Talking points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Many would say that being Hong Kong's chief executive is a thankless task - and for incumbent Leung Chun-ying, that could literally be the case today. Lawmakers are to vote on whether to pass a motion of thanks to Leung for his maiden policy address. But pan-democratic lawmakers have vowed to vote against the motion. It would be the ninth time since 1997 that the Legislative Council has vetoed a motion of thanks for a policy address.
The launch window opens for South Korea's much-delayed third attempt to launch a rocket into orbit. Seoul has until February 8 to make the launch, but the attempt is expected to go ahead today. Previous attempts by Seoul to launch a satellite have failed due to technical problems. This time, it is using its first domestically produced rocket rather than bought-in Russian technology.
Research In Motion (RIM) holds an official launch event for its new BlackBerry 10 smartphone. The new phone is seen as critical to RIM's survival, although analysts say the growing popularity of the iPhone produced by Apple, and Android-powered devices from companies like Samsung Electronics and HTC, mean the Canadian company will probably never regain its former pre-eminence.
Kuwait City hosts a UN-sponsored global donors conference aimed at raising US$1.5 billion in aid for about five million Syrians facing hardship from their country's 22-month deadly conflict. The conference, to be attended by UN chief Ban Ki-moon, will be opened by Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah and local media reports say the oil-rich Gulf state will offer a "generous donation", put by some unofficial reports at US$500 million.
A piece of Chinese tradition comes to the ultra-modern surroundings of the future West Kowloon cultural hub with the opening of the West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre. The theatre seats some 800 people and was made out of more than 10,000 bamboo canes. Until February 16, it will host everything from ticketed Cantonese opera performances to Chinese dance, contemporary music shows and an a cappella performance of traditional Chinese music.
The State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, the top body on cross-strait relations, is expected to have plenty to say about the latest deal between Beijing and Taipei when it gives its regular press conference. Beijing announced yesterday that it would allow a total investment quota of up to 100 billion yuan (HK$125 billion) for Taiwanese investors seeking to put money into its financial markets, after a meeting between the two sides' top securities regulators.
