The World This Week

Today: Law Lords hear new appeal by Gen Pinochet. Muslim world celebrates Eid al-Fitr marking end of Ramadan

Today: Law Lords hear new appeal by Gen Pinochet. Muslim world celebrates Eid al-Fitr marking end of Ramadan. EU Ecofin Council meets in Brussels. EU Agriculture Council meets in Brussels. Cuban foreign minister in Russia. Burundi peace talks resume. Italian Constitutional Court decides on proposed voting referendum. Six opposition governors of Brazil meet over debt to Brasilia. French parliament meets to amend constitution. Wim Duisenberg gives evidence to European Parliament monetary committee. French defence minister visits Japan.

Tomorrow: President Clinton delivers State of the Union address. Clinton lawyers begin defence in Senate. London Club of commercial bank lenders meets on Russia's debt payments default. UN conference on disarmament holds first session of 1999 in Geneva. Russian Constitutional Court discusses requests for impeachment of Yeltsin. Greek foreign minister visits Romania.

Wednesday: Malaysian PM begins tour of country to gauge prospects for elections. Germany's revised 1999 budget presented to oder's cabinet. IMF delegation arrives in Russia. NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council meets in Brussels. WEU secretary general in Slovakia.

Thursday: PNG's defence force commander faces charges of sedition. Russian and Japanese officials meet to discuss disputed Kuril islands. Parliamentary assembly of Russia and Belarus meets in Minsk. NASA launches Columbia spacecraft. Republican National Committee meets in Washington. Regional African leaders' summit in Arusha.

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Friday: Pope arrives in Mexico. Senators presiding at trial of President Clinton file written questions to defence and prosecution lawyers. National Committee of US Democratic Party meets in Washington. Group of Eight officials meet in Bonn.

Saturday: German Free Democrats' conference. King of Nepal in India. SUNDAY: Arab League foreign ministers meet in Cairo. Colombian government holds talks with FARC rebels.

Ireland

Thursday: Inter-Church service on "Human Rights Abuses in Sudan" at Kill O The Grange Church, Co Dublin, 8 p.m., organised in association with Sudan Support Group and Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Michael Sullivan presents credentials as US ambassador. Friday: President McAleese receives Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General.

Irish events should be received by David Shanks, Foreign Desk, on the Friday before publication.