Talking points

Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...

Financial chief answers budget questions on air

No HK$6,000 handouts this year, but Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah (left) will be available, on a radio phone-in programme, to answer questions from the public on the HK$394 billion budget he unveiled in Legco yesterday. In what is likely to be his last budget, Tsang warned of a gloomy outlook for the city, which he said would grow by between 1 and 3 per cent this year, down from 5 per cent last year because of the fiscal difficulties in the United States and Europe.

Kuwait's opposition poised to win election

Kuwait's Islamist-led opposition appears headed for a key victory in today's general elections, described as crucial for the future of the oil-rich Gulf state. However, the outcome of the ballot, the fourth in just under six years, is not expected to end political turmoil that has paralysed development in Opec's third-largest oil producer. The opposition is a loose formation of Islamists, liberals, nationalists and independents.

Judge reviews Hongkongers' sentences

A judge in the Philippines reviews the case of Tang Lung-wai and Cheung Tai-on (both pictured), who are serving lengthy jail terms in Manila for drug possession. The two were sentenced and a third suspect was acquitted in October, 11 years after the three Hongkongers were arrested in a sting operation by Philippine police. Tang insists they are innocent. He is being helped by lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun. If the judge upholds their sentences, they will need to lodge an appeal to higher courts, which will take two to six years. Tse has said the chances for a successful review look slim.

Singaporeans challenge extradition to US

Four Singaporeans appear in court to oppose a request by the United States for their extradition to face charges in Washington of supplying Iran with US-made radio components that ended up in roadside bombs in Iraq. The four have been named by the US Department of Justice as Wong Yuh Lan, Lim Yong Nam, Lim Kow Seng and Hia Soo Gan Benson. A fifth suspect, named as Iranian national Hossein Larijani, who the department says was the mastermind behind the illegal export of 6,000 radio transmitters from a Minnesota-based company, remains at large, presumably in Iran.

US senators vote on new sanctions against Iran

US lawmakers vote on a new package of nuclear sanctions against Iran. Members of the Senate Banking Committee are considering adding measures that would single out Iran's national oil and shipping companies and restrict its ability to tap into electronic banking services.

Sony to announce its results

Sony chief financial officer Masaru Kato (left) briefs the media as his company reports earnings, with analysts waiting to see if the Japanese consumer giant has successfully turned around its television business after it extricated itself from an LCD panelmaking venture with Samsung Electronics. Yesterday LG, the world's second-biggest maker of TVs, said its TV business had returned to a profit of 150 billion won (HK$1.03 billion) in the December quarter.