WORLD AGENDA JUNE 2006

June 1: The 2006 Atlantic and central Pacific hurricane season begins with up to six major hurricanes and at least 10 other named storms predicted for the Atlantic basin -- less than last yearÕs record 28 storms but still above average.

June 2: In a contest of nurture versus nature, the world's first cloned mule will compete against a field of naturally bred runners, and his identical cloned brother, at a race in Winnemuca, Nevada. Idaho Gem was created in 2003 from the DNA of a champion racer.

June 4: Ollanta Humala, an ex-army officer who led a failed military rebellion against the Peruvian government in 2000, faces former President Alan Garcia in the final round of voting for PeruÕs presidency.

June 5: A court in Milan will decide whether ItalyÕs former prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and the British lawyer David Mills should stand trial for corruption. Prosecutors claim Mr Berlusconi paid Mr Mills $600,000 for not revealing details of the billionaire politicianÕs media empire when he testified in two court cases.

June 5: Algeria plays host to the major international celebrations for World Environment Day, which this year highlights the importance of protecting the deserts and drylands that cover more than 40% of the planet and are home to a third of the worldÕs population.

June 7: Australia and Singapore will lead a two-day international exercise to test emergency communications in the event of a bird flu pandemic. The exercise, the first of its kind, will also test how Asia-Pacific countries would stay in touch during other disasters, such as tsunamis or earthquakes.

June 9: Central American underdogs Costa Rica take on tournament hosts and three-time champions Germany in the first match of the FIFA 2006 Soccer World Cup in Munich. The four-week contest sees 32 national teams battling it out for a place in the final at BerlinÕs Olympic stadium on July 9.

June 12: King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, the worldÕs longest-reigning monarch, hosts two days of celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of his accession. Royalty and heads of state from 30 nations are invited for the diamond jubilee, which begins with a royal barge procession on the Chao Phraya river.

June 16: The UNÕs new Human Rights Council -- which aims to improve the rights and freedoms of millions of people worldwide -- holds its first meeting in Geneva following the abolition of the much-criticised Human Rights Commission.

June 17: Queen Elizabeth II, head of state in Britain and 15 other Commonwealth realms, celebrates her official 80th birthday with a trooping of the colour (military parade) in London.

June 26: Wimbledon serves up its 120th tennis tournament, with Roger Federer and Venus Williams returning to the green grass of south London to defend their titles.

June 29: The United States is set to restore full diplomatic ties with Libya by removing the north African country from its blacklist of states that sponsor terrorism. It will be the first time Washington has had normal relations with Colonel Muammar GaddafiÕs regime in more than 25 years.

Also, general elections in: Czech Republic (June 2-3); Slovakia (June 17).