Zardari expected to answer graft charges Former Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari is expected to appear before an anti-corruption court in Islamabad today after five graft cases against him dating back to the 1990s were reopened. He has so far failed to appear to answer the charges three times and is likely to defend the allegations against him. One charge concerns the illegal construction of a polo ground and other ancillary works at the prime minister's house. Watchdog reviews progress on Syria weapons The Organisation for Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) meets in The Hague, Netherlands, today to review progress on destruction of Syrian chemical weapons. The international watchdog confirmed on Tuesday that Syria had moved the first batch of chemical weapon materials out of the country after transporting it from two sites to the port city of Latakia and onto a Danish vessel. Touré tipped for third top-player award Manchester City's Yaya Touré is on course to be named African Footballer of the Year for a record-equalling third successive time. The Confederation of African Football cut the shortlist from 10 to three, with Touré up against his Ivory Coast teammate Didier Drogba, who plays for Turkish club Galatasaray, and Chelsea's Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel. The winner will be announced at a gala ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria. Addressing pollution threat to dolphins Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, a leading advocate for wildlife and their habitats, has worked with Ocean Park to raise conservation awareness and action throughout Asia, with special focus on white dolphins. Today, at Ocean Park, the foundation will spell out the challenges facing white dolphins amid indicators of worsening pollution in the Pearl River Estuary. 10 films compete for effects Oscar nomination Ten films are in the running for an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. A special panel will today view 10-minute excerpts from each film - the celebrated "bake-off" - before deciding on five nominations. The shortlisted films are Elysium, Gravity, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Iron Man 3, The Lone Ranger, Oblivion, Star Trek Into Darkness, Thor: The Dark World, Pacific Rim and World War Z. Agency to give details of work-safety drive The State Administration of Work Safety will brief the media today on China's work-safety programme this year. The agency launched a nationwide safety drive this month and will conduct special checks on the country's oil and gas pipelines in early March. The mainland suffered several workplace tragedies in 2013. A fire in June at a poultry factory in Jilin province claimed 121 lives. In November, 62 people died in an oil pipeline blast in Qingdao, Shandong province.
