Talking points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan, and the co-chairmen of Sun Hung Kai Properties, Raymond Kwok Ping-luen and Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong, will appear at the High Court today at the start of one of Hong Kong's biggest ever corruption trials. The Independent Commission Against Corruption alleges that, between 2000 and 2009, Hui took more than HK$34 million in bribes, and the rent-free use of a flat in Happy Valley, from four other defendants in return for favours.
Billionaire entrepreneur Robert Miller will today make perhaps the largest single donation to the arts in the city when he gives HK$100 million to the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre to promote emerging talent. The money will be used for a new initiative that sees the city's up-and-coming performers collaborate with established international musicians, designers, performers and artists.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be a keynote speaker in Berlin today at the WDR Europa Forum 2014. The theme of the conference, which gathers speakers including European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and IMF managing director Christine Lagarde is: "What kind of Europe do we want? - Perspectives of a common EU policy." Ukraine, the EU debt and unemployment crisis, and joint EU policy in international relations will be up for discussion.
Ex-BBC Radio DJ Dave Lee Travis will appear again at Southwark Crown Court in London today accused of indecent assault. The 68-year-old was cleared in February of 12 offences against women dating back to the 1970s, only to face a new charge of indecent assault against a woman, aged over 16, in 1995. Travis has pleaded not guilty.
America's National Football League (NFL) could welcome its first openly gay player after its annual three-day draft, which begins in New York today. Michael Sam, a defensive lineman from the University of Missouri, is expected to be a middle-round pick. Sam, the Southeastern Conference's defensive player of the year, may be selected tomorrow when the second and third rounds are held, or he could have to wait until rounds four through seven on Saturday.
South Korean tech giant Samsung will today launch a competition for app developers to boost its wearable technology, with a total of US$1.25 million on offer in prizes. The "Samsung Gear App Challenge" includes a US$100,000 cash prize for the developer judged to have created the best Samsung Gear 2 app.
