What's Happening Today - Monday 7 March

Japan:

Serbian President Boris Tadic visits, meets Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Emperor Akihito 

China: 

Watching developments after Communist Party mouthpiece Beijing Daily on Sunday again warned against Mideast-style protests in China as anonymous messages posted on internet called for rallies in major cities 

China: 

National People's Congress continues annual session; third day

Koreas:

Talks begin over the return of 31 North Korean fishermen – Seoul says only 27 want to return, Pyongyang says all 31 to return or none at all.

South Korea:

The U.S. and South Korea stage live-fire exercise as part of the annual joint military drills.

South Korea:

South Korea's regular news conference on North is held

South Korea: 

Shinsuke Sugiyama, head of Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, visits for talks with South Korea's chief nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac on North's uranium enrichment programme (-9) 

Vietnam: 

National Assembly begins session (-17)

Indonesia:

Trial of Abu Bakr Bashir,  accused of involvement in assassination plot, resumes in Jakarta

Malaysia:

State election in Sarawak

Nepal:

UK Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan arrives for a four-day visit

Pakistan: 

Marc Grossman US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan visits for talks with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani, army chief Ishfaq Pervez Kayani; visit comes amid tensions following arrest of US diplomatic official Raymond Davis for shooting two Pakistanis in Lahore on 27 January 

Pakistan:

Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon visits to discuss ways to boost bilateral ties 

Afghanistan: 

Watching for reaction after Pakistan reportedly apologizes for recent rocket attacks on eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar 

Russia:

VTB, Russia's largest bank, cultivates country's culture of wretched excess by inaugurating a service in which clients can "bathe" in a bath filled with 100 million rubles ($3.3 million) in banknotes

Iran: 

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov visits to attend meeting of bilateral cooperation commission, meet top officials 

Iraq:

'Day of Regret' to mark one year of parliamentary elections takes place in Iraq

Saudi Arabia: 

Watching developments after leading religious authorities on Sunday issued a statement forbidding public protests and petitions for reforms in country; similar warning issued by Interior Ministry on Saturday; more than 17,000 people backed a call on social networking website Facebook to hold two demonstrations this month, first scheduled to take place on 11 March 

Egypt: 

Watching developments after reports say democracy activists attacked by men armed with knives outside offices of interior ministry in Cairo 

Libya: 

Watching developments after troops loyal to Colonel Al-Qadhafi mount attacks to retake several towns held by opposition forces in east and west of country on Sunday; some of heaviest fighting reported in the city of Misrata; UN says it will send envoy to Libya to assess humanitarian situation there

Angola:

Thousands of supporters of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) to take part in the Patriotic March for Peace

Nigeria:

Resumption of trial in Lagos of Iranian national Azim Aqajani and Nigerian customs official Ali Abbas Jega over illegal import of 13 containers of firearms and explosives from Iran, which were seized in October 2010 

Kaliningrad:

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Hungary:

Parliament to vote to appoint four new members to the central bank's rate-setting Monetary Council after a committee hearing of candidates.

Finland: 

US Vice-President Joe Biden visits to meet President Tarja Halonen, Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi; leaves for Russia

Austria:

International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors meeting. Through March 11.

Austria:

IAEA board of governors meets in Vienna

Kosovo:

Kosovo Assembly session to discuss upcoming talks with Serbia on 8th

Holland:

Hearing in case of Serb nationalist Vojislav Seselj takes place at Hague 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:

Nato secretary general holds monthly press briefing

France:

Former French President Jacques Chirac goes on trial on charges of illegal party financing. 

France:

Trial of French former president Jacques Chirac on corruption charges begins in Paris

Spain:

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera arrives on official visit to Spain

US:

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard meets President Barack Obama 

US:

Republican presidential candidates address Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event on Des Moines

US:

Space shuttle Discovery lands after final mission to international space station

US: 

Kyrgyz President Roza Otunbayeva visits; expected to meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, other senior US officials 

US: 

Indian Army Chief V. K. Singh visits, meets Central Command (CENTCOM) chief James Mattis (8) for talks on development in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Arab world, Iraq; also meets counterpart George W. Casey Jr.

Posted via email from luay's posterous