What's Happening Today - Thursday 23 December

Japan: 

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh wraps up visit after meeting Prime Minister Naoto Kan on 20 December for talks on anti-piracy, health, food security cooperation 

South Korea:

South Korea plans to conduct its largest-ever ground and air live-fire drill near the border with North Korea 

Malaysia:

Malaysia and Singapore finalise agreement to end land dispute

Pakistan:

Lahore High Court resumes hearing petition against Asia Bibi, Christian woman sentenced to death under controversial blasphemy laws; petition requests government should be restrained from pardoning her; hearing may be delayed 

Kyrgyzstan:

The Dzhalal-Abad regional court holds hearing into an appeal by the ousted president's nephew, Sanjar Bakiyev, but could be a mistrial as defence witnesses fail to appear in court. 

Nepal:

"Special session" of parliament for the three major parties to try and forge consensus on the issue of electing new prime minister

Russia:

Sudanese foreign minister visits Moscow

Russia: 

Trial starts in northwestern city of Arkhangelsk of six men accused of hijacking Arctic Sea freighter in 2009; there have been allegations that it was carrying illicit cargo of arms

Russia: 

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmad Karti visits Moscow; gives news conference focusing on January 2011 referendum on South Sudan independence

Turkey: 

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad, Afghanistan's Hamed Karzai, Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari, Tajikistan's Emomali Rahmon, Kyrgyzstan's Roza Otunbayeva visit Istanbul to attend Economic Cooperation Organization summit

Bahrain:

Further hearing in case of 25 Shia accused of terrorism takes place in Bahrain

Israel: 

Right-wing rally held in Jerusalem in support of construction of new Jewish settlements in West Bank

Israel: 

Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius wraps up visit after meeting counterpart Binyamin Netanyahu 

Egypt:

al-Shihab Centre for Human Rights has called on the institutions of the Egyptian state to "comply with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which prohibits all forms of torture and intrusions carried out by the authorities against the citizens and holds a ceremony to commemorate the death under torture of Khalid Sa'id by two policemen in the Sidi Jabir police station

Ukraine:

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev visits Kiev, meets counterpart Rayisa Bohatyryova; second and final day

Bulgaria:

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov is planning to submit a proposal to President Georgi Purvanov to recall the Bulgarian ambassadors abroad who used to collaborate with the communist-era secret services.

Romania:

Prime Minister Emil Boc to face a no-confidence vote over a new wage bill required under Romania's 20 billion euro IMF-led bailout - the fourth this year.

Poland: 

Warsaw district court examines Russia's motion for extradition of former head of Chechen government in exile Ahmed Zakayev; he was briefly detained in Warsaw in September on international warrant issued by 
Russia

Hungary:

Parliament Holds Final Vote on 2011 Budget.

France: 

Paris court considers Libya's request for extradition of Nuri al-Mismari, Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi's former head of protocol, wanted on corruption charges

France:

In absentia trials of officials linked to Pinochet regime begins in Paris. Some 13 Chilean military officials and one Argentinian is expected to end after being accused of participating in the 'kidnapping accompanied by torture and other barbarian acts' of French citizens living in South America between 1973 and 1977

UN:

International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance comes into effect (NB The United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States are amongst those that expressed reservation towards the convention.)

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