What's Happening Today - Monday 27 September

apan:

Japan will today ask China to pay for damage made to its Coast Guard ships when a Chinese fishing boat collided with them near disputed islets. Fishing trawler captain Zhan Qixiong was released and arrived back in China on Saturday after the collision on Sept. 7 near the islets, known as the Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.

China:

Russian President Medvedev continues visit (-28); today, meets counterpart Hu Jintao, other leaders for talks on range of issues expected to include North Korea, energy cooperation

China:

Beijing will enact anti-dumping duties on US chicken product imports from today. Duties of more than 50 percent will be put on up to 35 US chicken broiler exporters, including Tyson Foods Inc., Keystone Foods LLC, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation and Sanderson Farms Inc., and duties of more than 105 percent will be put on all other US producers. The duties will apply for five years.

South Korea:

UN's Food and Agriculture Organization regional conference opens in Gyeongju (-1 Oct); agricultural officials and experts from 44 Asia-Pacific member countries discuss ways to solve food shortages in region

Kashmir:

Kashmiri rebel leaders rejected India's offer to review the deployment of soldiers in the region and release hundreds of young Kashmiri detainees because all the parties involved in the dispute have not been consulted. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said India's offer was inadequate because Kashmiris, Pakistan and India must all be involved in the resolution

Afghanistan:

Following up after Afghan and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops began an operation in Zhari and Panjwai districts in Kandahar. Operation Dragon Strike marks an important phase in the ISAF effort in Kandahar, and heavy fighting is expected.

Afghanistan:

The Afghan Interior Ministry has sent a plan for abolishing private security firms operating without licenses to the Afghan National Security Council for review. (NB. Some 52 security companies comprising 40,000 guards operate without a license in Gizab and Khas Uruzgan districts in Uruzgan province, Dand-i-Patan and Zazai districts in Paktia, Barmal in Paktika, Shindand in Herat, Pushtrod in Farah and Arghandab in Kandahar)

Afghanistan:

Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission has ordered a recount of votes from the Sept. 18 parliamentary elections in 10 areas across the country. Commission head Fazel Ahmad Manawi said the number of areas subjected to recounts may increase

Uzbekistan:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visits for talks on humanitarian, economic cooperation; Baku expected to seek to secure oil supplies from Azerbaijan to cope with its regular petrol shortages.

Iran:

Iran may sue Russia if Moscow does not deliver the S-300 air defense system to Iran, according to Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Iran's semi-official ISNA reported

Iran:

The main computer system at Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant has not been affected by the Stuxnet virus even though some personal computers at the plant have been infected, according to Bushehr project manager Mahmoud Jafari

Iraq:

UN high commissioner for displaced people Walter Kaelin expected to visits Iraq.

Saudi Arabia:

A new volcano has worked its way up to just under the surface in a remote region of northwest Saudi Arabia, causing a flurry of small to moderate quakes and threatening to form a new volcano in the region of Harrat Lunayyir

Jordan:

More than 80 Islamic scholars from 35 countries will participate in the 15th General Conference of the Royal Al Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, titled "Environment in Islam"

Israel:

Following up as Israel's 10-month partial construction freeze in its illegal colonies in the West Bank expired. Palestinian negotiators involved in the Middle East peace talks in Washington have said they will stop participating in the talks if construction resumes, and the United States has requested Israel extend the moratorium.

Kenya:

International Criminal Court investigators arrive on visit to investigate possible crimes committed during post-election violence (-29)

Mali:

Seven people kidnapped in Niger in September, including five French nationals, are being held in the mountainous Timetrine region of northwest Mali, according to a spokesman for the French government

Moldova:

Acting President Mihai Ghimpu expected to dissolve parliament and declare date for parliamentary elections.

Austria:

IAEA Board of Governors meet.

Austria:

Second round of unofficial consultations on Dniester settlement in five-plus-two format starts in Vienna (-28)

Germany:

Two Libyans go on trial in Germany accused of espionage for a foreign country (Libya) by illegally and covertly collecting information from Libyan opposition members living in German exile.

Belgium:

EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council. Farm ministers are set to start talks on draft rules to let national governments decide whether to ban or grow genetically modified (GM) crops.

France:

Mahmud Abbas holds talks with counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy

UN:

General debate continues at 65th session of UN General Assembly (-30); speakers include Bangladeshi PM Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner

Haiti:

Opening of campaigning for Haiti's Nov. 28 presidential election.

Mexico:

Lebanese President Michel Sulayman visits

Posted via email from luay's posterous