Ahead of the curve: The next 7 days | CNN

The parents of Austin Tice, the American journalist believed to be held in Syria, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/02/world/meast/syria-missing-journalist/" target="_blank">will travel to Lebanon</a> to make an appeal for their son's release. A video surfaced on YouTube in September that appeared to show a blindfolded Tice being led by men armed with machine guns and a grenade. Many questions still surround the video, and Tice hasn't been heard from on social media since August 11. Above, Tice appears with a Syrian rebel.

Austin Tice's parents make appeal —

The parents of Austin Tice, the American journalist believed to be held in Syria, will travel to Lebanon to make an appeal for their son's release. A video surfaced on YouTube in September that appeared to show a blindfolded Tice being led by men armed with machine guns and a grenade. Many questions still surround the video, and Tice hasn't been heard from on social media since August 11. Above, Tice appears with a Syrian rebel.

Courtesy Austin Tice

Diwali begins —

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, begins on November 13 and is celebrated for several days by millions of Hindus across the world as one of the most important events on their spiritual calendar. To commemorate Diwali, we want to see your best images of the most beautiful lights.

Congress will return to work Tuesday. Legislators face a host of unresolved issues including the pressing task of avoiding the <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/08/news/economy/fiscal-cliff/index.html" target="_blank">fiscal cliff</a> -- a series of tax increases and spending cuts that are set to start taking effect in January and could have a potentially disastrous impact on the U.S. economy.

Congress gets back to work —

Congress will return to work Tuesday. Legislators face a host of unresolved issues including the pressing task of avoiding the fiscal cliff -- a series of tax increases and spending cuts that are set to start taking effect in January and could have a potentially disastrous impact on the U.S. economy.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/File

Senior intelligence, State Department and FBI officials can expect to be grilled next week as <a href="http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/08/obama-administration-officials-to-brief-intelligence-committees-on-benghazi/" target="_blank">congressional hearings resume </a>on the terror attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Libya that left four Americans dead.

Benghazi attack hearing —

Senior intelligence, State Department and FBI officials can expect to be grilled next week as congressional hearings resume on the terror attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Libya that left four Americans dead.

China announces new leadership —

China is expected to introduce its new leadership to the world Wednesday or Thursday after the Communist Party's 18th National Congress wraps up. Xi Jinping is set to be announced as the leader of the world's most populous nation.

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The first B-787 Dreamliner aircraft is to land at Chopin International Airport in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday. It made its <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/03/travel/dreamliner-flight/index.html" target="_blank">North American debut </a>last week, toting more than 200 eager United Airlines passengers from Houston to Chicago.

Dreamliner lands —

The first B-787 Dreamliner aircraft is to land at Chopin International Airport in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday. It made its North American debut last week, toting more than 200 eager United Airlines passengers from Houston to Chicago.

AFP/Getty Images

MLB: AL and NL MVP Awards —

For the first time ever, this year's crop of accolades for American League and National League baseball stars will be announced on television. The MLB Network airs the honors at 6 p.m. each night from Monday to Thursday.

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