What's Happening Today - Thursday 11 November

Japan:

22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting (FINAL DAY).

South Korea:

Members from South Korean and international labour unions gather in Seoul to present their own alternative solutions to global economic and social concerns. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) said it will hold the "Trade Union G-20 Summit" on bringing together top-level union officials from ITUC, the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD and two South Korean umbrella labour unions.

South Korea:

Seoul hosts G20 summit; US President Barack Obama meets China's Hu Jintao on sidelines 

Mongolia: 

Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul continues visit, meets President Tsahiagiyn Elbegdorj, counterpart Luvsanvandangijn Bold, Chief of General Staff Tsevegsurengiyn Togoo; attends ceremony marking signing of military agreement (-12)

Mongolia: 

Start of national census

Russia:

A rally in support of beaten journalist Oleg Kashin takes place at 1900 [1600gmt] in the Pushkin Square [central Moscow]. 

Russia:

Russia to voice its opposition to including security issues on the agenda of the G-20, according to presidential aide Arkadiy Dvorkovich – i.e. no discussion of Iran or North Korea.

Pakistan:

Following up after The Pakistani Cabinet has agreed to impose what it is calling a "Flood Relief Surcharge," which will raise income tax by 10 percent for the next six months for Pakistanis earning 300,000 rupees ($3,500) or more per year

Maldives:

Island nation to hold 17th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, the first SAARC summit to be held in the southern hemisphere 

Azerbaijan:

Supreme Court hears the case of journalist Eynulla Fatullayev - the convicted journalist who was on hunger strike in protest at non-fulfilment of the decision of the European Court on his release. Other journalists were on hunger strike in solidarity 

Iran:

The Third International Nanotechnology and Science Conference comes to an end -  one of the biggest of its kind in the Middle East. Dozens of distinguished nano-scientists from Germany, Italy, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil and Romania to speak..

Iran:

The Board of Muslims of the Caucasus holds ceremony for Azerbaijani servicemen killed in fighting with Armenians at the Taza Pir Mosque

Iran: 

Imam Ali tactical exercise by Basij militia reaches climax in northern city of Amol; involves five battalions of Ashura Corps; aims to improve readiness for relief efforts and combat, also strengthen "spiritual and religious morale" 

Iraq:

First parliamentary session. The country's three top leaders - the president, the prime minister, and the parliament speaker - may be named during the parliament session

Iraq:

Diyarbakir court holds trial of Kurdish politicians; delayed as defendants asked to be allowed to speak in Kurdish in court; demonstrators from Hakkari protest expected outside the court.

Turkey:

Deadline for deal  between Turkey and South Korea for construction of a nuclear power plant in Black Sea province of Sinop, which Turkish energy minister has described as “a very big deal indeed”.

Turkey: 

Southern Hatay Province hosts international conference on rebuilding Iraq; attended by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, business people, academics from across Middle East; second and final day

Syria:

Tentative: Following up after Dr Isma'il Radwan, a member of Hamas, suggested Syria may host on-going meeting with Fatah on national reconciliation attendd by Isma'il al-Ashqar

Qatar: 

Doha hosts Interpol's annual general assembly; fourth and final day 

Bahrain:

Legal defence team hopes to convince judges to reverse the decision of a ban on coverage of a terrorism trial. Twenty-five men, two of whom are still at large in the UK, have been charged in connection with an alleged terrorist cell in Bahrain, but the case cannot be covered by the media. The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) yesterday said it would stage a peaceful sit-in outside the courts in the Diplomatic Area to coincide with the latest High Criminal Court hearing.

Lebanon: 

Hizbullah Secretary-General Hasan Nasrallah gives televised address to mark Martyrs' Day

Lebanon:

The Lebanese Cabinet may postpone a debate concerning witnesses who allegedly misled UN officials investigating the 2005 assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister, Rafiq al-Hariri,- which would signal the failure of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to form a parliamentary inquiry committee to investigate the situation

Algeria: 

Delegation from US Department of Defence visits to meet officials for security talks

Bulgaria:

Bulgaria to host an international conference on sea piracy (to Nov. 12).

Bulgaria:

President Georgi Parvanov expected to announce details about his political movement project which is expected to challenge ruling GERB party at the local and presidential elections next year.

Serbia:

Government to announce whether it will encourage Serbs living in Kosovo to take part in the electoral process or not.

France:

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu-al-Ghayt visits Paris, meets counterpart Bernard Kouchner

UK:

BP is ready to shut down the Rhum natural gas field in the North Sea if sanctions against Iran require that operations at the field halt.  BP is awaiting clarification from the British government on the issue, but is making preparations to shut the field down. (NB The Rhum field is 400 kilometers from Scotland's northeast coast in the North Sea, and BP and the National Iranian Oil Company each hold a 50 percent share in the field, predating the 1979 Islamic revolution.)

US:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  

Argentina:

Ibero-American leaders meet for 20th forum

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