What's Happening Today - Monday 31 January

Japan:

Lawyer of Thai former Thai Thaksin Shinawatra holds press conference on human rights abuses

Myanmar: 

New parliament holds first session, three months after military-ruled nation's first elections in 20 years 

India: 

Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav continues visit for talks with counterpart Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. High-level team of Nepal Army (NA) continues week-long visit to study the administrative, training and welfare activities of the Indian military (- 5 Feb)

India: 

Deadline for BlackBerry phone maker Research In Motion (RIM) to allow security agencies to access their encrypted data

India: 

British officials visit to discuss proposals for permanent Indian seat on UN Security Council 

Pakistan:

Confessed killer of Punjab provincial governor scheduled to appear in court to be formally charged.

Russia: 

Monthly opposition demonstration held in Moscow in defence of Article 31 of constitution guaranteeing freedom of assembly; organizers say they will march on Kremlin this time 

Kyrgyzstan: 

Armed forces hold command-and-staff anti-terror exercises (- 12 Feb) 

Turkey: 

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd continues visit for talks with counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu 

Israel:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel:

Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee hosts military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi for farewell session. Closed, possible briefing afterward. 1130.

Israel:

INSS think tank conference on Israeli security with Deputy Israeli Prime Minister and Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy Dan Meridor, Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer and others. 1830.

Israel:

Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee meets with Israeli parliament's Immigrant Absorption Committee. 1100.

Egypt: 

Watching developments after opposition figure Mohammed ElBaradei addressed crowd in central Cairo on fifth day of anti-government protests; authorities have reportedly ordered police to return to the streets

Egypt:

Members of Egypt's pro-democracy April 6 movement called on Egyptians to maintain a general strike that would last until the demands of the people are met

Ethiopia: 

African Union heads of state conclude summit in Addis Abeba; French President Nicolas Sarkozy attends; Kenya likely to bring up issue of withdrawal from International Criminal Court after it accused six prominent Kenyans of being behind violence that followed December 2007 election; more than 34 heads of state and government expected to attend summit 

Niger: 

Presidential election, first round, postponed from 3 January; second round scheduled for 12 March, if required; also, parliamentary elections 

Nigeria: 

Trial resumes in Abuja of Iranian national Azim Aqajani, charged with illicit arms imports after shipment was intercepted in October 2010 

Finland:

Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi to speak at a Nordic conference on sustainable development 

Switzerland:

WTO holds Afghanistan membership negotiations

Bosnia Hercegovina:

Political leaders meet to discuss the formation of central government (1000).

Holland:

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

Belgium:

EU Foreign Affairs Council.

Belgium:

Serbian delegation meets EU enlargement commissioner in Brussels

UK:

Iraq Inquiry holds hearings session with FCO officials

Canada:

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina continues visit

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