WORLD AGENDA: World in December 2001

December, Afghanistan: With winter biting hard, international aid agencies will be battling for safe routes along which to deliver food, clothing and medical supplies to the estimated five million people at risk from cold and starvation in the war-torn land

December 1: World Aids Day, with the theme ÒMen Make a DifferenceÓ, will be marked by hundreds of events across the globe

December 2, Australia: The Davis Cup, sportÕs largest annual international team competition, reaches its climax with the stars of Australian tennis taking on the French in Melbourne

December 3, Washington D.C.: President George W. Bush holds two days of talks with Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon amid signs of renewed U.S. efforts in the Middle East peace-making process

December 4, Atlanta: The Olympic torch, lit in Greece, begins its 3,500-mile journey across the U.S., bound for the Salt Lake City Winter Games in February. The flame will travel by special train and also by dog sled, Indy car and Coast Guard cutter. Lyz Glick, widow of a plane passenger killed in the September 11 terror attacks, will carry the torch into New York City on December 23

December 5, Sri Lanka: Snap election called just 14 months after the last parliamentary poll. Extreme violence has marred the campaign that began when president Chandrika Kumaratunga dissolved parliament shortly before a no-confidence vote that her minority government looked set to lose

December 10, UK: The long-awaited movie version of TolkienÕs epic fantasy, Lord of the Rings, receives its world premiere in London. Tipped to be among the highest grossing films of all time, it stars Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee and Liv Tyler

December 11, China: After 15 years of knocking at the door of the World Trade Organization, China is finally set to make an historic entry into the global trading fold, opening up its market of almost 1.3bn consumers. Organization head Mike Moore said it would be Òone of the most significant events of the 21st century for China, the WTO, and the world.Ó

December 15, Italy: The Leaning Tower of Pisa, closed to visitors 11 years ago, is to re-open following delicate engineering work to prevent the famous landmark toppling over. The tilt of the 55m-high bell tower, built in the 12th century, has been lessened by around half a metre in a $27 million operation that should make it safe for another 300 years

December 15, Belgium: EU heads of state will debate the future of an enlarged Europe at a major summit in the Brussels suburb of Laeken. The main topic will be deciding on institutional reforms necessary to accommodate as many as 15 new member countries Ð doubling the number presently in the union

December (undated): The east African state of Eritrea is scheduled to hold its first parliamentary elections since gaining independence from Ethiopia in 1993.

Also: Parliamentary elections in Taiwan (December 1); Presidential elections in Madagascar (December 16)