The World This Week

Today: Malaysian parliamentary election

Today: Malaysian parliamentary election. Arafat in Moscow as final status talks between Israel and Palestinian Authority enter new phase. Russian Foreign Minister meets OSCE chairman. EU Expansion Commissioner in Bulgaria. EU economic and finance council meets in Brussels. EU employment ministers meet in Brussels. EU Development Commissioner visits East Timor. North Korean delegation in US. Francophone ministers in Paris. US Defence Secretary begins tour of Europe. Parliamentary assembly of WEU in Paris.

TOMORROW: WTO ministerial conference opens in Seattle, prompting demonstrations around the world. Kuwaiti parliament votes on enfranchisement of women. Turkey reviews areas currently under state of emergency regulations. Microsoft representatives meet US Justice Department officials. President Kuchma sworn in for another term in Ukraine. East African Co-operation Treaty signed in Arusha. King Abdullah of Jordan in Japan. EU telecommunications council meets in Brussels. Iraqi deputy PM in Russia. Elections in Namibia.

Wednesday: Separatist demonstrations planned in Indonesian region of Irian Jaya. Indonesian President in China. Former Romanian king addresses parliament. European Parliament in Brussels. World AIDS Day.

THURSDAY: NATO defence ministers in Brussels. EU research and energy councils meet in Brussels. European Parliament hears report on euro.

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FRIDAY: Greek, Turkish Cypriot proximity talks begin in New York. NASA Mars Polar Lander spacecraft expected to land on Mars. Elections in Mozambique.

Saturday: Colombian government meets rebels. Christian procession in Bethlehem. Belgian Crown Prince Philippe marries Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz in Brussels.

Sunday: Kazakh President in Japan. Municipal elections in Bolivia. Referendum on constitution provisionally expected in Venezuela. Parliamentary election in Uzbekistan. Dalai Lama in South Africa.

Ireland

Today: "Cancer and Guns: Reporting `Our' Wars": Robert Fisk of the London Independent gives Christina Murphy Memorial Lecture in Pillar Room, Rotunda, Dublin, 7.30 p.m. (Telephone: 01-8554250). President begins official visit to Scotland and England.

Irish events should be received by David Shanks, Foreign Desk, on the Friday before publication.