Talking points

Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...

Dalai Lama visit triggers Chinese boycott threat

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama delivers the first speech of his eight-day tour of Britain at the Yorkshire International Business Convention, Leeds. However, British media report that his visit to the city has triggered a warning from China that it will pull its athletes out of their Leeds Olympic training camp. According to the BBC: 'Leeds is due to host China's pre-Olympic Games training centre, with about 220 athletes, coaches and support staff based in the city from early next month. Leeds City Council said the hosting deal was worth GBP250,000 (HK$3 million).' The Dalai Lama is also expected to meet British leaders over the coming week but despite making clear its unhappiness about this, China will not be boycotting the London 2012 Olympics, it says. 'Politics and sports should be separated,' Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.

'DPP welcome' at Fujian cross-strait forum

The fourth Straits Forum, an annual platform for exchanges between non-governmental delegations from the mainland and Taiwan, opens in Fujian province. Xinhua quoted a spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office as saying all people from Taiwan would be welcome to attend, including members of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, which calls for Taiwan's independence. 'The party has become increasingly marginalised in cross-strait communications for its repeated attempts to turn down normal mainland-Taiwan contacts,' Xinhua reported.

'Manhunter' Jerome Lau faces sentencing

Businessman Jerome Lau Ting-sing (left), dubbed 'the manhunter' by local media after his conviction for the indecent assault and criminal intimidation of male models, faces sentencing in the District Court. Referring to a psychologist's report, Lau's lawyer said in mitigation that his client was a lonely man with low self-esteem. Lau, 62, had been living with his 92-year-old mother, who described him as a caring son who accompanied her to family gatherings and hospital check-ups, he said.

Rallies for paternity leave mark Father's Day

The Federation of Education Workers will mark Father's Day tomorrow by holding a rally in support of a law requiring paternity leave. Participants will gather at Statue Square and march towards the old government offices in Central. A rally seeking the same end will be held today by the Confederation of Trade Unions. Fatherhood will also be discussed at a meeting in Sham Shui Po between grass-roots organisations and chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying, in a community dialogue on poverty issues.

World watches as France, Greece, Egypt go to polls

Three countries this weekend hold elections that may have consequences far beyond their borders. France holds the second round of its parliamentary elections tomorrow, when President Francois Hollande will learn whether he has enough power to push through tough decisions as Europe's debt crisis intensifies. Success for anti-austerity parties in the rerun of Greece's parliamentary election could set in motion that country's exit from the euro. And in a two-day run-off vote, Egyptians choose between Islamist hardliner Mohammed Mursi (left) and Mubarak regime prime minister Ahmed Shafiq as president.