What's Happening Today - Monday 29 November

Japan: 

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Shaykh Hasina continues visit (-1 Dec); today, holds talks with counterpart Naoto Kan (0920 gmt); Japanese assistance for Padma Bridge, elevated expressway, monorail and subways in Dhaka likely to be on agenda; meeting will culminate in signing of number of accords on economic assistance and investment; Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara due to call on Shaykh Hasina in afternoon 

South Korea: 

Annual joint US-South Korean large-scale military exercise Hoguk continues (-30) 70,000 troops from Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps involved; North Korea has described exercise - which Seoul says is defensive in nature - as "yet another intolerable military provocation against us" 

China: 

Indian National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon and State Councillor Dai Bingguo attend talks on settling mutual border (-30)

China:

Beijing to launch World Health Report on health financing.

Thailand:

Bangkok court to hear final arguments in a trial into alleged funding irregulartiies by the ruling Democrat Party in a case that could complicate the country's political crisis.

India: 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Delhi for day ahead of President Dmitriy Medvedev's December visit; holds talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and counterpart S. M. Krishna

Iran:

Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu visits Tehran for talks with Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki, other officials on developments in Muslim world including Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon

Iran: 

Lebanese Prime Minister Sa'd al-Hariri on last day of visit; today, meets Ali Khamene'i

Iran: 

Government offices in Tehran close hour earlier (-30); part of measures against air pollution in city

UAE: 

World Economic Forum Summit on Global Agenda opens in Dubai (-1Dec); chaired by Economy Minister Sultan Bin-Sa'id al-Mansuri 

Syria: 

Indian President Pratibha Patil concludes visit

Israel: 

German President Christian Wulff continues visit (-30); meets officials; has dinner with PM Binyamin Netanyahu; due to wind up visit tomorrow by meeting Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Bethlehem

Israel:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds news conference on anniversary of UN partition plan vote.

Libya: 

Africa-EU summit in Tripoli (-30); Sudan will not be attending

Sudan: 

Voter registration continues in Southern Sudan ahead of next year's independence referendum; registration period extended to 8 December; South Sudan Referendum Commission justified extension by noting delays in delivering additional registrations materials required in some areas 

Tanzania: 

East African Community Council of the Ministers meets in Arusha to consider progress in implementation of various EAC projects; final day

South Africa: 

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP17) opens in Durban (- 9 Dec); heads of state, government officials, businessmen, others in attendance

Zimbabwe:

President Robert Mugabe due to launch Zimbabwe's national report on United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) covering essential sectors, including education and health.

Ukraine: 

Ninth meeting of Ukrainian-Russian interparliamentary commission; Russian Federation Council speaker Sergey Mironov and Supreme Council speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn also meet separately (

Austria: 

International Atomic Energy Agency Technical Assistance and Co-operation Committee meeting in Vienna (-1 Dec)

Switzerland:

Tenth meeting of the 171 states parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (to Dec. 3).

Germany: 

POSTPONED Appeal by British cleric Richard Williamson against conviction for denying Holocaust was due to open today in but has been postponed while Williamson seeks to replace lawyer linked to neo-Nazi movement whom he hired to represent him; Williamson was found guilty of inciting racial hatred in April, fined 10,000 euros; appeal now likely in February or March 2011 

Italy:

Lower house of parliament votes on no confidence motion against Culture Minister Sandro Bondi over degraded state of Pompeii.

Belgium:

The EU Commission will issue its autumn 2010 economic forecasts that include GDP, inflation, debt, deficit, C/A and unemployment estimates for 2011 and 2012 for all 27 members of the European Union and euro zone aggregates.

France:

International Organisation for Migration launches World Migration Report - 0001 GMT

France:

UNICEF briefing on report on children and AIDS - 1415 GMT

France:

French doctors announce unusual efforts to mend damaged windpipes. 1000 GMT news conference.

France:

New Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte meets French President Nicolas Sarkozy amid worries about European debt crises. 1600 GMT.

UK:

Proposals for merger between British Airways and Iberia are presented to shareholders for approval following the signing of an agreement between the two airlines in April.

Brazil:

Bid for bullet train expected to take place.

Canada:

Federal by-elections.

US: 

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu continues visit (-30); meets US State Secretary Hillary Clinton, National Security Adviser Tom Donilon as well as number of leading congressmen; regional and global issues expected to be discussed 

Mexico: 

Cancun hosts UN climate change summit (-10 Dec)

Panama:

US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano visits.

Bolivia:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez scheduled to visit Nov. 29-30.

Posted via email from luay's posterous