WORLD AGENDA NOVEMBER 2006

Nov 1, India: Bangalore reverts to its pre-colonial name Bengaluru, in line with Bombay, now Mumbai, Calcutta, now Kolkata, and Madras, now Chennai. The renaming will launch the state of KarnatakaÕs Golden Jubilee year.

Nov 6, Dushanbe: The West will closely watch presidential elections in Tajikistan, a country still recovering from civil war and key to stability in central Asia. The poll is expected to be won by Imomali Rakhmonov, who has held power since 1992.

Nov 7, United States: President George BushÕs Republicans may lose control of Congress in midterm elections amid concerns over the Iraq war and a sex scandal on Capitol Hill. A third of the Senate and all 435 House of Representatives seats will be contested.

Nov 8, Space: Mercury transits the Sun, visible in the extreme north east of India, eastern Australia, New Zealand, parts of Antarctica, North America, South America, western Mexico, the south coast of Chile, most of the Pacific Ocean and eastern Asia.

Nov 9, Geneva: The 34-state World Health Organisation announces the name of its new Director-General who will be selected from 13 candidates vying for the post. Anders Nordstrom became Acting Director-General in May following the sudden death of Lee Jong-Wook.

Nov 12, Global: The Explosive Remnants of War treaty, aimed at cleaning up unexploded munitions which kill and maim civilians, aid workers and peacekeepers long after war ends, comes into force. The pact has been signed by 91 countries and ratified by 20.

Nov 15, New York: Naomi Campbell is due in court charged with second degree assault for throwing a cell phone at housekeeper Ana Scolavino. The supermodel, who has a history of altercations with employees, failed to appear at a hearing in September.

Nov 15, France: The opposition Socialist Party must choose a candidate to contest next yearÕs presidential election. Front-runner Segolene Royal faces competition from former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius and former Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn

Nov 20, London: The release of a new Beatles album, a remix entitled Love, will raise eyebrows as the acrimonious divorce of former member Sir Paul McCartney from Heather Mills, who alleges violence, proceeds. Sir PaulÕs $1.55bn fortune and reputation are at stake.

Nov 28, Riga: Latvia hosts a NATO summit, cementing the countryÕs place in the international arena. The Baltic state is the poorest in the European Union but in 2005 had the fastest-growing economy in the bloc.

Nov 28, Ankara: Intense security will surround a planned visit to Turkey by Pope Benedict, who angered the Muslim world in September when he quoted derogatory remarks by a Byzantine emperor about the Prophet Muhammad.
/ENDS