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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.

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

Moscow calling: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is to visit the Russian capital.

Well read: The winner of France's highest literary honour, the Prix Goncourt, is due to be announced in Paris.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Fresh fuel: Scientists, experts and industry representatives meet in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, for a symposium on clean fuels and vehicles.

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".

Crawford visit: US President George W Bush hosts the German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his ranch in Texas.

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.

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.

Bearing witness: The United Nations special rapporteur on torture arrives in Jakarta. Manfred Nowak is to spend 15 days in Indonesia.

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.