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STAFF

Rodman celebrates Kim's birthday
Dennis Rodman and a team of ex-NBA stars will play an exhibition game in North Korea today as a "birthday present" for supreme leader Kim Jong-un. Rodman's squad - featuring ex-All Stars Kenny Anderson, Cliff Robinson and Vin Baker - will play against a team of North Koreans in the first half, and then mix together in the second.
 
Mainland tourist figures expected
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences launches its annual tourism report today, forecasting figures for mainland tourism this year. A statement by the China National Tourism Administration last week said that visits of inbound tourists last year were expected to drop by three per cent, while outbound trips had jumped by 18 per cent.
 
Pan-democrats to announce reform plan
The Alliance for True Democracy will release its proposal for ways to elect the city's chief executive today. A preview of the plan seen yesterday argued against allowing the nominating committee the power to reject candidates recommended by the public.
 
EU commissioners meet in Greece
European Union commissioners meet in Athens today as debt-plagued Greece officially ascends to the presidency of the 28-nation political union. Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said last month that the country was prepared to return to the financial markets this year and will require no further loans from the EU and the IMF. The Greek government has promised to pull the country out of a six-year recession, keep a balanced budget, and in effect end a financial crisis that rattled the euro.
 
Alleged sheep rustler in court
A man will appear at Fanling Court today, accused of stealing sheep. Prosecutors allege that 51-year-old Chan Hon-kay erected a 17-metre long electrified fence in Lok Ma Chau to electrocute the animals before taking them. The offence came to light after the farmer found tens of his sheep had gone missing. The 51-year-old pleaded not guilty to a charge of prevention of electrical accident last year.
 
Legco to debate CSSA ruling
The Legislative Council will today debate the impact of the Court of Final Appeal's decision that applicants for social security assistance are not required to have resided in Hong Kong for seven years. The ruling means that new arrivals can apply for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) benefits. The top court ruled that the seven-year residency rule breached Article 36 of the Basic Law, which says every citizen has a right to social welfare benefits under the CSSA scheme. Ho Hei-wah, director of the Society for Community Organisation, said the decision could lead to as many as 7,000 extra applications per year for the benefit - adding HK$750 million annually to the CSSA bill. The non-binding motion debate is moved by Liberal Party lawmaker Vincent Fang Kang.


Talking points

Dennis Rodman

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras

Vincent Fang Kang

Opinion

Comment

Dennis Rodman and a team of ex-NBA stars will play an exhibition game in North Korea today as a "birthday present" for supreme leader Kim Jong-un.
