What's Happening Today - Tuesday 16 November

China:

The People's Bank of China raises the deposit reserve requirement ratio for Chinese deposit-taking financial institutions by 50 basis points

Cambodia: 

Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Vietnam summit held in Phnom Penh

Singapore: 

Sentencing of British journalist Alan Shadrake; he was found guilty of contempt of court for book criticizing city state's judiciary

Sri Lanka:

As start of president’s second term approaches in three days, the state has organised religious events to invoke blessings to be held at kovils, temples, churches, and mosques throughout the country.

Pakistan:

Hearing regarding abduction of three lawyers by the security forces from Peshawar city, Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Afzal Khan had asked Senior Superintendent of Police operation to submit report by today

Kyrgyzstan:

Troops have been sent to southwestern Dzhalal-Abad Region “in order to ensure public security during events held to mark Id-al Adha”, according to Interior Ministry.

Afghanistan:

Looking for reaction after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defended the use of U.S. military strikes in Afghanistan, that have allowed the US to carry out extrajudicial killings throughout the country with no legal repercussions

Russia:

Medvedev to hold online news conference at 1300 [1000 gmt], linking up with his public reception offices in Zabaykalskiy Kray and Novosibirsk Oblast in the form of an Internet conference, and will then move onward across the country virtually. 

Russia:

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to meet Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

Russia: 

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan visits (-17), to meet counterpart Dmitriy Medvedev on Wednesday

Azerbaijan:

Joint resolution of Caspian countries to be discussed in Baku in time for summit of the heads of the Caspian states on 18 November. 

Iran:

Velayat 3 begins according to commander of Iranian air defence forces. Five day war games are held in collaboration with revolutionary guards, reserve forces in bid to test local air batteries, monitoring systems and anti-cruise missiles 

Iran: 

Following up after Iranian Central Bank Gov. Mahmoud Bahmani threatened to resign in protest of a vote by the Iranian parliament to alter the makeup of the bank's board of directors as a way to make it more independent, including removing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from the board

Egypt:

State Council may continue discussions on allowing women to serve as judges, though unlikely.

Sudan:

Beginning of the implementation of the security arrangements phase in the Abuja Agreement [between the government and Darfur rebel faction]. 

Kenya:

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visits (-17) on first leg of Africa tour; meets President Mwai Kibaki today; goes on to Nigeria 

Tanzania:

Lawmakers to endorse new Prime Minister after nomination by the president

South Africa: 

Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping begins three-day visit; tomorrow meets President Jacob Zuma, Parliament Speaker Max Sisulu, attends South Africa-China Bi-National Commission meeting 

Guinea:

Preliminary results show Alpha Conde has won Guinea's presidential election by receiving 53.5 percent of the votes, Independent Electoral Commission officials say.  

Senegal:

Court delivers verdict in case of journalist Abdou Latif Coulibaly charged with libelling presidential adviser Thierno Ousmane Sy

Ukraine:

New Crimean parliament will hold its first meeting, the pro-presidential Party of Regions will has an absolute majority.

Ukraine:

Businessmen and opposition to hold rally against a new tax, gathering outside the parliament building 

Ukraine:

An informal meeting in the five plus two format on a settlement of the Dniester conflict will be held in Kiev on16 November. 

Austria:

Trial opens of suspected killers of Chechen rebel figure Umar Israilov; current president Ramzan Kadyrov's former bodyguard was shot dead in 2009 in Vienna 

Switzerland:

The ILO, a United Nations agency, launches the "World Social Security report 2010-11: providing coverage in times of crisis and beyond" 

Kosovo:

The nomination of candidates for deputies in the 12 December election ends today. 

Belgium:

Royal mediator Johan Vande Lanotte is expected to see the king on government’s formation. PS [Socialist Party] Chairman Di Rupo said he is confident of successful negotiation.

Belgium: 

Eurozone finance ministers meet in Brussels

UN:

The Security Council discusses Sudan. This will be a major public debate on Sudan as it heads toward a January referendum on the possible secession of the south. It will be chaired by British Foreign Secretary William Hague and attended by several foreign ministers, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

UN:

The Security Council will be briefed by Christopher Ross, U.N. mediator between Morocco and the Polisario Front, following another inconclusive round of negotiations and a fresh outbreak of violence in Western Sahara. The U.N. peacekeeping department will also brief.
    
US:

Senate Banking Committee to vote on the renomination of Peter Diamond to become a member of the Federal Reserve Board.

US:

Chile's Finance Minister Andres Velasco and others speak at a Latin America competitiveness summit.

Mexico:

Climate change negotiators gather (to Nov. 21) ahead of Cancun COP 16 Summit. 

Ecuador: 

Uruguayan President Jose Alberto Mujica, counterpart Rafael Correa meet in Guayaquil to sign defence, postal services agreements 

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