WORLD AGENDA: World in November 2001

November 6, New York: Media mogul Michael Bloomberg of the Republican party goes up against Brooklyn-born Democrat lawyer Mark Green in the election to find a successor to mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who is prevented by law from seeking a third term

November 7, UK, France: Concorde returns to the skies 16 months after the Paris crash that killed 113 people. Passenger flights on the luxury supersonic jets have been suspended since the accident but aviation authorities are now satisfied with changes and safety checks carried out by operators Air France and British Airways

November 9, Qatar: Ministers from 141 countries are set to attend a meeting of the World Trade Organisation in the Arab state, despite safety fears prompted by the U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan. The conference hopes to launch a new trade round following the fiasco of the last meeting in Seattle

November 10, Australia: Conservative Prime Minister John Howard could be re-elected for a third term after a sharp turnaround in his popularity. His refusal in September to allow in Afghan asylum-seekers boosted his ratings, and with Australian troops joining the fight against the Taliban this month, HowardÕs less-admired domestic record may be overlooked

November 10, New York: George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin are among a host of world leaders in town for the UN General AssemblyÕs annual high-level debate, which was postponed following the terrorist attacks on the U.S.

November 13, Seychelles: France Albert Rene, president since 1977, is to be hauled before the constitutional court accused of ballot-rigging. Wavel Ramkalawan, an Anglican priest who narrowly lost SeptemberÕs election, wants the result annulled

November 16, U.S., UK: Harry Potter and the PhilosopherÕs Stone, the keenly awaited film adaptation of J.K. RowlingÕs best-selling book, goes on general release. British schoolboy Daniel Radcliffe plays the title role, with John Cleese, Alan Rickman and Julie Walters among the starry cast

November 17, Canada: The IMF and World Bank will hold their postponed annual meetings in Ottawa, with the agenda likely to be given over to discussing the global economic outlook in the wake of the events of September 11

November 17, Kosovo: Voters in the UN-administered Yugoslav province are due to elect their own assembly, although Serbs have threatened to boycott the poll