The coming days

The week ahead

A moment of truth for Apple's latest gadget as customers get hold of the first Ipads

• GEEKS are salivating with anticipation. On Saturday April 3rd customers, in America get their hands on Apple’s Ipad, a touch-screen device (rather like a large Iphone) that lets users search online, read electronic versions of books, play computer games and more. At least 190,000 units have been ordered in America. The Ipad becomes available in other countries later. The fate of the device is likely to matter to more companies than just Apple: a variety of book, magazine and newspaper publishers are watching anxiously to see if enough customers are willing to pay for digital access to their products. The success of other technologies, such as digital-music players, was built in part on the popularity of Apple products, such as the Ipod.

• A COURT in Shanghai, China, is expected to deliver a verdict, on Monday March 29th, in the trial of four employees of Rio Tinto, a huge Anglo-Australian mining company, who were accused of corruption and stealing commercial secrets. The accused, three Chinese and one Australian, were arrested last year shortly after Rio had spurned a big investment from Chinalco, a Chinese state-backed metals firm, infuriating the Chinese authorities.

• AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, a human-rights group, publishes its annual report on the use of the death penalty around the world on Tuesday March 30th. It is likely to show that in 2009 the usual suspects—China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United States—carried out the most executions.

• SILVIO BERLUSCONI, the Italian prime minister, faces a test of his popularity as some 40m voters elect governors in 13 regions of the country. Voting takes place over two days, ending on Monday March 29th. Anxiety about the economy, as well as a variety of scandals involving the Italian leader, may boost opposition parties. Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom (PDL) party is bound to do badly in at least one province: in Rome it failed to register in time and has been left off the ballot.

• IN AMERICA the market for mortgage securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, America’s housing-finance giants, will be tested. The Federal Reserve’s purchases of almost $1.25 trillion-worth of such securities since last year have helped keep interest rates near record lows, but this programme is due to expire on Wednesday March 31st. Most think the effect of the Fed’s withdrawal will be muted, because the move has been telegraphed and because there is money on the sidelines waiting to take the Fed’s place. See article.