WORLD AGENDA -- OCTOBER 2003

October 5, Chechnya: Kremlin-backed Akhmad Kadyrov is the sole candidate with a chance of winning the republicÕs first presidential poll. The showpiece election, from which separatists are excluded, is Russian President Vladimir PutinÕs attempt to convince the world that war in the renegade province is over.

October 7, Indonesia: Myanmar will come under pressure if it has not released detained democracy campaigner and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi when leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations, one of the few groups to accept the military regime as a member, meet in Bali.

October 7, California: Screen action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger makes his debut on the political stage in a recall vote. The Republican Terminator star is the main challenger among 135 candidates taking on incumbent Democrat governor Gray Davis.

October 10, Australia: Reigning champions and hosts Australia kick off Rugby UnionÕs fifth World Cup against Argentina at SydneyÕs 83,000-capacity Olympic stadium. Key clashes in the 20-nation tournament will be France v Scotland (Oct 25) and England v South Africa (Oct 18 in Perth).

October 11-18, Malaysia: The government in the Philippines, where a three-decade separatist war has killed 120,000, is expected to have signed a final peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front by this date when the Organisation of the Islamic Front meets in Putrajaya.

October 16, Vatican City: Cardinal Karol Jozef Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II, marks the 25th anniversary of his papacy. The 83-year-old Pontiff, debilitated by ParkinsonÕs disease and hip and knee ailments, has travelled more than 1,167,000 kilometres to more than 130 countries.

October 20-21, Thailand: Bangkok faces its most serious ever security test when the leaders of 21 countries, including U.S. President George Bush, attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Prime terror suspect Hambali was arrested in Ayutthaya, central Thailand, in August.

October 21, New York: A collection of poetry from over 500 years celebrating the love of a man for his best friend is published by Random House. ÒDoggerel: Poems about DogsÓ includes paeans to pooches from Shakespeare, Spencer and Pope.

October 23, Spain: The United States, under pressure to stabilise post-war Iraq, hopes to drum up support for reconstruction at a donorsÕ conference in Madrid. U.S. Congress has pledged $20 billion but the World Bank estimates $70 billion will be needed over the next few years.

Late October, Malaysia: Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad steps down, paving the way for elections due by November next year, while former heir-apparent Anwar Ibrahim languishes in jail. Anwar is widely believed to have been imprisoned on trumped up charges to prevent a political challenge.

Parliamentary elections in Guinea-Bissau (Oct 12) and Switzerland (Oct 19). Presidential elections in Chechnya (Oct 5) and Azerbaijan (Oct 15).