See daily cooking demonstrations and competitions at Sharjah Food Festival 2015, plus taste foods from around the world. There will also be 15 kiosks, food trucks and a variety of family activities, street-theatre acts, musicians and a souq. Today, various timings, Al Qasba, Al Majaz Waterfront, Al Montazah and Heart of Sharjah, Sharjah, www.sharjahmydestination.ae
Check out the exhibition Driven By Storms (Ali's Boat), in which the Iraqi artist Sadik Kwaish Alfraji presents works, including Ali's Boat (pictured), that address the vulnerability of human existence and speak of loss, exile, fragmentation and displacement. Today, from 10am to 8pm, Ayyam Gallery, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 323 6242, www.ayyamgallery.com
Register for Come and Sing Day. Singers of all ages and abilities are invited for a day of choral singing led by vocal specialists from the Centre for Musical Arts and the visiting conductor Dominic Peckham. Adults and teenagers will work on Vivaldi's Gloria while children ages 6 to 13 will take part in workshops, games and activities. On April 17, 9.30am to 5pm, Dh200 for adults and teenagers; Dh150 for children, Centre for Musical Arts, Building 6, Gold and Diamond Park, Dubai, registration open until April 11 at 04 341 8872; jamie@cmadubai.com
get tickets to see Mayssa Karaa. As part of the Abu Dhabi Festival, the Lebanese-American singer will perform along with the singer-guitarist Marcus Nand and an all-star line-up of musicians. On April 2, 8pm, from Dh125, Emirates Palace Auditorium, Abu Dhabi, www.timeouttickets.com
Sign up to attend Book Talk: Great Body No Diet & Beyond. The author Racha Zeidan will share her writings and experiences on health and wellness, followed by a Q&A. On April 16, 6.30pm, free, Salwa Zeidan Gallery, The Collection, St Regis Resort, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, register at info@salwazeidangallery.com, 02 666 9659
Get tickets to see Mayssa Karaa. As part of the Abu Dhabi Festival, the Lebanese-American singer will perform along with the singer-guitarist Marcus Nand and an all-star line-up of musicians. On April 2, 8pm, from Dh125, Emirates Palace Auditorium, Abu Dhabi, www.timeouttickets.com
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the most popular virtual currency in the world. It was created in 2009 as a new way of paying for things that would not be subject to central banks that are capable of devaluing currency. A Bitcoin itself is essentially a line of computer code. It's signed digitally when it goes from one owner to another. There are sustainability concerns around the cryptocurrency, which stem from the process of "mining" that is central to its existence.
The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
