Today: US announces list of EU goods on which it may levy import duties in banana war. Netanyahu faces no-confidence vote in Knesset. Colombian Government meets leftwing guerillas. EU Environment Council meets in Brussels. OECD releases economic survey on Italy.
Tomorrow: Last date for Turkey to apply to extradite leader of the Kurdish Worker's Party, Abdullah Ocalan, from Italy. EU Research Council meets in Brussels. South Korea, Japan and US meeting on North Korea. Governing council of European Central Bank meets in Frankfurt.
Wednesday: Former Argentine General Reynaldo Bignone testifies in connection with theft of babies born in detention to "the disappeared". Former president of Zimbabwe, the Rev Canaan Banana, in court for sentencing.
Thursday: Pope John Paul II leads Midnight Mass in St Peter's Basilica. Nepali parliament hears no-confidence motion against minority government of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
Friday: Pope gives traditional Urbi et Orbi address. Garden inaugurated around tomb of Pakistan's founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, in Karachi. Christmas Day celebrated as public holiday in Cuba for the second time.
Saturday: Anniversary of birth of Mao Zedong.
Sunday: Blair expected to fly to Seychelles for Christmas holiday.
Today: Institute of European Affairs seminar on "The Future European Architecture: Ireland's Choices" with Ambassador Kim Travik, head of the OSCE co-ordination unit, at 3 p.m.
Irish events of a world news interest for this column should be received by David Shanks, Foreign Desk, on the Friday before publication.