What's Happening Today - Tuesday 14 December

North Korea: 

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson begins private visit (-20); US State Department said he would not be carrying "any particular message" from US government

South Korea: 

Naval firing drills continue in 27 locations, following North Korea's deadly artillery attack on South Korean island of Yeonpyeong in late November (-17)

China: 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen continues visit (-17)

Russia: 

President Dmitriy Medvedev attends second and final day of Russia, Forward! innovation forum in Skolkovo science park, Moscow Region 

Russia:

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to give his annual marathon phone in with the Russian people.

Russia:

Verdict expected in second trial of imprisoned oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

India:

China's Premier Wen Jiabao arrives on a state visit to India. 

Kazakhstan:

Launch of three-man crew to International Space Station.

Iran:

Watching developments after Atomic Energy Agency Organization chief Ali Akbar Salehi was appointed as caretaker foreign minister yesterday, replacing Manuchehr Mottaki 

Israel: 

US Middle East envoy George Mitchell holds talks with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah

Palestine: 

Rallies expected to be held marking 23rd anniversary of Islamist movement Hamas 

Egypt:

Court hears suit on raising Egypt's minimum wage

Sudan:

Southern Sudan political parties meet in regional capital Juba to discuss January 2011 independence referendum (Sudanese radio)

Ethiopia: 

Fifth International Conference on Federalism, Equality and Unity in Diversity for Development continues in Addis Ababa (-16) 

Zimbabwe:

Opening of four-day annual conference of the ruling party, ZANU-PF, opned by President Robert Mugabe's speech.

South Africa: 

Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos continues visit (-15), meets counterpart Jacob Zuma today; bilateral ties cooled under former President Thabo Mbeki, but are improving since Jacob Zuma came to power 

Ivory Coast: 

Troops loyal to incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo, have taken up positions near headquarters of his main challenger in last month's disputed election; watching developments 

Greece: 

Unions go on strike against government's austerity programme 

Italy: 

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faces no-confidence motion in parliament

Slovakia: 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visits to meet counterpart Iveta Radicova; first official visit by Hungarian premier since 1999; relations between the two countries have often been tense over Hungarian minority rights in Slovakia 

Romania:

The leftist opposition is expected to file no-confidence motion against the government of Prime Minister Emil Boc which has taken responsibility for a new wage bill required under Romania's 20 billion euro IMF-led bailout - a procedure aimed at by-passing lengthy parliamentary proceedings.

Bosnia/Albania:

After almost two decades, Bosnians and Albanians are able to enjoy visa-free travel to the European Union. The EU's decision to end visa requirements for citizens of these two countries leaves now Kosovo as the last area of the Balkans without visa-free travel to the EU.

Sweden: 

Swedish authorities say they believe the man who set off two bombs in Stockholm on Saturday was Taymur Abd-al-Wahhab al-Abdaly - who was born in Iraq, grew up in Sweden and studied at university in England; watching for further developments

France:

French Defence Minister Alain Juppe closes conference on fighting terrorism in the Persian Gulf.

UK: 

Second hearing for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, arrested under European warrant; he is accused by Swedish authorities of unlawful coercion, sexual molestation, rape allegedly committed in August; watching global reaction

US: 

China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade meets in Washington (-15) 

US: 

Spanish Defence Minister Carme Chacon concludes visit after meeting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for talks on Spanish involvement in peacekeeping missions

Mexico: 

International Monetary Fund Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn visits Mexico and meets President Felipe Calderon.

Cuba:

Assembly convenes for last of twice-yearly sessions before next year's Communist Party Congress. Raul Castro expected to speak at opening.

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