Talking points

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

ICAC's new chief faces the media

Simon Peh Yun-lu (pictured), the new head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, holds a news conference at government headquarters in Admiralty. Peh takes over from Timothy Tong Hin-ming, under whose watch the ICAC arrested former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan and Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong and Raymond Kwok Ping-luen, the brothers who run Sun Hung Kai Properties, one of the city's biggest property developers, on suspicion of bribery and misconduct. Not one of the nine people bailed in the SHKP case has yet been charged. Peh can expect to face questions about the ICAC's progress in the case.

Cairo discussions push for peace in Syria

Syrian opposition groups will hold talks with Arab ministers in Cairo, with an international plan for a transition in the strife-torn country failing to gain traction and rising violence adding urgency to efforts to find a solution. In weekend bloodshed, more than 140 people were killed across Syria, including 120 on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. On Sunday, at least 21 people were killed, including five in the central province of Hama, according to the Britain-based watchdog.

C.Y. takes chair at revamped Exco's first meeting

Leung Chun-ying chairs the first meeting of the new Executive Council as chief executive. Leung was Exco's convenor until he resigned in September to contest the Election Committee's March 25 vote for the job he now holds. Among issues which the council, now convened by Lam Woon-kwong (pictured), may consider is an appeal from the Society for Community Organisation and other groups representing the underprivileged for action to alleviate the plight of the city's poor.

Tehran revives talks over Iran's nuclear programme

Representatives of Iran and six world powers hold talks in Istanbul over Tehran's nuclear programme after the last round of negotiations failed to break the impasse. In three previous rounds of talks the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, demanded Iran halt high-grade uranium enrichment, ship out all high-grade uranium and close a key enrichment facility. Today's meetings will be attended by bureaucrats, rather than political decision-makers.

Beijing party congress chooses delegates

Beijing's municipal party congress is scheduled to close and delegates will choose their representatives to send to the 18th national congress, at which a new generation of party leaders is expected to be chosen. The municipal party congress had been delayed for several weeks, prompting speculation in some media reports on whether this was due to disagreements over the new political line-up.

Virgin airline explains celebrity leaks to inquiry

A lawyer representing Virgin Atlantic will appear at the Leveson Inquiry into British media ethics to answer questions on leaks to photographers about celebrities' travel plans. An airline employee resigned after it was reported that she had passed on details about the flight details of celebrities including footballer Ashley Cole (pictured) and actress Sienna Miller.