Klaus Scharioth
German-US relations
The World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana will hold a seminar on German-American economic relations on Tuesday. The seminar is part of the council's Economic Forum series, which began in 2005 and features periodic programs on international economic issues. Klaus Scharioth, the German ambassador to the United States, is expected to attend.
Iraq groups
Finnish meeting
Representatives of Iraq's majority Shiite and minority Sunni Muslim groups will meet in Finland late next week to negotiate over the diffusing factional fighting. The meeting will be hosted in part by the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), a non-profit crisis mediation organization founded by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari. Key influential figures are expected to attend, but neither the names of the mediators or the venue of the meeting are available.
George Bush
Drumming up support
US President George Bush is scheduled to deliver a speech to a convention of the American Legion in Reno to drum up support for the war ahead of a report to Congress next month by General David Petraeus, who commands US troops in Iraq.
Military
Coordinating ops
South Korea and the United States are scheduled to hold annual joint military exercises. 'Ulchi Focus Lens', which has taken place every year since 1976, is designed to evaluate and improve combined and joint coordination, procedures, plans and systems for conducting operations. The exercise is the world's largest computerised command and control exercise and focuses on defending South Korea in the event of an attack by North Korea.
Aircraft
Airshow
The MAKS-2007 Air Show is scheduled to take place in Zhukovskiy, near Moscow. The exhibitors are due to include major Russian aircraft manufacturers such as Sukhoi, MiG, Tupolev, Ilyushin, Mil and Kamov. Over 540 Russian companies and at least 200 foreign firms from over 30 countries are expected to take part.
Robert Kocharian
Moscow visit
The Armenian president, Robert Kocharian, is scheduled to pay a working visit to Russia. The Armenian leader is due to hold a series of meetings, including one with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The meeting will be devoted to the development of Russian-Armenian bilateral relations.
Bouasone Bouphavanh
Friendly relations
The Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, is scheduled to visit China. The visit comes at the invitation of the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, and the aim of the visit is to enhance bilateral cooperation. It follows a visit by the Chinese president, Hu Jintao to Laos in November 2006, when the two countries pledged to strengthen co-operation and friendly relations.
Ellen Sauerbrey
Refugee watch
The US assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, Ellen Sauerbrey, is scheduled to visit Turkey and Jordan. It comes on behalf of the Task Force on Displaced Iraqis and Iraqi Refugees.
Yuriko Koike
Security consultations
The Japanese defence minister Yuriko Koike is scheduled to visit India prior to the beginning of the five nation Malabar exercises in the Bay of Bengal. During the visit, Koike will meet with Indian defence minister AK Antonv to discuss plans to promote security co-operation. Koike's consultations are also expected to cover Japan's recently acquired usable technology on missile defence, but it is unlikely the two countries will discuss the nuclear issue.
Segolene Royal
Sego speaks up
The defeated socialist presidential candidate in France, Segolene Royal, is scheduled to speak at a party event in Melles. She is expected to present an analysis of the defeat at the presidential and parliamentary polls, and discuss the renewal of the Socialist party.
Barack Obama
Obama expected in Florida
Barack Obama, one of the Democratic contenders for his party's presidential nomination, is scheduled to host a campaign event in Florida.
Ministers
Europe talking shop
An international conference on "European Union 2020: Enlarging and Integrating" in Bled, Slovenia. Topics are due to include energy and climate change; globalisation; the future of the EU integration process; economic and political trends in the south Caucasus and central Asia; Turkey in Europe. Speakers are due to include heads of government and foreign ministers from the various interested countries.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov
Heads of state meet
Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates. The trip was announced during a recent Turkmen cabinet meeting by the vice prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Rashid Meredov. It is likely that Berdimuhamedov will meet his counterpart in the UAE as well as various other ministers.
Angela Merkel
Eastern promise
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to visit China. She is expected to meet Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and President Hu Jintao. Topics are due to include climate protection, G8-related themes, dialogue with emerging countries like China, nuclear issues, investment freedom and co-operation with Africa. The programme begins at the Beijing Book Fair where Germany has been made the guest country. Later in the week, Merkel is due to visit Japan.
Chinese delegation
University talks
An eight-member high-level Chinese delegation, led by a deputy director-general of the ministry of education Jiang Feng, is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan. The delegation is due to meet and hold negotiations with the Pakistani deputy chairman of the high education commission. The aim of the visit is to establish further details of the proposed Pakistan-China university.
IOC
Sochi visit
Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are expected to visit the Russian city of Sochi. Earlier in 2007 the Black Sea resort was chosen to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.
European Green party
Greenland trip
A delegation from the European Green party is scheduled to visit Greenland. Members are due to investigate the situation with regard to climate change in the country. The visit follows a trip by the German chancellor and the Danish prime minister to the territory to investigate climate change.
Hillary Clinton
Letterman appearance
Hillary Clinton, one of the candidates for the Democratic Party nomination for the 2008 presidential election in the United States, is scheduled to appear on the Late Show television programme, presented by David Letterman.
A380
Testing the tarmac
An Airbus A380 is scheduled to visit Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Thailand as part of a demonstration tour of Asia and the US. The tour is part of the campaign to prepare the A380 for a smooth entry into service. Operating under typical airline conditions, the aircraft will undergo airport compatibility checks, ground handling and maintenance procedures to confirm its readiness to enter service.
