World Agenda 2015 ------------------------ January 1 The new Republican - dominated Congress is sworn in, signalling a rocky road for Democrat president Barack Obama’s final two years in office 2 Lithuania joins the euro and Latvia assumes the six-month presidency of the EU, amid heightened tension between Russia and the West February 3 Goodluck Jonathan is favourite to win presidential elections in Nigeria despite questions over his constitutional eligibility to stand again 4 The Cricket World Cup is hosted by Australia and New Zealand, with 14 teams competing over six weeks March 5 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a fourth term in snap elections seen as a referendum on his leadership 6 King Richard III of England, whose remains were discovered under a municipal car park in 2012, is to be reburied in Leicester Cathedral April 7 Panama hosts the seventh Summit of the Americas, a gathering of leaders from across the region May 8 A general election in Britain, with anti- immigration UKIP (UK Independence Party) expected to split right-wing votes, is likely to lead to continued coalition government June 9 German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosts leaders of the world’s richest countries at Schloss Elmau, in the Bavarian Alps, at the G7 summit 10 A general election in Turkey is seen as a referendum on president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Victory would give him a licence to strengthen his grip on Turkish politics July 11 After nine years and 4.8 billion km, NASA’s New Horizons becomes the first spacecraft to visit the icy dwarf planet Pluto August 12 Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium stages the 15th World Athletics Championships, as the IAAF selects a new president. Britain’s double Olympic champion Sebastian Coe is seen as a likely candidate September 13 Pope Francis visits the U.S. for the first time since becoming pontiff 14 England hosts the eighth Rugby World Cup 2015 15 Queen Elizabeth II becomes Britain’s longest-reigning monarch October 16 Canada votes in a general election 17 Spectre, the 24th in the series of James Bond films, is released, with Daniel Craig playing 007 for the fourth time 18 Argentina could see the end of the Kirchner era as Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is barred from running for a third term as president November 19 Myanmar’s steps towards democracy will be called into question in a parliamentary election if opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from standing December 20 Signs of a turnaround in Spain’s economic fortunes could pay dividends for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in general elections 21 Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the first in a new trilogy in the film series, is released -------------------------------- Source: Kate Edgley Pictures: Associated Press, Getty Images, University of Leicester words 461