November 1 — South Asia: NEPAL
After several years of gridlock, Nepal’s major political parties agree the future of former Maoist fighters, the last part of the peace deal that ended 10 years of Maoist insurgency. According to the deal, about one third of the former insurgents will be integrated into the country’s security forces, while the rest of them will receive financial compensation.
November 3 — Former Soviet Republics/Europe/International Organizations: GEORGIA/RUSSIA/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
Georgia and Russia sign a Swiss-brokered agreement, which ends Georgia’s opposition to Russia’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Georgia has been blocking Russia’s entry into the trade organization since the two countries went into a brief war in 2008. Russia is the only major economy outside the WTO.
November 6 — Latin America: NICARAGUA
Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega of the governing Sandinista party, gathers 63 percent of the votes and wins another five-year term in office. The election has been marred by violence between Ortega’s supporters and opponents.
November 6 — Latin America: GUATEMALA
Voters in Guatemala elect former army general Otto Perez Molina of the right-wing Patriotic Party the country’s new president. Molina promises to tackle Guatemala’s two key issues: poverty and crime. The country serves as a transit place for drugs from South America to the United States.
November 7 — Europe: FRANCE
In an effort to reduce budget deficit and protect its perfect credit rating, France announces additional $9.6 billion budget cuts on top of the previously assigned $12 billion. The measures will include pension reform, such as raising the retirement age, and increasing corporate and VAT taxes. The goal is to reduce the public deficit to zero.
November 8 — Africa: LIBERIA
Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wins a second term in a run-off election marred by violence. Her rival, Winston Tubman, boycotts the election, claiming that the poll has been rigged. Foreign observers, however, say the election process has been fair and transparent. President Johnson Sirleaf promises to bring reconciliation.
November 8 — Europe: GERMANY/RUSSIA
The controversial Nord Stream pipeline project is officially opened during a ceremony in Germany. The natural gas pipeline, which will carry natural gas from the Russian region of Siberia to Europe under the Baltic Sea, bypasses Ukraine and Poland, and has been a politically sensitive issue.
November 11 — Europe: GREECE
Greece swears in its new national unity government, with Lucas Papademos, a former head of the Bank of Greece, as interim prime minister. Former Prime Minister George Papandreou resigned after strong criticism over his referendum plan on the eurozone rescue package. Papademos’s most important tasks are to push through further austerity measures to secure the EU bailout for Greece, keep the country in the eurozone, and avoid bankruptcy.
November 22 — East Asia/North America: SOUTH KOREA/UNITED STATES
South Korean parliament ratifies a free-trade agreement with the United States after it was agreed in 2007. The United States ratified it last month. The deal is expected to raise U.S. exports to South Korea by $10 billion. However, the Korean opponents, who protest outside the parliament, say the agreement puts Korean workers at disadvantage.
November 23 — Middle East: YEMEN
Under a Saudi Arabian-brokered deal, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh agrees to step down as president and hand over power to his deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. A unity government, which will include the opposition members, will be formed, and new elections will take place in February next year. In return, President Saleh obtains immunity from prosecution.
November 24 — Africa: EGYPT
In response to violent protests across Egypt accusing the military of trying to grip to power, the military sacks Prime Minsiter Essam Sharaf and appoints former Prime Minsiter Kamal Ganzouri, who is asked to form a new government. (November 28): Egypt begins important parliamentary elections that will take place in several stages. About 6,000 candidates from 40 political parties take part in the poll. The new parliament will draft a new constitution and will hold legislative powers. Presidential powers will stay in the hands of the military until a new president is elected in July 2012.