What's Happening Today - Tuesday 22 February

New Zealand:

US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano wraps up visit

New Zealand:

Emergency cabinet meeting to discuss earthquake that hit Christchurch earlier in day; Prime Minister John Key to try to visit Christchurch for first-hand look; state of emergency declared in area for next five days

Japan: 

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari continues visit (-23) 

Taiwan:

Religious leaders and scholars from more than 20 countries are scheduled to participate at last day of a seminar organized by the Muslim World League

China:

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev meets with China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

Indonesia: 

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta; border row between Thailand and Cambodia on agenda 

India:

Protests expected in Jammu and Kashmir after separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani ordered not to leave Delhi and appear for questioning 

Pakistan: 

Demonstration outside US consulate in Lahore in protest against killing of two locals by US citizen Raymond Davis in January; Washington is insisting that Davis has diplomatic immunity, but Islamabad has said will leave to court to decide; next hearing is on 14

Afghanistan:

President of Afghanistan opens parliament session

Russia: 

Russian permanent representative to NATO Dmitriy Rogozin gives news conference (1015 gmt) on European anti-ballistic missile system plans 

Russia:

Final simulation of human landing on Mars 

Iran:

Speaker of Senegal parliament is to visit Iran

Bahrain:

Large Shia demonstration expected in Bahrain, following burial of victims

Bahrain: 

Opposition protests expected; postponed from 18 February to allow families to mourn four demonstrators killed by police; exiled Shi'i leader Hasan Mushaymah has announced is returning home late today despite outstanding charges against him; list of (mainly Shi'i) prisoners pardoned by King Hamad yesterday due to be released

Saudi Arabia: 

Riyadh hosts extraordinary meeting of International Energy Forum; ministers from Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and consumer countries discuss oil output prospects -  to be dominated by the ongoing regional unrest stoking oil prices above USD 100 a barrel. 

Yemen:

Teachers go on strike demanding better employment rights 

Israel: 

Sentencing of former President Moshe Qatzav, who was convicted of rape in December

Gaza:

Rafah crossing between Egypt, Gaza will be opened for people who wish to depart from Gaza, with 300 expected to pass a day

Egypt: 

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton visits Cairo; first visit by top-level foreign official to Egypt since toppling of President Husni Mubarak

Egypt: 

Rallies planned to demand faster reform, resignation of current cabinet; Authorities reopen Rafah crossing on border with Gaza for travel both ways; previously opened on 18th to allow people into Gaza only

Sudan:

Senior British parliamentary delegation under the chairmanship of Baroness Kinnock visits for three days to meet a number of Sudanese officials 

Libya: 

Watching developments after leader Col Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi made brief appearance on TV early this morning to refute reports that had left country

Tunisia:

Economy Minister Christine Lagarde visits Tunisia, less than a fortnight after the visit to France by Tunisian Minister for Economic and Social Reform Elyes Jouini.

Algeria: 

Council of Ministers expected to lift state of emergency imposed 19 years ago; follows several pro-reform rallies 

Kenya:

President Kibaki's Party of National Unity intends to challenge House Speaker's ruling against his making the nominations to the four constitutional offices

Ivory Coast:

New Cote d'Ivoire ambassadors appointed by Alassane Ouattara begins work in the United States, and soon more appointed in EU

Switzerland:

WTO General Council (to Feb. 23)

Germany: 

Chancellor Angela Merkel receives Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou for talks expected to be dominated by loan repayment issues 

Germany:

Court session scheduled in the trial of Ukrainian-born John Demjanjuk, on trial on 28,060 counts of accessory to murder for allegedly having been a guard at the Sobibor death camp. He denies the charges. 

Bosnia:

Serb Assembly to convene to discuss bills, amendments to census law and comments by Speaker Radojcic 

Holland:

Serb ultranationalist Vojislav Seselj goes on trial for contempt of court for allegedly revealing the identities of protected witness in a book he wrote from his jail cell at the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal.

Holland:

Trial of Bosnian Serb military commander Zdravko Tolimir continues at Hague war crimes court

Holland:

Trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic continues at the Hague

Belgium:

EU-Israel Association Council meets in Brussels

Ireland:

Leaders of Ireland's three main parties hold their last televised debate ahead of Friday's election.

Brazil: 

French Foreign Minister Michelle Alliot-Marie in Brasilia on last day of visit

UN: 

Security Council meets to discuss Libyan crisis; called at request of deputy Libyan ambassador to UN Ibrahim Dabbashi; yesterday Dabbashi and other mission staff sided with revolt and issued statement calling for overthrow of Qadhafi; ambassador Abd-al-Rahman Shalqam not associated with statement and appears to have left New York

US:

Chicago holds mayoral election. The six candidates include former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who is looking to win a majority needed to avoid a runoff.

US:

UN Commission on the Status of Women 2011 meets in New York

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