Talking points

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

Olympic 'breaststroke queen' gives tips on swimming

Luo Xuejuan, Olympic gold medallist in swimming, hosts an exchange session to share her experiences and swimming tips with members of the public at Tung Chung swimming pool. She was crowned 'breaststroke queen' in the 2004 Athens Olympics (where she is pictured with the national flag after winning gold in the 100 metres breaststroke) but announced her retirement in 2007 due to a potentially fatal heart condition.

Hong Kong slipping on quality of life

The organisation behind the Hong Kong Quality of Life Index holds a briefing to release the results of its survey for 2011. The composite index consists of 21 indicators that are grouped into three categories: social, economic and environmental. The group has indicated that overall, Hong Kong has received its lowest score since 2009, and on the economic sub-index has dropped to its lowest level since 2002.

Delayed released for Batman's box office

The Hollywood studio behind the Batman movies is expected to publish weekend box office figures after initially withholding them because of the Colorado massacre. Warner Bros had cancelled publishing the figures on the weekend - a form of crowing about box office success - in a move swiftly followed by rivals, wary of offending the public. Warner Bros also cancelled red carpet events for the film in France, Japan and Mexico - and in a separate move scrambled to pull a trailer for another film, including a scene in which mobsters shoot at a theatre audience. Friday's massacre, in which a black-clad gunman dressed in full body armour gunned down dozens of filmgoers at a packed midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises, produced a marketing nightmare for the film's makers. Unofficial figures cited by industry daily Variety suggest it made US$75 million on Friday alone, the third biggest opening day ever in the US.

Japanese report likely to show continuing stagnation

The monthly economic report from Japan's Cabinet Office is expected to point to continued economic stagnation in the world's third biggest economy as it struggles with weakening demand in its main export markets. Domestic demand also remains weak, with inflation data this week expected to show the consumer price index in June was flat.

European Union increases pressure on Syria

The European Union is set to tighten its arms embargo on Syria by ordering the boarding of ships and planes in EU waters and airports suspected of carrying weapons for use against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad. The planned new measure could cause friction between the EU and Russia, a key ally of Damascus and one of its main arms suppliers. EU foreign ministers meeting today were expected to expand sanctions against Syria by adding 26 people, mostly military officials who support Assad, and two organisations that help finance the government, to a sanctions list, a diplomat familiar with the talks said. Russia and China vetoed a Security Council resolution on Thursday threatening Syrian authorities with sanctions unless they halted violence.