Talking points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Freshly polished, Apple's first HK store opens
The beaming Apple logo is shining bright over Victoria Harbour, and hordes of fans have been queueing to take the first bite of the city's first Apple store. The first 3,000 people through the doors today will receive a T-shirt to commemorate the occasion. Shanghai's second Apple store, China's fifth, opened yesterday. Hong Kong's two-storey flagship store, with its 300 staff, is in one of the city's sweetest real estate locations, 16,000 square feet in the IFC mall, on which it has on a 10-year lease.
When a loser could end up being a winner
'Winning at all costs' is an oft-used phrase in sport, but at the Rugby World Cup it seems to be more 'What cost a win?' as France prepares to face New Zealand today. The eagerly awaited match has been the subject of speculation since Marc Lievremont, France's coach, left out several first-choice players to face arguably the world's best team on their home patch. Playing at Auckland's Eden Park is meant to be the ultimate accolade, but the match has created all sorts of conjecture that both teams may be better off losing in order to slip into the tournament's more favourable draw. By finishing first, France or New Zealand would likely face South Africa or Australia in the knockout stages. Second place means either Argentina or England, and then Ireland or Wales.
Five-day festival of air sports takes off in Shandong
Nearly 400 aircraft are participating in the China International Air Sports Fiesta in Laiwu, Shandong province. The five-day gala includes competitive events such as acrobatic flying, parachuting and hot-air ballooning. Organisers expect 100,000 spectators.
Egyptian court to rule on protester beaten to death
An Egyptian court is to issue its verdict in the case of two policemen charged with beating an activist to death during the uprising against Hosni Mubarak. It will be a test case for the ruling military council, which has been in control since Mubarak was toppled in a popular revolt in February.
China marks birth 130 years ago of writer Lu Xun
Tomorrow marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of Lu Xun (1881-1936), arguably China's most influential writer of the 20th century. Fans and tourists will visit the home where he spent his final years - Lane 132, No 9 Shanyin Street, Shanghai. The 33-volume Great Complete Works of Lu Xun, which includes his literary works, letters, calligraphy and paintings, was published early this month and a national foundation is being set up in memory of the writer (pictured with his wife and child).
All eyes on future as Medvedev, Putin address forum
President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will address the ruling United Russia party. The party began a two-day congress yesterday, with proceedings being closely scrutinised for clues as to who will run for president in March. United Russia is due to set out its strategies and select candidates for the December 4 parliamentary elections, in which it may struggle to maintain its two-thirds majority in the State Duma, Russia's lower house.
