Today: Peace talks begin in Sierra Leone. Rebel leaders from Democratic Republic of Congo and Kinshasa authorities meet in Nairobi. Jospin in Russia. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa summit begins in Nairobi. International Whaling Commission meets in Grenada.
Tomorrow: Ecofin Council EU Social Affairs and Employment Council meet in Brussels. Ministers from International Energy Agency meet in Paris. Australian senate votes on tax reforms. International donor conference on reconstruction in Central America. British and Argentinian foreign ministers meet in London. African Development Bank annual meeting in Cairo. March from Brussels to Cologne against unemployment begins.
Wednesday: OECD ministerial meeting in Paris.
Thursday: EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meets, and EU Scientific Steering Committee, in Brussels. World Bank's board of executives meets in Washington. German EU presidency hosts international conference on south-eastern Europe. President and foreign minister of Greece in Bulgaria. EU
Youth Council meets in Brussels. US space shuttle Discovery makes first visit to International Space Station. North Atlantic Assembly spring meeting in Warsaw.
Friday: Schroder and Chirac in Toulouse. Pakistan expected to fire new ballistic missile. Japanese foreign minister meets Russian counterpart. Rio group summit begins in Mexico.
Saturday: Nigeria's elected civilian government assumes control.
Ireland
Today: Public meeting on "Sierra Leone's Forgotten War", the Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin, 8 p.m. "The Future European Security Architecture: Ireland's Choices" seminar, with UN Under Secretary for Peacekeeping Operations, Bernard Miyet, at Institute of European Affairs, 10.30 a.m. Fyffes banana boat leaves Waterford with machinery for Honduras. European Movement public discussion, with candidates, on "Our Parliament, Our Voice in Europe", 8 p.m. in Ardilaun Hotel, Galway.
Tomorrow: Memorial service for Dr Michael Aris, husband of Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, in the Oak Room, Mansion House, Dublin, 6 p.m. President McAleese receives Catherine Bertini of World Food Programme and hosts a park picnic for International Year of the Older Person.
Wednesday: The President attends Development Studies Awards ceremony at Holy Ghost College, Kimmage Manor, Dublin.
Irish events of a world news interest for this column should be received by David Shanks, Foreign Desk, on the Friday before publication.