The Week Ahead

View an online version of this email here.  All times are London time: Monday Apr 27 2009 The week ahead April 27–May 3 Sarkozy begins sensitive visit to Spain; Europe honours inventors; Obama marks 100th day; Investment in Iraq promoted; Labour Day is celebrated; Rose d'Or television festival opens; Panama holds elections MONDAY April 27 Sarkozy visits Spain President Nicolas Sarkozy of France begins a two-day visit to Spain. He will hold talks with José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain's prime minister – less than two weeks after reportedly describing the Spanish leader as "perhaps not very intelligent". Health and safety at work A European Union conference titled Safety and Health at Work in Europe in the 21st Century takes place in Prague, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized businesses. Derivatives discussed The Global Derivatives Trading and Risk Management conference takes place in Rome until May 1. Global crisis examined The world economic crisis is the main topic at the Global Conference in Los Angeles, organised by the Milken Institute. Business executives, government officials and academic experts are due to attend the three-day event. European assembly session The spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of The Council of Europe opens in Strasbourg. There will be a celebration to mark the Council's 60th anniversary. Energy efficiency forum EE Global, the international energy efficiency forum and exhibition, begins in Paris (until April 29). Australian fashion show Rosemount Australian Fashion Week opens in Sydney (until May 1). Leading designers from Australia and the Asia-Pacific region will present their collections to the global fashion industry. Network coverage indoors The In-Building Summit, a conference and exhibition on achieving high quality indoor usage of data services such as mobile broadband, opens in Barcelona (until April 30). FT Reports Energy Efficient Buildings TUESDAY April 28 Inventors honoured The European Inventor of the Year award ceremony is held in Prague as part of the European Patent Forum and Patinnova 2009 conference (until April 30). The forum and conference will focus on how the patent system responds to rapidly developing technologies. Melting ice highlighted Al Gore, former US vice-president turned environmental campaigner, is due to address the Conference on Melting Ice, in Tromso, Norway. Sea products on show Seafood, the three-day trade fair for the fisheries and aquaculture industries, opens in Brussels. Products, related services, and storage and processing equipment will be exhibited. New US policies perused The Brookings Institution is hosting a discussion in Washington titled "Is America the New France?", examining whether the Obama administration's policies are moving the US towards a European social democratic model. Monetary union debated The Open Europe think tank is staging a debate in Brussels on the question, "European monetary union: second honeymoon or pending divorce?" Businesswoman award The British winner of the 2009 Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman Award is announced in London. The award is staged in 17 countries. Islamic economics A two-day conference onIslamic economics is staged by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in Kuala Lumpur. In particular, the role Islamic economics has to play in countering the global downturn will be examined. WEDNESDAY April 29 Obama's 100th day Barack Obama, US president, marks his first 100 days in office. Aviation showcase Carrying Business Toward the Future is the name of the US Chamber of Commerce's annual aviation summit and showcase in Washington. Transatlantic business Leading US and British industrialists will address the British-American Business Council's annual Transatlantic Business Conference, in Washington (until May 1). Arctic Council summit Foreign ministers of the Arctic Council group of eight circumpolar countries meet for their biennial summit, in Tromso. Water conference Water and the Global Environment is the name of a two-day conference that begins in London to discuss issues relating to world water supplies. FT Reports Corporate Finance Doing Business in Barcelona Global Brands THURSDAY April 30 Investment in Iraq Invest Iraq2009, a business forum to promote and aid investment in a broad range of sectors in the country, takes place in London. Sovereign wealth funds The Crans Montana Forum hosts a conference in Evian, France, examining the role that sovereign wealth funds and Islamic financial institutions can play in regaining global financial stability (until May 2). FT Reports Shanghai FRIDAY May1 Labour celebrations Labour Day is celebrated with a national holiday in many countries. SATURDAY May 2 Television festival The Rose d'Or television festival, which includes awards for arts and entertainment programmes, opens in Lucerne, Switzerland (until May 5). Kentucky Derby day The Kentucky Derby, the classic race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, is run at Churchill Downs, Louisville. SUNDAY May 3 Panama goes to the polls Panama holds general elections to choose a president and national assembly representatives. Photojournalism awards Winners of the annual World Press Photo Awards receive their prizes at a ceremony in Amsterdam. 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. 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