MONDAY 10 DECEMBER
LOOK OUT FOR
Cristina comes to power: Newly-elected Argentine President Cristina Kirchner is formally sworn in Buenos Aires at the start of a four-year term.
Kirchner's policies remain mystery
Power on trial: The trial of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori is due to begin in Lima. Mr Fujimori is charged with human rights violations and corruption.
Profile: Alberto Fujimori
Righting wrongs: Monday marks the International Day of Human Rights. The UN rights body, the Human Rights Council is due to meet in Geneva.
Fallen mogul: Conrad Black, the Canadian-born media baron convicted of fraud, is to be sentenced in Chicago. Prosecutors are seeking a prison term of up to 25 years. Black is planning to appeal against the conviction.
The fall of Conrad Black
TUESDAY 11 DECEMBER
Happy Birthday Kyoto: Tuesday marks the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, which sets targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Q&A: The Kyoto ProtocolSymbolic service: A regular freight train service between South and North Korea is due to make a journey across the border, the first for more than half a century.
Koreas agree train service
WEDNESDAY 12 DECEMBER
Paralysis: A general strike across Greece is planned in protest at the government's controversial plans to reform pensions.
Greek strike over spending cuts
Blue planet: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is due to attend the international climate change talks on global warming in Bali, Indonesia. Governments are discussing whether a further set of binding targets to cut emissions is needed.
Key summit opens in Bali.Dubai trial: A verdict is expected in the trial of two Emiratis accused of raping a 15-year-old French-Swiss boy.
Emiratis tried for raping youth
Diva's dresses: Personal objects belonging to Greek-American opera diva Maria Callas, including ball gowns and love letters are to go under the hammer at an auction house in Milan. BBC Four: Callas documentary
THURSDAY 13 DECEMBER
New treaty: European Union member states are to sign the Lisbon Treaty, an agreement which replaces the draft constitution, jettisoned after France and the Netherlands voted against it in referendums in 2005.
Q&A: The Lisbon TreatyCarla farewell: Chief UN War Crimes Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte steps down from a role she has held since 1999. Famed for her ruthlessness, she has led tribunals over war crimes carried out both in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
Profile: Carla Del Ponte
FRIDAY 14 DECEMBER
Climate conclusions: The UN climate change conference ends in Bali, Indonesia with the adoption of a statement by member states. Animated guide to climate change
Extraordinary congress: The final day of a special meeting of Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party is expected to confirm incumbent President Robert Mugabe as the candidate in the 2008 presidential elections.
Mugabe hails Zimbabwe 'new dawn'
SATURDAY 15 DECEMBER
Choosing a candidate: Russia's Communist Party holds a congress in the capital, Moscow, to choose a presidential candidate for the forthcoming March election.
Russia's Ivanov steps out of shadows
SUNDAY 16 DECEMBER
South to south: Chile's President Michelle Bachelet is to travel to Bolivia to meet both the country's President Evo Morales and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
New leadership: South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) is due to choose a new head. President Thabo Mbeki is seeking re-election as party president but is being challenged for the role by deputy president Jacob Zuma.
Crucial year for ANC
This guide to the week ahead is not intended as an exhaustive list, and the events noted may be cancelled or postponed.
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