What's Happening Today - Wednesday 26 January

South Korea:

US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg visit Seoul as part of his Asian tour following the recent summit between China and the United States

Mongolia: 

Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum annual meeting continues (-27); delegates from 28 countries discuss environmental sustainability, terrorism, natural disasters, financial crises, regional collaboration, energy security, climate change 

India:

Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) youth wing has announced plans to hoist an Indian flag in Srinagar on Republic Day, an act that could once again spark rebellion in the restive region.

India:

India marks its Republic Day with a gala military parade celebration showcasing some of its latest weapons. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to be the chief guest at this year's parade.

Nepal:

Deadline set by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to form a consensus government 

Pakistan: 

Regional all-party conference held at Chief Minister House in Karachi to discuss security situation 

Afghanistan:

President Hamid Karzai to inaugurate parliament.

Russia:

Federation Council of Russia votes on New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty

Kazakhstan:

Kazakh Foreign Minister Kanat Saydabayev wraps up visit to US

Turkey: 

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia holds "senior officials' committee meeting" in Istanbul; second and final day 

Turkey:

US Assistant Secretary of State Jose Fernandez addresses business group Tuskon and holds news conference.

Turkey:

Lord Mayor of London Michael Bear visits Turkey (to Jan 28).

Kuwait: 

Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu-Bakr Abdallah al-Qirbi visits to co-chair meeting of joint ministerial committee with counterpart Muhammad Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah; third and final day 

Syria:

Foreign Ministers of Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan expected to meet.

Lebanon: 

Watching developments after Hezbollah-backed Najib Miqati was appointed prime minister-designate yesterday, amid violent protests by thousands of people across the country

Egypt: 

Watching situation after protests yesterday left three dead including policeman 

Sudan: 

TENTATIVE Results may be announced following 9-15 January referendum on South Sudan independence; other reports named 31 January as possible date

Sudan:

Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, leader of the Sudanese opposition Ummah Party, gave the ruling party until 26 January to fulfil the opposition's extensive list of conditions, threatening to join whoever desires the removal of the government [ Al-Mahdi met with Bashir on 22nd -  but not clear whether deadline remains]

Somalia:

Twentieth anniversary of ousting of President Muhammad Siyad Barreh by insurgents; the country has not had an effective national government since then

South Africa:

Trial of man charged with assault after spilling his drink on President Jacob Zuma at horse race to be held.

Nigeria:

Peoples Mandate Party (PMP) asks Court of Appeal in Abuja to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting the election pending the determination of a petition filed by the party candidates challenging the outcome of the 2007 presidential contest.

Nigeria: 

Deputy to Commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM) J. Anthony Holmes continues visit to meet military, security officials 

Ghana: 

Protesters rally against recent fuel price hike; demonstration organized by Alliance for Accountable Governance 

Albania: 

EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak visits for talks aimed at calming situation following violent protests on 21 Janaury; meets President Bamir Topi, first

Albania:

Postponed: Pro-government rally "against violence" was to have been held in Tirana after violent protests on 21 January left three people dead; postponed to 29 January after pressure from diplomatic corps, but Prime Minister Sali Berisha has said will consider cancelling event 

Austria: 

European Gas Conference continues in Vienna (-28); supporters of rival major European pipeline projects including Nabucco, South Stream and White Stream taking part 

Switzerland:

Senior Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials meet with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon to discuss future of partitioned island.

Switzerland:

Opening of annual World Economic Forum. (- 30)

Holland: 

Royal Dutch Shell faces serious probing by parliament into its operations in Nigeria; MPs say "fact-finding" exercise which hope will help deepen understanding of situation in Niger Delta where Shell has been extracting oil for over 50 years (Radio Netherlands)

Belgium:

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso meets Hungary's President Pal Schmitt (1400).

Belgium:

The Nato-Russia Council is scheduled to meet in Brussels. Senior Nato and Russian officials are expected to discuss areas of possible missile defence collaboration. 

Belgium: 

Ukrainian Chief of General Staff Hryhoriy Pedchenko takes part in the NATO Military Committee meeting, agenda includes missions to Kosovo, Afghanistan

France:

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos visits France and meets President Nicolas Sarkozy (1200).

France:

Serbian president speaks at Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg

France:

Dick Marty, the Council of Europe's Swiss rapporteur [who revealed a number of terrible facts about organ trafficking] to report on killings and lack of security of witnesses in Kosovo in a separate report]

UK: 

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits (-30); addresses discussion on world peace organised by Oxford Union today

UK:

Iraq Inquiry holds hearings session with former special representative to Iraq, at 14:00 Sir David Richmond, Deputy United Kingdom Special Representative to Iraq, 2003 to 2004; United Kingdom Special Representative to Iraq, 2004; Director General Defence and Intelligence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 2004 to 2007.

Haiti: 

Awaiting confirmation of withdrawal of ruling party candidate Jude Celestin from presidential election 

US:

Barack Obama delivers annual State of the Union address to Congress; watching global reaction 

US:

Barack Obama meets Economic Council of West African States (ECOWAS) delegation led by Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma over post-election crisis in Cote d'Ivoire; ECOWAS team also meets US Secretary of State Senator Hillary Clinton; then head for New York where to meet Ban Ki-moon tomorrow 

US: 

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Karti visits (-27); holds talks with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, National Security Adviser Tom Donilon 

US:

President Barack Obama visits one day after his State of the Union policy speech to Congress.

Venezuela:

Colombian Defence Minister Rodrigo Rivera visits

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