What's Happening Today - Sunday 19 September

China:

Ghanaian President John Evans Atta-Mills visits, meets counterpart Hu Jintao; expected to obtain $270m loan for Kpong water project (-24 Sep)

Thailand:

Opposition Red Shirt protesters rally in Bangkok to mark fourth anniversary of coup, which ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra

India:

India has donated 20 million dollars to the United Nations for Pakistan flood relief, an increase on its initial offer of 5 million dollars in August after Pakistan said it would accept the aid but wanted it routed through UN agencies.

Afghanistan:

The chief of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission, Fazal Ahmad Manavi, has told a post-poll press conference that  1.7 million people had voted at the 2,627 election centres, 32 percent of the roughly 5 million eligible in those regions. Manavi said 92 percent of more than 5,300 polling centers had opened. He rejected claims by some voters in Kabul that indelible ink used to prevent multiple voting could be washed off.

Iran:

Tehran hosts workshop entitled "Republic of Azerbaijan: its place and role in region and world"; MPs, scientists in attendance

Turkey:

Tenth-century Armenian church on Akdamar Island reopens for religious services in symbolic gesture; church was closed in 1915, reopened as museum in 1997

Nigeria:

Former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, General Aliyu Gusau, and Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki have set up an eight-member committee to present a single candidate among the four presidential candidates

Guinea:

Presidential runoff between Alpha Conde of Rally of Guinean People and Cellou Dalein Diallo of Union Democratic Forces of Guinea was supposed to be held today but has been delayed; first round was on 27 June

Poland:

Exiled Chechen independence leader Akhmed Zakayev has been freed from custody in Poland after being arrested yesterday on a Russian warrant accusing him of terrorism. Zakayev said he planned to attend the final day of a congress of Chechens near Warsaw, the event that had brought him to Poland in the first place. A court spokesman said Zakayev was free and could go where he pleases.

Germany:

Turkish Leader of the CHP Kemal Kilicdaroglu to visit Germany (to Sept. 20) to meet Socialists in European Parliament leader Martin Schulz, Social Democratic Party (SPD) Chairman Sigmar Gabriel, Green Party leaders Claudia Roth and Cem Ozdemir and Left Party Chairman Klaus Ernest.

Sweden:

Parliamentary election

UK:

Pope Benedict on final day of visit to Britain.

UK:

Fourth, final day of Pope Benedict's visit to Britain

US:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon chairs High Level ministerial meeting on Pakistan floods following 17 Sep appeal for Food Recovery Plan

US:

Indian Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma visits to boost relations between two countries' militaries; meets Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Pacific Command Chief Admiral Robert Willard (-26 Sep)

US:

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak will travel  this morning to the United States for a five-day work visit, to meet Robert Gates, Hillary Clinton and National Security Advisor Jim Jones. Barak is also scheduled to meet with former U.S. President Bill Clinton and other heads of states arriving for an annual gathering of the United Nations General Assembly.

Posted via email from luay's posterous