their own detention. A teacher and a student are killed, and another

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student injured, in an attack at a high school in Trollhättan, Sweden. The attacker was shot dead by police. Chilean officers start to grant civil unions licences to both heterosexual and homosexual couples, marking the first time a same-sex relationship is officially recognised in the country.

A shooting at the Tennessee State University campus in Nashville, Tennessee, injures three people, one critically. One of those wounded died later at a hospital.

U.S. President Barack Obama vetoes the $612 billion annual defence authorisation bill because of the way it would sidestep budget limitations for the military and because it would restrict the transfer of detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay. This is the President's fifth veto since 2009.

October 23, 2015, Friday Two suicide bombings at mosques kill at least 33 people in the northeast Nigerian cities of Yola and Maiduguri.

A bomb detonates in a Muharram procession in Jacobabad killing twenty-four people, including 10 children and 6 women and several others injured. At least nine people are killed and dozens injured

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in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi after several mortar shells hit a protest against a UN proposal for a unity government to end the four-year long crisis in the country.

A 16-year old Palestinian is shot dead after he tried to stab an Israeli security guard at a West Bank border crossing.

Hurricane Patricia becomes the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere with winds of 200 mph (320 km/h).

Actress Maureen O'Hara dies in her sleep at her Boise, Idaho, home.

Adele returns from a three-year hiatus with the new single ‘Hello’ from the album 25.

At least 43 people die after a bus collides with a truck near the French town of Puisseguin.

October 20 2015: Emirates celebrates 30 years of success

2015

Kuwait and France sealed a deal whereby the Gulf nation will upgrade its defence capabilities with $2.8 billion worth of military equipment. The president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, is awarded the Confucius Peace Prize, sometimes characterized as a Chinese alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize. Nineteen-year old Cameron Selmon died during a shooting on the Tennessee State University campus when a fight erupted during a dice game, in which a player pulled out a gun and started firing.

The U.S. Department of Energy cancels a shipment of 100 pounds of spent nuclear fuel (estimated value $200 million per year) to Idaho after failing to agree on terms that required a waiver to their 1995 agreement. Sports The Kansas City Royals win the 2015 American League Championship Series, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 4–3 in Game 6 to take the best-of-seven series 4–2.

October 24, 2015, Saturday A series of bomb blasts targeting Shia Muslims in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka kills one person and injures dozens more. Claims of responsibility by ISIS are discounted by Dhaka police.

A first lieutenant and two soldiers have been killed in an explosion which targeted a police armoured vehicle in the northern Sinai city of AlArīsh.

At least 40 people are reportedly killed following Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on two islands off Yemen's Red Sea coast.

Close to 300 landmarks in 60 countries, from the Pyramids in Egypt, to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, were lit up in blue — the official colour of the United Nations — to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the world body.

October 25, 2015, Sunday The UAE documentary film ‘Hijab’, which means ‘veil’ in English, has qualified for the best documentary film award in the Oscars 88th session.

Israeli border police shoot dead a 17-year-old girl after she allegedly approached them with a knife in the southern West Bank city of Hebron. A Palestinian stabs an Israeli settler in Gush Etzion. 3 more stabbing attacks against Israelis resulted in no Israeli fatalities.

At least 17 people are killed and 71 injured following a fire in a karaoke bar on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

The bodies of 40 migrants wash ashore on the Libyan coast with another 30 people missing.

At least five people are dead, one missing, and 21 rescued, from a tour boat carrying 27 people that sinks west of Vargas Island, off Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Balkan and European leaders agree to work to accommodate immigrants in 100,000 places in reception centers along the route from Greece towards Germany.

Four died and 47 were injured; five remain in critical condition in the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade crash. More than 200 black bears are killed in a single

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day in Florida after state officials allow the hunting of the animals for the first time in 21 years.

Voters in Guatemala go to the polls for the second round of voting in a presidential election with former TV comedian Jimmy Morales winning a landslide victory.

Business and Economy UAE Cabinet endorses Dh48 billion for 2016 Federal Government Budget

Sports Lewis Hamilton wins a third World Drivers' Championship in Formula One, as his team Mercedes secures the Constructors' Championship. October 26, 2015, Monday Four Islamic State militants and two Turkish policemen are killed during a raid on a house used by militants in the city of Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey.

United Nations reports at least 120,000 people have been displaced in Syria this month because of fighting.

A suicide-bomb attack at a Shia mosque in the Saudi Arabian city of Najran accounts for over a dozen casualties.

At least 50 people are killed, including seven civilians, in heavy fighting between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to ousted President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi near the city of Taiz. At least 11 Colombian Army soldiers and one policeman have been killed in an ELN attack in northeast Colombia.

An earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Moment magnitude scale strikes in the Hindu Kush mountain range in northeastern Afghanistan, 158 miles from Kabul. At least 263 are dead in Afghanistan and nearby northern Pakistan with more than 1,000 injured. Indian fugitive gangster Chhota Rajan is arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali.

A new study by scientists finds that areas around the Arabian Gulf could become uninhabitable to

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WASHED UP HUMANITY

humans in less than 100 years due to rising temperatures.

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and parts of India.

Business and Economy MTN Group is fined $5.2 billion by the Nigerian Communications Commission for failing to disconnect non-registered SIM cards.

Toyota is once again the world’s largest carmaker with 7.5 million units sold thus far in 2015, compared to Volkswagen's 7.43 million and General Motors’ 7.2 million. Japanese tire manufacturer Bridgestone announced it would buy US auto parts retailer Pep Boys for $835 million. Duke Energy announced it would buy Piedmont Natural Gas for $4.9 billion.

October 27, 2015, Tuesday A Yemeni hospital in Saada run by Médecins Sans Frontières is destroyed by several Saudiled coalition airstrikes overnight.

The Islamic State executes three detainees in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra by strapping them to pillars and blowing them up with the antiquities. A Libyan helicopter carrying cash for a local bank on the way out and returning to Tripoli with passengers is shot down near the coastal Almaya area west of the capital, killing 14 passengers.

October 25, 2015: The body of one of hundreds of migrants washed ashore on the Libyan coast

an overwhelming lead (83.18 per cent) on the way to a second five-year term.

The death toll from the earthquake is 339 with many thousands injured.

Indonesian forest fires have advanced into dense forest on Borneo and now threaten one third of the world’s remaining wild orangutans, say conservationists.

Business and Economy Walgreens Boots Alliance agrees to buy Rite Aid for $9.4 billion in a move which will create a retail pharmaceutical giant with 13,000 stores.

in the southeast Diffa Region of Niger near the Nigerian border.

The death toll from Monday’s quake rises to 385.

The Greek coastguard says they rescued 242 migrants whose wooden boat sank north of the island of Lesbos, but at least three drowned, including two small boys.

The World Health Organisation reports tuberculosis has surpassed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as the leading cause of global death, despite the death rate from tuberculosis having been cut in half over the last 25 years.

Three Palestinians are shot dead after attacking Israeli soldiers with knives in the occupied West Bank.

With over $200 billion in planned and ongoing underground infrastructure projects in the GCC, the growth of this sector can’t be missed, according to the Society of Engineers-UAE.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), said, the consumption of red meat causes cancer in humans and strong mechanistic evidence supporting a carcinogenic effect.

United Nations humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien tells the Security Council the worsening conflict in Syria has left 13.5 million people in need of aid and some form of protection, including more than six million children.

October 28, 2015, Wednesday Taliban insurgents seize the Darqad District in the northeast Takhar Province near the border with Tajikistan. At least six Afghan troops are killed in the fighting.

Official results from the presidential election show that President of the Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara has been re-elected.

Pakistan says seven of its soldiers have been killed in the South Waziristan tribal region by fire from across the border with Afghanistan.

Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara gets

UAE ranked first in Arab world for 3rd year in row in Ease of Doing Business, says World Bank report 2016

Suspected Boko Haram militants kill 14 civilians

In Aberdeen, Scotland, one student has died of injuries, and another has been arrested, after a stabbing at Cults Academy.

Republican Party nominate Paul Ryan of Wisconsin to replace John Boehner of Ohio as Speaker of the House.

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Attack on Paris

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A series of deadly terrorist attacks on November 13, in Paris kills 130 people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that shook the world and reminded everyone that the world has become a more dangerous place to live in...

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testers whose blockade has crippled Nepal's fuel supplies and badly damaged relations between the neighbouring countries.

At least 15 Somalia army soldiers are killed in an Al Shabaab ambush near the town of Wanlaweyn in the Lower Shebelle region.

New Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announces knights and dames will no longer be part of the nation’s honours system. He said Queen Elizabeth signed off on the decision.

November 1, 2015: Justice and Development Party wins Turkish general elections

November 1, 2015, Sunday Al Shabaab militants attack a hotel in Mogadishu resulting in at least 12 deaths.

Islamic State fighters seize control of Mahin, a town in Syria’s central Homs province, following clashes with government forces which left about 50 people dead.

One Palestinian is killed and three Israeli soldiers injured in two attacks in the West Bank.

Since the beginning of October, 9 Israeli citizens, 67 Palestinian and an Arab Israeli have been killed in this wave of violence.

An Israel Defence Forces inquiry concludes the death of a Palestinian woman at a checkpoint in Hebron was unnecessary, finding the teenager could have been detained and not killed.

Airlines including Emirates, Lufthansa and Air France refuse to fly over the Sinai Peninsula until the cause of the crash is known.

Russian air transport chief Alexander Neradko says Metrojet Flight 9268 broke apart at high altitude and scattered plane parts over a wide swath of Egyptian desert.

Russia observes a nationwide day of mourning for victims of the plane crash in Egypt.

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The bodies of more than 140 of those killed in the air crash have been flown back to St Petersburg. Three other victims of the nightclub fire die at hospital, bringing the death toll to 30

At least eight people are dead and 70 missing following the sinking of a ferry on Myanmar's Chindwin River in the northwestern Sagaing Region

The leaders of China, South Korea and Japan hold their first summit in three years. Switzerland Named World’s Most Positive Country For 2015.

A campus shooting at around 1:20 am at Winston-Salem State University, in North Carolina, kills at least one person and wounds one. The suspected gunman, Jarrett Jerome Moore, is not a student, and is still at large. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) wins snap election with more than 49 per cent of the vote. AKP, projected to get 316 seats in the 550-seat parliament, regains single-party rule just five months after losing it.

November 2, 2015, Monday Nepali police shoot dead an Indian citizen at a border checkpoint as they attempt to clear pro-

Planes have been left stranded at airports throughout the United Kingdom as the "Great Fog" descends.

Business and Economy China's government-owned aircraft manufacturing company Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (Comac) launches the Comac C919 as part of its efforts to challenge Boeing and Airbus.

American financial services company Visa Inc. buys European franchisee Visa Europe for $23 billion. November 3, 2015, Tuesday People in the UAE observe UAE Flag Day, to mark their loyalty to the country.

At least two Indian soldiers are killed after Pakistani forces opened fire along the de-facto border that divides Kashmir between the two countries.

Russia’s Defence Ministry says the Russian Air Force has bombed 2,804 "militant targets" in Syria so far since beginning of its airforce campaign in September. At least four people are killed and 15 injured in an ISIL attack in the Kurdish section of northern Iraq.

At least seven people are dead and 35 others are injured as a bus overturns near Tula, Russia.

At least 30 people are killed and 35 others injured after an overcrowded bus carrying passengers inside and on its roof veered off a mountain road

in northwest Nepal.

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Fires raging in Indonesia have hit Borneo's orangutans particularly hard. Borneo is home to about 30 per cent of the world's wild orangutans, an endangered species.

Severe storm Chapala floods coastal areas in Yemen, brings down electricity lines and destroys houses, with severe threat of mudslides. Chapala is expected to pour over two or three years worth of rain, up to 300 millimetres, in a single day.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel announces a plan to register and distribute incoming refugees evenly throughout the EU. Refugees would be stopped at EU borders, have their application processed, and then, if accepted, sent to one of the Union's 28 member states. Pakistani journalist Zaman Mehsud is shot dead by two motorcycle-riding gunmen in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. At least 56 journalists have been killed in Pakistan since 1992.

Business and Economy British bank Standard Chartered announces that it will axe 15,000 jobs around the world as part of a restructure.

Volkswagen says it has found faulty emissions readings for the first time in gasoline-powered vehicles, widening a scandal that so far had centered on diesel engines. November 4, 2015, Wednesday Flights between the United Kingdom and the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh are suspended due to concerns of the British government that the crash was caused by an ‘explosive device’.

Intelligence sources suggest that the Islamic State or an affiliate organisation planted explosives on the Metrojet plane.

Ash from Indonesia’s Mount Rinjani volcano closes Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport, the country's third busiest. Nearly 700 flights are cancelled. A cargo plane crashes shortly after takeoff from Juba International Airport in Juba, South Sudan.

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cratic Party (UDP) gains a clear majority in parliament.

The President of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen, declares a state of emergency suspending civil rights and giving sweeping powers to security forces.

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake rocked Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula.

Adverse weather pushes global food prices up by 3.9 per cent in October, says UN agency FAO.

November 5, 2015: Malabar Gold and Diamonds, one of the world’s top three gold and diamond jewellery retailers, has opened the largest gold and diamond showroom in the Middle East, at Hamdan Street in Abu Dhabi that showcases 50,000 pieces of jewellery from 10 countries

41 people have reportedly died. The five Armenian crew members were killed.

A building collapses in the Pakistani city of Lahore resulting in at least 18 deaths, 75 injured and around 150 people still trapped.

South Korea and China agree to establish an emergency navy and military hotline.

Police, at the University of California, Merced campus, shoot and kill a student who went on a stabbing rampage that wounded four people.

The Mexican Supreme Court rules that people have the right to grow and distribute marijuana for their personal use. The decision challenges the country’s current substance abuse laws.

James Tran of Sacramento County is arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide in the October 8 stabbing of Airman Spencer Stone near a bar in Sacramento California.

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta and his government resigns after tens of thousands took to the streets to protest over the Colectiv nightclub fire that killed 32 people. Justin Trudeau is sworn in as the new Prime Min-

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ister of Canada along with his ministry. Trudeau announces an ethnically diverse cabinet which for the first time is equally balanced between men and women (15 each).

Voters in Belize go to the polls with the United Democratic Party led by Dean Barrow hoping for a third consecutive term.

November 5, 2015, Thursday A Canadian national, John Robert Gallagher, was killed while fighting alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces against Islamic State militants in the northeast Al Hasakah Governorate.

An iron ore tailings dam bursts in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais flooding a valley, causing mudslides in the nearby village of Bento Rodrigues and causing up to 17 deaths and 45 missing. Greek police say they came under fire on the country’s northeastern border with Turkey during the arrest of two suspected migrant smugglers who had just ferried 22 people across the Evros river that runs along the Greek-Turkish border.

Belizean Prime Minister Dean Barrow wins a record third term in snap general election in the Central American nation as his United Demo-

Business and Economy Foreign investors purchased Dh865.3 million worth of shares on Dubai Financial Market (DFM) from 1st to 5th November and sold Dh766.6 million in the same period, DFM said today in a press release.

Malabar Gold and Diamonds, one of the world’s top three gold and diamond jewellery retailers, has opened the largest gold and diamond showroom in the Middle East, at Hamdan Street in Abu Dhabi, spanning 10,000 square feet space that showcases 50,000 pieces of jewellery from 10 countries. The showroom unveils a 30kilogramme gold replica of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, worth Dh4.12 million. November 6, 2015, Friday Israeli forces shoot and kill a 72-year-old woman in Halhul, a town near Hebron.

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons inspectors conclusively identify mustard gas as the toxic agent used in the battle between Islamic State insurgents and an anti-Assad rebel group in the Syrian town of Mare' in the northern Alleppo province on August 21, 2015. This is the first confirmation of its use by nonstate actors in Syria’s four-year-old conflict. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints new policy states those in a same-sex marriage are to be considered apostates, and children living in a same-sex household may not be blessed as babies, or baptised until they are 18. Russia has ordered the suspension of all flights to Egypt following indications that the crash near

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Sharm El Sheikh was caused by a bomb.

Obama Administration will be opening new screening centers for Syrian refugees in Iraq and Lebanon to speed up the process for getting vetted individuals to the United States.

Egypt receives the final four of its order of 20 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 52 multi-role fighters, according to the Defence Ministry. The United States had delayed delivery following the 2013 coup d'état.

Business and Economy U.S. job growth for October 2015 saw the biggest gains since December 2014, fuelling hopes that the Federal Reserve Board will increase nearzero interest rates at its December meeting.

November 7, 2015, Saturday Islamic State militants released 37 Syrian Christians, mostly women, who were among more than 200 people from the Assyrian minority group abducted in February.

Death toll from an airstrike on an IS-controlled eastern city near the border with Iraq rose from 25 to 71.

Bombs in and around Baghdad kill at least nine people, police and medical sources say. There is no immediate claim of responsibility.

An archaeological Mission, excavating at a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cyprus, discover Cyprus's oldest theatre. Located in the ancient city of Nea Paphos (capital of Cyprus at the time), it is a Hellenistic-Roman structure believed to have been in use for about six and a half centuries, from c. 300 B.C. until its final destruction in the earthquakes of A.D. 365. The Greek coast guard and the EU border agency Frontex rescue 383 migrants attempting to sail from Turkey to the eastern Greek islands.

The WHO declares Sierra Leone free from Ebola.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou meet in Singapore, the first meeting between a Chinese and Taiwanese leader since the Chinese Communist Revolution.

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3D Printing of Body Parts!

November 6, 2015: Researchers at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) successfully use a 3-D printer to produce hair-like strands. Also, using certain materials, with a 3-D printer and special bioprinting techniques, another team at CMU produced human coronary arteries and small, embryonic-like human hearts. g lowed her to receive modified immune cells from another person.

November 8, 2015: Alliance led by Chief Minister Niish Kumar and former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav defeats Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in assembly elections in Bihar

In Louisiana, United States, two law enforcement officers are arrested and charged with homicide of a six-year-old and attempted homicide of his father. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority plans to slash travel time on Dubai's Airport road from 30 minutes to five by undertaking new alternative measures in the coming months..

African countries such as Niger, Congo and Burundi are considered the poorest in the world, but international indicators classify Mauritania, the Sudan, Yemen, Morocco and Egypt among them. By one account, poverty rates stand at 42 per cent, 25 per cent, 19 per cent and 14 per cent in Yemen, Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. Of the 345 million Arabs some 65 million live in poverty, representing around 19 per cent.

November 8, 2015, Sunday Houthi forces regain several positions across southern Yemen after launching a fresh offensive against loyalist and coalition forces. The Houthis also retook the Damt District in the Dhale province after besieging it for hours, at least 16 people were killed in the clashes. At least nine people are killed after gunmen attack a bar in Burundi's capital, Bujumbura.

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Two suicide bomb attacks in Ngouboua, a remote village near Lake Chad, kill three people, including the bombers, and injure four others.

Syrian state news reports clashes between Syrian regime troops and the Islamic State in eastern Syria's Deir ez-Zor province result in the deaths of 58 militants. John Lennon’s guitar sells for over $2.5 million.

Hamtramck, Michigan, will apparently be the first city in the United States to be governed by Muslims, three of Bangladeshi descent and one Yemeni. Community leader Bill Meyer, who is not Muslim, said, the influx of Muslims to Hamtramck has “helped bring stability, security and sobriety while lessening the amount of drugs and crime in the city.”

A Canadian Pacific Railway train carrying crude oil derails in Wisconsin; some of the 10 derailed cars are leaking oil. This is the second consecutive day for a freight train crash in the state.

A 1-year-old from London with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who had undergone myriads of, unsuccessful, treatments since she was 14 weeks old, is in remission thanks to gene-editing technology, used for just the second time, that al-

Spain's interior minister Jorge Fernández Díaz says the first of more than 1,400 refugees from Syria and Eritrea are being welcomed for resettlement in new homes across the country.

Hossam Bahgat, an investigative reporter for the independent Egyptian news website Mada Masr is detained and is interrogated by authorities on charges of publishing false news that could harm the nation.

Voters in Myanmar head to the polls with the National League for Democracy, the party of Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi, expected to win a majority. Early indication is an 80 per cent turnout of the more than 30 million people eligible to vote.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling BJP Party concedes defeat to the grand alliance of Bihar sitting chief minister Nitish Kumar in the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election. The defeat is a major blow for his reforms.

Mysterious lights from an unidentified flying object spook people in Arizona, California, and Nevada. It was later confirmed as a test flight of a UGM-133 Trident II missile.

November 9, 2015, Monday Cyclone Megh heads towards Yemen having already resulted in at least one death on the island of Socotra, with 5,000 people forced to leave their homes.

Detainees at Australia's Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre riot

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over the death of an asylum seeker yesterday. The Parliament of Catalonia starts to debate whether to secede from Spain.

Mobile phone subscriber numbers in the UAE grew 3.72 per cent in the third quarter of this year to 16.98 million, mainly driven by prepaid customers, according to statistics. Etisalat’s thirdquarter subscriber numbers increased 9.35 per cent to 9.7 million compared to 8.87 million during the same period last year. Du’s subscribers decreased 3.06 per cent to 7.28 million compared to 7.51 million during the same period last year. The Middle East will need 2,460 new aircraft worth $590 billion (Dh2.17 trillion) over the next 20 years, European plane maker Airbus said, 720 less than what rival Boeing estimates.

November 10, 2015, Tuesday Egypt's Interior Ministry announces the death of a senior figure in the Islamic State. Ashraf Ali Hassanein al Gharabli, killed in a Cairo shootout with police, was also linked to other extremist groups and terrorist activities. Syrian Army troops break an Islamic State siege of the Kweires airbase in Aleppo Governorate. A mortar attack on the coastal city of Latakia kills at least 23 and injures 65.

All nine people aboard a Hawker H25 business jet are killed after the plane crashes into an apartment complex in the American city of Akron, in the state of Ohio.

Kenyan police arrest Daily Nation senior reporter John Ngirachu who wrote about corruption at the Interior Ministry.

Former West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt (1974 to 1982) dies at the age of 96.

Some 11 million children are at risk from hunger, disease and water shortages in east and southern Africa because of the strengthening El Nino weather phenomenon, UN said. Google has upgraded its Android Maps app so it can provide directions when not connected to the internet.

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Climate change could drive 100 million people back into poverty

November 8, 2015: According to a new World Bank report, climate change could drive more than 100 million people into poverty by 2030 largely due to difficulties producing crops. g Prosecutors have charged three men relating to the largest cyber-attack of financial firms in US history. Personal information for 100 million people was accessed by cyber-thieves between 2012 and the summer of 2015.

For the first time, doctors have breached the human brain’s protective layer to deliver cancerfighting drugs. The Canadian team used tiny gasfilled bubbles, injected into the bloodstream of a patient, to punch temporary holes in the bloodbrain barrier.

Business and Economy Thousands of protesters take to the streets across the United States to demand a $15-anhour minimum wage and union rights for fast food workers. Thousands of low-wage workers walked off their jobs in some 270 cities. Dell Incorporated's $67 billion offer to buy data storage company EMC Corporation could be derailed by a tax bill of up to $9 billion if key aspects of the deal do not qualify for the sort of tax treatment the companies consider essential for the transaction.

November 11, 2015, Wednesday By 2016 Dubai Municipality will roll out its colour coding system to grade the level of hygiene and food safety in food outlets, a municipality official said. The new grading system will affect 14,000 food establishments in Dubai, including restaurants, cafeterias, catering companies and food manufacturers.

The Dubai Tram has transported 3.7 million passengers in just a year of serving the densely populated New Dubai areas, clocking in an almost on-time arrival every time. Republican Donald Trump's plan to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants from the US has

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been savaged by his party rivals in a TV debate

Business and Economy E-commerce giant Alibaba has broken its own record for sales on China's Singles Day, when sales surpassed the record amount of $9.3 billion.

The first Japanese-built commercial jet in half a century made its maiden flight, in a breakthrough for the country's long-held ambition to establish an aircraft industry that can compete with some of the major players in global aviation.

November 12, 2015, Thursday Al Ain Aerospace Park, which was set up in 2012, is transforming the garden city into a competitive aerospace hub. Mubadala-owned Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park (Nibras) is expected to create 10,000 jobs by 2030. Total sale deals at the Dubai Airshow look set to cross $100 billion when the five-day event closes.

The UAE recently pledged $8.32 million in donations to a number of UN development funds and programmes for 2016. A rocky Earth-sized planet that orbits a small, nearby star could be the most important world ever found beyond the solar system, astronomers say.

Dubai-based the KEF Company Limited, a UAEbased multinational company, has announced a donation of Dh10 million to the Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and treatment.

Malabar Gold, a major jewellery retailer, donates Dh10 million to Al Jalila Foundation for research in genetic disorder disease.

At least 37 people have been killed and 181 wounded in two suicide bomb attacks in a residential area of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, officials say.

November 13, 2015, Friday The United States conducts airstrikes targeting Kuwaiti-British militant Jihadi John. Later, the

November 13, 2015: French people express a show of unity in grief as the country recovers from a deadly terrorist attack in Paris that killed 130 people

U.S. says it is ‘reasonably certain’ a drone strike in Syria killed Jihadi John, né Mohammed Emwazi.

Kurdish Peshmerga forces backed by U.S. airstrikes seize control of Sinjar in northern Iraq. Sinjar has been under Islamic State occupation since August 2014.

the Central African Republic.

The Anne Frank Fonds in Basel, Switzerland, announces that Otto Frank, father of Anne Frank, is editor and legally the co-author of The Diary of Anne Frank.

Multiple bombings in Baghdad targeting Iraqi Shiites kills at least 26 people. The Islamic State claims responsibility.

The bodies of eight babies are found wrapped in towels and inside plastic bags in an apartment in Wallenfels in Bavaria. Authorities are looking for the apartment's most recent occupant, Andrea G, a 45-year-old woman.

Police report the hostage siege is over at the Eagles of Death Metal concert at the Bataclan theatre in the 11th arrondissement. Approximately 100 people are dead in the Bataclan.

Oxfam’s Belgrade Center for Human Rights reports migrants coming through Bulgaria have faced beatings, threats, tortures and other abuses by police, though the country’s own refugee agency said it had received no such complaints.

French police report multiple blasts and gunfire in Paris with at least 26 dead in a restaurant in the 10th arrondissement and an explosion near the Stade de France.

The President of France François Hollande declares a state of emergency across France. During an arrest attempt in Cairo, Egyptian security forces kill Aly Ashraf Hassanein Al Gharabli, an ISIL-linked militant.

At least 22 people are killed and scores others injured this week in a string of raids on villages in

At least four people are dead and 33 injured in a landslide in China's Zhejiang province.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) wins an absolute majority winning 348 seats in the country’s parliament, marking Myanmar's first democratically-elected government since the 1962 Burmese coup d'état.

Colombia plans to legalise medical marijuana in a further shift in drug policy after suspending aerial fumigation of illicit crops.

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In a deadliest attack in France, three suicide bombers struck near the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, followed by suicide bombings and mass shootings at cafés, restaurants and a music venue in Paris, killing 130 people, including 89 at the Bataclan theatre, where they took hostages before engaging in a stand-off with police. There were 368 injuries.

Dubai has moved to protect its skyscrapers – which includes the world’s tallest, the 2,700ft Burj Khalifa – by ordering jetpacks for its firefighters. The city’s Directorate of Civil Defence has ordered 20 of the $200,000 machines, made by New Zealand-based Martin Aircraft Company.

Business and Economy China's mobile phone users are discarding 80 million devices annually, but almost none are being recycled. China's recycling rate stands at 9-10 percent of the global recycling average.

Nasdaq is engaged in negotiations to buy the Canada unit of Chi-X Global Holdings. Chi-X is an important provider of alternative equity trading venues.

November 14, 2015, Saturday Michel Cadot, the head of the Paris Police Prefecture, says that all the attackers are believed to be dead. The Islamic State claims responsibility for the attacks.

Poland's recently elected government led by Law and Justice (PiS), declares it will no longer accept EU-mandate quotas for refugees following the terrorist attacks in France. A U.S. airstrike on a compound in the Libyan port city of Derna is said to have killed Wisam al Zubaidi, also known as Abu Nabil Al Anbari, who commands the Islamic State’s branch in Libya.

Kurdish Peshmerga forces discover a mass grave believed to contain the remains of more than 70 members of Iraq's Yazidi minority, mostly women, east of the recently liberated town of Sinjar.

Turkish troops kill four Islamic State militants in Turkey's southeastern Gaziantep Province when two cars with ISIS passengers advanced on a

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Turkish armoured vehicle near a border post in Oğuzeli.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the southwest coast of Japan. The quake occurred 119 miles (191 km) west-southwest of Kagoshima.

Ten people are dead and eleven injured after a high-speed TGV train catches fire and derails near the northeastern French city of Strasbourg. Four people are killed after a light aircraft crashes near the village of Churchstanton in Somerset.

Indonesia announces that it is planning to take China to court over the Natuna Islands.

Police in South Korea fire tear gas and water cannons at anti-government protesters in Seoul. Around 70,000 people took part in the protests, the largest in Seoul since the 2008 US beef protest in South Korea.

A team of scientists from the United States and Europe are predicting that declining snowpacks on mountain ranges could lead to Northern Hemisphere water shortages by the year 2060.

Dh135 million ($37 million) worth of books were sold in the 11-day Sharjah International Book Fair that witnessed a large number of visitors. November 15, 2015, Sunday One of the Paris attackers is identified as Ismael Omar Mostefai, a 29-year-old who was born and raised in the Paris suburbs.

Paris prosecutor François Molins says three jihadist cells, apparently multinational teams with links to the Middle East, Belgium, and possibly Germany, as well as France, staged coordinated attacks at bars, a concert hall, and a soccer stadium, killing 132 people and injuring 350, including around 90 who are in a serious condition. French authorities identify two of the suicide attackers; both French nationals living in Belgium, one age 20, the other 31.

Turkish police detain seven ISIS-linked suspects in simultaneous operations in Ankara.

November 13, 2015: Dubai has moved to protect its skyscrapers by ordering jetpacks for its firefighters. The city’s Directorate of Civil Defence has ordered 20 of the $200,000 machines

Lebanon arrests nine people including seven Syrians over the recent Beirut bombings that killed at least 44 people.

Egyptian security forces allegedly shoot dead at least 15 Sudanese asylum seekers in the Sinai Peninsula near the Israeli border.

France launches a series of airstrikes on Raqqa, the Islamic State's de facto capital in Syria, destroying a jihadi training camp and a munitions dump.

A government official says the United States made a fresh delivery of ammunition to Syrian Arab Coalition fighters battling Islamic State in northern Syria, pushing ahead with a strategy that initially unnerved ally Turkey.

The death toll from a landslide on Friday in China's Zhejiang province rises to 16 with 21 still missing. Heavy rain leads to warnings of floods in mid and north Wales.

The leaders of nations with the top 20 economies vow to use all their policy resources to bolster a sagging global economic environment. While the European migrant crisis and terrorism were high on the agenda of this summit, the terror attacks in Paris dominate conversations and meetings.

The top of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper, is lit up in the blue, white and red of the French flag, in tribute to France and those killed in the attacks in Paris. Other landmark buildings in the UAE, including the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab building, also paid tribute.

Reuters reports Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and Philippine President Benigno Aquino are set to agree on a deal paving the way for Tokyo to directly supply Manila with used military equipment. An announcement is expected this week during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila.

Dubai's inflation rate for Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropped by 0.43 percent in October 2015, compared to September, according to a report issued by Dubai Statistics Centre (DSC) today.

November 16, 2015, Monday Authorities search for Belgium-born French national Salah Abdeslam, one of three brothers suspected of involvement in the attacks. Raids are reported to have taken place in Grenoble, Toulouse, Jeumont and the Paris suburb of Bobigny. Saudi-led airstrikes and clashes have killed over 40 Houthi militants and 4 civilians over the past 24 hours, with most of the airstrikes taking place in the southwestern Ibb Governorate.

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Famous American actor Charlie Sheen confirms he has HIV.

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake strikes southwest of Ioannina in Greece, at a depth of 6.2 miles killing at least two people. The quake damages the main road in the southwestern part of Lefkada.

Bushfires burning near Esperance on the coast of Western Australia may have killed four people.

November 16, 2015: World leaders gather at the G20 summit in Turkish city of Antalya

Egypt's security forces shoot dead at least 24 ISIS militants as they hid inside a cave in a mountainous area in central Sinai, not far from the crash site of Metrojet Flight 9268, a Russian airliner the group says it brought down.

In the United States, federal and state authorities announce Education Management Corp., a company that enrols more than 100,000 students at North American for-profit trade schools and colleges, agrees to pay $95.5 million to settle claims it illegally paid recruiters and exaggerated the career-placement abilities of its schools. EDMC also agreed to forgive $102.8 million in loans made to more than 80,000 former students.

American, British-based telecommunications company Liberty Global announces a £3.5 billion (US$5.3 billion) deal to buy British multinational telecommunications company Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC).

The death toll from a landslide in a village in China's Zhejiang province rises to 25 with 12 people still missing.

Floods in Sri Lanka and the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu cause over 70 deaths with the city of Chennai worst affected.

Six people, including a child, have been found dead on private property in Anderson County, southeast of Dallas, Texas, USA.

United States President Barack Obama, in An-

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talya, Turkey, says America will continue to accept refugees from Syria and elsewhere, though, "Only after subjecting them to rigorous screening and security checks." Responding to calls to admit Christians but not Muslims into the country, he said, “We don’t have religious tests to our compassion.”

Business and Economy The Japanese economy goes into recession for the second time since the election of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Marriott International has agreed to buy Starwood Hotels and Resorts in a $12.2 billion deal that would create the world’s largest hotel management company.

November 17, 2015, Tuesday Russia's Federal Security Service announces that the plane was destroyed by a bomb.

The Philippine government concentrates street children and homeless people as part of preparations for an international summit.

The Japanese government officially sues the governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, over his denial of permits to allow work to begin on the Relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

More than half of the state governors in the United States reject accepting asylum seekers from Syria after the attacks in Paris. All except one of them are Republicans.

Obama administration officials hold a conference call with 34 governors to assure them, "refugees would undergo the most rigorous screening and security vetting of any category of traveller to the United States."

JANUARY 2015 NOVEMBER

A twin-suicide bombing of a mobile phone market in the northern Nigerian city of Kano kills at least fifteen people.

Boko Haram was the world's deadliest terrorist organisation in 2014, being responsible for 6,664 deaths compared to 6,073 for the Islamic State. The Russian Air Force destroys around 500 fuel tanker vehicles used by ISIS and other extremist groups for transporting illegal oil from Syria to Iraq.

A gunman inside a betting shop near army barracks in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, shoots dead two Bosnian Army soldiers. The gunman, Enes Omeragić, later commits suicide after police surround his house. The Islamic State says that it has killed a Chinese hostage and a Norwegian hostage.

Some 25,000 households in Ireland lose power as a result of Storm Barney.

November 19, 2015, Thursday China vows to "bring to justice" those responsible for executing one of its citizens after the Islamic State said it had killed a Chinese hostage. China's Foreign Ministry also confirms the hostage's identity, naming him as Fan Jinghui.

US President Barack Obama arrived in Manila on Tuesday for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, summit.

A Palestinian kills three people, including an American student and another Palestinian, and injures four others, after opening fire at Israeli cars and then ramming his vehicle into a group of pedestrians, injuring several more near Alon Shvut in the West Bank.

A raid by French police in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis kills at least two terror suspects, including a female suicide bomber, with eight others arrested.

More than 500,000 people. a quarter of them children, remain homeless this year amid scarce affordable housing across the US. Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, and Hawaii all recently declared emergencies over the rise of homelessness.

The Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal ends his campaign for the Republican Party nomination.

The Russian military launches cruise missile strikes from the Mediterranean on ISIS positions in Al-Raqqah, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's de-facto capital in Syria, Aleppo, and Idlib.

November 18, 2015, Wednesday Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak condemns the Phillipine-based Abu Sayyaf's beheading of a Malaysian man. Businessman Bernard Then and a woman were kidnapped in May from the Malaysia-island Sabah; the woman was released

Two Air France flights bound for Paris from the United States are diverted for several hours on following anonymous bomb threats.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the ringleader of the Paris terrorist attacks, is killed during the raid.

A blast at a market in the northeastern Nigerian city of Yola, kills at least 32 people and wounds 80 others.

2015

A gunman shoots dead two Saudi Arabian policemen while they are on patrol in their vehicle in Saihat, located in Saudi Arabia's restive Eastern Province, which is predominantly Shia.

Business and Economy The World Economic Forum in its annual Global

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a woman and Paris attacks ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud were killed.

The French Senate approves President FranĂ§ois Hollande's request to extend the state of emergency until the end of February 2016.

Two attacks on security checkpoints by ISIS militants in Yemen's historic Shibam town in central Hadhramaut Governorate leave at least 15 proHadi government soldiers dead.

HELMUT SCHMIDT 1918-2015

November 10, 2015: Former West German chancellor Helmut Schmidt (1974 to 1982) dies at 96

Gender Gap Report says that it would take 118 years before women and men have equal pay for similar occupations, such as white collar jobs.

The New York State Department of Financial Services fines Barclays $150 million for the way it treated its foreign exchange customers.

Most of the employees of the Reserve Bank of India, that country's central bank, go on strike demanding better pension benefits. The RBI acknowledges "some interruptions" in its clearing and settlement functions. In connection with World Toilet Day, the United Nations reports that 2.4 billion people lack adequate sanitation, and nearly one billion have no toilet facilities and are forced to relieve themselves in areas without facilities.

The U.S. clears genetically-modified Atlantic salmon for human consumption.

Convictions for sex offences against minors accounts for the largest group of military inmates in U.S. military prisons.

Kuwait arrests six members of an extremist network suspected of supplying funds and weapons, including rockets, to Daesh militants. The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelm-

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ingly passes legislation to suspend the Obama administration's programme to admit 10,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees into the country.

November 20, 2015, Friday Cyprus offers France the use of its airbase facilities to bomb the Islamic State. Cypriot airbases are already being used by British and Canadian air forces for military operations. Russian Defence Minister, Sergey Shoigu, reported over 600 terrorists were killed in the strikes. Ten gunmen storm the five-star Radisson Blu Hotel in the Malian capital Bamako, taking 170 hostages with at least 27 people killed. Mali security forces launch an assault on the gunmen and all surviving hostages are freed.

Mali declares a 10-day state of emergency following the attack.

Chinese security forces have killed 28 members of a supposed terrorist group in the mainly ethnic Uyghur Xinjiang region.

Officials report three people died in the SaintDenis raid in France as police widens their search for the killers of Paris attack. The body of a second woman is found at the apartment where

The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second-largest diamond of gem quality, Karowe AK6, is found in the Karowe mine located north of the Botswanan capital Gaborone. The 1,111-carat diamond is second only to the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond (Star of Africa) found in South Africa in 1905.

The family of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who saved thousands of Jews from the Holocaust only to languish in a Russian prison, have asked authorities to declare him dead.

The first stage of the voting process to potentially select a new flag of New Zealand starts. NASA orders its first commercial crew mission from private company SpaceX.

Saudi Arabia loses SR50 billion annually due to damage caused to private and public property and injuries to people as a result of traffic accidents, an academic at Dammam University, said.

November 21, 2015, Saturday UAE Government announces a game-changing plan worth more than Dh300 billion to foster a knowledge economy and innovation, and prepare the UAE for a world after oil.

A suicide bomb attack in Fotokol, a town in Cameroon's Far North Region near the Nigerian border kills at least nine people.

A Palestinian stabs four people, including a 13year-old girl, in the southern Israeli town of Kiryat Gat; he flees and evades police for five hours before being arrested.

Seven people, including the pilot, are killed in a helicopter crash on Fox Glacier in New Zealand.

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A fire in a coal mine in China's northeast Heilongjiang province results in 21 deaths and one person missing.

A landslide near a jade mine in northern Myanmar kills up to 60 people with more than a hundred missing.

Research conducted by Columbus, Ohio's Nationwide Children's Hospital, suggests moderate caffeine consumption during pregnancy does not harm a baby's future intelligence or behavioural health.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak denounces the Islamic State as an "evil" terrorist group. He said his Muslim-majority country is ready to join others to defeat it, cautioning that a military solution alone is not enough and that it is also necessary to vanquish the ideology of the group.

US President Barack Obama vows to keep United States borders open to refugees, "as long as I'm president," as he visited a Malaysian humanitarian center and met migrant children, many of whom escaped violence in homelands that include Myanmar, Pakistan, and Syria. A student is found dead in Pennsylvania of a selfinflicted gunshot wound. Democratic state Representative John Bel Edwards is elected governor of Louisiana.

A 14-year-old boy solves the Rubik's Cube in 4.90 seconds, beating the previous record of 5.25 seconds, and becoming the first person to solve it in under 5 seconds (The Guardian)

Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao F.C. win the AFC Champions League for their second time, after defeating Al-Ahli in the final.

November 22, 2015, Sunday Nepalese police open fire on groups, who were protesting the new constitution proposals by blockading a highway. Two protesters were killed and at least 28 were hurt.

Russian special forces kill 10 ISIS-linked militants in a counter-terrorist operation in a mountainous

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A highway traffic accident in the Mexican state of Puebla kills 20 people and injures at least 15 others.

All four crew members aboard a United States military helicopter (UH-60) are killed when their chopper crashes at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. A new United Nations report finds 90 per cent of the thousands of disasters over the last two decades are weather-related.

A UN research suggest the cost of natural disasters has been between $250 and $350 billion per year, i.e., total of $5 trillion/$7 trillion.

November 21 2015: UAE Government announced Dh300 billion funds to stimulate research in innovation

region near the city of Nalchik in Russia’s North Caucasus.

A Palestinian fatally stabs a 21-year-old Israeli woman at the Gush Etzion junction in the West Bank; the attacker is shot and killed by Israeli soldiers.

The death toll in a landslide near a jade mine in northern Myanmar rises to about 100 people, with up to 200 others missing.

The ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agree to set up an economic community to commence on January 1, 2016.

ended decades of military rule in South Korea, dies in a Seoul hospital from a severe blood infection. He was 87.

Business and Economy The UK may not face a credit rating downgrade if it votes to leave the EU in a referendum due by the end of 2017, according to the lead UK analyst at Moody’s.

November 23, 2015, Monday A Palestinian kills a 20 year-old Israeli and wounds two women in a stabbing attack at a gas station near Modi’in; the Palestinian assailant is shot and killed by an Israeli security officer at the scene.

Bangladesh executes two war criminals Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed who were convicted in 2013 of war crimes for murder, rape and extortion of freedom fighters and innocent women committed during the country’s 1971 war of independence.

Two Palestinian teenage girls, ages 14 and 16, use scissors to stab a 70-year-old Palestinian man whom they misidentified as an Israeli, and other Israeli civilians, near Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda market.

Former President Kim Young-sam, who formally

A U.S. Apache helicopter crashes in South Korea's Gangwon Province, killing the pilot and one crew member.

Voters in Argentina go to the polls for a presidential runoff between Daniel Scioli of the ruling Justicialist Party and Mauricio Macri of the opposition PRO. Mauricio Macri, the mayor of Buenos Aires, was elected with 53 per cent of the vote.

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Seven people are feared dead after a helicopter crashes in the Indian town of Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, near the Hindu shrine of Vaishno Devi.

Blue Origin launches the unmanned rocket New Shephard to the edge of space (100.5 km) and lands safely upright on its original launch pad in Texas, becoming the first organization to do so.

Business and Economy American pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Allergan, Plc announce plans to merge to form the world's largest drug company.

November 24, 2015, Tuesday At least seven people are killed and 12 others injured, including two judges. The Islamic State claims responsibility.

Turkish F-16 fighter jets shoot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft that had allegedly infringed its airspace near the Syrian border.

A Russian marine is killed by rebel gunfire while on a mission to rescue the crew of the downed Su-24 near the Syrian-Turkish border, Russia's Defence Ministry confirms.

A car-bomb kills five guards at a checkpoint east of the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

An explosion on a bus carrying Tunisian Presidential Guard personnel in Tunisia's capital Tunis leaves at least 15 people dead, as the country's government declares a state of emergency.

Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 17 people including Willie Mays, Barbra Streisand, Itzhak Perlman, James Taylor, Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan, Stephen

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Sondheim and Steven Spielberg.

The National Assembly of Vietnam unanimously passes the law, which will take effect in 2017 as part of the revised civil code, that recognises and allows gender reassignment surgery.

Germany starts deporting unsuccessful asylum seekers to the Balkans.

António Costa, the leader of the Socialist Party, is named as the Prime Minister of Portugal.

More than half a billion children live in areas with extremely high flood occurrence and 160 million in high drought severity zones, leaving them highly exposed to the impacts of climate change, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a report. November 25, 2015, Wednesday The UAE officially receives the flag as the host of the next world's largest expo in Dubai in 2020 during a grand ceremony in Paris.

Insurgents attack an Indian Army base in northern Kashmir. At least three attackers are killed.

Unidentified gunmen abduct 22 passengers from a coach in Kandasool near the city of Pasni.

Germany will deploy up to 650 troops to Mali as part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali

The French Senate votes 325-0 to extend the fight against the Islamic State.

Several American personnel are suspended after an official report finds that human error was to blame for an airstrike on a Doctors without Borders hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz in October that killed 30 people. No criminal charges were filed. An 18th-century pink Indian diamond worth at least $5 million and a Cartier diamond tiara are discovered in the jewellery recovered from Imelda Marcos.

The Gambia bans female genital mutilation with President Yahya Jammeh saying it is not required in Islam.

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November 8-10 2015: Supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy rejoice their party’s victory in the November 8 elections that is expected to usher in a new era in the military-ruled country

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DEMOCRACY, AT LAST!

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It’s been a long road to democracy for the people of Myanmar – one of the world’s last few bastions of military-controlled states. With elections over, the real journey towards economic development and empowerment of people begins...

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2015

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Russia's Gazprom halts gas supplies to Ukraine until the Ukrainian government pays for future supplies. Ukraine bans all Russian planes from using its airspace.

Pope Francis makes his first official visit to Africa.

Sports Former world cruiserweight boxing champion O'Neil Bell is shot to death in a robbery in the American city of Atlanta.

Ukrainian marathon runner Tetyana HameraShmyrko is given a four-year ban for a doping offence.

November 26, 2015, Thursday The Turkish military releases what it says are a series of audio recordings of warnings issued to a Russian jet before it was shot down near the Syrian border.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health says a 21 year-old man has died in clashes with Israeli Army soldiers. At least 18 people are killed and over 100 homes torched after Boko Haram militants attacked a village near the commune of Bosso in Niger's southern Diffa Region.

At least 15 people are killed after a Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter carrying oil workers crashes in eastern Siberia near the Yenisei River. At least eleven people have died and 70 injured after two buses carrying tourism workers collide in the eastern Dominican Republic.

November 27, 2015, Friday France holds a memorial service for the 130 victims of the attacks two weeks ago.

Two Palestinian drivers drive their vehicles into groups of Israeli soldiers in two separate attacks in the occupied West bank. Both drivers are shot dead. In this current wave of violence that began in October, 19 Israelis, one U.S. citizen, and 93 Palestinians have died.

A suicide-bomb attack on a Shia Muslim procession in Nigeria's northern Kano state leaves at

278 Gulf Yearbook 2015

least 21 people dead.

Archaeologists discover four prehistoric Ichma culture tombs in the Peruvian capital Lima.

At least 87 homes have been lost in the fires that started in Pinery, South Australia which also claimed two lives and hospitalised 90 with five people in a critical condition.

Patricia Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, is appointed as the sixth Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations. She will become the first woman to hold the position from April 2016.

Former Saenuri Party member of the South Korean National Assembly Cho Hyun-ryong is jailed for five years for accepting bribes.

A shooter in Colorado Springs, shoots at least four members of the Colorado Springs Police Department with one officer later dying. Two civilians were also killed, and six were injured. The shooter later surrendered.

Scientific studies confirm more than 90 per cent of the world’s glaciers are retreating, and many of the smaller ones are rapidly disappearing. Khumbu Glacier in the Himalayas is expanding ponds and merging and forming larger bodies of water. This could threaten settlements downstream if they overflow. Thawing glaciers account for about 20 per cent of the sea-level rise recorded in the past century. November 28, 2015, Saturday At least three people are killed in an attack on a United Nations peacekeeping base in Kidal, northern Mali. Ansar Dine claims responsibility. At least four Egyptian police officers are killed in a drive-by shooting in Saqqara, south of Cairo. An Islamic State affiliate claims responsibility.

A slow moving wintry storm system is responsible for more than a dozen deaths in the U.S. states of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a decree imposing economic sanctions on Turkey. Macedonia's Army begins erecting a metal fence

LEST WE FORGET

2015

JANUARY NOVEMBER 2015

November 30, 2015: UAE observes Martyrs’ Day in recognition to the sacrifices made by its soliders

on its southern border with Greece. Around 250 migrants later clash with Macedonian police on the border.

ication of Emirati martyrs who have given their life in the UAE and abroad in the field of civil, military and humanitarian service.

Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls the recent Paris attacks “blind terrorism,” according to IRNA, the country's official news agency. The Iranian government condemned the attacks immediately after they occurred.

A UNICEF report finds AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African teenagers and the second most common killer for adolescents across the globe.

November 29, 2015, Sunday Russian airstrikes kill at least 18 civilians and wound dozens more in the town of Ariha in Syria's northwestern Idlib province.

Turkey agrees with leaders of the European Union to help stem the flow of migrants to Europe in return for cash and visas, and renewal of talks on joining the EU. A key element is $3.2 billion in EU aid for the 2.2 million Syrians now in Turkey.

Voters in Burkina Faso go to the polls to elect a parliament and president after a year of turmoil.

Sports In tennis, the Great Britain Davis Cup team wins their tenth title in the Davis Cup and their first since 1936 defeating Belgium 3-2 in the final in Ghent. Andy Murray won all of their games he played with two singles wins and teaming with his brother Jamie Murray to win the doubles.

November 30, 2015, Monday UAE observes Martyrs' Day this year on November 30, 2015, recognising the sacrifices and ded-

At least three Saudi border guards are killed following clashes with Yemeni forces in the kingdom's southern Jizan Region near the border with Yemen.

South Korea's parliament approves a free trade pact with China.

Around 150 world leaders attend the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, aiming for a global deal on limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

Pope Francis tells a crowd in a mosque in Bangui that "Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters."

For the first time in the country's history, Saudi Arabian women are allowed to vote and to stand for office in the December 12, 2015, elections. In two days, more than 900 women have signed up to run for various local government positions.

The non-oil direct trade of the UAE stood Dh534.1 billion in first half of 2015 compared to Dh521.8 billion year-on-year, achieving a growth of 2 per cent. g

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