WHAT WILL THIS YEAR BRING

JANUARY 20:

DONALD TRUMP'S INAUGURATION

After his unlikely election victory, Donald Trump will be

sworn in as America’s 45th president at a

ceremony in Washington D.C. on January 20,

bringing to an end Barack Obama’s eight years

in the White House.

Mr Trump has already outlined some of the

measures he plans to take in his first 100 days in office,

but America and the world will be waiting to see

what kind of president the billionaire Republican will be.

MARCH:

PM TRIGGERS ARICLE 50…PROBABLY

Theresa May has a busy year ahead of her. She has said she will

trigger Article 50 to formally begin the process of leaving the EU

by the end of March. However, a High Court ruling that said

Parliament must vote on Brexit could delay this. The

Government is challenging the ruling in the Supreme

Court and remains determined to activate Article 50 before April.

APRIL – MAY:

FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Could Marine Le Pen be France's next president? All eyes will be on

National Front leader Marine Le Pen to see what impact she can

have in France’s presidential election. Former president Nicolas

Sarkozy was eliminated in the conservative nomination

contest, with Francois Fillon set to go up against Le Pen.

President Francois Hollande’s Socialist Party will hold a primary

in January to choose a candidate, but he will not be running.

The first round of voting in the general election will take place

on April 23, with the potential for a final run-off on May 7.

MAY 3:

TEN YEARS SINCE MADELEINE MCCANN DISAPPEARED

Mystery remains over the whereabouts of Madeleine McCann, who

disappeared from the holiday apartment she was staying in with

her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal, when she was just three-years-old.

MAY – JUNE:

AINSLIE AIMS FOR AMERICA’S CUP HISTORY

Sir Ben Ainslie and his Land Rover BAR team will bid to become the

first British crew to win sailing’s America’s Cup. Sir Ben, the most

successful sailor in Olympic history, will have to navigate the

qualifying series first to earn the right to face defending

champions Oracle Team USA in the final in Bermuda.

AUGUST 4-13:

LONDON HOSTS IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Hoping to recreate the magic of London 2012, the capital will host

the athletics world championships, with the biggest

names in track and field on show.

AUGUST 21:

SOLAR ECLIPSE

The first total solar eclipse of the 21st century for the United

States will take place for around two and a half minutes. The

UK will experience a partial solar eclipse on the same day.

AUGUST 31:

20 YEARS SINCE DIANA DIED

The death of Diana, Princess of Wales, on August 31, 1997,

sent shockwaves around the world and triggered an

outpouring of grief. The 36-year-old mother of Prince William

and Harry died from injuries sustained in a car crash in Paris,

as did Dodi Fayed and Henri Paul, the driver.

AUGUST/OCTOBER:

GERMAN FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Angela Merkel will seek a fourth term as Germany’s chancellor as

the country votes in federal elections. She became Germany’s

first female head of government in 2005. The country will also

vote in a presidential election earlier in the year.