JUNE HOTSPOTS

June, Iraq: An interim authority is expected to be formed early in the month, the United NationsÕ oil-for-food-humanitarian programme expires (June 3), and OPEC ministers meeting in Doha, Qatar (June 11) make way for the restoration of Iraqi oil output.

June 1, Manila: The Philippine governmentÕs deadline for the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front to renounce terrorism and turn over rebels suspected of involvement in the bombing campaign which has killed more than 200 people this year.

June 1-3, France: A renewed crackdown on global terrorism will be on the agenda at the Group of Eight Summit at Evian. Fears that al-Qaeda has recovered strength were raised last month when bomb attacks killed 34 in Saudi Arabia and 41 in Morocco.

June 5, Croatia: Pope John Paul II makes his 100th foreign tour despite increasing frailty. The 83-year-old Pontiff suffers from ParkinsonÕs as well as knee and hip ailments that make walking virtually impossible.

June 9, London: Will BritainÕs love affair with pounds and pence continue? Treasury chief Gordon Brown will announce whether the time is right to call a referendum on joining the European currency, the euro, introduced in 1999 and adopted by 12 countries.

June 9-10, Tokyo: Attempts at a donor conference to drum up £3 million in aid to rebuild war-ravaged Sri Lanka may falter if the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam carry out their threat to boycott the gathering.

Mid June, Washington: The United States is expected to file a case with the World Trade Organisation challenging the European UnionÕs moratorium on genetically modified foods. The U.S. contends that the ban, applied since 1999, harms its exports of maize, cotton and soya.

June 16: IranÕs nuclear ambitions will be called into question at an International Atomic Energy Agency board meeting where agency chief Mohammed ElBaradei is expected to announce that the Islamic Republic has broken the Non-Proliferation Treaty with its uranium enrichment plant at Natanz.

June 21, Dublin: The 9-day Special Olympics begins, with the exclusion of athletes from China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. Competitors from SARS-affected nations were banned because of the risk of spreading the disease, which has killed hundreds and infected thousands worldwide.

June 21, London: The British mediaÕs pledge not to pursue Prince William while he is at university will come under strain as William, second in line to the throne after his father Prince Charles, turns 21. The prince has another two years at St AndrewÕs in Scotland.

June 23, London: The worldÕs most famous tennis championship, Wimbledon, begins without Pete Sampras, one of the sportÕs greatest ever players. The 31-year-old has not played since winning a record 14th Grand Slam at the US Open in September but is keeping fans guessing as to whether he will retire.

Beijing (undated): Atal Behari Vajpayee will make the first visit by an Indian premier to China in a decade signalling a thawing in relations between the worldÕs two most populous nations. Talks will be aimed at ensuring peace on their 9,000-kilometre border.

Parliamentary elections in the British Virgin Islands (June 16) and Jordan (June 17). Presidential elections in Togo (June 1)