Talking points

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

Nominations open for Legco election

A two-week nomination period opens for candidates in the September 9 Legislative Council election, which will see the chamber grow by 10 seats to 70. Most lawmakers will seek re-election, but at least nine have said they will not. Among those expected to file papers at the Electoral Affairs Commission today are Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee of the New People's Party, Leung Yiu-chung (left) of the Neighbourhood and Workers Service Centre and Ronny Tong Ka-wah and Audrey Eu Yuet-mee of the Civic Party. The Labour Party's Dr Lo Wing-lok, Dr Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung and Kwok Wing-kin also intend to run.

Cross-border Octopus cards go on sale

Octopus offers for sale 10,000 stored-value cards that can be used in Hong Kong and 16 cities in Guangdong, but not in Shenzhen. The new card - called the 'Octopus-Lingnan Pass' in Hong Kong and the other way around across the border - costs HK$98 and can be used on public transport and in shops. The release of the card, which can be topped up in both Hong Kong dollars and yuan, follows two years of negotiations between the operators of the Octopus card and the mainland's Lingnan Pass.

Mandela's birthday brings UN call to emulate him

The United Nations has declared today Nelson Mandela International Day, to mark the former South African president's 94th birthday. With the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the UN has called for people around the world to mark the occasion by devoting 67 minutes to helping others, as a way of observing the 67 years for which Mandela 'devoted his life to the service of humanity - as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa'.

Security Council votes on Syrian mission

The United Nations Security Council, which is deeply divided on how to stop the carnage in Syria, is due to vote on what to do with its observer mission, whose mandate expires on Friday. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for a shift from military observers to a team of around 100 civilian staff focusing on a political solution and human rights.

British, Japanese banks report on economies

Minutes from the Bank of Japan and Bank of England are expected to show the central banks' arsenals to stimulate their economies are running low, with quantitative easing having a limited effect, while consumer demand is stunted in both countries and unemployment stubbornly high in Britain.

Troops withdraw from disputed border temple

Cambodia begins withdrawing 486 troops from the provisional demilitarised zone around the Preah Vihear Temple (left), the subject of a territorial dispute with Thailand. The move comes after the International Court of Justice ordered in July last year that both countries withdraw their troops. Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said earlier this month that Phnom Penh would begin the pullout today. Thailand said last week it would also withdraw.