Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Shenzhou-IX to touch down with space pioneers
The Shenzhou-IX - with three astronauts on board, including China's first woman in space, Liu Yang (left) - is expected back on earth this morning after nearly two weeks in orbit. The Shenzhou-IX yesterday separated from the Tiangong-1 space module, after a manual docking manoeuvre on Sunday that was a milestone in China's ambitious plan to build a space station by the end of the decade. The capsule is to land by parachute at a site in Inner Mongolia.
Lawmakers discuss C.Y.'s illegal structures
The house committee of the Legislative Council holds a meeting to discuss the controversy over unauthorised structures at the home of chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying on The Peak. The committee will also discuss whether to invite Leung to attend a question-and-answer session on the issue. Apparently contrary to Leung's assertions, satellite photographs said to have been taken by the Lands Department appear to show an illegal structure was built at the home after he moved in.
Tokyo and Seoul sign defence accord
Representatives of South Korea and Japan sign a landmark military agreement in Tokyo despite controversy over what would be the first such accord since Tokyo's colonial rule ended in 1945. Japan's Foreign Minister, Koichiro Gemba (left), and South Korean Ambassador Shin Kak-soo will sign the pact on the 'protection of classified information'. Many older Koreans have bitter memories of Japan's 1910-45 rule. The two nations hope to expand defence co-operation in the face of increasing military threats from North Korea.