Food crisis strategy, Bush tours Middle East, Cannes film festival, euro development, EU/Latin America summit, Kuwait elections, Middle East forum

MAY 12

Pakistan review
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, which addresses violations of the Commonwealth’s principles, meets in London to review Pakistan’s suspension from membership and to consider political developments in Fiji.

EU/South Korea trade
The European Union and South Korea hold their seventh round of negotiations in Brussels aimed at establishing a free trade agreement (to May 15). Topics of discussion will include tariff concessions and rules of origin.

Food crisis strategy
A UN task force is scheduled to meet for the first time in New York to discuss the global food crisis. Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general, will lead the group, which will prepare a plan to tackle the rise in food prices

MAY 13

Merkel visits Latin America
Angela Merkel, German chancellor, starts a tour of Latin America (to May 20) with a visit to Brazil. The trip will include visits to Peru – and Friday’s EU/Latin America summit – Colombia and Mexico. Ms Merkel is hoping to strengthen economic links with the region, particularly with Mexico, which has become one of Germany’s most important trading partners.

Bush tours Middle East
George W. Bush, US president, tours the Middle East (to May 18) with visits to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The trip will include meetings with Shimon Peres, Israeli president; King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia; Hosni Mubarak, president of Egypt; and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, as well as an address to Sunday’s World Economic Forum on the Middle East.

Israel conference
Shimon Peres hosts an international conference in Jerusalem called Facing Tomorrow, celebrating the country’s 60th anniversary (to May 15). George W. Bush will be among those attending.

Lebanese election
The Lebanese National Assembly is scheduled to elect a new president, a post that has been vacant since November. Army commander Michel Suleiman has been accepted as a consensus candidate by the government and opposition but disagreements over political issues have blocked a vote in parliament.

US presidential primaries
Voters in West Virginia nominate Democratic presidential candidates. Hillary Clinton is expected to win comfortably in the mainly blue-collar Appalachian state.

MAY 14

Cannes film festival
The 61st Cannes International Film Festival takes place in France (to May 25), giving the industry an opportunity to promote productions and generate business. This year’s jury is led by Oscar winner Sean Penn. Awards include the Palme d’Or, the event’s main prize.

Tax agenda
A meeting of the EU Ecofin Council brings together in Brussels economy and finance ministers from the grouping’s 27 member states. Ministers will discuss recent turbulence in financial markets and receive an interim report on possible strengthening of savings tax legislation. They are also due to decide whether to approve a pilot project that would make major changes to the EU’s value added tax system with a view to combating fraud.

FT Reports
Ukraine 2008

MAY 15

Euro development
The Brussels Economic Forum will examine the euro area’s first decade of development and the single currency’s role in the evolution of an integrated market (to May 16).

FT analyst awards
The Financial Times, in collaboration with StarMine, hosts its first annual awards for the top equity broking analysts and houses round the world at the New York Stock Exchange.

MAY 16

Dominican elections
Presidential elections are held in the Dominican Republic, with the winner holding the position for the next four years. Most polls have shown Leonel Fernández, the centre-left pro-American president, with a healthy lead.

EU/Latin America summit
Leaders of the EU states, Latin America and the Caribbean will gather in Lima for the fifth biennial EU-LAC Summit (to May 17). The countries will debate issues including poverty reduction and climate change while also looking at ways to increase economic co-operation.

Ukraine joins WTO
Ukraine becomes the World Trade Organisation’s 152nd member following approval of its accession package on February 5. Ukraine accepted its membership terms last month.

FT Reports
World’s Top Analysts 2008

MAY 17

Kuwait elections
Kuwait holds parliamentary elections in a move that many voters hope will end what they see as a period of impeded development in spite of rising oil prices. Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, Kuwait’s emir, dissolved parliament in March following disputes between the assembly and the government that led to the resignation of the entire cabinet.

MAY 18

EBRD annual meeting
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development holds its annual meeting and business forum in Kiev (to May 19). Business people, central bank governors and government ministers will have discussions on developments across the bank’s region of operations. Individual countries will also promote investment opportunities.

Middle East forum
The World Economic Forum on the Middle East takes place in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, bringing together more than 1,200 delegates from governments and businesses. The event will examine the economic agenda of the Middle East and North Africa.

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