WORLD AGENDA 2010

JANUARY
U.S. President Barack Obama's self-imposed deadline for the closure of the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay expires.

Russia outlaws the death penalty, not used for 14 years, despite support for its resumption by up to 75 percent of Russians and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party.

Essen in Germany, Pecs in Hungary and Istanbul in Turkey become European capitals of culture.

FEBRUARY
More than 80 countries take part in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, with 86 medal events over 17 days.

China welcomes the Year of the Tiger, symbolising power and sensitivity, but also short tempers.

MARCH
Celebrations mark 200 years since the birth of romantic music master, Polish composer and virtuoso pianist Fryderyk Chopin.

APRIL
Ethnic tensions with Iraq’s Kurds are expected when the country holds its first nationwide census in two decades in either April or October.

National elections are due in Sudan, the country’s first since the 20-year civil war ended in 2005.

MAY
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown faces an uphill struggle in a general election, due this month or next. Conservative leader David Cameron will hope to win power after 13 years of Labour rule.

Presidential and legislative elections take place in the Philippines.

189 signatories meet in New York to review the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

JUNE
Three million football fans head to South Africa for the World Cup, the first to be hosted by an African nation. Defending champions Italy are among 32 finalists.

Canada hosts a summit of both the G8 and the G20 nations in Huntsville, Ontario.

June 25 marks the first anniversary of the death of pop king Michael Jackson.

JULY
The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s charismatic spiritual leader and the head of the government-in-exile based in Dharamsala, India, turns 75.

AUGUST
The deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq. Up to 50,000 troops -- from a total of 142,000 -- will remain, to advise Iraqi soldiers and police.

SEPTEMBER
International observers focus on parliamentary elections in Afghanistan, where widespread fraud marred August 2009 presidential elections.

OCTOBER
Dilma Rousseff, from Brazil’s ruling Worker’s Party, stands against centre-right opposition candidate Jose Serra in presidential elections, marking the end of the rule of the popular and increasingly influential Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

NOVEMBER
Barack Obama faces the first real test of his presidency when voters elect a new 435-member House of Representatives and a third of the 100-seat Senate.

DECEMBER
Mexico provides the world stage for political leaders to debate global warming at the 2010 climate summit.

Football’s world governing body FIFA announces the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, expected to be the most hotly ever contested bids.
/ENDS