What's Happening Today - Sunday 9 January

China: 

US Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt M Campbell visits for talks with President Hu Jintao in Beijing (-11) to discuss North Korea, other issues

China: 

US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates visits for talks with Defence Minister Liang Guanglie; comes ahead of US trip by President Hu Jintao on 19 January

Thailand: 

United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD, "Red Shirt" supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra) rally in Bangkok

Pakistan: 

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on second and final day of visit for talks focusing on Pakistan's role in Afghanistan and planned withdrawal of German troops in 2011; scheduled to meet Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, visit a reconstruction project following floods from last summer; goes on to Afghanistan

Afghanistan: 

Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna visits Kabul to discuss India's role in Afghanistan's reconstruction, regional security situation and safety of Indian nationals in Afghanistan; final day

Russia: 

Opposition continues one-person pickets outside Moscow mayor's office and special detention centre in defence of arrested organizers of 31 December rally on Moscoq's central Triumfalnaya Ploshchad square 

Iraq: 

Parliament's first meeting after recess; agenda expected to be dominated by formation of National Council for Strategic Policies

Iraq:

Police parade in Baghdad’s Police College headquarters amid high security

Turkey:

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu speaks at Roma workshop.

Oman: 

Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar pays two-day visit to dicuss expansion of ties, cooperation in border and security issues

UAE: 

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton begins tour that would include UAE visits Qatar and Oman (-13)

UAE: 

Mongolian Prime Minister Suhbaataryn Batbold visits (-10) 

Kuwait: 

Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits (-11) to meet Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah, Premier Nasir Muhammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah, Speaker Jasim al-Khurafi 

Jordan:

Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi visits; two countries to sign two cooperation agreements relating to nuclear energy

Israel:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convene weekly meeting of his cabinet.

Sudan: 

Southern Sudan votes in referendum on independence that could see Africa's largest country split in two; polling stations open between 0500-1500 gmt (NB Abyei referendum delayed indefinitely)

Sudan:

Misiriyah, Arab tribe inhabiting Abyei, meets in Al-Mujlad, Southern Kurdufan State in central Sudan to discuss region's future

Tunisia: 

Watching developments following clashes between protesters and security forces in new demonstrations over unemployment; According to Al-Alam TV, five Tunisians were wounded in clashes between security forces, protesters in country's south

Mauritius:

Chinese Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu visits to meet President Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam; deal worth over 4m dollars expected to be signed

Nigeria:

Nigeria's ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) holds primaries for state governorship elections.

Kosovo: 

Election re-run held in several municipalities due to irregularities in 12 December early general elections

UK: 

Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang due in from Germany on last leg of European tour (-12) 

US: 

French President Nicolas Sarkozy visits to meet counterpart Barack Obama (10) for talks on French G8, G20 presidency

Posted via email from luay's posterous