November 1 — Europe: BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s prime minister, Nikola Spiric (a Bosnian Serb), resigns in protest of efforts by the country’s High Representative (an international envoy who oversees implementation of the Dayton Accord) to strengthen Bosnia’s weak central government. Bosnian Serbs claim that the reforms would reduce their influence in the country’s decision-making.

November 2 — Latin America: VENEZUELA

Venezuela’s parliament approves constitutional reforms that give the president more powers. The reforms allow a president to run for reelection indefinitely, increase the presidential term to seven years, end the central bank’s autonomy, and cut the work day from eight to six hours. The constitutional reforms have to be approved in a popular referendum scheduled for December.

November 2 — South Asia: SRI LANKA

Sri Lankan troops kill S.P. Thamilselvan, the head of the Tamil Tiger rebels’ political wing, in an air strike. Thamilselvan was the Tigers’ spokesman, representing them at peace talks mediated by Norway and giving interviews.

November 2 — Latin America: MEXICO

Mexican authorities seize 23.5 tons of cocaine concealed in two cargo containers on a ship from Colombia, making it one of the world’s largest drug seizures. The drugs’ value is estimated at more than $400 million. In October, the country’s soldiers captured more than 11 tons of cocaine at the port of Tampico. The recent drug seizures demonstrate President Felipe Calderon’s commitment to fighting illegal drugs and drug cartels. This year alone, about 2,350 people have been killed in Mexico as a result of drug violence.

November 3 — South Asia: PAKISTAN

Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf imposes emergency rule and suspends the country’s constitution, saying it is necessary to combat Pakistan’s rising extremist threat. The move stops the Supreme Court from ruling on the legality of General Musharraf’s October reelection. The Supreme Court declares the state of emergency unconstitutional, resulting in the President’s dismissal of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

November 5 — Latin America: GUATEMALA

After a campaign dominated by violence, Alvaro Colom, representing Guatemala’s center-left National Unity of Hope (UNE) party, wins the presidential election. Colom defeats Perez Molina of the Patriotic Party by a narrow margin. The president-elect promises to tackle the country’s crime by fighting poverty.

November 5 — North America/Middle East: UNITED STATES/IRAQ

Five U.S. soldiers are killed by roadside bombs in the Iraqi provinces of Kirkuk and Anbar, bringing the number of U.S. troop casualties in 2007 to over 850. This makes 2007 the deadliest year for U.S. troops since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. According to the independent organization icasualties.org, to date 3,857 U.S. troops have been killed in the conflict.

November 12 — Africa: SOUTH AFRICA

The South African Institute of Race Relations reports that poverty in South Africa has increased in the last decade. The Institute says that in 1996 there were 1.9 million people living on less that $1 a day. This number increased to 4.2 million in 2005. The report also states that poverty has increased among the white population as well. Despite good economic growth in the country, the government has not managed to lower unemployment, which remains at about 26 percent.

November 15 — Former Soviet Republics/Europe: GEORGIA/RUSSIA

Russia withdraws the last troops from its base in Batumi, Georgia, which has been a source of tension between the two countries since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. However, Russia still maintains troops in Georgia’s breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia wants the Russian troops to be replaced with international peacekeeping forces.

November 15 — South Asia: BANGLADESH

With winds of up to 150 miles per hour, cyclone Sidr strikes southern Bangladesh killing at least 3,100 people and leaving millions homeless. Survivors lack basic necessities, such as drinking water and medicines. Cyclone Sidr hits just a few months after floods devastated the north of the country. The Bangladesh government appeals for international aid.

November 16 — Former Soviet Union: GEORGIA

Georgia’s government lifts the state of emergency imposed November 7th in the midst of widespread protests. Demonstrators have been calling for President Mikhail Saakashvili to step down, accusing him of corruption, authoritarianism, and failure to address prevalent poverty and unemployment since he came to power four years ago.

November 20 — East Asia: ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS

At a summit in Singapore, members of the regional Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) sign a charter that commits them to promoting human rights and democracy. Within the charter, the members pledge to set up a regional human rights body. Critics, however, say the members did not go far enough, and should have called for imposing sanctions or expelling members who violate the charter.

November 23 — Europe: FRANCE

Transport and power workers in France end nine-day widespread strikes after the government agreed to negotiate with the unions. The workers protested against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s reform of the pension system, which currently grants 500,000 transport and utility workers early retirement. The government says it is willing to discuss only the implementation of the reforms, and it will not back down on the principal of the changes.

November 27 — Latin America: VENEZUELA/COLOMBIA

Venezuela recalls its ambassador to Colombia after a dismissal of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as a mediator in hostage-prisoner exchange negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has accused Chavez of violating an agreement in his attempt to broker a deal with the rebels by speaking directly to a Colombian military official. His decision to dismiss Chavez prompted strong protests from relatives of the hostages who hoped Chavez would have a chance to secure the hostages’ release.

November 27 — North America/Middle East: UNITED STATES/ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES/MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONFERENCE

The United States gathers more than fifty countries and international organizations at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, for a meeting intended to reopen peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis and build international support for a Palestinian state. The issues for discussion include sharing Jerusalem, borders, water, security, and the future of Palestinian refugees. In a joint statement, the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas promise to make every effort to reach a full peace deal before the end of 2008. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and is not represented in Annapolis, holds protests denouncing the conference and President Abbas.

November 29 — East Asia: PHILIPPINES

Philippine authorities arrest two dozen renegade soldiers after a failed coup attempt. The soldiers sought to overthrow President Gloria Arroyo, whose popularity has plunged due to ongoing corruption allegations. Arroyo has already survived several coup and impeachment attempts.

November 29 — South Asia: PAKISTAN

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is sworn in for a second term as president a day after handing over command of the military to General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani. Musharraf stepped down as army chief after months of intense pressure from Pakistani opposition and international leaders. Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto welcomes the move, but calls on the president to lift emergency rule before the January parliamentary elections.