WORLD AGENDA -- NOVEMBER 2003

November 2, New Hampshire: The consecration of a divorced father of two who has lived with his male lover for 13 years threatens to split the worldÕs 70 million Anglicans. Reverend Gene Robinson will be the first openly active homosexual to be made a bishop.

November 4, Geneva: The eighth anniversary of Yitzhak RabinÕs assassination is the likely date for the signing of a 50-page peace deal produced by former Israeli and Palestinian negotiators. The unofficial agreement has been slated by Israel but has attracted attention from world leaders.

November 6, West Bank: The Middle East Òroad mapÓ to peace comes under renewed tension when the 30-day Palestinian caretaker cabinet, headed by Ahmed Qurei, expires. The Prime Minister indicated he would quit if his choice of interior minister was refused by President Yasser Arafat.

November 7, 9, Hong Kong: The Rolling Stones will play two shows at Harbour Fest, a HK$130 million extravaganza aimed at boosting the territoryÕs image after the Sars (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak crippled its economy.

November 26, Belfast: Elections to restore Northern IrelandÕs power-sharing assembly and executive, which collapsed 13 months ago, will give crucial momentum to the stalled peace process. Three decades of sectarian strife between Protestants and Catholics have claimed nearly 4,000 lives in the province

November 18-21, London: Anti-war protesters will topple and dance on a mock statue of George Bush in Trafalgar Square during the U.S. PresidentÕs state visit to Britain. The stunt is a reworking of the humiliation of a Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad six months ago.

November 19-21, Miami: Trade ministers from 34 nations meet to negotiate the creation in 2005 of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, the worldÕs largest free trade area. The United States wants to end tariffs on manufactured and farm goods and to remove barriers on services and investment.

November 20, Geneva: The largest internally flawless diamond ever to be sold at auction goes under the hammer at SothebyÕs for around $10 million. The nameless walnut-sized gem, weighing 103.83 carats, was found at South AfricaÕs Premier Mines.

November 26, Belfast: Elections to restore Northern IrelandÕs power-sharing assembly and executive, which collapsed 13 months ago, despite the latest breakdown in trust between Unionists and Republicans. Three decades of sectarian strife between Protestants and Catholics have claimed nearly 4,000 lives in the province.

November (undated), Fiji: A traditional apology will be offered to the descendants of an English missionary who was killed, cooked and eaten 136 years ago by the people of a remote mountain village. The Reverend Thomas Baker is the only known white victim of islands once known as the ÒCannibal IslesÓ.

November (undated), Shanghai: ChinaÕs industrial safety record will come under the spotlight when the International Council of Toy Industries begins inspecting factories, most of which are in the PeopleÕs Republic. Child labour, poor conditions and long hours result in the deaths of tens of thousands of Chinese each year.

Parliamentary elections in Georgia (Nov 2), Japan (Nov 9), Guatemala (Nov 9), Marshall Islands (Nov 17) and Croatia (Nov 23). Presidential elections in Mauritania (Nov 7), Guatemala (Nov 9) and Serbia (Nov 16).