FEBRUARY HOTSPOTS

February 1, New York: Germany takes over from France as President of the UN Security Council, the only body empowered by the UN charter to authorise the use of force against a member state.

February 1, UK: South African President Thabo Mbeki is to hold talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair as part of efforts to avert war in Iraq. While believing Iraq should respect and implement UN resolutions, Mbeki remains convinced that a peaceful resolution to the crisis is possible through the United Nations.

February 4, U.S.: The original manuscript of Jack KerouacÕs On the Road, the book that defined the 1950s Beat Generation, goes on display at Indiana University.

February 9, South Africa: The Cricket World Cup opens in Cape Town. England is among teams scheduled to play a match in Zimbabwe, despite calls from the British government to boycott the game in protest at President Robert MugabeÕs regime.

February 10-14, Saudi Arabia: Up to two million pilgrims will visit Mecca to perform the haj, the religious duty all able-bodied Muslims who can afford it are required to perform at least once in their lifetime. Many Iraqis will make the trip, despite the possibility of an attack on their country.

February 14, France: Declarations of devotion will flash across ParisÕs municipal bulletin boards every 20 seconds on St ValentineÕs Day. Bertrand Delanoe, the left-wing mayor, said the boards would carry short love letters to Òhelp Parisians tell each other ÔI love youÕÓ.

February 15: Ten million anti-war protesters are expected at rallies in capitals across Europe, America and the Middle East under a ÒDonÕt Attack IraqÓ banner. Meanwhile bus convoys of Western Òhuman shieldÓ volunteers are travelling across Europe to Baghdad as a deterrent to possible U.S.-led bombing.

February 25, South Korea: President Kim Dae-jung hands power to Roh Moo-hyun who swept to power on a tide of anti-U.S. sentiment and has vowed to continue inducing peaceful change in communist North Korea, which pulled out of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in January.