Talking points

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

Court considers challenge to election of C.Y.

The High Court considers an application by Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan (left) for a judicial review of Leung Chun-ying's election as chief executive. Ho is also seeking to lodge a formal challenge to the result of the Election Committee's March 25 poll, in which he came a distant third to Leung and former chief secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen. Radical lawmaker 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung has also filed an application for a judicial review. The lawmakers claim a false statement by C.Y. Leung, that there were no illegal structures at his home, makes him unsuitable for chief executive under laws that require 'a person of integrity' to hold the office.

City U to formalise research work with CERN

City University will tomorrow sign an agreement governing the work of its students and staff on particle physics at CERN, the research institute on the Swiss-French border. It says the pact will formalise an existing relationship, as its students and staff have been involved in CERN's work for several years. CERN's achievements include the apparent discovery announced last week of the Higgs boson, the subatomic particle believed to give mass to matter.

Museum shows a new dimension to emperor's tomb

The Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui holds a briefing on its 3D audio-visual tour of the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shihuang. The show, entitled The Majesty of All Under Heaven, will run from July 25 to November 26. It depicts 2,000 years of changes in the terracotta army pits (left), from their creation to destruction, discovery and restoration.

Beijing think tank briefs on nation's economy

A leading economic think tank briefs foreign media on China's economy in the first half of the year ahead of tomorrow's official announcement of the data. Yu Bin, who heads the macroeconomic research department of the State Council's Development Research Centre, will also speak on the outlook for the second half. Economic data point to a deepening slowdown that is pressing leaders to revive growth and avert job losses and political tension.

Activists highlight third-runway 'loopholes'

Friends of the Earth holds a briefing on what it says is the Airport Authority's abuse of loopholes in regulations that require an environmental impact assessment to be conducted of its plan to build a third runway at Chek Lap Kok airport. In a rare move, the Environmental Protection Department has demanded more details on air pollution, marine life and aircraft noise before approving the HK$136 billion project.

Pakistani court resumes hearing on Zardari case

Pakistan's Supreme Court resumes a hearing in Islamabad after giving Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf two weeks to say whether he will ask Switzerland to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, who was convicted in absentia in a Swiss court in August 2003 with his wife, then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The cases were later suspended.