The London Olympic Games and presidential elections in Russia, France and the US are among the main events in 2012. Here is a look at what the year has in store.
January
1: EU: Denmark takes over the bloc’s rotating presidency.
1-15: Argentina, Chile, Peru: The Dakar Rally.
21-February 12: Gabon, equatorial guinea: Football’s Africa Cup of Nations.
25-29: Davos, Switzerland: The 42nd World Economic Forum (www.weforum.org).
February
6: London: Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, marking the 60th anniversary of her accession to the British throne.
19: Athens: Greece holds legislative elections.
26: Hollywood: The 84th Oscars ceremony (www.oscars.org).
March
2: Tehran: Iran holds legislative elections.
4: Moscow: Russian presidential election.
April
22: Paris: First round of French presidential election.
May
6: Paris: Second round of French presidential election.
June
1: Poland, Ukraine – Euro 2012 football championships.
10, 17: Paris: France holds legislative elections.
18-19: Los Cabos, Mexico: Group of 20 (G20) summit.
20-22: Rio de Janeiro: World conference on durable development (www.earthsummit2012.org).
July
1: EU: Cyprus takes over the bloc’s presidency.
1: Mexico City: Presidential election.
27-August 12: London: The 2012 Olympic Games.
August
12: Yeosu, South Korea: The 2012 world expo, themed The Living Ocean and Coast (www.worldexpo2012.com).
16-27: Cannes, France: The 65th film festival (www.festival.cannes.com). 15-22: Chicago: Group of Eight (G8) summit (www.chicagog8.com).
20-21: Chicago: Nato summit.
27-30: Florida: The Republican convention will choose its candidate for the US presidential election.
September
8-9: Vladivostok, Russia: The annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum. ( http://apec.org ).
October
12-14: Tokyo: The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Stockholm: Announcement of winners of the Nobel Prizes (www.nobelprize.org).
November
6: Washington: US Presidential election.