Talking points
Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Police to hold half-yearly briefing on crime
Paul Hung Hak-wai (pictured), the police director of operations, and Lo Wai-chung, the director of crime and security, will hold their half-yearly media briefing on the city's crime levels and the force's work over the first half of the year. Last year, the two said the overall crime-detection rate fell to 40.6 per cent, the lowest level in eight years, due to a dip in crimes that usually had a high detection rate. Co-operation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration was a notable feature of operations this year, resulting in raids that seized record amounts of cocaine and amphetamines.
Taiwanese books chain to discuss HK debut
Eslite, one of Taiwan's biggest bookstore chains, will hold a news briefing today, ahead of the opening of its mega-bookstore in Causeway Bay later this month. Eslite's outlet, occupying two floors of the new Hysan Place, will be the biggest bookshop in town. Veterans of Hong Kong's book trade are divided over whether the newcomer's presence on their turf will be a boost or a blow to the 100 bookshops established in the city.
Court hears dispute over prime Bund site
Shanghai No 1 Intermediate People's Court is to hear a dispute between two Hong Kong-listed developers over a 45,500 square metre site on Shanghai's Bund, for which Shanghai Zendai successfully bid 9.22 billion yuan (HK$11.3 billion) in February 2010. Fosun International, which bought a 50 per cent equity stake in Shanghai-based Shanghai Zendai's development for 7 billion yuan, is seeking to overturn a deal in which a consortium led by Shanghai Zendai sold 50 per cent of its holding to commercial property developer Soho China for 4 billion yuan. Fosun, co-founded and chaired by Guo Guangchang (pictured), says it had a pre-emptive right to the stake.
Truman grandson visits Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The eldest grandson of Harry Truman, the US president who authorised the nuclear bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, arrives in Japan to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the two attacks. Kyodo says Clifton Truman Daniel's visit is the first time a member of the late president's family has attended the ceremonies, to be held on Monday and next Thursday.
Commission to rule on Murdoch bid for TV network
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is to announce its findings on a A$2 billion (HK$15.8 billion) offer by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp to double its stake in Australia's biggest pay-television network as it sheds newspaper jobs and moves into more profitable broadcasting. News Corp, the country's largest newspaper publisher, is seeking to buy Consolidated Media Holdings to boost its ownership of Foxtel to 50 per cent. A deal is also subject to approval from the boards of both companies
UN deadline runs out for Sudan and South Sudan
A UN deadline expires for Lieutenant General Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir (pictured) to conclude talks on ending their conflict. The division on July 9 last year of what had been sub-Saharan Africa's largest country was supposed to end 50 years of war. They face sanctions unless they peacefully resolve the border, oil and other security disputes by today.
