 | All times are London time: Monday Dec 29 2008
| The week ahead
December 29 – January 4
Bangladesh goes to the polls, Sydney Opera House begins its season, Britain ends its military commitments in Kosovo, Opec cuts production, Prague hosts a winter fesival of theatre and dance, the 111th US Congress convenes and the Gulf Cup of Nations kicks off
Monday
DECEMBER 29
Bangladesh election
A general election is scheduled to take place in Bangladesh to replace the caretaker government that assumed power in 2006.
Gulf council
Oman is due to host a Gulf Co-operation Council summit (to December 30). Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will discuss a Gulf monetary union and central bank. The summit will also urge warring Palestinian factions to unite.
Tuesday
DECEMBER 30
Australian opera season
Opera Australia's eight-month season is to begin at Sydney Opera House.
French unemployment data
Insee, the French statistics agency, is due to release monthly unemployment and jobs figures for November.
Wednesday
DECEMBER 31
Iraq mandate ends
The mandate of the multinational force in Iraq is scheduled to expire, having been extended at the request of Nuri al-Maliki, Iraqi prime minister.
Burundi peace deal due
The deadline is due to pass for Burundi's government and rebels to strike a peace deal.
Israel-Palestine deadline
The deadline for an Israel-Palestine treaty as agreed during an international conference in Annapolis, Maryland, last year, passes.
Titian campaign
A fundraising campaign by the National Gallery of Scotland and the National Gallery in London to buy two paintings by Titian for a discounted £50m each comes to an end. After this date, they may be sold on the open market for about £300m.
Children in care
The UK's Department of Health is due to report on the future of services for children and young people with care needs.
Kosovo mission ends
Britain is expected to end its military commitment to Kosovo as part of the Nato-European Union Balkans reserve.
New Year celebrations
New Year's Eve is celebrated around the world.
Thursday
JANUARY 1
Opec cuts production
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is due to cut production by a total of 4.2m barrels per day amid falling demand for oil due to the global economic slowdown.
UK honours list
The New Year's honours list is to be announced by the UK government. Queen Elizabeth II chooses the recipients of honours such as life peerages, knighthoods and gallantry awards to servicemen and women.
Ukraine energy ultimatum
Russian gas and oil giant Gazprom has threatened to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine by this date if it fails to settle a $2.4bn bill.
Slovakia adopts euro
Slovakia is scheduled to become the 16th member of the European Union to adopt the euro.
Capitals of culture
Linz, in Austria, and Vilnius, in Lithuania, become the European capitals of culture for 2009. Linz will celebrate the start of its European project with three days of festivities.
Czech EU presidency
The Czech Republic is to take up the presidency of the European Union. The Czech government said its presidency would focus on the free movement of people, services and liberalising trade policy.
Italy leads G8
Italy is set to assume presidency of the G8 group of industrialised nations, taking over from Japan.
Nuclear site lists exchanged
India and Pakistan are scheduled to exchange lists of their nuclear facilities as part of an accord that has been in place since 1988. Under the deal, in the event of war, attacks on each other's nuclear installations are forbidden.
US carbon trading schemes
The US states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont are scheduled to implement regulations regarding their carbon trading schemes.
Ebay ivory ban
Internet auction site Ebay is due to ban the sale of ivory products on its website.
Race to the south pole
The Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race is due to start. Six teams of three people will embark on the 430 nautical mile journey across the largest ice cap in the world to the geographic South Pole.
Iraq exports to South Korea
Iraq is due to restart oil exports of 65,000 barrels per day to South Korea after a year-long suspension.
Friday
JANUARY 2
Prague winter festival
The Prague Winter Festival (to January 7) will feature opera, ballet, classical music and jazz in the Prague State Opera and the Prague Rudolfinum.
Saturday
JANUARY 3
Rally in South America
The annual Dakar rally, held for the first time in South America, is scheduled to start. The race will see 500 drivers on a 6,000km round trip from Buenos Aires via Valparaiso.
Economic think-tank
The American Economic Association is due to meet in San Francisco (to January 5) to discuss economic and industrial research, and industry life. It also aims to facilitate freedom of economic discussion.
US Congress convenes
The 111th US Congress is scheduled to convene in Washington following November's general election.
Sunday
JANUARY 4
World Braille Day
World Braille Day is due to be marked.
Gulf football
The 19th Gulf Cup of Nations football tournament is due to kick off in Oman (to January 17).
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