Talking points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
The 41st International Emmy Awards take place today at the New York Hilton, with Chinese actress Sun Li hoping for success with her nomination in the Best Actress category for her portrayal of 17-year-old imperial concubine Zhen Huan in the television drama . Nominees from 19 countries are competing at the event in New York City. The International Academy will present Emmys in nine programme categories along with two special awards.
A collection of 25 pieces of Chinese paintings and calligraphy and 19 pieces of Chinese ink tones is set to go under the hammer at auction house Christie's at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. The Su Zhu An collection includes two landscapes albums by Shitao, the landscape painter and poet during the early Qing Dynasty, each consisting of seven leaves. The studio name of Su Zu An is believed to have been inspired by Shitao (1641-1707), who was an admirer of Su Dongpo calligraphy.
Pope Francis holds talks at the Vatican with Russian President Vladimir Putin today. The meeting is expected to include discussion of the Syrian war, as the pontiff lobbied against any armed intervention and Russia gained kudos with a diplomatic solution. The meeting may signal whether Francis could become the first pontiff to visit Russia, one of the few major nations which eluded globe-trotting John Paul II amid Catholic-Orthodox tension.
Prosecutors in Florence, Italy, are today scheduled to argue for the reinstatement of the murder conviction and jail sentence against US student Amanda Knox and co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito. The pair were cleared two years ago of all charges in connection with the 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia. Italy's highest court overturned their acquittals in March and ordered the new trial. Knox, 26, who is in the US, has announced she will not go to Italy.
What has been billed as the world's first electronic cigarette airport vaping zone opens at London's Heathrow airport today. The Gamucci Electronic Cigarette Zone at Terminal 4 offers a designated indoor area where passengers can enjoy the cigarette replacement devices. The move comes at a time when use of e-cigarettes is reportedly growing rapidly worldwide. Global sales are worth US$2bn, with the UK and the USA the world's two largest markets, says Euromonitor International.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is being marked globally. Governments, international organisations and NGOs will be raising public awareness of the issue.
