November 4 – North America: UNITED STATES
Barack Obama wins the presidential election with 53 percent of the vote, becoming the first black president of the United States. His opponent John McCain, a senator from the state of Arizona, obtains 46 percent of the vote. Sixty-two percent of eligible voters come to the station polls. Democrats gain seats in the Senate, winning the total of 58 seats and acquiring the majority. Despite this success, however, they are two seats short of a super-majority that would allow them to prevent Republicans from blocking legislatures. The Democrats also easily gain majority in the House of Representatives. Winning control of both chambers in Congress will make it easier for the president-elect to push through his agenda.
November 4 – East Asia: CHINA/TAIWAN
China’s top official on Taiwan, Chen Yunlin, visits Taipei to improve relations between the two countries. Yunlin is the highest-ranking Chinese representative to visit Taiwan in decades. Both sides sign agreements that will improve trade, transport, and postal service.
November 6 – Africa: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
After two days of clashes between the Tutsi rebels under the leadership of Lauren Nkunda and pro-government militias in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the rebels take the town of Kiwanja, prompting a new wave of 35,000 refugees. (November 7): UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon begins talks with DRC’s President Joseph Kabila and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in an effort to revive a peace agreement signed in January. (November 14): The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda agree to cooperate to defeat the Hutu fighters living in eastern DRC since 1994, who have been the main reason of the instability in the region. (November 27): UN Security Council approves a temporary increase of 3,000 troops to DRC, in addition to 17,000 already in place, to boost the UN peacekeeping effort.
November 10 – South Asia: MALDIVES
The president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, announces a plan to create a national wealth fund, using revenues from tourism, to buy a new homeland for his nation in the future. The Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with the highest point not exceeding eight feet. The environmental changes and rising sea levels could be devastating for this island country.
November 10 – Middle East: PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES/ISRAEL
Israel closes all crossings with the Gaza Strip, imposing a complete blockade on moving goods and people, including food and fuel. Israel says the blockade is in response to rocket firing toward Israeli towns by Palestinian militants. Palestinians, on the other hand, say that their shelling was provoked by Israeli troops entering Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement. (November 13): The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) says that Gaza’s economic situation is disastrous due to the Israeli blockade. (November 19): In his conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expresses his concern about humanitarian situation in Gaza due to shortages of food and power cuts. (November 27): Israel allows limited supplies of humanitarian aid and fuel into the Gaza Strip.
November 11 – Latin America: COLOMBIA/MEXICO
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe meets with his counterpart President Felipe Calderon in Mexico, where they agree to join forces to battle powerful drug cartels in both countries. While Colombia is the world’s top producer of cocaine, the drug cartels use Mexican territory as the main transit point. So far this year, more than 4,000 people have fallen victims of drug-related violence.
November 12 – Middle East: ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
Israeli secular politician Nir Barkat defeats an ultra-orthodox rabbi and becomes the next mayor of Jerusalem. Most Palestinians and Israeli Arabs who live in the city did not vote in the election. The status of Jerusalem remains one of the core issues in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, with both sides seeing the city as their capital. Barkat opposes dividing Jerusalem as part of the peace agreement and advocates the expansion of Jewish settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.
November 16 – International Organizations: G20
Leaders of the G20, a group of twenty rich and emerging economies, conclude a summit with agreements aimed at reviving global economic growth. Key issues agreed by the G20 include: reform of the world’s financial institutions, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, maintaining open trade, improvements to financial transparency, strengthening regulations, and revamping rules that govern market manipulation and fraud.
November 17 – North America: UNITED STATES
The National Association for Business Economists (NABE) and the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank conclude that the U.S. economy is in recession, which will last for 14 months. From July to September, the U.S. economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.3 percent. (November 25): The U.S. Federal Reserve announces a new $800 billion stimulus plan, aiming at stabilizing the financial system and encouraging lending to consumers.
November 18 – Middle East/Africa: SAUDI ARABIA/SOMALIA
Somali pirates seize a Saudi supertanker in the Indian Ocean, which was on its way to the United States via the Cape of Good Hope in Southern Africa. The size of a U.S. aircraft carrier, the tanker carried more than 2 million barrels of oil, more than a quarter of Saudi Arabia’s daily output. The capture of a supertanker shows the improved capabilities and tactics of the Somali pirates.
November 20 – East Asia/Latin America: CHINA/PERU
Chinese President Hu Jintao pays an official visit to Peru, where he signs a free trade agreement with his counterpart, Peruvian President Alan Garcia. The two countries also sign other deals, such as opening regular commercial flights between China and Peru. After entering into a free trade agreement with Chile in 2005, Peru is China’s second Latin American country to extend this kind of a deal.
November 21 – East Asia: MYANMAR
The military government in Myanmar imprisons a popular comedian, satirist, and opposition activist, Zarganar, for 45 years. His case is the latest in a wave of arrests as part of a crackdown on any pro-democracy movement, with more than 100 activists being sentenced to long-term prison terms.
November 26 – Europe: DENMARK
The people of Greenland vote in a referendum for more autonomy from Denmark. According to the plan, Greenland will have a greater share of oil revenues coming from the island’s coast and take control of police, courts, and coast guard. It will also have more say in foreign policy.
November 26 – Europe: EUROPEAN UNION
The European Commission announces a $280 billion plan aimed at stimulating the economy and boosting consumer confidence. According to the plan, the EU member states are expected to contribute $240 billion while the EU’s contribution will amount to $43 billion. The EC plans to help the car industry to develop green technologies, improve energy efficiency, help small and medium sized businesses, and provide easier access to job training.
November 26 – South Asia: INDIA
Ten gunmen launch a series of coordinated attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai on luxury hotels and other major locations, such as Chhatrapati Shivaji, the city’s busiest railway station. The terrorists take many hostages. India’s security troops respond to the attack. (November 29): After three days of intense fighting, the security troops kill 9 gunmen and arrest the 10th one. As a result of the attacks, almost 180 people are dead. India blames Pakistan-based militants Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attacks.
November 27 – Middle East/North America: IRAQ/UNITED STATES
After a year of negotiations with the United States, Iraqi parliament votes on the presence of the U.S. troops in the country. According to the plan, the U.S. will hand over the country to Iraqi control by mid-2008 and will leave Iraq entirely by the end of 2011. The plan will have to be approved in a referendum next year.
November 28 – Europe/Latin America: RUSSIA/CUBA/BRAZIL/VENEZUELA
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev meets with Cuban President Raul Castro to boost the mutual relations. Russia is especially interested in drilling for oil in Cuban waters and in Cuban nickel industry. Cuba is the last leg of Medvedev’s Latin American tour, where he wants to increase Russia’s presence. In Venezuela, Medvedev discussed building a nuclear energy plant, gas projects, and military cooperation. In Brazil, President Medvedev and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva discussed ways to boost trade. He also visited Peru.