WORLD AGENDA NOVEMBER 2010

November 1, Florida: The space shuttle Discovery is launched on its final mission, STS-133, with a six-member crew to install a "permanent multipurpose module" on the international space station. NASA's shuttle programme ends next year as the agency moves to commercial projects.

November 2, Washington: U.S. president Barack Obama's Democratic party is forecast to suffer heavy losses in mid-term elections. Polls predict the ruling party will lose control of the House of Representatives to the Republicans and only narrowly retain a Senate majority.

November 3, New York: A life-size Henri Matisse bronze, owned by an anonymous private collector, is expected to fetch up to $35m at auction. The sculpture is one of 12 Back IV works, 10 of which are in museums.

November 5, London: An exhibition opens featuring 300 artefacts from the Titanic, including 14 new ones such as postcards, sheet music and stamps, as well as new video footage from the site of the wreck. The legendary 1912 sinking killed 1,517 people.

November 7, Yangon: Myanmar, ruled by the military for 50 years, is claiming a shift to democracy with its first elections in two decades. International monitors are barred and campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi will remain in prison until just after the election.

November 7, Barcelona: Nearly 130 years after it began construction, the Sagrada Familia -- the unfinished masterpiece by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi -- is to be consecrated and proclaimed a Basilica by Pope Benedict XIV during his two-day visit to Spain.

November 9, New York: Former U.S. president George W. Bush publishes his memoirs, Decision Points, focussing on 14 decisions he made in eight years as president. An ebook version and an audiobook, read by the author himself, will be released simultaneously.

November 11, Seoul: Currency tensions are expected to dominate the G20 summit at which tough new rules on banks' capital will be put forward for endorsement. Recommendations for so-called too-big-to-fail banks will also be discussed.

November 15-17, Vienna: The first high profile talks in a year on Iran's nuclear ambitions take place between the six major powers involved in nuclear negotiations. Talks stalled last October, leading to a toughening of sanctions on Tehran.

November 19, Lisbon: NATO allies are expected to endorse the transfer of security responsibility in Afghanistan to local forces next year. The U.S. ordered 30,000 more troops in December but with western casualties at a high, NATO states want their own troops home.

November 28, Egypt: The Muslim Brotherhood has said it will field candidates in a third of more than 500 seats in parliamentary elections despite a ban on religious groups. The opposition movement will skirt the ban by running candidates as independents.
/ENDS