For a selection of upcoming events and a preview of our top stories, sign up to our newsletter, AFP Agenda Highlights MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2020 Europe AMSTERDAM (Netherlands) - EU regulator EMA holds meeting on Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine authorisation LIVE VIDEO. VIDEO. ITALY - Restrictions on travel between regions come into effect YEREVAN (Armenia) - Final day of national mourning for victims of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict VIDEO. VIENNA (Austria) - Ministerial meeting of Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) signatories, held via video link 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) PICTURE. LIVE VIDEO. GENEVA (Switzerland) - WHO virtual briefing on Covid-19 (1600 GMT) LIVE VIDEO. 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 NEW YORK (United States) - Tesla to join S&P 500 market index (1400 GMT) Middle East and North Africa JERUSALEM - Parliament to vote state budget (date subject to change) ORAN (Algeria) - Human rights activist Kaddour Chouicha, several journalists go on trial for holding illegal demonstration Sports ADELAIDE (Australia) - Cricket: Australia v India in first Test PICTURE. AT SEA - Sailing: Solo round-the-world Vendee Globe race VIDEO. LIVE VIDEO. PICTURE. GRAPHIC. (To March 31, 2021) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020 Europe YEREVAN (Armenia) - Opposition calls for nationwide strike VIDEO. LONDON (United Kingdom) - UK public sector finances data for November (0600 GMT) Sports TOKYO (Japan) - Tokyo 2020 executive board meeting (0600 GMT) UNITED STATES - Basketball: Opening day of NBA 2020-21 regular season PICTURE. 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) PICTURE. Middle East and North Africa TEHRAN (Iran) - President Hassan Rouhani chairs weekly cabinet meeting (0700 GMT) VIDEO. 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) PICTURE. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020 Europe AUSTRIA - Restrictions on skiing, individual outdoor sports lifted MOLDOVA - President-elect Sandu sworn in PICTURE. VIDEO. MOSCOW (Russia) - Outgoing Moldovan president Dodon visits VIDEO. (To 25) KRASNOYARSK (Russia) - Court hearing in case against mining giant Nornickel (0700 GMT) VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope Francis leads Christmas eve mass (1830 GMT) PICTURE. VIDEO. LIVE VIDEO. North America WASHINGTON (United States) - US releases weekly initial jobless claims data (1330 GMT) Middle East and North Africa BETHLEHEM (Palestinian Territories) - Christmas eve mass LIVE VIDEO. Sports NAGANO (Japan) - Japan National Figure Skating Championships (To 27) FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2020 Worldwide WORLD - Christmas Day Europe LONDON (United Kingdom) - Queen Elizabeth II delivers 2020 Christmas message (1500 GMT) VIDEO. DENMARK - Non-essential shops to close in virus fight SAINT PETERSBURG (Russia) - Verdict in case of Russian historian charged with murder (0930 GMT) PICTURE. VIDEO. VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope Francis delivers Christmas 'urbi et orbi' address (1100 GMT) PICTURE. VIDEO. LIVE VIDEO. North America MONTREAL (Canada) - Non-essential shops to close in virus fight Middle East and North Africa TUNISIA - Five-year state of emergency expires Sports MELBOURNE (Australia) - Cricket: Australia v India in second Test (2200 GMT) PICTURE. (To 30) MOUNT MAUNGANUI (New Zealand) - Cricket: New Zealand v Pakistan in first Test (To 30) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020 Middle East and North Africa ALGIERS (Algeria) - Appeals trial of 'Madame Maya' who claimed to be secret daughter of Bouteflika Sports SYDNEY (Australia) - Sailing Sydney to Hobart yacht race (To 31) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020 Europe EUROPE - EU starts Covid-19 vaccinations MINSK (Belarus) - Anti-government protests expected VIDEO. VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope's Angelus prayer on Saint Peter's square (1000 GMT) PICTURE. Middle East and North Africa ISRAEL - Israel to start vaccinating against Covid-19 VIDEO. Sub-Saharan Africa CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - General election VIDEO. NIGER - General election Sports LIVERPOOL (United Kingdom) - Football: Premier League - day 15: Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion (1630 GMT) PICTURE. MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020 Asia-Pacific TOKYO (Japan) - Travel subsidy programme suspension takes effect in Covid-19 fight SINGAPORE (Singapore) - Singapore eases virus curbs as cases slow Europe MOSCOW (Russia) - Trial starts in case of US investor Calvey, founder of Baring Vostok fund (0900 GMT) PICTURE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020 Asia-Pacific HONG KONG (China) - Hong Kong activist Tony Chung faces sentencing in court for desecrating national flag and unlawful assembly (0100 GMT) North America WASHINGTON (United States) - US consumer confidence index (1400 GMT) Sub-Saharan Africa KHARTOUM (Sudan) - Trial of ousted president Bashir resumes PICTURE. Latin America BUENOS AIRES (Argentina) - Senators expected to discuss and vote on legal abortion bill (date to be confirmed) (1400 GMT) PICTURE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2020 Europe VATICAN CITY (Holy See) - Pope's general audience (0830 GMT) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2020 Worldwide WORLD - New Year's Eve 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 TURKEY - Four-day lockdown comes into effect (1800 GMT) North America WASHINGTON (United States) - US releases weekly initial jobless claims data (1330 GMT) Sub-Saharan Africa AL-FASHIR (Sudan) - End of UN peacekeepers' Darfur mission PICTURE. VIDEO. KHARTOUM (Sudan) - UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) begins PICTURE. VIDEO. BUJUMBURA (Burundi) - Office of UN envoy to Burundi to permanently close KHARTOUM (Sudan) - Deadline for formation of Legislative Council Latin America QUITO (Ecuador) - Election campaign for presidential and parliamentary votes PICTURE. (To February 4, 2021) FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2021 Asia-Pacific BEIJING (China) - China to end all foreign waste imports PYONGYANG (North Korea) - Ruling Workers' Party congress (date to be confirmed) (To 31) BEIJING (China) - China's first-ever civil code comes into force Europe RØDBYHAVN (Denmark) - Construction work begins on Fehmarnbelt, the world's longest underwater tunnel LISBON (Portugal) - Portugal assumes rotating EU presidency BRUSSELS (Belgium) - EU legislation on economic rescue plan for member states comes into force GERMANY - Entry into force of ban on advertising tobacco products at cinemas where children, young people may be present PARIS (France) - Tests start on cannabis therapies North America WASHINGTON (United States) - Billionaire Richard Branson set to fly into space on Virgin Galactic rocket in early 2021 (date to be confirmed) Latin America CUBA - End of dual currency system VIDEO. 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) PICTURE. North America WASHINGTON (United States) - 60th anniversary of break in US-Cuba diplomatic relations Sports JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Dakar Rally 2021 VIDEO. (To 15) MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021 Asia-Pacific CHINA - WHO delegation seeking Covid-19 origin to visit (date to be confirmed) (To 31) Europe LONDON (United Kingdom) - Ruling in Julian Assange extradition case VIDEO. VIENNA (Austria) - Monthly meeting of OPEC Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee MILAN (Italy) - Fiat Chrysler (FCA) shareholders statement on PSA merger (1330 GMT) Middle East and North Africa CAIRO (Egypt) - Trial of Mahmud Ezzat, interim supreme leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, resumes PICTURE. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021 North America ATLANTA (United States) - Control of US Senate at stake with twin runoffs in Georgia PICTURE. VIDEO. Middle East and North Africa DOHA (Qatar) - Afghan peace talks resume (0330 GMT) 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 Worldwide WORLD - Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas Day Asia-Pacific HONG KONG (China) - Court hearing for Tony Chung, activist in custody on secession charge (0200 GMT) Europe PARIS (France) - Eiffel Tower reopens to the public 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 against British charity worker at Calais migrant camp North America WASHINGTON (United States) - Trade balance for November (1330 GMT) Sub-Saharan Africa ACCRA (Ghana) - Opening session of new parliament (0900 GMT) FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 Europe BRUSSELS (Belgium) - Deadline for EU Commission decision on Google-Fitbit deal UKRAINE - Post-Christmas lockdown begins FRANCE - 60th anniversary of referendum in France on self-determination for Algeria ROME (Italy) - Appeals court delivers sentence in trial over 2009 Viareggio deadly rail accident FRANKFURT AM MAIN (Germany) - Hearing in trial of two far-right suspects over murder of CDU politician Walter Luebcke (0830 GMT) PICTURE. North America OTTAWA (Canada) - Canada publishes unemployment figures (1330 GMT) Middle East and North Africa TEHRAN (Iran) - First anniversary of downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight that left 176 dead VIDEO. BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Judge questions eight military officials over alleged graft (0700 GMT) 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 KYRGYZSTAN - Presidential elections, constitutional referendum PICTURE. 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) - First anniversary of first reported Covid-19 death Europe MARSEILLE (France) - One Planet Summit, part of World Nature Day GENEVA (Switzerland) - French-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 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 Latin America GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE (Cuba) - Trial date set for 9/11 plotters TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 Europe 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) THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021 Asia-Pacific HARIDWAR (India) - Mass religious festival Kumbh Mela PICTURE. VIDEO. (To April 30) Europe PARIS (France) - First hearing in landmark case against French state over climate inaction (1245 GMT) PARIS (France) - Cover of Tintin classic 'The Blue Lotus' sold at auction (1330 GMT) Middle East and North Africa TUNIS (Tunisia) - 10th anniversary of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's ouster Sub-Saharan Africa UGANDA - Presidential election FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021 Asia-Pacific PYONGYANG (North Korea) - North Korea holds meeting of Supreme People's Assembly legislature (dates to be confirmed) (To 31) SINGAPORE (Singapore) - Ban lifted on entry for business travellers from all countries (date to be confirmed) Europe BERLIN (Germany) - CDU party holds online congress, elects new leader (To 16) MILAN (Italy) - Men's Fashion Week, fall-winter 2021-2022 (To 19) LONDON (United Kingdom) - UK GDP for November (0600 GMT) North America ALEXANDRIA (United States) - Hearing in case against IS 'Beatles' charged with conspiring to murder US hostages NEW YORK (United States) - KGB devices to go under the hammer in US (To February 23) TERRE HAUTE (United States) - Last federal execution under Trump's administration scheduled (2300 GMT) Middle East and North Africa ASWAN (Egypt) - 50th anniversary of Aswan High Dam Sub-Saharan Africa OUAGADOUGOU (Burkina Faso) - Fifth anniversary of jihadist attack that left 30 people dead Sports BRISBANE (Australia) - Cricket: Australia v India in fourth Test (0000 GMT) PICTURE. (To 19) SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2021 Europe LUXEMBOURG (Luxembourg) - Virus restrictions to ease Sub-Saharan Africa KINSHASA (DR Congo) - 20th anniversary of president Laurent-Desire Kabila's assassination Latin America COLOMBIA - Land, river borders reopen (date to be confirmed) VIDEO. SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 Middle East and North Africa BAGHDAD (Iraq) - 30th anniversary of start of first Gulf War Sub-Saharan Africa KINSHASA (DR Congo) - 60th anniversary of DR Congo independence hero Patrice Lumumba's assassination Latin America QUITO (Ecuador) - Presidential candidates hold debate PICTURE. MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2021 Europe GENEVA (Switzerland) - Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response submits second report on Covid-19 response (1100 GMT) Middle East and North Africa ALGIERS (Algeria) - Appeal trial of blogger Touati and two other anti-government activists Sports MELBOURNE (Australia) - Australian Open (To 31) TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021 Europe PARIS (France) - Paris Fashion Week Menswear (To 24) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 Europe FRANCE - Restaurants, cafes reopen BERLIN (Germany) - Berlin International Film Festival organisers hold press conference North America WASHINGTON (United States) - Inauguration of Joe Biden as 46th US president PICTURE. GRAPHIC. VIDEO. WASHINGTON (United States) - 60 years ago, John F. Kennedy became the 35th president of the United States Middle East and North Africa TEHRAN (Iran) - 40 years since US hostages freed after 444-day embassy siege Sports COSTA RICA - Football: FIFA U-20 women's World Cup (To February 6) afp