WORLD AGENDA MAY 2004

May 1, European Union: The EU makes its historic expansion into Eastern Europe with the accession of 10 new countries: Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus and Malta.

May 2, Israel: The ruling Likud Party holds a tightly contested referendum on withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon proposes uprooting all 21 settlements in Gaza and four in the West Bank, in return for expanding five blocks in the West Bank. 

May 7-16, Gothenburg: Sex for the over 70s is healthier than ever, according to a study to be presented at the International Science Festiva in Sweden. Researcher Nils Beckman found 13 percent of women and 69 percent of men were sexually active.

May 14, Copenhagen: Tight security will surround EuropeÕs royals and heads of state when they attend the wedding of DenmarkÕs Crown Prince Frederik and Australian Mary Donaldson. The high profile royal wedding is regarded as a possible target for terrorists.

May 17, Myanmar: The ruling junta has promised to draft a new constitution at a National Convention but the opposition has said it will join the talks only if democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest.

May 20, Paris: The international football association, Fifa, celebrates 100 years with a match between five-times world champions Brazil and 1998 World Cup winners France, the country in which Fifa was formed. The contest will take place at the Stade de France.

May 25-26, Islamabad: Pakistan has invited India to nuclear disarmament talks in an effort to forge peace and resume dialogue which has been stalled since 2001. Possession of nuclear arsenals by the neighbours makes South Asia one of the worldÕs most vulnerable nuclear flashpoints.

Early May, Seoul: A South Korean court is expected to rule on corruption charges faced by International Olympic Committee vice-president  Kim Un-yong. Kim, 72, is accused of taking 3.8 billion won (US$3.32m) from taekwondo federations and receiving bribes from sports officials and businesses.

May (undated), Australia: Fears of a violent backlash surround Prime Minister John HowardÕs plans to introduce legislation to abolish the countryÕs commission on Aboriginal affairs. The board is the top elected body for the countryÕs 400,000 Aborigines, who were given the vote in 1967.

May (undated), Iraq: Despite spreading violence across the country, the United States is aiming for an interim government to be formed by the end of the month as part of its planned handover of power in June.

Parliamentary elections in Panama (May 2), India (May 5, stage 3; May 10, stage 4), Iran (May 7, second round), Malawi (May 18), Haiti (date to be decided). Presidential elections in Panama (May 2), Philippines (May 10), Dominican Republic (May 16), Malawi (May 18), Germany (May 23).