For a selection of upcoming events and a preview of our top stories, sign up to our newsletter, AFP Agenda Highlights MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 Asia-Pacific ISLAMABAD (Pakistan) - Appeal opens against acquittal of Briton convicted in Daniel Pearl killing (To 18) Europe PARIS (France) - 15th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held online (To 19) PARIS (France) - Trial over Thalys train attack in 2015 LIVE VIDEO. VIDEO. (To December 17) PARIS (France) - Trial of 14 accused in January 2015 jihadist attacks in Paris VIDEO. PICTURE. LIVE VIDEO. (To 17) PARIS (France) - 25th anniversary of the Dayton peace accords on Bosnia PARIS (France) - 60th anniversary of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development BRUSSELS (Belgium) - EU interior ministers hold talks via video link on reform of asylum system VIDEO. LIVE VIDEO. VIENNA (Austria) - OPEC monthly report PLESETSK (Russia) - Angara rocket to take off (0550 GMT) MOSCOW (Russia) - Ex-policemen go on trial for planting drugs on high-profile journalist (0800 GMT) BERLIN (Germany) - President Steinmeier meets Belarusian opposition leader Tikhanovskaya (1400 GMT) PICTURE. North America WASHINGTON (United States) - Electoral college meets to formalize Biden election victory PICTURE. VIDEO. GRAPHIC. Middle East and North Africa DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation media briefing on UAE's nuclear energy programme (0600 GMT) ALGIERS (Algeria) - Appeal trial of blogger Touati and two other Hirak activists Latin America CHILE - Total solar eclipse visible from Chile to Argentina VIDEO. PICTURE. GRAPHIC. LIVE VIDEO. Sports PARIS (France) - 2023 Rugby World Cup draw (1100 GMT) HAMBANTOTA (Sri Lanka) - Lanka Premier League (LPL) cricket tournament PICTURE. (To December 16) AT SEA - Sailing: Solo round-the-world Vendee Globe race VIDEO. LIVE VIDEO. PICTURE. GRAPHIC. (To March 31, 2021) DENMARK - Euro-2020 women's handball (To 20) Misc. WORLD - Hanukkah Jewish holiday (To 18) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020 Asia-Pacific TOKYO (Japan) - Ruling in trial of suspect accused of finding victims on Twitter HONG KONG (China) - Jimmy Lai appeals to High Court for granting of bail (0400 GMT) MANILA (Philippines) - Thousands celebrate dawn Mass in Philippines Christmas countdown (2200 GMT) VIDEO. Europe BONN (Germany) - 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's birth (To 16) BRUSSELS (Belgium) - EU commission unveils Digital Service Act proposals (1100 GMT) BRUSSELS (Belgium) - NATO head Stoltenberg attends a meeting with European commission, for the first time (1100 GMT) CHERNOBYL (Ukraine) - 20th anniversary of Chernobyl Atomic Power Station closure PARIS (France) - A court to decide the fate of a painting by Pissarro after the daughter of a man the Nazis stole it from challenged a US-French accord LONDON (United Kingdom) - December employment data (0600 GMT) ISTANBUL (Turkey) - Trial resumes of journalists over Erdogan son-in-law alleged emails (0600 GMT) MADRID (Spain) - Zara owner Inditex Q3 results (0700 GMT) North America WASHINGTON (United States) - Federal Reserve holds policy meeting PICTURE. GRAPHIC. (To 16) MONTREAL (Canada) - Verdict expected in rape trial of former producer Gilbert Rozon (1930 GMT) VIDEO. LIVE VIDEO. STANDING ROCK INDIAN RESERVATION (United States) - 130th anniversary of the killing of legendary Native American chief Sitting Bull Middle East and North Africa ALGIERS (Algeria) - Appeal trial of journalist Abdelmoundji Khelladi ALGIERS (Algeria) - Universities resume on-site classes PICTURE. KUWAIT CITY (Kuwait) - First parliamentary session following elections VIDEO. (To 17) Sub-Saharan Africa KHARTOUM (Sudan) - Trial of ousted president Bashir resumes VIDEO. PICTURE. CONAKRY (Guinea) - Conde sworn in for third term after months of political strife VIDEO. Sports YAS MARINA (United Arab Emirates) - Formula One young driver test with Mick Schumacher and Fernando Alonso WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2020 Europe PARIS (France) - Eiffel Tower reopens to the public LONDON (United Kingdom) - Boris Johnson answers final Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) before Christmas recess (1200 GMT) VIDEO. LIVE VIDEO. PARIS (France) - Appeal court ruling on Spain's extradition request for former ETA leader Iratxe Sorzabal VIENNA (Austria) - Joint commission on Iran nuclear deal meets SAN FERNANDO DE HENARES (Spain) - New hearing in 2017 Barcelona attacks trial VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope's general audience (0830 GMT) LONDON (United Kingdom) - UK PMI flash composite index (IHS Markit) (0830 GMT) BRUSSELS (Belgium) - First estimate for IHS Markit's eurozone composite PMI for December (0900 GMT) BRUSSELS (Belgium) - Awards ceremony for the Sakharov Prize, won by the Belarus opposition (1100 GMT) BERLIN (Germany) - Bundesbank president Weidmann gives a speech on Covid-19 pandemic (1700 GMT) North America WASHINGTON (United States) - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell holds press conference following interest rate announcement (1930 GMT) PICTURE. VIDEO. Middle East and North Africa ALGIERS (Algeria) - Appeal corruption trial of Kouninef brothers, said to be close to Bouteflika Tehran (Iran) - Iran's President Hassan Rouhani chairs weekly cabinet meeting (0700 GMT) Latin America HAVANA (Cuba) - Parliament holds debate on economy, at year-end closing session PICTURE. VIDEO. Sports MUSCAT (Oman) - Olympic Council for Asia to select host city for 2030 Asian Games THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2020 Europe MOSCOW (Russia) - Putin's annual press conference (0900 GMT) PICTURE. VIDEO. LUXEMBOURG (Luxembourg) - EU Court of Justice ruling on Hungary's asylum policy BRUSSELS (Belgium) - EU environment ministers meet PARIS (France) - European space agency ESA to name new general director MADRID (Spain) - Spanish authorities give briefing on coronavirus LONDON (United Kingdom) - Bank of England decision on monetary policy (1200 GMT) North America WASHINGTON (United States) - US releases weekly initial jobless claims data (1330 GMT) WASHINGTON (United States) - FDA's advisory committee on vaccines meets to discuss Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine (1400 GMT) VIDEO. NEW YORK (United States) - Ex-Trump aide Bannon appears in court by video link in border wall fraud case (1800 GMT) VIDEO. Middle East and North Africa SIDI BOUZID (Tunisia) - 10 years ago Tunisian street vendor set himself on fire triggering Arab Spring PICTURE. VIDEO. ALGIERS (Algeria) - Appeal trial of leading opposition figure Amira Bouraoui PICTURE. VIDEO. RABAT (Morocco) - Spain PM Pedro Sanchez visits Sub-Saharan Africa YAOUNDE (Cameroon) - Three military officers on trial over killing of 13 civilians VIDEO. Sports MERSIN (Turkey) - European Championships in Women's Artistic Gymnastics (To 20) LAUSANNE (Switzerland) - The Best FIFA Football Awards ADELAIDE (Australia) - Cricket: Australia v India in first Test (day/night) (0330 GMT) PICTURE. (To 21) FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 Asia-Pacific NAVI MUMBAI (India) - Ikea to open second Indian store PICTURE. HONG KONG (China) - Joshua Wong court hearing over face mask protest (0630 GMT) Europe UNITED KINGDOM - Ex-Beatle McCartney releases new solo album MOSCOW (Russia) - Putin takes part in CIS leaders online summit GENEVA (Switzerland) - WHO press briefing on Covid-19 LIVE VIDEO. ISTANBUL (Turkey) - Turkish businessman Osman Kavala, US researcher Henri Barkey face new trial (0630 GMT) VIDEO. Middle East and North Africa DOHA (Qatar) - National day celebrations LIVE VIDEO. Sports AUCKLAND (New Zealand) - Cricket: New Zealand v Pakistan in first T20 International (0600 GMT) Misc. WORLD - International Migrants Day PICTURE. VIDEO. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2020 Middle East and North Africa CAIRO (Egypt) - Trial of Egyptian rapper charged after posting pictures with Israeli celebrities Sub-Saharan Africa KHARTOUM (Sudan) - 2nd anniversary of anti-regime protests which toppled Bashir (0800 GMT) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2020 Europe MOSTAR (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - Municipal election MINSK (Belarus) - Anti-government protests expected VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope's Angelus prayer on Saint Peter's square (1000 GMT) Sports HAMILTON (New Zealand) - Cricket: New Zealand v Pakistan in second T20 international (0600 GMT) MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2020 Europe ITALY - Restrictions on travel between regions come into effect COPENHAGEN (Denmark) - Parliament holds debate and vote over ban on all mink breeding in the country until 2022 MAGDEBURG (Germany) - Verdict in trial over foiled Halle synagogue attack in 2019 (1000 GMT) North America UNITED STATES - US border with Canada due to reopen to non-essential travel VIDEO. LOS ANGELES (United States) - 80th anniversary of US novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald's death Middle East and North Africa JERUSALEM - Parliament to vote State budget (date to be confirmed) ORAN (Algeria) - Human rights activist Chouicha, several journalists go on trial for illegal demonstration TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 Sports UNITED STATES - Basketball: Start of NBA season PICTURE. VIDEO. NAPIER (New Zealand) - Cricket: New Zealand v Pakistan third T20 international (0600 GMT) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020 Europe VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope's general audience (0830 GMT) Middle East and North Africa ALGIERS (Algeria) - Appeal trial of journalist Abdelkrim Zeghileche against 2-year jail term Tehran (Iran) - Iran's President Hassan Rouhani chairs weekly cabinet meeting (0700 GMT) Sub-Saharan Africa ACCRA (Ghana) - Funeral of former President Jerry John Rawlings (1500 GMT) VIDEO. PICTURE. Sports WHANGAREI (New Zealand) - Cricket: New Zealand v Pakistan in fourth T20 international (0100 GMT) AVEIRO (Portugal) - Football: Portugal supercup final, Porto v Benfica (2045 GMT) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020 Europe AUSTRIA - Restrictions on skiing, individual outdoor sports lifted PARIS (France) - Christmas concert at Notre-Dame cathedral VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope Francis leads Christmas eve mass (2000 GMT) North America WASHINGTON (United States) - US releases weekly initial jobless claims data (1330 GMT) Sports NAGANO (Japan) - Japan National Figure Skating Championships (To 27) FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2020 Europe VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope Francis delivers Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" address (1100 GMT) Middle East and North Africa TUNISIA - Five-year state of emergency expires Sports MOUNT MAUNGANUI (New Zealand) - Cricket: New Zealand v Pakistan in first Test (To 30) MELBOURNE (Australia) - Cricket: Australia v India in second Test (2200 GMT) PICTURE. (To 30) Misc. WORLD - Christmas Day SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020 Sports SYDNEY (Australia) - Sailing Sydney to Hobart yacht race (To 31) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020 Europe MINSK (Belarus) - Anti-government protests expected VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope's Angelus prayer on Saint Peter's square (1000 GMT) Middle East and North Africa ISRAEL - Covid-19 vaccinations start Sub-Saharan Africa CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - General election (presidential & parliamentary) VIDEO. NIGER - Presidential and parliamentary elections TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020 Europe AMSTERDAM (Netherlands) - EMA to hold meeting by Dec 29 to decide on Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine authorisation North America WASHINGTON (United States) - US consumer confidence index (1400 GMT) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2020 Europe VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope's general audience (0830 GMT) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 Asia-Pacific WUHAN (China) - One year since WHO China informed of pneumonia of unknown cause, later identified as Covid-19 BEIJING (China) - Defence ministry monthly press conference (0700 GMT) Europe LONDON (United Kingdom) - Post-Brexit transition period ends VIDEO. Garzweiler (Germany) - First planned shutdown of lignite power station North America WASHINGTON (United States) - US releases weekly initial jobless claims data (1330 GMT) Sub-Saharan Africa SUDAN - End of UN peacekeepers' Darfur mission BUJUMBURA (Burundi) - Office of UN envoy to Burundi permanently shut KHARTOUM (Sudan) - Deadline for formation of Legislative Council Latin America QUITO (Ecuador) - Campaign for the presidential and assembly elections PICTURE. (To February 4, 2021) FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2021 Asia-Pacific BEIJING (China) - China to end all foreign-waste imports JAPAN - Myanmar to launch satellite and join Asian 'super-constellation' VIDEO. PYONGYANG (North Korea) - North Korea's ruling Workers' Party holds five-yearly congress, date tbc (To 31) BEIJING (China) - Civil Code comes into force Europe RØDBYHAVN (Denmark) - Construction work begins on Fehmarnbelt, the world's longest underwater tunnel, starts construction LISBON (Portugal) - Portugal assumes rotating EU presidency BRUSSELS (Belgium) - EU legislation on economic rescue plan for member states comes into force GERMANY - Cinemas must stop advertising tobacco products before films where children and young people may be present PARIS (France) - Tests start on cannabis therapies North America NEW YORK (United States) - Target for reopening Broadway shows (date to be confirmed) WASHINGTON (United States) - Billionaire Richard Branson set to fly into space on Virgin Galactic rocket in early 2021 (date to be confirmed) SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2021 Sports GLASGOW (United Kingdom) - 50th anniversary of death of 66 people at Ibrox Stadium during Rangers-Celtic football derby CHRISTCHURCH (New Zealand) - Cricket: New Zealand v Pakistan in second Test (To 7) SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, 2021 Europe VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope's Angelus prayer on Saint Peter's square (1000 GMT) North America WASHINGTON (United States) - 60th anniversary of break in US-Cuba diplomatic relations Sports JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Dakar Rally 2021 (To 15) MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021 Europe LONDON (United Kingdom) - Ruling in Julian Assange extradition case VIDEO. MILAN (Italy) - Fiat Chrysler (FCA) shareholders address over merging with PSA (Peugeot Citroen) (1330 GMT) TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021 North America ATLANTA (United States) - Control of US Senate at stake with twin runoffs in Georgia PICTURE. VIDEO. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021 Europe ANKARA (Turkey) - Hearings resume in trial of opposition journalists on charges of disclosing state secrets VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope's general audience (0830 GMT) PARIS (France) - Appeals court ruling on Spanish extradition request for ex-ETA leader Josu Ternera (1300 GMT) VIDEO. Sports SYDNEY (Australia) - Cricket: Australia v India in third Test (2330 GMT) PICTURE. (To 11) THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021 Asia-Pacific HONG KONG (China) - Court hearing for Tony Chung, activist in custody on secession charge (0200 GMT) Europe AUSTRIA - Hotels and restaurants to reopen ATHENS (Greece) - Extended lockdown to end PICTURE. (To 8) BOULOGNE-SUR-MER (France) - Trial of three policemen for false charges and violence over British charity worker at Calais migrants camp PARIS (France) - Arianespace online press conference (1200 GMT) Misc. WORLD - Christmas Day on Orthodox calendar FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 Europe BRUSSELS (Belgium) - Deadline for EU Commission decision on Google-Fitbit deal UKRAINE - Ukraine starts post-Christmas lockdown PARIS (France) - 60th anniversary of a referendum in France on self-determination for Algeria ROME (Italy) - Sentencing at cassation trial of 2009 Viareggio deadly rail accident FRANKFURT AM MAIN (Germany) - Trial against two far-right suspects over murder of CDU politician Walter Luebcke goes on (0830 GMT) PICTURE. LONDON (United Kingdom) - Marks and Spencer: Q3 trading update (1000 GMT) North America OTTAWA (Canada) - Canada publishes unemployment figures (1330 GMT) Middle East and North Africa TEHRAN (Iran) - First anniversary of the crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, downed by Iran military (176 dead) SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2021 Middle East and North Africa BAGHDAD (Iraq) - US extends Iraq sanctions waiver until just before inauguration Sports CAMEROON - Africa Cup of Nations 2021 (To February 6) SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2021 Europe KAZAKHSTAN - Parliamentary elections GERMANY - Stadiums, cultural activities, festivals and fairs expected to reopen to public (date subject to change) North America NEW YORK (United States) - Fifth anniversary of British pop legend David Bowie's death Middle East and North Africa MOROCCO - Virus state of emergency set to end MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021 Asia-Pacific SHANGHAI (China) - One year since first reported COVID-19 death Europe MARSEILLE (France) - One Planet Summit, part of World Nature Day GENEVA (Switzerland) - Franco-Israeli billionaire Beny Steinmetz corruption trial starts ARMENIA - Virus state of emergency due to end North America WASHINGTON (United States) - Ban on US investment in Chinese firms that help military comes into effect WASHINGTON (United States) - Trial date set for 9/11 plotters at Guantanamo LAS VEGAS (United States) - Consumer Electronics Show trade show (To 14) Sub-Saharan Africa HARARE (Zimbabwe) - Former health minister Obadiah Moyo's corruption trial opens HARARE (Zimbabwe) - Trial opens of ex-vice chancellor of University of Zimbabwe for granting Grace Mugabe 'fake' PhD Sports DOHA (Qatar) - Judo Qatar World Masters (To 13) TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 Europe AMSTERDAM (Netherlands) - EMA to hold meeting by Jan 12 to decide on Moderna coronavirus vaccine authorisation (1600 GMT) ISTANBUL (Turkey) - Fifth anniversary of suicide bombing blamed on Islamic State group that left 12 people dead WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2021 Europe ZURICH (Switzerland) - 80th anniversary of the death of Irish author James Joyce PLOCK (Poland) - Three activists on trial for depicting the Madonna with a rainbow halo (0700 GMT) PARIS (France) - Femen activists appeal convictions for appearing nude at Arc de Triomphe (1130 GMT)