The Week Ahead

View an online version of this email here.  All times are London time: Monday Apr 13 2009 The week ahead April 13–19 EU environment ministers discuss climate change, healthcare professionals gather in Washington, Barack Obama visits Mexico, India begins a month of elections, Pakistan raises funds and support, world leaders discuss food security and Russia's economy comes under scrutiny Monday APRIL 13 EU climate change talks European Union environment ministers are due to meet in Prague to discuss the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December in Copenhagen (to April 14). Kerry to visit Sudan John Kerry, the US Senate foreign relations committee chairman, is scheduled to visit Sudan and meet officials in the capital, Khartoum (to April 17). Easter Monday Pope Benedict XVI will lead Easter Monday celebrations in Vatican City, while in the White House, children will hunt for wooden Easter eggs in the traditional Easter Egg Roll. Mitchell visits Middle East George Mitchell, US special envoy to the Middle East, is scheduled to visit Israel, Palestine, Egypt, the Gulf, and North Africa following the formation of a new Israeli government. Tuesday APRIL 14 Latin America forum Regional leaders are due to meet in Rio de Janeiro for the World Economic Forum on Latin America (to April 16). Hungary power switch Gordon Bajnai, Hungary's economy minister, is due to replace Ferenc Gyurcsany as prime minister. Photography exhibition Cannes is to host an exhibition of the Sony World Photography Awards, showcasing winning images by professional and amateur photographers (to April 19). Global healthcare forum The World Healthcare Congress is due to be held in Washington (to April 16). Senior executives and government officials from America's largest healthcare organisations will attend. Beijing visit for NZ leader John Key, New Zealand prime minister, is scheduled to visit Beijing. Wednesday APRIL 15 Obama talks with Calderón Barack Obama, US president, is due to visit Felipe Calderón, Mexican president, "to discuss the deep and comprehensive US-Mexico relationship" (to April 17). Sustainability conference Ceres, a non-profit organisation dedicated to global sustainability, is due to hold a conference in San Francisco on the theme "Achieving a Sustainable Global Economy" (to April 16). Speakers include actor Robert Redford and Jonathan Schwartz, chief executive of Sun Microsystems. Libya prisoner treaty The UN Joint Committee on Human Rights is scheduled to publish a report on the progress of the UK Prisoner Transfer Treaty with Libya, signed in November 2008. Credit funding released The second tranche of funding from the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, a joint Treasury and Federal Reserve programme to free up credit for consumers, is due to be released. Thursday APRIL 16 Tokyo Olympic inspection The International Olympic Committee is due to make a site inspection in Tokyo, a host candidate for the 2016 Olympics (to April 19). China hosts boat show Shanghai is set to host the China International Boat Show (to April 19). Asia's largest consumer boating exhibition will feature boats, marine equipment and watersports gear. India assembly elections India is due to hold elections to the People's Assembly (to May 13). About 714m people are eligible to take part in the election, but security is expected to be tight after a series of terrorist attacks in the country. UN debates Iraq The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet in New York to discuss Iraq and Kuwait. Friday APRIL 17 Coachella music festival California is to host the Coachella music festival (to April 19). Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney and Fleet Foxes are due to perform. American states summit Barack Obama is scheduled to attend the Organization of American States summit in Trinidad and Tobago (to April 19). The theme of the summit will be "Human Prosperity, Energy Security And Environmental Sustainability". Pakistan support meetings The Friends of Pakistan group is due to meet in Tokyo. The group, which includes the UN, the US, and the EU, aims to provide Pakistan with political and economic support. Tokyo is also set to host the Pakistan Donor Conference, where Pakistan will seek $10bn in aid and budgetary support. Cricket World Cup talks The International Cricket Council is due to meet in Dubai to discuss Pakistan's role as joint host of the 2011 World Cup following the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan (to April 18). New Orleans music festival New Orleans is due to host the French Quarter Festival, a free music event featuring jazz and blues music, a firework show and parades (to April 19). Palestine prisoners day Demonstrations are expected worldwide in support of thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Anti-war conference Pugwash, a think-tank dedicated to reducing the danger of armed conflict, is due to hold a conference on science and world affairs in the Hague (to April 21). Saturday APRIL 18 Indian cricket relocates The Indian Premier League cricket season is set to start in South Africa, having been relocated from India due to security risks. West Bank reopens The West Bank is due to reopen for passage into Judea and Samaria following closure over Passover. Movement to and from the territory was prohibited except for emergencies. Food security meeting The Group of Eight agriculture ministers, EU officials and representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme and the World Bank are due to meet in Italy to discuss food security and the impact of agricultural policy on the world economy (to April 20). Gay and lesbian media The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is due to hold a media awards ceremony in Los Angeles, recognising fair and accurate representation of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect them. World poker finals The World Poker Tour Championship final is due to be held in Las Vegas (to April 25). Zimbabwe independence Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe president, is due to give a speech marking independence from Britain. Sunday APRIL 19 Russian forum London is due to host (to April 21) the Russian Economic Forum, which will look at the Russian economy and its future. Turkish Cypriot elections Elections are due to be held in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Holocaust remembrance The US is due to hold a Holocaust awareness campaign around Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day (to April 26). Asian energy talks Energy and trade ministers from Japan, India, Saudi Arabia and 17 other Asian and Middle Eastern nations will gather for talks on reviving investment in oil and gas projects. preview@ft.com Read more » ABOUT THIS EMAIL You have received this email because you have signed up for this briefing on FT.com Manage subscriptions | Unsubscribe | Change your email address Change whether you receive this email as HTML or plain text | Forward this email to a friend Privacy policy | Advertise | Contact © Copyright The Financial Times Ltd 2009. "FT" and "Financial Times" are trademarks of the Financial Times. The Financial Times Limited, registered in England and Wales number 227590. Registered office: Number One Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HL. VAT number GB 278 5371 21.