From The World in 2010 print edition
http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14790437&source=features_box_main

Our selection of events around the world

JANUARY

Spain assumes the rotating presidency of the European Union and Pécs (in Hungary), Essen (Germany) and Istanbul (Turkey) become European capitals of culture.

The great and good from business, politics and the media puzzle out the state of the world at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

President Barack Obama delivers his first state-of-the-union address, telling Americans how it is. Mr Obama’s self-imposed deadline arrives for the closure of the Guantánamo Bay detention centre.

FEBRUARY

Chinese around the world welcome the Year of the Tiger, symbolising power and sensitivity (but also short tempers), just as the world’s lovers, actual or would-be, celebrate St Valentine’s Day.

After legal battles, controversy surrounds the 33rd America’s Cup, a yachting contest for fractious billionaires.

Rio de Janeiro’s hedonists revel in the world’s most famous carnival. Trinidad and New Orleans do their best to compete.

American giants confront each other in Miami in football’s 44th Super Bowl. Lesser mortals, by their millions, watch the game, and ads, on TV.

Costa Rica holds its presidential election.

Snow-loving athletes compete in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

MARCH

Musicians delight in the music of Chopin, born 200 years ago.

Hollywood rolls out the red carpet for the 82nd Academy Awards. Oscars for the film world’s best come after Golden Raspberries for the film world’s worst.

French-speakers around the world wax eloquent on the international day of la francophonie.

Canada upsets seal-lovers as it begins its annual seal hunt.

Southern-hemisphere naturists, from Australia to South Africa, celebrate their nudity with a naked bike ride.

APRIL

April Fools make fun around the world.

American households answer (supposedly) the once-in-a-decade census questionnaire.

Tiger Woods attempts to win the US Masters golf tournament in Augusta for a fifth time, just one behind Jack Nicklaus’s record.

Austria holds its six-yearly presidential election, and Hungary elects a parliament. With luck the Sudanese vote in presidential and general elections—the first for many years in their war-torn nation.

Coffee-makers from around the world gather in London for the World Barista Championships.

MAY

The 189 signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty meet in New York to review it.

Spare a grin for World Laughter Day.

The Philippines elects a new president and Congress.

Britain holds its general election this month, if not next.

The six-month World Expo 2010 begins in Shanghai, China.

Norway hosts the kitsch-filled Eurovision Song Contest; France hosts the star-studded Cannes film festival.

Macedonia assumes the leadership of the Council of Europe, promoting democracy and human rights.

JUNE

France celebrates the summer solstice with the Fête de la Musique: free music played outdoors, from Paris to the smallest village.

Canada hosts a summit of both the G8 and G20 in Huntsville, Ontario.

Soccer’s best nations convene in South Africa for the month-long FIFA World Cup.

The tennis elite moves from the red clay of the French Open to the green grass of Wimbledon.

JULY

Belgium takes a six-month turn as president of the European Union.

Cycling’s Tour de France, three weeks of athletic agony, begins, confusingly, in the Netherlands.

At the San Fermín festival, macho types—both Spanish and foreign—taunt stampeding bulls in the Pamplona bull run.

America celebrates independence on the 4th and France celebrates revolution on the 14th.

Strong men compete in Finland’s wife-carrying world championship. The winner gets his wife’s weight in beer.

The fashion world crowds the catwalk for the Paris Haute Couture week.

AUGUST

The deadline arrives for American combat troops to leave Iraq. Others will stay to train Iraqi soldiers and police.

Much of Europe takes a month-long holiday.

Free-flying aesthetes in the skies of Russia conclude the World Artistic Skydiving Championships.

Thousands gather in London’s Notting Hill district for Europe’s biggest street carnival.

Post-genocide Rwanda holds its second presidential election, with the winner in office for seven years.

SEPTEMBER

Bookworms salute International Literacy Day, designed to increase their number.

Intrepid rally-drivers meet in Beijing for the start of the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.

The world’s diplomats gather in New York for the UN General Assembly.

OCTOBER

Beer-lovers end the Munich Oktoberfest, having downed enough gallons to keep it as the world’s biggest beer festival.

America’s best travel to Wales to compete with Europe’s best for golf’s Ryder Cup.

Hawaii challenges the fittest to survive its Ironman triathlon.

Germany celebrates 20 years since unification.

The Nobel peace laureate is proclaimed in Oslo; other laureates are announced in Stockholm.

Egyptians elect a 518-member People’s Assembly, with 64 seats now reserved for women, and Brazil holds presidential and general elections.

Athletes from 71 nations compete in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

NOVEMBER

Americans elect a new 435-member House of Representatives and a third of the 100-seat Senate. Some 39 states choose a governor, too.

Guangzhou in China hosts the Asian Games.

Seoul, South Korea, hosts a G20 summit.

Burkina Faso elects a president, and Azerbaijan a parliament.

Japan hosts heads of government at an Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Yokohama.

Beautiful women and their male admirers travel to Nha Trang, Vietnam, for the 60th Miss World contest.

DECEMBER

Tanzania holds presidential, parliamentary and local elections.

Google announces the most-searched items of the year.

The Kluge prize, worth $1m, is awarded in Washington for lifetime achievement in disciplines (such as linguistics and anthropology) not covered by the Nobel prizes.

America celebrates the 390th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers.