THE WORLD THIS WEEK !

A look at what could be dominating the headlines around the world this week - and some key background on those events.

MONDAY 29 OCTOBER
LOOK OUT FOR

BBC correspondent Alan Johnston answering readers' questions on his experience as a Gaza hostage
'My kidnap ordeal'

Drug trial: A court in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, is to host the latest hearing in criminal proceedings against pharmaceutical multinational, Pfizer stemming from 1996 trials of an anti-meningitis drug.
Q&A: Nigeria sues Pfizer

Technology Central: The Indian city of Bangalore hosts what is billed as Asia's largest information technology and telecoms event.
Here is the news from Bangalore

Power struggle: Six men accused of plotting to overthrow Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe are due to appear in court in Harare.
Q&A: Mugabe's Zimbabwe

Royal visit: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah is due to visit the United Kingdom on a state visit.
A very British solution to a Saudi problem

TUESDAY 30 OCTOBER
Football festa: Brazil is set to be confirmed as the host nation for the 2014 Football World Cup. Expect celebrations on the streets of Rio de Janeiro.
In pictures: World Cup kitsch

Spirited away: Pakistan's interior minister and the director of the country's secret service are due to appear at the Supreme Court to explain why exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was deported, hours after his return.
In pictures: Sharif's short return

WEDNESDAY 31 OCTOBER
Judgement day: A court in Spain is to announce the verdict and sentences for 29 people accused of involvement in the deadly Madrid training bombings of 2004.
In depth: Madrid train attacks

Feeling flush: The seventh world toilet summit takes place in New Delhi. Attended by sanitation experts, its aim is provide toilets for all by 2025.
Sanitation 'best medical advance'

THURSDAY 1 NOVEMBER

Altars are draped in flowers and decorated with offerings.
Dia de los muertos: Mexico marks its Day of the Dead festival, a joyous and colourful celebration of souls who have passed away.
Profile: Mexico

Booming market: US drinks giants Starbucks and Pepsi launch new ready drinks aimed at Chinese consumers.
Forbidden City Starbucks replaced

You've got mail: Chinese dissidents begin their case against Yahoo for aiding torture, filed in the US. The company, which says it has to comply with local laws, is being sued by the World Organization for Human Rights for sharing information about its users with the Chinese government.
Yahoo plea over China rights case

FRIDAY 2 NOVEMBER
Crossing borders: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to attend a conference of countries neighbouring Iraq to be held in Istanbul, Turkey.

Turkey wins Iraq backing on PKK

SATURDAY 3 NOVEMBER
Robot racing: Saturday marks the final day of the Urban Challenge Robot Car Race. The competition, between cars designed to drive themselves, is organised by the US government's military research arm.
Robot rally cars face tough race

SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER
To the polls: Guatemalans vote in the second round run-off of presidential elections after none of the candidates secured the 50% of votes needed to win in the first round.
Profile: Guatemala

Running Athens: The 25th Athens classic marathon race takes place. Contestants run a 25-mile (40km) route across the city remembering Athenian courier, Pheidippides, who in 490BC ran back to the city to announce the victory of Greece over Persia.
BBC NEWS REPORT.