What's Happening Today - Sunday 3 October

Japan: 

A senior Chinese industry ministry official told Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akihiro Ohata that Beijing will work toward "settling" the issue of stalled Chinese exports of rare earth minerals to Japan. Meanwhile, Japanese PM Naoto Kan has agreed with Mongolian Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold to promote development projects of rare earth mineral mines in Mongolia

Indonesia: 

Jakarta hosts 11th World Assembly of Muslim Youth; some 700 participants from 30 countries expected (-4 Oct)

India: 

Commonwealth Games in New Delhi held amid security concerns (-14 Oct) 

Pakistan:

Watching developments after Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on 27 oil tankers carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan. So far, at least three US drone strikes in the Data Khel area of North Waziristan have been reported killing 18 unnamed people extrajudicially.

Iran: 

Law-Enforcement Week; police take part in special events staged across country (-8 Oct)

Yemen:

New hearing in trial of four suspected al-Qaida members, including German, Iraqi; charged with planning attacks on foreign interests, tourists, government, military targets 

West Bank:

Watching developments as Palestinian “leadership” has decided not to continue peace talks with Israel over a dispute on Zionist illegal settlement policy 

Egypt:

Fifty-seventh session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean 

Egypt: 

Joint Turkey-Egypt Naval Military Exercise Friendship Sea-2010 (-4 Oct)

Somalia: 

Al Shabaab fighters are believed to have made advances in the capital Mogadishu after attacking the presidential palace, fighting street battles in which at least seven people have died

South Africa:

Following up after the alleged leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has been reportedly arrested in South Africa. MEND members said Henry Okah was being interrogated by security agents in South Africa following a raid on his house by Interpol operatives on Sept. 30. 

Ivory Coast: 

Claude Gueant, Secretary-General to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, visits for talks with President Laurent Gbagbo, opposition leaders

Ukraine: 

Yalta European Strategy (YES) annual meeting, organized by major businessman Viktor Pinchuk; top Ukrainian, EU officials in attendance, including President Viktor Yanukovych, Polish counterpart Bronislaw Komorowski; final day 

Greece: 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visits for talks with counterpart Yeoryios Papandreou; Chinese participation in investment projects in Greece on agenda; addresses parliament (3); final day 

Poland: 

Largest military exercise this year held; Anakonda-2010 involves 7,000 soldiers, 23 helicopters, 16 vessels, over 120 tanks near Russian border (- 6 Oct)

Hungary: 

Municipal elections.

Bosnia-Hercegovina: 

Parliamentary, tripartite presidency elections; also parliamentary, regional cantonal elections in Muslim-Croat Federation entity, parliamentary, presidential elections in Serb Republic entity 

Germany: 

Unity Day, marking 20th anniversary of formal reunification of Germany

Holland:

Dutch Christian Democrat (CDA) party members has voted to uphold a coalition pact with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, which allows for a minority government to be formed with support from the anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV)

UK:

The British Conservative Party holds its annual conference.

Spain: 

National Day, as Catalan independence movement has become stronger and at a time when the war against ETA seems to have largely succeeded.

Portugal: 

East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta visits (-3 Oct) 

Brazil: 

Presidential, parliamentary, regional elections 

US:

Washington’s $700 billion bailout programme, TARP, officially expires.

Mexico:

Confidence in government’s ability to provide civilian security further eroded as armed gang kidnaps at least 20 Mexican tourists in the resort city of Acapulco

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