WORLD AGENDA MARCH 2011

March 7, Paris: The trial is due to begin of former French president Jacques Chirac, charged with misusing public funds when he was Paris mayor. Now in frail health, he is the country's first former head of state to face criminal charges.

March 10, Lisbon: A no-confidence vote in Portugal's ruling Socialist government threatens to further weaken the debt-stressed country. Some economists say the country will be the next eurozone member to need a bailout after Greece and Ireland.

March 11-13, Manama: Ongoing unrest in Bahrain and the wider Middle East claimed a high-profile sporting casualty with the cancellation of the opening race of the Formula 1 season. The race could be rescheduled later in the year.

March 12, Niamey: Ex-premier Seyni Oumarou is favourite to win a decisive presidential run-off vote set to return Niger to civilian rule. Soldiers overthrew leader Mamadou Tandja a year ago for outstaying his term in office.

March 13-27, Osaka: Japan's sumo grand tournament has been cancelled for the first time in 65 years over allegations of match fixing, the latest scandal to rock the ancient sport. Two wrestlers face prosecution in connection with illegal gambling in a separate incident.

March 17, London: The knitted lace see-through dress worn by Kate Middleton in 2002 when she caught the eye of Prince William is expected to fetch up to £10,000 at auction. The pair, who marry next month, began dating soon after the university fashion show.

March 19-23, Latin America: Barack Obama visits Brazil, Chile and El Salvador on his first tour of the region since becoming president of the United States. The omission of Argentina has strained relations between the two countries.

March 20, Port-au-Prince: A presidential run-off vote in dispute-plagued elections takes place amid simmering unrest in Haiti. Escalating violence threatens billions of dollars of aid pledged following a devastating earthquake in 2010.

March 21, Kabul: Nato begins to hand over security responsibility in Afghanistan to Afghan forces. A gradual reduction of 150,000 foreign troops will take place with the aim of completing the transition by the end of 2014.

March 24, Los Angeles: The trial begins of Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, on charges of involuntary manslaughter. Murray has admitted giving the 50-year-old singer the powerful anaesthetic propofol as a sleep aid on the morning he died.
/ENDS