Today: NASA shuttle Discovery returns to Earth. US and Russian teams begin millennium bug work at Peterson Air Base in Colorado. Osaka prefecture in Japan accepts resignation of governor follo wing obscenity charges. Trial of former Belarusian PM Mikhail Chyhir on embezzlement charges opens in Minsk. Tenth anniversary of swearing in of dissident playwright Vaclav Havel as president of Czech Republic. Australian PM visits East Timor. Indonesia marks 50th anniversary of transfer of sovereignty from Netherlands.
Tomorrow: Chinese city of Guangzhou hosts conference on co-operation in science and technology with delegates from US, Britain, Canada, Japan and Australia. Nepal marks birthday of King Birendra. Legislative and presidential elections in Guinea-Bissau. New York court hears details of $1.25 billion compensation scheme for victims of Nazi slave labour camps.
Wednesday: International Day for biological diversity. Leader of Japanese cult Fumihiro Joyu accused of deadly subway gassing in Tokyo released from prison. Russian Central Electoral Commission issues final results of parliamentary election.
Thursday: Deadline for French government to lift ban on British beef. Amnesty period for Chechen guerrillas to surrender to Russia with nominal protection expires.
Friday: Festivities across the world mark new millennium as Japanese PM speaks on Y2K situation. Nelson Mandela sees in new millennium from Robben Island penal colony. South and North Korea host joint auto rally starting in Seoul. Day of Solidarity with Azeris marked in Azerbaijan. Philippines Constitutional Reform Committee announces proposals for opening up all major sectors of industry and infrastructure to foreign ownership. New president of Niger sworn in.
Saturday: Portugal takes over presidency of EU and WEU until 30th June 2000. Pope John Paul II gives traditional new year message of peace. Palestinians mark Fatah Day. Final results of December 12th local elections released by Central Electoral Commission in Baku. Greece lifts border controls becoming full member of EU's Schengen free-movement zone.
Sunday: Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Aleksiy II arrives in Jerusalem.
Ireland
Friday: Ecumenical service and tree planting to mark the last sunset in Europe of the millennium at Croagh Patrick car park at Murrisk, Westport. (3.30 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.