WORLD AGENDA OCTOBER 2012

October 3, 16, 22: Colorado, New York, Florida: President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney challenge each other in a series of one-on-one debates on domestic and foreign policy. The televised encounters are the last high-profile, set-piece events ahead of the presidential election on November 6.

October 7, Venezuela: Voters decide whether to give President Hugo Chavez, Latin America's leading firebrand, another six-year term in office. The vehemently anti-capitalist and increasingly autocratic 58-year-old, who has ruled since 1999, faces Henrique Capriles, 40.

October 7, Moscow: Vladimir Putin turns 60 as his popularity slumps and a wave of biting satire dents his macho image. The Russian president faces the biggest protests against his rule, poll ratings below 50% and an image that some say needs rebranding.

October 7, Toronto: The film "Underground", about WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange's  years as a teenage hacker and young father, is premiered on Australian television. Director Robert Connolly describes it as an "unauthorised portrayal" of one of the world's most controversial figures.

October 8, Oslo: The first peace talks in 10 years in Latin America's longest running insurgency between the Colombian government and leftist Farc guerrillas begin in Norway amid simmering tensions over a ceasefire. The 50-year war has claimed 20,000 lives and displaced 230,000 people.

October 12, London: A Gerhard Richter painting, "Abstraktes Bild (809-4)", owned by guitarist Eric Clapton, is expected to fetch $14-19 million at auction. It was one of three the former Cream musician bought for a total $3.4 million in 2001.

October 20, Libya: The first anniversary of the capture and killing of despot ruler Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is celebrated while militia groups continue to run amok throughout the country. It remains unclear whether President Mohammed el-Megarif can bring the myriad factions under control.

October 26, UK: The 23rd Bond movie, "Skyfall", is released in the 50th anniversary month of the series which began with "Dr No". It will be Daniel Craig's third performance as James Bond but rumours that Adele sings the theme song are unconfirmed.
 
October 28, Kiev: Ukrainians go to the polls amid fears President Viktor Yanukovich is backsliding on democracy. Moves to reintroduce a defamation law, which protestors say is a press clampdown, follow the jailing of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

October, China: The Communist Party gears up for the most sweeping change of its top leadership in a decade as vice-president Xi Jinping takes over from Hu Jintao as general secretary and state president. The party's five-yearly congress is expected to be held in mid or late October.

October (undated), Tehran: Iran holds a massive air defence drill, using the army, air force and Revolutionary Guards, as tensions grow over its nuclear intentions. The exercises, the second set in two months, come as the country trades threats of war with Israel.
/ENDS.