This week's look ahead

Monday, Sept. 18:

Baikonur, Kazakhstan – A Russian Soyuz spacecraft takes off for the international space station carrying a US space tourist.

Vatican City – Vatican to release from secret archives its files on the pontificate of Pope Pius XI, whose term spanned most of period between world wars.

United Nations – President Bush arrives in New York for the UN General Assembly. He is scheduled to meet separately with leaders from El Salvador, Honduras, Tanzania, and Malaysia.

Tuesday, Sept. 19:

United Nations – The General Assembly opens today, continuing through Sept. 29. Bush addresses the Assembly, and meets the presidents of France and Iraq as well as the UN secretary-general.

Nuku'alofa, Tonga – Funeral for King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, who ruled Pacific island nation for more than four decades.

Shanghai, China – US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson visits through Sept. 20.

Kigali, Rwanda – Anglican leaders from Africa and Asia discuss direction of the Anglican Communion.

Wednesday, Sept. 20:

San'a, Yemen – Presidential election.

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa – Judge rules on prosecution request to postpone corruption trial of former Deputy President Jacob Zuma who is urging speedy resolution of the case.

Thursday, Sept. 21:

New York – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hosts a NATO foreign ministers meeting.

Friday, Sept. 22:

Gambia – Presidential election.

Moscow – A Parliamentary commission releases to the public its report on the 2004 Beslan school hostage tragedy.

Washington – Bush meets Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Saturday, Sept. 23:

San Juan, Puerto Rico – Protests expected on first anniversary of the shooting death of fugitive Puerto Rican independence militant Filiberto Ojeda Rios.