Palestinian envoy visits Auschwitz

In a rare occurrence, a religious adviser to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, Ziad al-Bandak, visits Auschwitz, the former Nazi death camp in Poland, to honour the 1.5 million people who were murdered there during the second world war, mostly Jews.

US figures expected to show slowdown in growth rate

Economic data to be released in Washington may show that growth in the world's biggest economy is slowing, with forecasters predicting that the provisional second quarter figures will point to 1.5 per cent annualised growth, down from 1.9 per cent in the March quarter.

Deadline expires for bidding on hospital sites

Bidding closes on two of four sites the government has earmarked for private hospitals, in Aberdeen and Tai Po. Among the bidders is global company Fortis Healthcare, owner of the Quality Healthcare chain of clinics. The Union Hospital in Tai Wai has expressed interest in the Aberdeen site at Wong Chuk Hang, while Chinese University hopes to develop a hospital in Tai Po. The Private Hospitals Association says restrictions on services new private hospitals can offer could put investors off. Fortis executive chairman Malvinder Mohan Singh (left) says his company is undeterred by the requirements.

Sell-out crowd as Fuji Rock gets over the blues

Japan's annual Fuji Rock Festival starts with a line-up that helped to sell out three-day tickets for the first time in the event's 15-year history. Performers to appear in Yuzawa include The Stone Roses, Jack White, Radiohead and the Gallagher brothers, who will share the bill despite not speaking to each other since the acrimonious split of their band Oasis three years ago. The brothers are unlikely to cross paths as Liam's Beady Eye play this evening and Noel's High Flying Birds perform tomorrow. Last year's event carried a subdued air in the wake of Japan's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, but this year sales have surged despite the 42,800 yen (HK$4,246) cost of a three-day ticket. More than 125,000 people are expected to attend.

Barclays reports interim results

Barclays Bank reports its interim results, but investors are more likely to grill management over governance problems. Barclays was fined GBP290 million (HK$3.48 billion) last month for attempting to manipulate the Libor rate. The scandal has already claimed the scalps of the chief executive, Bob Diamond, and non-executive director Alison Carnwath (left), chairwoman of its remuneration committee and one of the most high-profile women in the City of London financial district.