THE WORLD THIS WEEK !

A look at what could be dominating the headlines around the world this week - and some key background on those events.

MONDAY 5 NOVEMBER
LOOK OUT FOR

A series of photo-journals from six different countries exploring family life.
Our Australia correspondent Nick Bryant's election blog
Nick Bryant's Australia blog

Hard rock: A major conference on the Kimberley Process - which aims to prevent the trade in diamonds and other precious gems fuel conflict - opens in Brussels.
Blood diamonds?

Extradition request: A hearing begins in London to decide whether four Rwandans accused by Kigali of involvement in the 1994 genocide should be extradited.
Rwanda: how the genocide happened

Moscow calling: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is to visit the Russian capital.
In pictures: Russia-China war games

Well read: The winner of France's highest literary honour, the Prix Goncourt, is due to be announced in Paris.
US author wins top French prize (2006)

TUESDAY 6 NOVEMBER

More than a quarter of the population will be over 60 by 2050.
Growing pains: A UN conference opens which aims to address the challenges of the world's ageing populations.
Population is 'growing and ageing'

First class return: Ceremonial opening of a new Eurostar terminal at London's revamped St Pancras station.
St Pancras: the new Channel Tunnel link

Bonjour monsieur le president: France's Nicolas Sarkozy is due to meet his US counterpart, George W Bush, in Washington.
Maine lunch renews France-US relations

WEDNESDAY 7 NOVEMBER

Burma's trade in precious stones is a government-owned monopoly. All that glitters: An auction of gems and jade opens in the Burmese city of Rangoon. The country is home to sapphire, ruby and jade mines.
Illicit border trade

Controversial case: The trial opens in Dubai of two Emirate men accused of gang-raping a 15-year-old French boy in the glitzy resort.
Profile: United Arab Emirates

Seeing red: Wednesday marks the 90th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution which led to the creation of the USSR.
Timeline: Soviet Union

THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER

Fresh fuel: Scientists, experts and industry representatives meet in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, for a symposium on clean fuels and vehicles.
Ford joins 'green' car trend

Crossing the pond: British supermarket giant Tesco opens its first six stores in and around Los Angeles. The chain will be branded "Fresh & Easy neighbourhood markets", and will market itself as an environmentally friendly "good neighbour".
Tesco plans foray into US market

FRIDAY 9 NOVEMBER

Crawford visit: US President George W Bush hosts the German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his ranch in Texas.
Bush, Merkel push Mid-East talks

Corruption case: A fresh hearing in the corruption case involving former Italian billionaire Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and British lawyer David Mills takes place in Milan.
Berlusconi back in dock in Italy

SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER

The contest is expected to be colourful. Glammed up: Thailand's Pattaya beach resort hosts what is billed as the world's biggest transgender beauty pageant with contestants from around the world due to take part.
Thai film's transsexual glove story

Bearing witness: The United Nations special rapporteur on torture arrives in Jakarta. Manfred Nowak is to spend 15 days in Indonesia.
One-third support 'some torture'

SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER

Fond farewell: Palestinians mark the anniversary of the 2004 death of Yasser Arafat, a man who led the Palestine Liberation Organisation for more than three decades.
Obituary: Yasser Arafat

BBC NEWS REPORT.